Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte is facing an uncertain future as the trade deadline approaches, having struggled this season and lost his place as a regular in the club’s lineup. Despite his downturn in playing time, Inciarte told Jeff Schultz of The Athletic (subscription link) that he has no desire to leave the Braves.
“I haven’t heard if I’m going to get traded or not,” said Inciarte, who added: “If you ask me, would I rather be somewhere else, the answer is I’d rather not. I love Atlanta. There’s not any other uniform I’d like to wear.”
Rookie Austin Riley swiped Inciarte’s starting role after the veteran went to the injured list with a lumbar strain May 15. Inciarte returned a week ago after a two-month absence, but he has only collected 10 plate appearances since then. The Braves have typically deployed an outfield consisting of Riley in left, Ronald Acuna Jr. in center (Inciarte’s usual position) and Nick Markakis in right since Inciarte went down.
The Braves’ new outfield (mostly Acuna) has notched good production, though Riley’s numbers have tanked since a sizzling start. In the aggregate, though, Riley’s .246/.298/.504 line with 16 home runs in 242 PA far outpaces the .205/.293/.303 slash and two HRs Inciarte has put up across 150 PA. Moreover, the 28-year-old Inciarte owns the majors’ second-lowest average exit velocity (78.3 mph), per Statcast, which doesn’t show much of a gap between his paltry .262 weighted on-base average and his .271 expected wOBA. Needless to say, those numbers don’t bode well for a turnaround.
It’s true that Inciarte has never been an offensive force, but he was almost a league-average hitter with the Diamondbacks and Braves from 2014-18. Combining that with stellar defense and quality base running was enough to make Inciarte a solid starter prior to this season, and it helped convince the Braves to ink him to a five-year, $30.525MM extension in advance of the 2017 campaign. Thanks to that deal, Inciarte’s playing this year on a $5MM salary and will earn a combined $15MM over the next two seasons ($7MM in 2020, $8MM in ’21). Not long ago, those looked like bargain figures for Inciarte, but his disastrous 2019 – along with lessening his importance to the Braves – has surely done a number on his trade value.
Everybody seems to be giving up on Ender, but up until this season he had 5 years of league average hitting + elite defense/base running. I don’t get it.
The radio shockjocks here in Atlanta have been against him for years. I really don’t understand it either… we stole him in a Kings ransom when we traded for him and he’s done nothing but play well for us and win gold gloves since he arrived.
I would have to argue that he’d had 3 close to average, 2 below average and 1 well below average offensive season. Those are the makings of a solid bench piece.
If you use that .700-750 OPS area as average (something like .730 is around the median) he’s been between .705 and .759 every year before now.
This year it’s a woeful .596 which is Billy Hamilton-like.
I look at OPS+ where 100 is average which he has only been at once in his career. But he has had two 98 so I counted those as close to average and grouped them with his lone 100 OPS+ season.
Why group them like that? They are different seasons so why not call the 100 ops+ an average season?
Is the OPS+ 100 Season in 2015 one of the three CLOSE to average seasons you are talking about? Because that is the epitome of average. Arguing over whether 98 is average or not is kind of splitting hairs itself.
Yeah, that’s why I grouped them together, the average of the three seasons is 98.6 which is close to average.
But why? It seems disingenuous. Why not just give him bis league average batting season?
Okay, he has had one league average season in his career. Feel better now?
It’s a better reflection of his production so sure.
Inciarte for Melancon and cash?
His no trade clause and deferred money ($8m from 2021-2028 could be trouble.
Guess it depends on how much money. He’s owed almost as much as Ender is for 2020 and 2021 in just 2020. And he’s owed something like $3m more than Ender the rest of this year.
You don’t even have to offer the Giants Ender for Melancon I bet to get out of that contract Farhad would take Duval. He is the exact type of player he finds from other organizations and gives them a chance to shine. Duvall is killing it in AAA but if not him I think Demeritte would be more than enough he came back this year in a big way and again is a type of player Farhad loves. He plays good defense, can steal a base and has a ton of power. Travis should be out of options soon so you risk losing him anyway and it would be all about getting out from Melancon’s contract.
