Any chance Hardy would be a bench player this season?

[Enjoy Terror]

Simple question, just curious if that's unprecedented at his $14M salary this season.  Not entirely related but it seems unlikely that even in a full time role Hardy hits 600 PAs for his 2018 option to vest.

Would the Orioles consider looking at the 3B/SS market and have Hardy replace/join Flaherty on the bench as a backup infielder? Flaherty is still somewhat inexpensive, but Hardy isn't a spring chicken. The market for a full time 3B/SS isn't great... maybe Luis Valbuena or dare I say Justin Turner?

Even in my own mind it seems like a stretch, but has anyone else considered this as a possibility?

[wildbillhiccup]

I don't see any scenario where Hardy isn't the starting SS this season (unless they trade him).

I also think that whoever gives Turner a big contract will end up regretting it.

[MDtransplant757]

I don't think so, even if we get Ian Desmond. 

[wildcard]

Hardy will be the starting SS but the O's need to sign a backup IFer  at AAA.   Hardy is injury prone at the point.  Manny can slide over to SS.  The O's need a player to bring up from AAA to be on the bench.  Janish was that guy last year but I don't know if he is coming back.

[weams]

47 minutes ago, Enjoy Terror said:

Simple question, just curious if that's unprecedented at his $14M salary this season.  Not entirely related but it seems unlikely that even in a full time role Hardy hits 600 PAs for his 2018 option to vest.

Would the Orioles consider looking at the 3B/SS market and have Hardy replace/join Flaherty on the bench as a backup infielder? Flaherty is still somewhat inexpensive, but Hardy isn't a spring chicken. The market for a full time 3B/SS isn't great... maybe Luis Valbuena or dare I say Justin Turner?

Even in my own mind it seems like a stretch, but has anyone else considered this as a possibility?

Na. Never. 

[Frobby]

Hardy was worth 1.9 rWAR in 115 games last year.    There's no reason for him to be a bench player at this point.   Our left side infield defense is the single best thing about this team IMO.

[Spy Fox]

No way at the start of the year. He's not as good as he once was but he's still a positive contributor and there are too many other holes to address.

I think the only way he's not the starter throughout 2017 is if he's injured or if he goes into a truly epic slump. 

[Bahama O's Fan]

If we had a 200 million dollar or more payroll, you could think about it. Right now, we need a catcher, right fielder and DH with hardly any money to spend. You can't go buy for a position that is not a need right now.

[weams]

6 hours ago, Spy Fox said:

 

I think the only way he's not the starter throughout 2017 is if he's injured or if he goes into a truly epic slump. 

This part I agree with 100%

[sportsfan8703]

Hardy is the least of our worries.  Just sucks that he has a bad back.  You can tell it bothers him all the time.  He stands further off the plate now.  He looks skinny as heck.  Probably can't lift the way he wants to.  Plus you have to love that he only swings at like 3% of first pitches.  We need more guys to take a pitch.  

This team needs to focus on adding a C, 2 OF's, and a LH DH.  

[Nite]

Yea he's the ss unless hurt. Plus as mentioned the only thing the O's are set at is infield so far so throwing money there would be a waste. 

[backwardsk]

On 11/25/2016 at 3:29 PM, wildcard said:

Hardy will be the starting SS but the O's need to sign a backup IFer  at AAA.   Hardy is injury prone at the point.  Manny can slide over to SS.  The O's need a player to bring up from AAA to be on the bench.  Janish was that guy last year but I don't know if he is coming back.

I'd give a lot of thought about going after Valbuena.  He'd be a DH with OBP, and no need for a utility player.  Could be the starting 3B in 2018.

[Aristotelian]

Under Buck, Hardy is the starter as long he is healthy and playing solid defense. Possibly in 2018 if his option vests. He was on a 162-game pace for 617 PA's last year if he had been healthy. He was pretty much an every day starter when not on the DL and his foot injury was unrelated to previous injuries.

[Frobby]

2 hours ago, Aristotelian said:

Under Buck, Hardy is the starter as long he is healthy and playing solid defense. Possibly in 2018 if his option vests. He was on a 162-game pace for 617 PA's last year if he had been healthy. He was pretty much an every day starter when not on the DL and his foot injury was unrelated to previous injuries.

Buck would be committing managerial malpractice if Hardy played enough games to get 600 PA.    He needs some days off even if he's close to 100% healthy this year.    So, I don't expect his option to vest.    However, if he puts up a 2+ WAR season, I expect the O's to exercise his option.   

[Camden_yardbird]

13 hours ago, backwardsk said:

I'd give a lot of thought about going after Valbuena.  He'd be a DH with OBP, and no need for a utility player.  Could be the starting 3B in 2018.

I had never thought of Valbuena as an option but he does a lot of the things the Orioles need.  OBP.  Power.