Atlanta Braves: What to do with a suddenly crowded outfield

What about the prospects?

Before we get too far into why it makes sense for the Braves to not trade Inciarte or non-tender Duvall, there are some ramifications in doing just that.

And their names are Cristian Pache and Drew Waters.

According to Baseball America (subscription required), Pache is the Braves top prospect, while Waters is the second-best prospect and both are knocking on the door of the big leagues.

After being promoted to Triple-A last summer, Pache hit .274 in 95 at-bats, but it’s his defense that will get him to Atlanta sooner rather than later.

Waters hit .271 in 107 at-bats, but what puts him slightly behind Pache’s timetable is the strikeouts—he had 43 of them at Triple-A.

Obviously injuries and poor production can and will happen, but let’s say the Braves choose to keep the roster the way it is and Pache tears it up in Spring Training and then at Triple-A?

Do you keep him in Gwinnett all year and then trade Inciarte in the offseason?

What if Waters does something similar?

Now, these would be great, albeit unlikely problems to have. But they at least need to be considered.

With that being said, I say go for it. Keep them all.

Let’s give Snitker Dodger-esque roster flexibility that the Braves have not had in the longest time.

Move the prospects for a big in-season trade if needed.

More talent is never a bad thing, especially when it has been nearly 20 years since the last postseason series win.