PHOENIX _ The Braves traded veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Marlins in a three-team deal Wednesday night that will send versatile Rangers minor leaguer Dylan Moore and Marlins minor-league catcher Matt Foley to Atlanta.
Moore, 24, hit .263 with 14 homers and a .377 OBP this season in 118 games at two Single-A levels. Listed as a shortstop, he's played some at every position except catcher this season. The California native is in his second minor league season after being selected in the seventh round by the Rangers in the 2015 draft out of the University of Central Florida.
Foley, 22, hit .257 (9-for-35) with no extra-base hits, six walks and 11 strikeouts in 14 games in rookie league and short-season A-ball this season. He was a 40th-round selection in the 2015 draft out of Rhode Island College.
The Braves also sent cash and an international bonus-pool slot to the Rangers in the trade.
In his return stint with the Braves this season, Francoeur hit .249 with seven homers and a .290 OBP in 99 games (276 plate appearances) in a role that began as a backup/pinch-hitting role, then became a platoon left-field role after Hector Olivera was suspended by the Braves.
Lately, 32-year-old "Frenchy" had been relegated to pinch-hitting and infrequent starts after the Braves traded Olivera for veteran outfielder Matt Kemp and moved Kemp into the primary left-field role. Francouer had only 26 at-bats in the Braves' last 25 games before Wednesday.
The Marlins need outfield help after losing right fielder Giancarlo Stanton to injury. Francoeur, a former Gold Glove right fielder, still has one of the stronger outfield arms in the National League, and remains a decent hitter against left-handed pitching. He's hit .273 (33-for-121) with four home runs against lefties this season.
He was 7-for-32 (.219) with six walks and a .342 OBP as a pinch-hitter.
Beyond that, Francoeur is consistently lauded as a great teammate and leader in the clubhouse. The Braves have discussed re-signing the Atlanta-area native and former Parkview High School two-sport star _ and Braves first-round pick in 2002 _ to another contract next season when they move into a new Cobb County ballpark.
This trade should not impact the possibility of Francoeur returning and will give him a chance to get more playing time than he'd get with the Braves the rest of the way, and to compete in a postseason race.
Francoeur cleared waivers last week, and he'll be eligible for the Marlins' postseason roster if they make the playoffs. They're currently in the running for a wild-card spot.
