NASHVILLE – John Hart and John Coppolella started the Braves’ trading frenzy with a relatively small deal Nov. 16, 2014, sending Tommy La Stella to the Cubs for reliever Jose Vizcaino and two international bonus-pool slots worth about $800,000. It was a deal that hinted at the creativity to come from the deal-making Braves duo.
The next day, Nov. 17, the Braves traded Jason Heyward (and reliever Jordan Walden) to the Cardinals for starting pitchers Shelby Miller and prospect Tyrell Jenkins, and howls of protest were heard from Braves fans, again hinting at what lay ahead for Hart, president of baseball operations, and Coppolella, then assistant general manager and since promoted to GM.