Possible Landing Spots for MLB Free Agent Outfielder Michael Brantley
By Josh Ejnes
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves seem to be one of the teams most actively pursuing Brantley, which is why Dave O’Brien, who covers Atlanta sports for the Athletic, was tweeting about him.
The Braves are clearly a team that is trying to contend this year, and with a strong core of players under 30 it seems like that’s going to be the plan for a while. Brantley could be a huge asset in this pursuit.
Right now the outfield is where the Braves are spread the thinnest, with Ender Inciarte and Adam Duvall currently sitting at the top of the depth chart in center and right field respectively. Neither of these players are terrible outfield options, and both would be passable, but if Brantley could take one of their spots it would really help with the Braves depth, leaving them with more capable gloves and bats on the bench.
Much of the discussion around the Braves and Brantley talks about how if he joined the team he’d likely take over in right field pretty much as a direct replacement for Nick Markakis, the veteran who held down that position for the Braves last year in his first All-Star season.
Brantley and Markakis had pretty similar numbers last year, with Markakis slashing .297/.366/.440 compared to Brantley’s .309/.364/.468, so Brantley is certainly up to the task of filling that role.