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Ender Inciarte Elects Free Agency

By Steve Adams | July 19, 2022 at 7:49am CDT

Veteran outfielder Ender Inciarte, whom the Mets designated for assignment last week, rejected an outright assignment in favor of free agency, per Minor League Baseball’s transactions log. Inciarte, who began the season on a minor league deal with the Yankees, signed with the Mets shortly after being cut loose in the Bronx. He was in the Majors a week later but tallied only eight plate appearances over 11 games, functioning primarily as a late-inning option off the bench for Mets skipper Buck Showalter.

It’s quite a different place than Inciarte found himself just five years ago, when he was representing the Braves as an All-Star at this point in the summer. That year saw Inciarte bat .300 for the second time in three seasons and take home the second of what would be three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. A standout table-setter and all-world defender at that point in his career, Inciarte batted .300/.347/.401 with 20 homers, 78 doubles, 17 triples and 59 stolen bases in 420 games/1857 plate appearances from 2015-17.

Inciarte looked like a core piece for the Braves, who rewarded him with a five-year, $30.525MM extension in December of 2016. He won his second and third Gold Gloves in the contract’s first two seasons and also smacked 21 homers with 50 stolen bases, generally making the deal look like a wise investment.

A back strain cost him more than two months of the 2019 season, however, and he injured his hamstring not long after returning from that first lengthy stay on the injured list. He posted respectable but diminished numbers at the plate that season, but Inciarte’s bat completely cratered in 2020 and hasn’t yet rebounded. He’s turned in just a .197/.262/.271 slash line since Opening Day 2020, and while that’s a small sample of 228 plate appearances, Inciarte hasn’t fared well in Triple-A, either. He’s also dealt with further hamstring issues along the way.

A team needing some defense in center field and/or some speed off the bench could take a look at Inciarte, but it seems likelier he’ll find a new organization on a minor league contract after the All-Star break. At 31 years old, it’s possible Inciarte could get healthy and reemerge as a viable big league outfielder. He still has average or better defensive ratings dating back to 2019, but they don’t stack up with the elite rates he posted prior to the back and hamstring injuries that began in that 2019 campaign.

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New York Mets Transactions Ender Inciarte

A Cheap And Controllable Catcher That Could Be Available At The Deadline
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Giants, Andrew Knapp Agree To Minor League Deal
View Comments (38)
Post a Comment

38 Comments

  1. clrrogers

    3 years ago

    The Blue Jays would be better off with Inciarte than Bradley Zimmer. At least Inciarte has a history of success.

    2
    Reply
    • bravesfan

      3 years ago

      You’re actually right, they probably would be better off. But his history of success with the bat pretty much went downhill in 2018 and then vanished in 2020 and beyond. Still … looks better than Zimmer lol !

      1
      Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      Zimmer was better last year. Inciarte’s past success is basically irrelevant at this point. He is what he is now.

      Reply
      • hiflew

        3 years ago

        I’m confused. You say that Zimmer was better last year, but Inciarte’s past success doesn’t matter? So why does Zimmer’s past success matter?

        1
        Reply
        • Cosmo2

          3 years ago

          C’mon now. Last year is relevant. Four years ago isn’t. Are we really confused here? You’re smarter than that.

          Reply
    • You Can Put It In The Books

      3 years ago

      Future Marlins starting CF

      Reply
  2. SanDiegoTom

    3 years ago

    Here ya go, Preller.

    Reply
  3. hiflew

    3 years ago

    I think he would be a good signing for Oakland after they trade Laureano. Could give them a veteran presence and give him a chance to re-establish some value.

    2
    Reply
    • RunDMC

      3 years ago

      If you want a cheaper, better defensive-only CF, just bring Pache back up and let him develop in real-time.

      Reply
      • StudWinfield

        3 years ago

        With a ops+ of 17 through 290 PA’s I don’t think developing at the MLB level is working for Pache. You can subject a young player to only so much failure w/o success before it’s completely counter-productive. Kellenic in SEA is a similar situation.

        Reply
      • hiflew

        3 years ago

        Yeah, but if you want to remain a major league club instead of a AAA club, you go with a guy like Inciarte and let Pache learn the game in a developmental league like AAA. Plus, Pache won’t be cheaper. Inciarte will be a minimum salary guy too.

        Reply
        • acmeants

          3 years ago

          Always liked Ender; hope he lands in a good spot. Pache is defense only, no bat. Braves kept him too long.

          1
          Reply
    • rct

      3 years ago

      I don’t think he’s ever going to re-establish value again. He is what he is. A good fielder who cannot hit a lick.

