Atlanta Braves Mailbag: Fans ask about Mitch Haniger and Adeiny Hechavarría

No Atlanta Braves Interest in Marte?

Randall Thomas asks why he’s heard nothing about Starling Marte and the Atlanta Braves.

Marte seems like a great addition for not a lot of price. Should I be surprised there hasn’t been more national spotlight on the Braves being a team of interest?

No, not really, Rumors about Marcell Ozuna originated in St Louis, and still center around talk from there. It’s pretty easy to say that the Atlanta Braves have an interest in any middle-of-the-order bat since Anthopoulos expressed that interest in an interview($).

National writers have yet to connect the Atlanta Braves with Starling Marte, or any other outfielder that I can recall.  Once Travis d’Arnaud signed, national writers focus fell on writing about Josh Donaldson’s preferences (they have no more idea than many others) and the teams that were competing with the Braves for his services.

Those writers were also busy trying to put big-name free agents with a team. Now that the feeding frenzy of an auction died down to a big melee, they’ve begun to turn their attention to trades.

Those writers had Marte going to the Phillies or Mets. The Mets are still players, but it seems the Phillies aren’t looking that direction now. The Padres seem to have an outfielder fetish, having traded for two and sent one away, but Jon Heyman says the Friars are interested in Marte too,

We know the Pirates want a catcher, and the Padres could send Francisco Mejia if they want Marte badly, but first, they have to find someone to take Wil Myers’ contract off their hands.

William Contreras alone should be enough to land Marte and certainly enough with another piece to give the Pirates enough to say they won.