With saying all of that the Braves I really hope are shooting for a better Closer than Mark Malencon for the stretch run.
Don’t forget Washington will be looking for bullpen help as well so we need to match what they get or do better than them.
Demeritte hasn’t used a single option. He’s never been on the 40 man. What are you talking about?
He has already been left unprotected for rule 5 draft he was drafted in 2013
as a Giants fan you’re proposing this? Melanin has for the most part. returned to usefulness AND the Giants are digging their OF arrangement, at least for the moment…but, to play along, Inciarte and cash for Melancon…but where does Ender fit?
sorry autocorrect screwed Melancon spelling lol
Yep! He would be more useful in the OF grass then Melancon is in the pen, especially with some of the arms we have in the minors. Braves need some pen help so works both ways
Every outfielder the Giants currently have on the roster is having a better year than Inciarte. You would literally be making the bullpen and outfield worse.
Melancon has returned to usefulness..for the last 8 IP. Come on. And even during this hot streak the Giants have been on Pillar’s OPS has been .677 for July.
Also, you had to preffice your post with “for the moment” twice. Get the impression the Giants thrust right now is smoke and mirrors?
That doesn’t really make sense for either team.
Braves are going to trade him when his value is at its lowest?! To who?!?!
I’ll say this as a Jays fan though, he could very well be finished. Maybe not. But the Braves have the right guy in charge tasked with moving out a bad outfield contract…*cough* Vernon Wells…*cough cough*.
AA is a very good judge of talent and negotiator. If theres anyone that can get rid of this guy’s contract and still get some value it’s him.
Exactly. AA’s a great judge of talent.
Like Colby Rasmus.
Like Esmil Rogers.
Like Steve Tolleson.
Like JoJo Reyes.
Like Deck McGuire.
Like Sergio Santos.
Like JA Happ part 1.
Like Cliff Pennington.
We can continue this lie if you’d like?
I didn’t see one single big contract in that list. Who cares if those players didn’t become superstars?
Judgement of talent was the topic of discussion, not contracts. Please keep that in-mind.
Just a suggestion; make sure you know the topic before responding. You could have used a draft argument instead.
Moving out a bad contract was the point…
“AA is a very good judge of talent and negotiator”
Did my eyes deceive me or did you say that?
Angels have had a variety of bad contracts the last 10 years. It appears Vernon Wells was just one of the boys.
That’s just rediculous. I could go down a list of players that were brought in by any team because they were depth pieces and pawn it off as showing a lack of talent evaluation.
You are either being deliberately deceptive or you know just enough aboit baseball to almost look intelligent.
Kinda funny how you left the players who played well out. He drafted Syndergaard, Aaron Sanchez, Sam Dyson, Daniel Norris, Kevin Pillar, Marcus Stroman, he traded for Donaldson. He also made some very good extensions. With the braves he grabbed Culberson for basically nothing, he got swarzak for nothing, he held on to Luke Jackson while he sucked (and he’s turned into a pretty good pitcher), he had Shane Carle who was pretty good last year. Every single gm has had players who failed, but it’s ridiculous to say AA sucks at judging talent.
Hi Zach. Can you point out the comment where I said he “sucks” at judging talent?
If you asked instead of presuming I would have said decent. Not very good. Decent enough to deserve the Atlanta job when it became open. Decent is when you make good decisions and not so good decisions. I believe that is a fair assessment of Anthopoulos.
Thanks for your snappy input arm chair pro
You’re welcome
Hey can you go down EVERY teams depth moves that were brought in on minor league contracts and then judge those moves also? Because I’m pretty sure you will be dissapointed with ALL of them.
