THE PHONE CALL THAT SHOOK TWO FRANCHISES
ATLANTA, GA—On December 8, 2005, the quiet halls of the Winter Meetings in Dallas were shattered by a single transaction that would become a case study in “prospect potential” versus “proven stability.”1 In a “quiet winter swap” with loud consequences, the Atlanta Braves acquired five-time All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria from the Boston Red Sox.2+1
In exchange, the Braves sent away a young man who, at the time, was widely considered the “Finest Prospect in Baseball”: third baseman Andy Marte.3 One man was walking toward the twilight of a legendary career, while the other was walking into a “destiny elsewhere” that would never quite materialize.
BY THE NUMBERS: THE TALE OF TWO FUTURES
The trade was a massive gamble for Atlanta General Manager John Schuerholz, who was looking to replace the departing Rafael Furcal.4 While fans mourned the loss of the “can’t-miss” Marte, the following two years told a very different story on the field.
| Metric | Edgar Renteria (Braves 2006–07) | Andy Marte (Post-Trade 2006–07) |
| Batting Avg | .310 | .215 |
| All-Star Selections | 1 (2006) | 0 |
| Reliability | 140+ Games per season | Struggled to stay in the Big Leagues |
| The “Gift” | Boston sent $11 Million in cash | Marte was “flipped” to Cleveland for Coco Crisp |
THE DIVIDED PATHS
- Renteria’s “Present”: Renteria arrived in Atlanta carrying the weight of a disappointing year in Boston (where he led the league in errors).5 However, he immediately became the “emotional anchor” of the Braves’ infield. In his two seasons in Atlanta, he racked up 70 doubles and hit over .300, providing the veteran leadership the Braves needed to transition from the 1990s dynasty to a new era.6+1
- Marte’s “Time”: Andy Marte was a “special prospect” whose ceiling was the Hall of Fame.7 But after being traded to Boston, he didn’t stay long—he was quickly flipped to the Cleveland Indians.8 Despite his Triple-A dominance, he never found his footing in MLB.9 His “destiny elsewhere” became a cautionary tale about the volatility of prospects; once ranked No. 1 in the game, he finished his career with a .218 average over parts of seven seasons.+2
THE “LOUD CONSEQUENCES” OF A QUIET SWAP
The trade didn’t just affect 2006. In 2007, the Braves turned their investment in Renteria into the future, trading him to Detroit for a young arm named Jair Jurrjens.10 Jurrjens would go on to win 50 games for Atlanta, becoming an All-Star and an anchor of the rotation for five seasons.11+1
“John Schuerholz has an uncanny knack for jettisoning seemingly high-ceiling young talent yet landing on the good side of the deal,” noted The Hardball Times. “With Renteria, the Braves acquired a player who managed to post two very effective seasons and then turned him into a frontline starter.”
THE VERDICT: WINNING THE PRESENT
Twenty years later, the trade remains a reminder that in baseball, time is the only thing you can’t scout. The Braves gambled on the “present” of Edgar Renteria and won, while Andy Marte’s “walk into destiny” remains one of the greatest “what-if” stories in prospect history.
