Atlanta Braves potential outfielders part 2: Trade targets
By Fred Owens
This is the second part of a series of potential Atlanta Braves offseason acquisitions, focusing on filling the void in the outfield.
Friday, I provided a look at Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos’ preferences when making a trade or signing.
Contrary to popular belief, he isn’t a gunslinger or a wheeler-dealer trying to make big splashy deals. He prefers to make solid deals that add long-term value to the team rather than throwing all his chips in at once.
Yesterday I looked at free-agent outfielders that fit his preferred player profile. Today I’m looking at outfielders that may be available and have the right skill set for the Braves. The list of available players changes rapidly.
This list contains players who are nearing the end of their contracts, are arbitration-eligible, and he may be more expensive than the team likes or someone the team likes but has the Braves can fill via trade. The order of appearance has no particular meaning.
Brian Goodwin – Angels
- BATS: LEFT
- THROWS: RIGHT
- AGE: TURNS 29 THIS WEEK
- 1ST YEAR ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE
- PROJECTED SALARY (via MLBTR): $2.1 million
- POSITION: ANY OUTFIELD SLOT
Atlanta Braves fans may remember Brian Goodwin, he came up in the Nationals’ organization and played parts of 2016, 17, and 18 in D.C., batting .246/.315/.464/.779 in 401 PA.
His best season with the Nats came in 2017 when he .251/.313/.498/.811 with 13 homers. two of those off Mike Foltynewicz with a shot Off Julio Teheran sandwiched in between.
His home run log shows he can turn on a good fastball as well as off-speed pitches and hit them hard: 32 of 38 homers had exit velocities over 102 mph, and 18 of them traveled over 400 feet.
The Nationals had a crowded outfield and Goodwin an injury-plagued 2018. In a move to create roster space, the Nats sent Goodwin to the Royals for a minor league pitcher. After the injury year. He went to spring training in the best shape of his career. He told them he wanted to adjust his swing, and the Royals said fine; a week later, they cut him.
When Justin Upton injured his toe, Angels GM Billy Eppler remembered Goodwin, called and asked if he wanted a job. He joined the team on March 27 and played left in the opener, going 2-4.
Injuries to Upton, Mike Trout, and rest days for Kole Calhoun kept him in the lineup for 129 games. He batted .262/.326/.470/.796 with 17 homers in 458 PA, with a .332 wOBA, 109 wRC+ and finished the year with 1.9 fWAR
Goodwin’s plate discipline, – chase rate, contact, etc. – sit at league average, but he struck out about 28% of the time. He’s fast, plays all three outfield positions at league average levels.
Although he’s first-time arbitration-eligible this off-season, Goodwin is out of options. That and a projected $2.1M arbitration figure could see the Angels non-tender him.