Atlanta Braves free agent profile: Michael Brantley

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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 6: Right fielder Michael Branntley #23 of the Cleveland Indians catches a fly ball hit by Alcides Escobar #2 of the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Progressive Field on April 6, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves have a definite need to fill in the outfield. Could a former Cleveland Indians outfielder be the player they’re looking for?

The Atlanta Braves are looking for an outfielder to replace Nick Markakis in the outfield. Is Michael Brantley going to be the best fit for the Atlanta Braves?

Key piece of a big deal

The son of former big league outfielder Mickey Brantley, Michael Brantley was drafted in the 7th round of the 2005 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. He had very good seasons as a minor league outfielder. He hit .308 and worked his way up to AA by 2008. After the 2008 season, Brantley was named as the player to be named later in the deal that sent CC Sabathia to Milwaukee and nearly won Sabathia a Cy Young Award.

In that deal, the Indians received three other prospects, including one of the top prospects in all of the game in Matt LaPorta. Though Brantley was very feasibly the least highly-regarded of the package the Indians got for Sabathia.

Brantley worked his way up to the majors in his first season in the Indians organization, and mid-way through the 2010 season, he was up with a starting role.

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