      1
      Reply
      • hiflew

        3 years ago

        Only one way to find out.

        Reply
        • Cosmo2

          3 years ago

          At some point you have to allow yourself an evaluation. By your logic we NEVER know who a player is. Inciarte is most certainly a good fielder who’s bat isn’t good enough for most roles. At best he’s a backup CFr for a desperate team. Some things are relatively clear.

          Reply
        • You Can Put It In The Books

          3 years ago

          Mailed it, Cosmo. He is what he is – and that is a very useful player under specific circumstances.

          1
          Reply
        • You Can Put It In The Books

          3 years ago

          Nailed*

          Reply
  4. signenderinciarte

    3 years ago

    LETS GO ENDER U GONNA BE AN ALL STAR AGAIN

    3
    Reply
  5. One Bite Hotdog

    3 years ago

    ME(nder)GA

    Reply
  6. jaysfansince1977

    3 years ago

    One portion of the article caught my attention, “could find an opportunity after the All Star break” Is there a hold on transactions during the break?

    1
    Reply
    • Steve Adams

      3 years ago

      No, there’s not, but teams generally don’t announce transactions during the break. The league prefers the focus to be on the All-Star Game and surrounding festivities. No rule against it, but most clubs tend to be quiet during this time.

      13
      Reply
      • jaysfansince1977

        3 years ago

        Thanks Steve!

        1
        Reply
      • ThisIsTheYear

        3 years ago

        Shut up Steve

        Reply
  7. msqboxer

    3 years ago

    At this point in his career he’s not getting a starting spot anywhere even on a bad team blocking someones development. He’d probably be a good fit with the Cards or Brewers as a depth piece and injury insurance.

    1
    Reply
  8. mike156

    3 years ago

    It’s possible that he’s just lost enough of his talent to make him no longer viable as a starter except for a non-competitive team looking to fill a gap temporarily. Weird, though, because he was a solid option not all that long ago and he isn’t old

    2
    Reply
  9. Sheep8

    3 years ago

    Maybe Korea…spot available with Lotte

    1
    Reply
  10. dadofdonnydownvote

    3 years ago

    Ender is getting close to that elusive 8 years of service and $100,000 from the pension the rest of his life. I did 11 1/2 years at a class 1 railroad and I’m looking at 1/5 of that and at 62 years of age.

    3
    Reply
    • themailman

      3 years ago

      Great view about the service time. I’m sure that has a lot to do about continuing to look for opportunities, but im sure being just 31 and not performing the way he did a few years ago has to be eating at him. Having 30 million in the bank does make it easier to not give up also lol!!!

      1
      Reply
    • Paleobros

      3 years ago

      Hmmm I thought it was 10 years for that to fully kick in.

      Reply
      • brodie-bruce

        3 years ago

        no 10 years is the fully vested mark, which means you earn the max amount that is given to you.

        Reply
  11. User 3595123227

    3 years ago

    The Ender of it all.

    Reply
  12. siddfinch1079

    3 years ago

    I wonder why he declined so quickly. At 31, I wouldn’t call him “old” so it’s crazy to think that back and hamstring issues would’ve sapped so much of his talent. Maybe rest/train for a season and try and latch on somewhere during spring training would be the best option..

    Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      31 is the age of decline basically. He didn’t have that far to fall. Nothing unusual at all about his career pattern.

      Reply
    • brodie-bruce

      3 years ago

      @sid with what the majority of us and the fact were not pro athletes we can have them injuries and be fine, but with pros especially with bb a sore hammy or back can easily derailing your career. mlb hitters generate a lot of torque in there lower body and back, and if it hurts to swing at 100% your only going to swing as hard before it starts hurting. also you can add in pros natural competitive nature and fears that if there injured to long some kid is going to take my job so i gotta get back and re-injure themselves and the cycle spirals out of control. btw the last point is just my belief and not based on any research but watching a lot of bb and some of the bad declines in players)

      1
      Reply
  13. UWPSUPERFAN77

    3 years ago

    How about signing with my Brewers! Hits better than Mr.180 Davis!

    Reply
  14. angt222

    3 years ago

    I would have preferred to see him stay with the big league club rather than Jankowski.

    Reply
    • Cosmo2

      3 years ago

      Why? Jankowski has had more recent success. Neither is very good and whichever one you choose it’s not gonna move the needle anyway so one is as good (or bad) as the other really. I personally prefer Jankowski but it scarcely matters.

      1
      Reply
  15. SoCalBrave

    3 years ago

    Angels should be calling, at least while Trout is out

    Reply

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