The Braves traded catcher Christian Bethancourt to the San Diego Padres for right-hander Casey Kelly and 17-year-old catching prospect Ricardo Rodriguez.
Bethancourt was a former elite prospect who struggled in his major league stints with the Braves the past two seasons, and he became expendable when the Braves signed Tyler Flowers to a two-year contract this week to split the catching duties with veteran A.J. Pierzynski, who re-signed with the Braves last month.
Still only 24, Bethancourt was out of minor-league options and could not have been sent to Triple-A without clearing waivers.