With LA Angels Trading For Cameron Maybin What Happens To Marte?
Just like last season LA Angels general manager Billy Eppler started the off-season moves quickly by trading for outfielder Cameron Maybin. The question is now, what do the Angels do with Jefry Marte.
You can look at the LA Angels trade for outfielder Cameron Maybin in two ways. One it could hopefully solve the LA Angels need for a every day left fielder. However, if you dig deeper this move could potentially lead to a lot more things.
The trade for Cameron Maybin is probably only a stop-gap for left field, albeit a much needed one. Maybin has a club option for this season of nine million dollars. This means the Angels are not locked into a ling, expensive contract if he doesn’t pan out. This move also sets the Angels up to go after a top-tier outfielder next winter after Josh Hamilton‘s terrible contract comes off the books.
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However, if you dig deeper this move may be the precursor to a much bigger deal. Many thought that corner infielder and part-time outfielder Jefry Marte was a possible candidate for the left field role. Marte had a breakout season in 2016 hitting .252 with 15 homers and 44 runs batted in. What makes those numbers even more impressive is that Marte did them in only 258 at-bats. So if he played a full season he would have close to 30 homers and 100 RBI’s.
Marte started the season as a utility corner infielder. However, he did so well at the plate that Angels manager Mike Scioscia tried Marte in left field trying get his bat in the line-up more often. At first Marte looked pretty shaky in left field defensively. However, as the season went on you could see him start to look better, enough so that it was a distinct possibility that the Angels might try him there to fill the void.
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However, with the trade for Cameron Maybin that is most likely not going to happen for Marte. So where does that leave Marte for 2017. With his power potential you would think the Angels would want to have in the line-up as much as possible. First base is pretty much spoken for by C.J. Cron and Yunel Escobar is anchoring the third base spot. Something has to give!
What that something will be is the question. I have a couple of theories. The Angels could be looking to trade Yunel Escobar or C.J. Cron to fill another hole such as starting pitching or second base. The other possibility which I think would be less likely is that the Angels might try to trade Marte to someone. However, I don’t think the Angels would get as much in return for Marte.
So in the next couple of months we will see what kind of moves Eppler will make to improve the Angels for the 2017 season.
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