SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres couldn’t start the season without yet another blockbuster deal by first-year general manager A.J. Preller.
Preller pushed ahead with his remarkable makeover of the Padres on Sunday when he acquired All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel and outfielder Melvin Upton from the Atlanta Braves for outfielders Carlos Quentin and Cameron Maybin, plus two minor leaguers and a draft pick.
While Upton will be reunited with his younger brother, Padres left fielder Justin Upton, this deal centered around Kimbrel, whom Preller called “an A-level performer.”
The Padres take on $80.35 million in guaranteed salaries to Kimbrel and Upton while shedding the $24 million guaranteed still owed to the oft-injured Quentin and Maybin.
“With the chance to acquire Kimbrel, who’s one of the best in the game, if not the best, it was a price we were willing to pay,” Preller said during a conference call. “He’s an A-level performer. He’s 26 years old. It’s an opportunity to strengthen our club.”
Taking on the remaining $46.35 million on Melvin Upton’s contract appeared to be the price for landing Kimbrel, who is owed a guaranteed $34 million. Melvin Upton was placed on the disabled list Saturday with a left foot injury.
Preller said the Padres weren’t necessarily “motivated to try to get Melvin and Justin together as brothers. It was a situation where we felt overall the deal fit for us and we attempted to go out and add quality pieces to get Craig Kimbrel in this deal.”
Kimbrel led the NL for the second-straight year with 47 saves after saving 50 games in 2013, which tied Baltimore’s Jim Johnson for the major league lead. Kimbrel was tied for most in the NL in both 2011 (46) and 2012 (42).
Since his first full season in 2011, when he won the NL Rookie of the Year award, Kimbrel leads all big league closers with 185 saves. He has been an All-Star each of the last four seasons.
Preller said Kimbrel was trying to catch a plane in Miami to make it to Los Angeles in time for the Padres’ opener against the Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers on Monday afternoon.
Huston Street led San Diego with 24 saves last year before being traded to the Angels. Joaquin Benoit, the incumbent closer before Kimbrel was obtained, had 11 saves last year.
The Upton brothers played together for two seasons in Atlanta. Melvin Upton missed most of spring training — he didn’t have a single big league exhibition at-bat — and Preller said the Braves felt he will not be ready to play in a game for three-to-four weeks.
Melvin Upton is owed $14.45 million this year, $15.45 million in 2016 and $16.45 million in 2017.
Kimbrel will make $9 million this season, $11 million in 2016 and $13 million in 2017, and his contract includes a $13 million club option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout.
San Diego had a glut of outfielders after Preller obtained Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers in separate deals in December.
Quentin has been slowed by knee injuries and never played more than 86 games in any of his three seasons with his hometown Padres.
Maybin also has been slowed by injuries. He was suspended for 25 games last year after testing positive for amphetamines.
The Braves also receive minor league right-hander Matt Wisler and outfielder Jordan Paroubeck, plus the 41st overall draft pick.
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