What Would You Do With the Atlanta Braves OF?

Trade Inciarte or Sign Cespedes?  What’s Your Call?

This week has been a bit… odd for Atlanta Braves’ rumors… even by the lofty standards that have been set over the past year.  Let me illustrate:

…and also…

Same day… three hours apart.  While this doesn’t have to be the case, on the surface you’d have to look at these at think that they are mutually exclusive:

• Either neither rumor happens (most likely), or…
• The Braves get an offer they can’t refuse from Houston for Ender Inciarte, and continue to load up on pieces for the future or…
• The Braves jump-start their 2017 renaissance and sign Yoenis Cespedes (keeping Inciarte)

That said, there’s actually a scenario in which Atlanta could reasonably do both.

With the Orioles signing Chris Davis to a monster deal this morning, the Cespedes scenario actually is still in play for Atlanta… though still very unlikely.  It would be nice to land a middle-of-the-order bat, but doing this via a costly long-term contract is the part that causes uncontrollable itching.

The fascinating part of this (to me) is the wholly different team-building philosophies that could be in play for any of these possibilities, and that’s what I would like to highlight here today.  Let’s take a look:

Scenario 1:  Trading Inciarte

WHY:  Lots of reasons.

• He’s 25 years old
• He’s had two excellent major league seasons
• He isn’t a free agent until 2021 – five years away
• The Braves have at least two more capable Center Fielders
• Leadoff batter potential
• Gold Glove defender
• The ultimate “sell-high” candidate

For the purposes of this exercise, let’s assume the trade target to raid is Houston.  Previously, we’d look at the Cubs… and presumably, they could still be in play.  Regardless of the trading partner, the message is the same:  they will overpay or they won’t get the player.  Period.

The Astros still have Carlos Gomez for CF this season… but he’s getting $9 million, it’s the last year of his contract, and the Astros would much rather spin him somewhere else than pay him.  But the Braves would not want him, either, so who would they wish to pluck from Houston?

• George Springer – his sophomore season in the majors was must better than his first.  Reduced strikeouts, improved his average, and was a better defender.  Not unlike Cespedes, in reality.
• OF prospect Kyle Tucker.  Yeah, it’s nostalgic and sweet having the two Tucker brothers in the organization.  Forget that – I’d like to have Kyle in ours.
• I would ask for Alex Bregman – if I thought he could play third base.
• You might be thinking “Altuve!” or “Correa!”, but with the Braves’ middle infield glut, neither makes sense.
• You might also be thinking “A.J. Reed!”… except he plays first base and nothing else.  No, Freddie isn’t going anywhere.

So who could the Braves really get?  I do think the Astros would have to part with Springer, Bregman or Tucker, and a third player a bit further down the chart before the Braves would think about moving Inciarte.

In terms of team-building philosophy, this is the “Maximum the farm system” plan and “Build around young players”.  Inciarte himself could be one of those, but he could also be turned into 2-3 more.

Next: Just one more page, I promise