JP Martinez
Another new addition to the Braves 40-man roster this offseason came via a trade with the Rangers that brought in JP Martinez. While adding Martinez did cost the Braves a promising young arm in Tyler Owens, Martinez is a pretty interesting left-handed outfield depth piece as he posted a .963 OPS in the minor leagues in 2023. However, his brief stint in the big leagues didn't go nearly as well as he only managed a .225/.250/.325 in 44 plate appearances.
The problem with Martinez is a combination of lack of opportunity and a lack of track record of production. While his 2023 season in the minors was very good, his previous campaigns were more lackluster and there are some that openly question whether or not his success last year was more a function of his experience vs. the level of competition instead of representing what his true ceiling is. The Braves also already have a very capable fourth outfielder in Forrest Wall who is also a great pinch runner, so one wonders when the Braves would use Martinez at all in the near future.
Again, there is no reason for the Braves to cut Martinez anytime soon as they have plenty of 40-man space and having outfield depth has a lot of value especially with Jarred Kelenic being a little bit of a wild card this season. The best guess is that the Braves' outfield of Kelenic, Harris II, and Acuna Jr. will get the vast majority of the playing time with Wall probably coming in a bit to give guys days off as needed. There is a chance that Martinez could get a look if someone gets hurt, but he is more an insurance policy than anything else.
However, if Martinez struggles in the minors and the Braves find themselves either in need of a 40-man spot or they find another outfield depth piece that they like better, don't be surprised if Martinez is the odd man out.