1997 Atlanta Braves

Trades and Transactions

Franchise Encyclopedia: 1996 / 1998

101-61, Finished 1st in NL East (Schedule and Results)
View League Standings and Leaders

Manager: Bobby Cox (101-61)
Scored 791 runs, Allowed 581 runs. Pythagorean W-L: 103-59

Ballparks: Turner Field · Attendance: 3,464,488 (2nd of 14)
Park Factors  Over 100 favors batters, under 100 favors pitchers.
  multi-year: Batting - 102, Pitching - 99 · one-year: Batting - 101, Pitching - 99

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Transactions listed are from November 1 of previous year to April 1 of the following year.

October 1, 1996

Kevin Lomon granted Free Agency.

October 10, 1996

Selected Ben VanRyn off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals.

October 15, 1996

Esteban Beltre granted Free Agency.

Darron Cox granted Free Agency.

Pablo Martinez granted Free Agency.

October 29, 1996

Terry Pendleton granted Free Agency.

Jerome Walton granted Free Agency.

October 30, 1996

Mark Lemke granted Free Agency.

October 31, 1996

Steve Avery granted Free Agency.

Rafael Belliard granted Free Agency.

Mike Bielecki granted Free Agency.

John Smoltz granted Free Agency.

November 9, 1996

Signed Rafael Furcal as an amateur free agent.

November 13, 1996

Dwight Smith granted Free Agency.

November 18, 1996

Luis Polonia granted Free Agency.

November 20, 1996

Signed John Smoltz as a free agent.

November 25, 1996

Traded Greg McMichael to the New York Mets. Received a player to be named later and Paul Byrd. The New York Mets sent Andy Zwirchitz (minors) (May 25, 1997) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade.

December 6, 1996

Signed Rafael Belliard as a free agent.

December 9, 1996

Rob Sasser drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 1996 rule 5 draft.

Drafted Jamie Walker from the Houston Astros in the 1996 rule 5 draft.

December 13, 1996

Traded Martin Sanchez (minors) to the Florida Marlins. Received Yorkis Perez.

December 18, 1996

Signed Mark Lemke as a free agent.

December 19, 1996

Signed Mike Bielecki as a free agent.

Released Ben VanRyn.

December 20, 1996

Signed Hensley Meulens as a free agent.

January 27, 1997

Released Jorge Campillo.

Released Humberto Cota.

February 24, 1997

Signed Larry Luebbers as a free agent.

March 20, 1997

Released Hensley Meulens.

March 22, 1997

Signed Tommy Gregg as a free agent.

March 25, 1997

Traded Marquis Grissom and David Justice to the Cleveland Indians. Received Alan Embree and Kenny Lofton.

March 27, 1997

Traded Jermaine Dye and Jamie Walker to the Kansas City Royals. Received Keith Lockhart and Michael Tucker.

March 31, 1997

Yorkis Perez selected by the New York Mets off waivers.

June 3, 1997 (Standings)

Drafted Joey Nation in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 30, 1997.

Drafted Cory Aldridge in the 4th round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 8, 1997.

Drafted Horacio Ramirez in the 5th round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed June 6, 1997.

Drafted Ryan Snare in the 9th round of the 1997 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.

Drafted Charlie Manning in the 22nd round of the 1997 amateur draft, but did not sign the player.

June 10, 1997 (Standings)

Signed Tim Spehr as a free agent.

August 14, 1997 (Standings)

Traded a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins. Received Greg Colbrunn. The Atlanta Braves sent Mark Lewis (minors) (October 1, 1997) to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade.

September 5, 1997 (Standings)

Traded a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins. Received Greg Myers. The Atlanta Braves sent Steve Hacker (minors) (December 18, 1997) to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade.

September 15, 1997 (Standings)

Joe Borowski selected by the New York Yankees off waivers.

October 13, 1997 (Standings)

Ed Giovanola selected by the San Diego Padres off waivers.

October 15, 1997 (Standings)

Chris Brock granted Free Agency.

Scott Brow granted Free Agency.

Dean Hartgraves granted Free Agency.

Larry Luebbers granted Free Agency.

October 17, 1997

Pedro Swann granted Free Agency.

Brad Woodall granted Free Agency.

October 23, 1997

Greg Colbrunn granted Free Agency.

October 28, 1997

Kenny Lofton granted Free Agency.

Greg Myers granted Free Agency.

October 29, 1997

Rafael Belliard granted Free Agency.

November 2, 1997

Jeff Blauser granted Free Agency.

November 5, 1997

Mark Lemke granted Free Agency.

November 6, 1997

Signed Jung Bong as an amateur free agent.

November 7, 1997

Mike Bielecki granted Free Agency.

November 17, 1997

Signed Walt Weiss as a free agent.

November 18, 1997

Sold Fred McGriff to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Bob Smith selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 12th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

John LeRoy selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 34th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

Terrell Wade selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the 60th pick in the 1997 expansion draft.

November 20, 1997

Signed Andres Galarraga as a free agent.

December 5, 1997

Signed Rafael Belliard as a free agent.

December 11, 1997

Traded Chad Fox to the Milwaukee Brewers. Received Gerald Williams.

December 15, 1997

Drafted Brian Edmondson from the New York Mets in the 1997 rule 5 draft.

Signed Rudy Seanez as a free agent.

December 20, 1997

Mike Mordecai granted Free Agency.

December 21, 1997

Tim Spehr granted Free Agency.

January 13, 1998

Signed Ray Holbert as a free agent.

January 20, 1998

Traded Ray King to the Chicago Cubs. Received Jon Ratliff.

January 23, 1998

Signed Tommy Greene as a free agent.

January 30, 1998

Signed Dennis Martinez as a free agent.

February 6, 1998

Signed Curtis Pride as a free agent.

March 8, 1998

Signed Mike Porzio as a free agent.

March 30, 1998

Released Brad Clontz.

1996 / 1998 Trades and Transactions