With less than 48 hours until Monday's nonwaiver trade deadline, the Padres and Braves are nearing a deal that would send outfielder Matt Kemp to Atlanta for infielder-outfielder Hector Olivera, sources familiar with the discussions said Saturday.
The exchange of bad contracts likely will include cash from the Padres. Kemp, 31, is owed $54 million over the next three seasons, with the Dodgers paying an additional $3.5 million of his salary annually. Olivera, also 31, is owed $28.5 million over the next four seasons.
Olivera is currently serving an 82-game suspension through Monday after being arrested April 13 and charged with one count of misdemeanor assault and battery. A source Saturday indicated that, if a trade were completed, the Padres likely would designate Olivera for assignment.
