The Atlanta Braves acquired Ender Inciarte via trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks one month ago, but he might be on his way on another trade to play for a different team, the Houston Astros.
The 25-year old outfielder who had a strong rookie season in Arizona and an even better 2015 has also been one of the more solider defensive players at the position, to everyone’s surprise, since the Diamondbacks gave him his first chance. He was traded as part of the package the Diamondbacks gave up for Shelby Miller, and the Braves are trying to see what they can get for him, not being too invested in his early development and willing to see him go away for the right price.
The Astros have only asked about him for now, nothing more, but it could develop into a potential deal. The question is whether the Astros have enough players and young talent to give up for Inciarte. They’ve already handed over quite a few in other deals they’ve made, and it might also inquire moving the disappointing Carlos Gomez, who landed on the team last summer after being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Inciarte hit six home runs last season, batting .303 and posting a .747 OPS, getting on base just over a third of the time, showing impressive improvement compared to an already good rookie season. He seems like the kind of player the Braves would like to have stick around considering their rebuild mode, and the need for young, talented players. He played in all three outfield positions last season, doing pretty well all over the place. At the salary he’s going to be making in 2016, he’s probably one of the more cost effective players to have in baseball.