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OF Jeff Francoeur traded from hometown Braves to Marlins

MLB, Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers

The Atlanta Braves have traded veteran outfielder Jeff Francoeur to the Miami Marlins in three-team deal that includes the Texas Rangers.  

The Braves get minor league infielder Dylan Moore from the Rangers and minor league catcher Matt Foley from the Marlins while also sending cash to Miami, the Braves said in a news release.

As part of the trade, the Braves will send the Marlins $104,959 to help offset Francoeur's contract. The Rangers obtained two international signing slots from Miami and one from Atlanta.

Any big league player traded after Aug. 1 has to be first put on waivers.

Francoeur hugged his Braves teammates and coaches goodbye in the visitors dugout early in Wednesday's game at Arizona.

"It's hard. He's a great kid. He's one of the finest human beings I've ever been around," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. "We'll miss him. He's going to play meaningful games, good for him."

Francoeur, 32, had made his hometown Braves' Opening Day roster with an impressive spring training and had made it clear then that he wouldn't take an assignment with Triple-A affiliate Gwinnett.

He was hitting .249 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs in 257 at-bats and 276 plate appearances entering Wednesday.

Miami is contending for a National League wild-card spot and isn't sure whether star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will return this season from a severe groin strain.

Moore, 24, was selected by the Rangers in the seventh round of the 2015 draft out of Central Florida. Foley was taken in the 40th round of the 2015 draft out of Rhode Island College.

Francoeur got a one-year, $1 million contract by making the Atlanta roster that could include up to $1 million in performance bonuses based on playing time: $200,000 each at 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 plate appearances.

After he had a brilliant rookie year with the Braves followed by two straight 100-RBI seasons, Francoeur's production dipped badly before he was dealt to the New York Mets in 2009. He bounced around to five more teams before returning to the Braves, who were impressed with his numbers last season in Philadelphia (.258, 13 homers, 45 RBIs) and thought he could be a positive influence in the clubhouse.

"He's been great for our young kids and has been great on the field as well," said Braves assistant general manager Billy Ryan. "Unfortunately, the circumstances of where we are as an organization, the Marlins are in contention, they're going for it, so it was an opportunity for him to get some meaningful at-bats and hopefully get in the postseason."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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