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Atlanta Braves potential outfielders part 2: Trade targets

By Fred Owens

The Atlanta Braves have multiple openings and hope to begin hiring after the World Series is over. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves have multiple openings and hope to begin hiring after the World Series is over. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 10, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Trey Mancini #16 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 10, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Trey Mancini – Orioles

  • BATS:  RIGHT
  • THROWS:  RIGHT
  • AGE:  27 (28 next March)
  • 1ST YEAR ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE
  • PROJECTED SALARY:  $5.7 million
  • POSITION:  CORNER OUTFIELD, 1st BASE

It seems like Trey Mancini’s been around a long time because he’s been a fixture in the Orioles lineup since 2017. In 462 games, Mancini batted .276/.335/.485/.819, with 88 doubles and 86 homers.  That’s good for a 132 wRC+, a .373 wOBA, and a total of 5.2 fWAR.

Mancini had a breakout year in 2019 batting .291/.364/.535/.899, with 132 wRC+,a .373 wOBA and earning 3.2 fWAR. The WPA/LI stat we don’t hear much about, so here’s a one-line description from Fangraphs.

"WPA/LI measures how much value a player added to their team regardless of the leverage."

This scale from that linked page shows what the numbers mean relative to the average player, not replacement level; average.

Rating WPA/LI
Excellent 5.0
Great 3.0
Above Average 1.5
Average 0.0
Below Average -0.5
Poor -1.3
Awful -2.0

Mancini’s 4.06 is, far and away, the best score this season among the players discussed today.

Mancini walks and strikes out near league average, makes medium to hard contact and averages a line drive rate near 20%

The biggest knock on Mancini is his glove. He has inconsistent Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) rates at both corner spots and first base and looks about replacement level according to the metrics.

Starling Marte  – Pirates

  • BATS:  RIGHT
  • THROWS:  RIGHT
  • AGE:  31
  • UNDER CONTRACT, THOUGH W/TEAM OPTIONS FOR 2020 AND 2021
  • 2020 SALARY $11.5 million (Pirates buyout price $2 million)
  • 2021 SALARY $12.5 million ($1 buyout)
  • POSITION:  CORNER OUTFIELD, BACKUP CF

The Pirates aren’t openly talking about moving Marte; he took over as the face of the team after Andrew McCutchen left and remains a popular player. However, he is 31 and unlikely to lead the next great Pirate renaissance.

The team has a serious issue to resolve, and Marte may offer the best return for a trade. He has two years left, so the time to trade him is now.

The Pirates are getting a new team president and looking for a manager who won’t cost much after firing Clint Hurdle. Their best pitcher is facing a second TJ surgery, and the rest of the rotation is thin.

Any objective view says “trade now” or “regret it later”.

Marte’s no longer an everyday centerfielder.  All the metrics suggest he’s better suited to a corner spot these days, and he played left for six years while Cutch roamed center. Over the last three seasons, Marte batted .283/.335/.481/.816, with 43  homers with a .345 wOBA and 115 wRC+.

Marte’s a leader stuck on a roster full of problems. A new start with the Atlanta Braves would rejuvenate him and make the lineup longer and stronger. The Pirates would want controllable pitching, Touki Toussaint, and a PTBNL should work.

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