The “what if” trade no Atlanta Braves fan can seem to forget is far more than some guy with a large contract or a prospect that didn’t pan out. It’s worse than that; it’s a homegrown kid, drafted and developed, who ultimately went on to become a legend somewhere else.

Each time the Braves consider dealing a young, talented arm, there will be some reference to the “Adam Wainwright Trade.” That’s because Wainwright represents a cautionary tale; an example of what happens when you develop talent in-house, only to ship it out-of-town at the worst possible moment. What hurts so much is that the Braves lost not just their future ace, but also the opportunity to have a Georgia kid grow up to be a legendary pitcher for the Braves, rather than in somebody else’s colors.

The Adam Wainwright trade still haunts the Braves decades later

Back in December 2003, the Braves bundled Adam Wainwright with Jason Marquis and reliever Ray King and sent them to St. Louis, bringing J.D. Drew and Eli Marrero the other way. On paper, it made plenty of sense at the time: Atlanta wanted another thumper in the middle of the order for a serious World Series push, and when Drew was actually on the field, he looked like exactly that guy.

To be fair, Drew was a beast during his short time in Atlanta. In 2004, he had one of the best years of his career: .305 batting average, 31 HRs and the consistent production the Braves were hoping he would display. For one year, the trade worked as intended.

That’s where the reasoning ends. The Braves knew Drew was going to be a one-year rental, and when Drew walked in free agency after the 2004 season, the Braves were left with no long-term prospects from a huge haul of top prospects. Meanwhile, St. Louis gave Wainwright the keys to build his own legacy over the course of 18 years:

• 200 career wins
• 3 All-Star appearances
• 1 World Series championship (2006)
• Top three finish in the Cy Young voting 4 separate occasions
• 2 Gold Glove awards and 1 Silver Slugger award
• Almost two decades as one of the most recognizable members of the Cardinals’ organization

And Braves fans got to watch it all from afar.

This is a fan base that prides itself on being local. The Braves were supposed to get the story done here in Atlanta. Instead, it became one of those definitive “how did they let that happen?” moments in franchise history.

So while this trade may fade into obscurity at some point, it will remain a reminder. It’s not just a footnote in a 22-year-old transaction record — it’s the example. Anytime the Braves are considering trading a young, homegrown starter, the question will come up: “Remember Wainwright?” The same cautionary tale will be told each time the front office considers a similar move.