Atlanta Braves and Oakland: is there a deal for an outfielder possible?

Pulling all of this together

Finnegan has potential, but I don’t feel he helps the bullpen next season, he’d be more of a future asset and we have those in-house.

Mark called Laureano a more athletic Ender Inciarte. I’m not sure he’s more athletic than Ender, but he has shown more power and an arm at least as strong as Ender’s; both have a plus arm. For me he’s Ender version 1.5; not better just younger and without enough power to be the corner bat we need.

We’ve talked a lot here about Nick-Markakis-like players; Piscotty is very Markakis-like on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he’ll hit 270-ish against either-handed pitchers, spray the ball to all fields, strikeout below league average and walk at or above league average.

He’ll hit 30 + doubles a year like Markakis but has the power to hit 25 homers a year, and he’s faster than Kakes and won’t hit into as many double plays as Markakis did.

While most of us dream about cloning Acuna and playing him on both sides of the outfield, Piscotty is a really nice fit with a low annual cost and a contract they can move when Waters and Cristian Pache arrive. He would cost us at least as much as Laureano, but he’s worth it.

That’s a wrap

I want to thank Mark for stirring the pot. While his player wasn’t the one that floated to the top, the idea spurred research that led to a new idea. Even if it doesn’t happen – and the odds are very long – the exercise was worth the work.

The Atlanta Braves are playing this postseason acquisition game very close to the chest. I expect Alex Anthopoulos to acquire a corner outfielder and, if one he feels worth investing in becomes available, a starting pitcher.

I’m starting to feel that a player the Padres may trade is Hunter Renfroe as they cast about for a direction. I still also like the idea of Eddie Rosario, but the Twins see a chance to ambush the Indians and win the Central.

As I researched this, I warmed to the idea of Piscotty in right field. He’ll play at 28 next year; that’s young enough to speak on the same level as the Braves young guns but still provide experienced leadership.

The Braves could do a lot worse than acquiring Stephen Piscotty.