The White Sox send Alex Colomé, Leury Garcia, and ~$2.7 million in cash (completely covering Colomé and Garcia, minus the prorated minimum) to the Braves for Ender Inciarte and two pitchers from among Mike Foltyniewicz, Kolby Allard, or Joey Wentz. The White Sox select the first pitcher, and the Braves select the second.
The Braves fill their closer’s role for the next two years, get more versatility out of Inciarte’s roster spot for the next two years, and free up either ~$1.9 million or ~$3.7 million (depending on whether Foltyniewicz is included) in 2019 payroll to facilitate another deal. They also free up $7.7 million in 2020 and $8.7 million in 2021, although that $7.7 million will need to be used to offset some of what Colomé and Garcia will make in 2020.
I don’t think you’ll be able to get 2 of the 3 pitchers you named. You’ll get 1 maybe, but definitely not 2.
That is a lot to give up for a 2nd or 3rd tier Closer
To tell you the truth to get Volome I don’t even think Ender would need to be part of that deal. I think 2 of those SP would be more than enough but do you really want Colome closing down games come playoff time or down the stretch ????
@Mahoney
I don’t think the Braves would want Garcia. The Braves have a roster crunch right now..They are carrying 13 position players and 12 pitchers. They are likely to go back to 12 position players. I would like Atl to start giving Camargo playing time for Kake atleast vs lefties. Culberson is nicknamed Charlie Clutch for a reason. So it comes down to Inciarte or Joyce.
Inciarte can play CF and has more speed. Joyce is the far superior pinch hitter. Which do you keep? That is the delima the Braves face right now.
So if they trade Ender, I think it is to free the spot up. Not add another bench player.
If the Braves go back to 13 pitchers, wouldn’t a guy who can switch hit and play IF and OF be even more desirable?
No chance. Colome is a ticking time bomb with poor peripherals and Garcia is nothing special and wouldn’t help the Braves.
Ender is not going anywhere unless AA is overwhelmed. He is the perfect 4th OF moving forward waiting for the kids to arrive.
I know I am in the minority but I wouldn’t mind seeing Riley traded.
Pache, Waters, Anderson, Wright & Contreras are all untouchable. The next tier of Touki, Wilson, Allard, Gohora & Wentz have all lowered their value and are probably not going to be able to be the focal point of any trade for what we need being an ACE or a Closer.
Mueller, Tarnock, Weigel, Beck, Dean & Ynoa all have risen their value and would be able to get a valuable trade piece but not to the level of what we need by themselves. But real good secondary pieces.
AA could still hardball negotiate with Donaldson for a 2 year deal maybe give him an option if needed or we still got Camargo to man 3rd.
Riley could still be that piece that could bring back what is really needed. The Ace & a Closer. You are not moving Camargo with his value as down as it is. Plus he has the versatility to play multiple positions in the case we do resign Donaldson which is what I want.
My plan going forward with at this deadline would be to call Arizona and offer them Folty for Greinke and $31 million dollars of the deferred money he is owed.
Then I would get on the phone with the Pirates and I would offer Riley, Touki, Allard, Dean & a lower level guy not on my list for Vázquez & Marte. I know the Pirates have Hayes coming up but they can either move him to another position or trade him. Riley would give them a nice power combo with Bell for years to come. And a rebuilding team can never have enough talented assets.
Then I would get on the phone with the Giants and give them Wilson & Demerritte for Smith.
We would have 2 dominate lockdown RPs. A starting LF/CF that can hit anywhere in the lineup that plays quality defense that is controlled up until our top prospect should be ready and the ACE we need.
Package Ender with pitching prospects in a deal with the Blue Jays. They have a lot of corner outfielders. Blue Jays can also take on Gausman to alleviate salary for 2020 to help offset Stroman and Giles.
What are Vazquez and marte’s contract situations? I could look it up but I’m lazy
Steelerbravenation trading Riley… What are you thinking?
Gotta give something to get something since AA sat on his hands all offseason. We have Donaldson and can resign him or play the QO with him if he accepts good if not 3B goes back to Camargo.
