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Atlanta Braves: Ranking Best Available Outfield Options

By Jake Mastroianni

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 26: Outfielders (from left to right ) Ronald Acuna, Jr. #13, Ender Inciarte #11 and right fielder Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves kneel during a pitching change in the seventh inning during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 26, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 26: Outfielders (from left to right ) Ronald Acuna, Jr. #13, Ender Inciarte #11 and right fielder Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves kneel during a pitching change in the seventh inning during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at SunTrust Park on July 26, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers hits a sacrifice fly scoring Delino DeShields #3 against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers hits a sacrifice fly scoring Delino DeShields #3 against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

3. Nomar Mazara

It sounds like the Atlanta Braves have had conversations with the rebuilding Texas Rangers, and Nomar Mazara is a player who makes a lot of sense.

The 23-year-old — will turn 24 in April — is under club control for three more seasons. This will be his first arbitration-eligible season so he’ll receive a nice raise, but not anything significant.

He has hit exactly 20 home runs in three straight seasons. Last year he hit 20 home runs in only 128 games, so there is potential for him to get into the mid-20s.

The big drawback on Mazara is that he is kind of an all-or-nothing hitter. He’s hit .266, .253, and .258 in his first three seasons with a career on-base percentage of .320.

Two years ago he had an incredible year for Texas hitting .253 with 20 home runs and 101 RBI. I think the Braves would love to add that kind of thump at the five or six spot in their lineup.

If this is the type of hitter the Braves are looking for, then Mazara could make a lot of sense. I would imagine the asking price for the Rangers is a little high considering he has three years of control and is someone they could build around.

The Braves could also be interested in Shin-Shoo Choo as he would be a temporary fix in the outfield, and the Braves wouldn’t have to sacrifice any high prospects… though his best days are clearly behind him.

But I still like the idea of Mazara joining this team: the best out of the Rangers outfielders.

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