Flaherty...what is the verdict?

[Gurgi]

To be honest I thought this guy would figure out how to hit a little bit by now. But he has failed the last two seasons to cement himself at second and he really has had plenty of chances. I see him as a solid fielder. But he cant hit big league pitching. He cant hit the off speed stuff.

I hope we have better options for next season. I would rather over pay a potential starting second base to be a super utility next year than run him back out there.

I do expect that Schoop gets the lion share of playing time at second unless they dont resign Hardy and move Machado to SS and Schoop to third.

[atomic]

To be honest I thought this guy would figure out how to hit a little bit by now. But he has failed the last two seasons to cement himself at second and he really has had plenty of chances. I see him as a solid fielder. But he cant hit big league pitching. He cant hit the off speed stuff.

I hope we have better options for next season. I would rather over pay a potential starting second base to be a super utility next year than run him back out there.

I do expect that Schoop gets the lion share of playing time at second unless they dont resign Hardy and move Machado to SS and Schoop to third.

If you had a quality second baseman you would have him start at second base not be a utility player. Utility players don't hit well because if they did they would be starters. You need a guy like Flaherty as he can play six positions adequately. His hitting isn't what I hoped but he has his role and does well with it.

[InsideCoroner]

I really wanted to give Flaherty an extended look this year while letting Schoop develop, as I thought he showed some progress in the second half of last year with the bat. But his hitting has been even worse this year, and the team were able to win while carrying Schoop's weak bat over the first four months. I think it's pretty clear now that Flash is a no-hit utility guy who occasionally can belt out a fastball left over the plate. I can live with that in such a capacity, but I think his future is limited. Especially being a left-handed bat that you can't call on to pinch-hit.

[EagleOriole]

He's a utility guy and should be for a while. He plays defense well all over. He is a quality ML bench player. That is all.

[weams]

He's a utility guy and should be for a while. He plays defense well all over. He is a quality ML bench player. That is all.

He's really a great guy in his role. Every team has one of him. And great teams have a great guy in that role.

[DrungoHazewood]

He is this era's Kiko Garcia. Or Jeff Reboulet. Rene Gonzalez. Billy Ripken.

[Can_of_corn]

Pretty much what I said in 2012. Realistic ceiling: utility guy.

[wildcard]

Flaherty is a very valuable player to the O's for his defense. He's above average at any infielder position defensively. As long as he is satisfied to make 1-1.5M per year he could stay a long time with the O's. If he wants more he probably has to leave.

[clapdiddy]

Flaherty is a very valuable player to the O's for his defense. He's above average at any infielder position defensively. As long as he is satisfied to make 1-1.5M per year he could stay a long time with the O's. If he wants more he probably has to leave.

But, who is going to pay him more than that? I like Flaherty's glove and he seems to be a good fit. I'd take slightly less defense for someone that has the ability to get on base a little more and perhaps add some more speed. I'm fine with Flaherty in the role he's in, though.

[Can_of_corn]

But, who is going to pay him more than that? I like Flaherty's glove and he seems to be a good fit. I'd take slightly less defense for someone that has the ability to get on base a little more and perhaps add some more speed. I'm fine with Flaherty in the role he's in, though.

Who would give McLouth 2/10?

It only takes one.

[DrungoHazewood]

Flaherty is a very valuable player to the O's for his defense. He's above average at any infielder position defensively. As long as he is satisfied to make 1-1.5M per year he could stay a long time with the O's. If he wants more he probably has to leave.

Who's going to pay him much more than that? Willie Bloomquist is the model utility guy, better than most because he appears to never age. After 13 years in the league someone finally decided to go for broke and pay Willie $3M in a season. With a .275 OBP at 28 nobody is going to fool themselves into thinking Flaherty is worth even that.

[wildcard]

The arbitration system could pay him more. This is his first arbitration year and I would think he will get around 1M. Next year maybe 1.5M. His third arbitration year he could earn 2M but the O's may ask him to accept 1.5M or they will non tender him. That is looking pretty far ahead and a lot can happen but it is one scenario.

[DrungoHazewood]

Who would give McLouth 2/10?

It only takes one.

McLouth was a 1-win player paid for one win a year for two years.

Flaherty is 27, has been worth less than a win in his career, and has a slash line of .212/.272/.354. Overpaying for him would be 2/4.

[Can_of_corn]

The arbitration system could pay him more. This is his first arbitration year and I would think he will get around 1M. Next year maybe 1.5M. His third arbitration year he could earn 2M but the O's may ask him to accept 1.5M or they will non tender him. That is looking pretty far ahead and a lot can happen but it is one scenario.

That is why you don't worry about service time with guys like Flaherty.

[DrungoHazewood]

The arbitration system could pay him more. This is his first arbitration year and I would think he will get around 1M. Next year maybe 1.5M. His third arbitration year he could earn 2M but the O's may ask him to accept 1.5M or they will non tender him. That is looking pretty far ahead and a lot can happen but it is one scenario.

When he gets more expensive than maybe $1.5M a year he just gets non-tendered, and if he likes Baltimore he resigns for $1.5M a year. Willie Bloomquist didn't top $2M until he was 35.