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Atlanta Braves: The Case to Keep Inciarte and Trade Foltynewicz

By Jake Mastroianni

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Mike Foltynewicz #26 after Inciarte scored against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the eighth inning at AT&T Park on September 11, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Mike Foltynewicz #26 after Inciarte scored against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the eighth inning at AT&T Park on September 11, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 22: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates scoring during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 22: Ender Inciarte #11 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates scoring during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 22, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

Please Keep Ender

Ender Inciarte is the most likely major league player to get traded, but I would be pretty upset if that happens because I love him.

There is the thought that Ronald Acuna could take over in center field and be just as good defensively, but I just don’t see that happening.

Ender has won three straight Gold Glove awards, and I believe anyone who watches him play every night knows just how great he is in center field.

I’m not saying that Acuna isn’t capable of being a very good fielder in center, but I’d rather him chill in a corner spot and focus on hitting 30-plus bombs a year.

On top of that, the Braves would be selling low on Inciarte after he just hit .265 in 2018.

But even more so, I think last year was just an offseason for Inciarte at the plate. He’s still a career .289 hitter and hasn’t hit below .291 since his rookie season in 2014.

Ender has gotten off to slow starts the past two seasons with the Braves, but last year’s slump lasted a little longer.

But after hitting just .241 the first half of the season, he hit .302 in the second half with a .345 on-base percentage.

In my opinion, Inciarte can still be a very good hitter who could move back up to the leadoff spot, allowing Acuna to move down where he can drive in more runs.

I also love the fire that Inciarte plays with. When Acuna got plunked by that gutless Miami pitcher who we will not name, he was the first one to the top of the steps. You cannot replace that passion.

And then when you consider that he is set to make $5.7, $7.7, $8.7, and $9 million the next four years, it would almost be idiotic to trade Inciarte in my opinion.

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