2019+ Positional Review Series: Outfielders

[Tx Oriole]

47 minutes ago, sportsfan8703 said:

I’d like to see a Diaz, Mullins, Hays OF in September. Throw em out there and see what happens. 

I would too. But I don't trust Buck to do that. 

[Matt Bennett]

Hays, McKenna, and Santander need to repeat AA.

Stewart needs to repeat AAA. He was doing fine until a late season slump in July and August.

Rickard isn't terrible but easily replaceable as well. If Andreoli or Yaz show anything, non-tender Rickard as he's about to get a raise through arb.

[Frobby]

On 8/25/2018 at 12:44 PM, Matt Bennett said:

Hays, McKenna, and Santander need to repeat AA.

Stewart needs to repeat AAA. He was doing fine until a late season slump in July and August.

Rickard isn't terrible but easily replaceable as well. If Andreoli or Yaz show anything, non-tender Rickard as he's about to get a raise through arb.

I believe Rickard is likely to fall just short of being a Super-2, and hence won’t qualify for arbitration.  

[sportsfan8703]

So I guess Stewart isn’t thought very highly of. We have room for a LH OF to get ABs in LF considering Rickard/Andreoli are RH. I know he struggled a bit in AAA but he has to get added to the 40 man anyway this offseason. Why not give him a “look”? He turns 25 in November.

 

[Matt Bennett]

This strategy isn't really like me at all but I've actually kind of grown on the idea of bringing Jones back on a short deal. One year would be ideal but he probably deserves 2 years. Aside from Mullins, who has performed admirably at every level this year and will be our starting center fielder in 2019, we have no outfield prospects banging the door down with their performances as much as we would like to be high on them.

DJ Stewart: hit a mighty slump in the last two months at Norfolk. If not getting a September call-up is any indication, he will be repeating AAA.

Yusniel Diaz: still very young, wasn't great at Bowie. Could start again their in 2019 and follow a path like Mullins. Starting corner outfielder on Opening Day 2020?

Austin Hays: nightmare season. Doesn't deserve to be moved up to Norfolk.

Ryan McKenna: didn't produce at Bowie, needs to repeat

Anthony Santander: didn't produce at Bowie, needs to repeat

So, there are no prospects ready to start in the majors right now. Unless rushed, the bottom four (everyone but Stewart) should spend all of 2019 in the minors. IF!!!! Stewart is pounding on the door by mid-season, Trumbo will be on the way out (probably via a salary dump trade like Brach), and Mancini can move to 1B/DH, opening up a spot in left. The only scenario I see Jones blocking a prospect's (Hays, Diaz) playing time would beginning in 2020, IF!!!! Stewart and IF!!!! Mullins are performing admirably. At that point, I guarantee you Davis will be just as bad if not worse than he is right now, and management should really just cut him. Mancini at 1B and Jones at DH. Mountcastle might be destined for DHing but that can definitely wait until 2021. Also, if it's 2020 management should probably consider trading Mancini IF!!! if he's even worth anything at all.

Jones obviously wants to stay in Baltimore and he might be a steady, healthy presence for a team that will lose Villar, Trumbo, Beckham, Givens, Cobb, Cashner, Bundy over the next couple of years.