What do you call it when you’ve been traded to your hometown team after spending your entire career with one organization?
Bittersweet.
At least that’s the word Matt Olson used after the Athletics traded him to the Atlanta Braves on Monday for four prospects.
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In return, the A’s will receive outfielder Cristian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers and pitchers Ryan Cusick and Joey Estes.
The All-Star first baseman addressed the media in Oakland on Monday, reflecting on the big trade.
“I can’t say enough to the A’s organization and what they’ve done for me,” Olson told reporters. “I’ve been here since 2012 so almost 10 years, my whole baseball career. It’s bittersweet leaving.
“I know Atlanta is an amazing place, World Series champs, my hometown, so if there was one place to go and leave here, that’s the place to do it. I’m excited about it. There’s a lot of good friendships here that I’m saying bye to, like I said it’s bittersweet but I’m excited about what’s to come.”
Olson was born in Atlanta and grew up about 20 miles north in Lilburn, Georgia.
The 27-year-old had committed to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University but decided to forgo his commitment and signed with the A’s.
Oakland Athletics
A's general manager David Forst talked about the impact Olson had in Oakland.
"It is hard to overstate his impact on the organization," Forst said. "This is the reality of our situation and why it's imperative we get a new ballpark. Matt Olson is a great player and he will be missed by fans, everyone in the clubhouse and those of us that had to deliver the news today."
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Olson is a two-time Gold Glove award winner with a .252 career average, 142 homers and an .859 OPS over six seasons. He hit 39 homers and drove in 111 runs during the 2021 season.
He will certainly be missed as he was a fan favorite at the Coliseum, but his future with his hometown club appears bright.