Braves Outfield set up for Years to Come
The Atlanta Braves strive to have a good outfield every year. The 2017 season should be no different, with the likes of Ender Inciarte, Matt Kemp, and Nick Markakis patrolling the deep parts of the park. Together, these three provide a great mix of defense and good hitting for average and power.
The Starters
Ender Inciarte
Inciarte just signed a team-friendly contract for the next five seasons. As a result, he should be an integral part of the Braves future. He just won the 2016 Gold Glove for National League center fielders, making him one of the best defensive center fielders, if not the best, in the game last year.
He will never hit 30+ home runs in a season, but he is great in many other areas. Having him through his age-31 season will be tremendous not only for his teammates, who love him, but also for the fans who will get to see him compete whenever he takes the field.
Matt Kemp
The Braves traded for Kemp midway through the season last year and the offense took off. While he is 32 years old, he still has good offensive years left in him. On the other hand, defense is a weakness for Kemp. Playing right field will help alleviate some of that concern.
He is owed $21,500,000 for the next three years, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Deigo Padres will pay a big portion of his salary. This allows the Braves to focus their budget elsewhere. At the same time, they can keep young prospects who are not yet ready to compete at the highest level in the minors.
Nick Markakis
Not only is Markakis a good player, but he is an amazing teammate as well. One of the many reasons the Braves signed him in 2015 was for his leadership. He is only owed $11,000,000 each year for the next two years, allowing for him to easily stay and help contribute, or be moved if a team comes along with an offer the front office cannot refuse.
He is a great teammate who will help the team win any way possible. Because of that, he will help coach the young players on how to act like professionals. A player who is willing to help young prospects out the way Markakis will is invaluable.
The Future
These three players will help the Braves to compete in 2017 and allow younger prospects, such as Mallex Smith and Ronald Acuna, the time they need to develop and learn about the game. This is especially true for Alex Jackson, who the Braves just traded for. In high school, he was a catcher. Once drafted by the Seattle Mariners, he moved to the outfield; however, the Braves want him to try catching one more time. He now has all the time he needs to perfect catching, or move once again to the outfield if being behind the plate does not work out.
The Braves outfield has a bright future. It also is glowing now to help them be competitive and work toward making a playoff appearance in the new ballpark. The sacrifices that players have made and the ability to gel as a team have allowed for tremendous growth for years to come.
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