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3 Braves Players Who Will Be on the Trade Block in 2020

By Brendan Balsamo

Ender Inciarte could definitely see himself on a new team by the end of 2020.
Ender Inciarte could definitely see himself on a new team by the end of 2020. / Logan Riely/Getty Images

With the Atlanta Braves having a legitimate chance to repeat as champs in one of the toughest divisions in baseball in 2020, there's no doubt they'll be looking to upgrade before and during the season (when it resumes). But that means they'll have to part ways with some talent on their roster in order to make it happen.

Here are three guys the Braves will likely trade in the event they go through with this plan.

3. Adam Duvall

Adam Duvall is a more than capable hitter but hasn't been given the fairest shake on the Braves.
Adam Duvall is a more than capable hitter but hasn't been given the fairest shake on the Braves. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Adam Duvall has shown himself to be a completely capable MLB hitter, but hasn't been given the fairest shake on the Braves. After hitting 33 and 31 home runs in 2016 and 2017, Duvall was traded to the Braves in 2018, where he underperformed. Last season, though he only played in 41 games, he hit 10 home runs and had a .333 average against left-handed pitching. If he can put up similar numbers before the trade deadline, another team will find value in that and the Braves could capitalize.

2. Drew Waters

The Braves could trade prospect Drew Waters this season while his value is still high.
The Braves could trade prospect Drew Waters this season while his value is still high. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images

A second-round pick in 2017, Drew Waters has done nothing but improve rocket through the Braves' farm system. His average has ballooned from .278 in 2017, to .293 in 2018, to .306 in 2019. The 21-year-old reached Triple-A in his third year with the organization and has racked up 39 stolen bases the last two seasons. Given the Braves' plentiful outfield depth that's headlined by the future in Ronald Acuña and Christian Pache, Waters, though incredibly impressive, will likely be good trade bait for general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

1. Ender Inciarte

Ender Inciarte is coming off an injury-shortened season but is still owed a bit of money from the Braves.
Ender Inciarte is coming off an injury-shortened season but is still owed a bit of money from the Braves. / Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Ender Inciarte is projected to be the Braves starting centerfielder in 2020, but he's clearly been trending downward for a couple years now. However, teams will surely see value in the 29-year-old, who is coming off a season in which he only played 65 games due to injury. He still has two years left on his deal for a TOTAL of $15 million and there's no doubt plenty will be interested in acquiring the star defender. As for the Braves, they can send him packing to address another area of the roster and get by without him. Moving Ronald Acuna Jr. to centerfield with plenty of corner outfield options is the easy solution. With Nick Markakis and Marcell Ozuna out there as well as top prospect Christian Pache knocking on the door, there's really no need for Inciarte on this roster.