We are not a rebuilding team anymore & need a dominate closer. I wouldn’t trade Riley for just anybody. Vázquez is cost controlled.
I wouldn’t want Riley traded for Smith or Colome or Giles. Maybe Edwin Díaz.
Ender’s an expensive 4th OF/platoon piece but probably worth keeping until spring training or even the trade deadline next year.
If the Braves keep Donaldson, and Ender regains any hitting ability, he can play a lot of CF, freeing Acuna to play RF and Riley once again to play LF.
If Pache and/or Waters is ready to go early next year, Ender can be your bench OF. (Riley and Waters/Pache are still relatively cheap.)
If Riley’s your regular 3B, then the Braves will have to get another OF, and guys who can play corner spots and have more offensive ability than Ender are available. Matt Joyce, for instance.
Ender has value as a part-time player and he would get back next to nothing in a trade. If he can’t rebuild any value between now and next August, then move him. Unless someone else is willing to really overpay hoping he’ll return to his earlier form.
Ender type hitters have to hit 290 to have a positive impact offensively. No power, doesn’t walk much, and doesn’t steal bases at an elite clip. There’s no margin of error to be useful offensively for someone like Ender. Riley is struggling and I don’t see the Braves selling low on Ender.
The issue with Ender is also…Camargo, Culberson, and Joyce. Right now the Braves are carrying 13 position players and 12 pitchers. At what point are they going to go back to just 12 position players?
Yes because of his defense Ender has been great for Atlanta. However, that doesn’t always mean that player is part of the future. Acuna, Pache (already considered better defensively), and Waters should be considered as the Braves future outfield. I don’t think Ender’s bat is good enough to be a 4th OF with those 3 out there and his speed isn’t elite enough to be a game changer on the bases as a pinch runner in the playoffs.
So as good as Ender has been, he is still the odd out at some point.
Agree one of the 4 have to go. For me, Camargo goes. Part of his decline this year is due to a lack of hustle. People say give him more playing time but, honestly, he doesn’t seem like he is willing to earn the time.
Ender has defensive skills above most, and Clutch and Joyce have simply produced.
How can you make any justifiable comment about Camargo when he hasn’t played consistently. What are you expecting out of a young player that hasn’t had consistent AB’s. Camargo, Culberson and Joyce have all played exceedingly well when given the opportunity. You try and go up to the plate and get timing and hand eye co-ordination 100% perfect when you get extremely limited AB’s.
I’m not speaking specifically on timing (though Joyce and Culberson seem to do well under same circumstance)
But also, the hustle aspect..I’m a season ticket holder and running out grounders (which he hits a LOT of) would seem to be, at the least, tablestakes for someone needing more playing time!
But, maybe that’s just me.
get a better batting average and actually hit. cause you suck right now. I’ll take Riley all day over you. #tradeender
Problem with Ender as a 4th outfielder is that he lacks value as a pinch hitter.
The people writing off Ender Inciarte haven’t got a clue about baseball. 45 games is an extremely small sample size for 2019. You don’t just write him off like that and Ender’s glove and his base stealing capabilities are worth a lot to this team. He’s a very similar player to Otis Nixon with regard to their capabilities with glove, base stealing and bat.
Actually not a bad comparison to Otis Nixon. I feel Otis was a better lead off man, better base stealer but Ender is a better defender with a better arm not that Nixon was bad. Quite the contrary he was extremely good defensively.
Runners would go first to home on a sharp single to Nixon.
Ok but he may have the greatest catch of the 90’s Braves. Him or Grissom’s.
He chased that ball off Van Slyle’s bat like nothing I ever seen before.
Ender is just going to mess up the chemistry unless he starts hitting really soon.
Yes, agree, the Braves ‘American League’ lineup becomes rather pedestrian when you have Camargo, Inciarte and the pitcher following a slow runner like McCann….chances of scoring with the bottom 4 almost nil.