Atlanta Braves: Ender Inciarte Still a Valuable Asset if Used Correctly
We take a look at why Ender Inciarte could still be a valuable part of the Atlanta Braves in 2021 if manager Brian Snitker uses him correctly.
I’ve been a huge supporter of Ender Inciarte for a while now, but even I understand that his role with the Atlanta Braves has to change.
He’s no longer the .280-.300 average guy that we saw in the first four years of his career. And at 30-years-old, he’s no longer an elite defender in center; although he’s still really good out there and better than most.
That leads to the assumption that he’s no longer an everyday player — or at least not for the Braves.
But with a guarantee to make $8.7 million this upcoming season, the Braves aren’t simply going to cut him lose. And while I’m sure they’d love to trade that money away, there aren’t many teams this offseason willing to take on money for an aging center fielder that can’t hit for average anymore.
Where do the Braves Find the Value in Ender?
There is still a role to play for Ender Inciarte, and it could be a very crucial role as we go throughout the season.
Almost every team has someone on their bench they can bring in as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner — that player just usually doesn’t cost almost $9 million.
You think about guys like Jarrod Dyson who is a career .246 hitter but has managed to play 11 years in the big leagues simply because of his speed and defense.
Especially without a DH this year and Marcell Ozuna forced to play in left, the Braves are going to need Ender to come in for defense late in games.
Ender is also good at putting the ball in play, albeit usually a weak groundball to second, but if you need a pinch-hitter off the bench to just put the ball in play to bring a runner home, he can get it done for you.
dark. Next. The Braves Scouted this Guy!?!?
I know Ender wants to believe he’s still a starter, and maybe he’ll get another shot at it one day, but for this Braves team, his best value is coming off the bench. And if Snitker uses him the way I’ve described, he’ll still remain a big part of this team’s success in 2021.