Next year's outfield

[Thato'sfan]

So Mullins is going to play center

Hays will likely man one of the corners if he has a solid AFL and spring performance

But left field is currently vacant and Mancini should not be plugged there for the sake of keeping Mark Trumbo out of the outfield.

I think Rickard should be the everyday guy until Diaz is ready. Some might think he's awful but he has improved a lot this year. He works the count, has plus sprint speed, avg defender, avg arm. He has maximized his power output as his ab/hr ratio projects out to be 20+ hr over 600 ABs. He has improved significantly against righties and he isquickly becoming a solid bench piece. He isn't a long term answer but he is playing well enough to merit regular playing time.

Andreoli, while having a top 10 sprint speed in the MLB, lacks the power and bat upside of Rickard. Of course, that upside is a low .700 ops guy, so this ultimately doesn't mean much in the long run.

For further proof that resigning Jones would be a mistake, Rickard's ops is .720 while Jones' is .746

A smart team shouldn't pay millions for that sort of marginal difference in a lost season.

[Frobby]

3 minutes ago, Thato'sfan said:

For further proof that resigning Jones would be a mistake, Rickard's ops is .720 while Jones' is .746

A smart team shouldn't pay millions for that sort of marginal difference in a lost season.

First of all, I don’t want to re-sign Jones.

At the same time, I wouldn’t portray Rickard as being close to the player Jones is.   In a limited sample size, he’s shown more power than I believe he actually possesses.   I think his career .674 OPS is more indicative of what to expect than this year’s .720.    Rickard is a placeholder until something better comes along, and nothing more.  

[Thato'sfan]

Just now, Frobby said:

First of all, I don’t want to re-sign Jones.

At the same time, I wouldn’t portray Rickard as being close to the player Jones is.   In a limited sample size, he’s shown more power than I believe he actually possesses.   I think his career .674 OPS is more indicative of what to expect than this year’s .720.    Rickard is a placeholder until something better comes along, and nothing more.  

As I said, Rickard is not the long term answer. We agree on that. Even if Rickard settles between his career OPS and this year's SSS OPS, it would still be our best option until one of our better OF prospects is ready. No he isn't an everyday player, but a nice bench piece to have at a cheap cost.

[Flacco Machado]

Is DJ Stewart even talked about as an option? Is he even a prospect, anymore?

I always saw him as a guy, perfect for the Oakland A's and their Moneyball philosophy. I feel like we'll give up on him too soon and he'll have a nice, yet unspectacular career, elsewhere.

[Jammer7]

Count me out on Rickard. That ugly swing just won’t produce on a regular basis. His defense has improved some, sure. But he’s a poor hitter on the worst team in baseball. And he isn’t a plus runner, in my opinion. He may be just a tick above average. 

I do not want to see Jones back either. Poor investment for what he will likely cost. 

Andreoli is interesting. I think we need to see if he can make some adjustments with his hands and his load before making a final decision. His routes are sometimes poor, but his speed has made up for it so far. He’s a candidate for 4th OF to me.

As far as Hays, not much chance I would bring him up before mid season, no matter his AFL or spring 2019. He needs time. I want him to come back and stay, but he’s not ready yet. 

I would like to see Stewart get a long look in Spring. 

Ultimately, I think they’ll try to sign one or two buy low guys and hope they produce so they can trade at deadline. It’ll buy some time for their young ‘ens.

[wildcard]

I would not discount Mancini beginning the season in left.   Yesterday it was reported that Trumbo may be ready to begin the season.   Its iffy but possible.   If Trumbo is not ready Mountcastle could be the DH and push Mancini to left.   

The long term O's outfield seems to project as  Diaz , Mullins and Hays.  But Hays and Diaz may be further away than a good spring.  They may need more time in the minors.   Right field could be Rickard for  a while  or  Yaz or someone other cheap alternative.

[wildcard]

7 minutes ago, Flacco Machado said:

Is DJ Stewart even talked about as an option? Is he even a prospect, anymore?

I always saw him as a guy, perfect for the Oakland A's and their Moneyball philosophy. I feel like we'll give up on him too soon and he'll have a nice, yet unspectacular career, elsewhere.

Stewart is still a prospect that appears not ready to make the jump to the majors.

[Sydnor]

1 hour ago, Thato'sfan said:

So Mullins is going to play center

Hays will likely man one of the corners if he has a solid AFL and spring performance

But left field is currently vacant and Mancini should not be plugged there for the sake of keeping Mark Trumbo out of the outfield.

I think Rickard should be the everyday guy until Diaz is ready. Some might think he's awful but he has improved a lot this year. He works the count, has plus sprint speed, avg defender, avg arm. He has maximized his power output as his ab/hr ratio projects out to be 20+ hr over 600 ABs. He has improved significantly against righties and he isquickly becoming a solid bench piece. He isn't a long term answer but he is playing well enough to merit regular playing time.

Andreoli, while having a top 10 sprint speed in the MLB, lacks the power and bat upside of Rickard. Of course, that upside is a low .700 ops guy, so this ultimately doesn't mean much in the long run.

For further proof that resigning Jones would be a mistake, Rickard's ops is .720 while Jones' is .746

A smart team shouldn't pay millions for that sort of marginal difference in a lost season.

Hate might not be playing in the AFL:

Plans to send Hays to the Arizona Fall League suddenly are on hold because the ankle apparently has flared up again. He’s on the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2018/09/pointless-to-predict-future-roster-leftovers-from-last-night.html

I have no inside information, but I’d be cautious about projecting Hays anywhere until the ankle issue is remedied. It seems to me this could more of an issue and I fear that the injury could require more than rest.

Personally, I’d much rather see Stewart than Rickard. He might not be a long term piece, but was playing well before he sustained the groin injury. I also think he could benefit from the call to the major and perform better. Stewart will be 25 before next season, so I’d rather play him and see what happens on a team that is likely to lose 100 games. Rickard is a 27 year old fifth outfielder that should likely be non-tendered when he becomes eligible for arbitration. 

 

[wildcard]

26 minutes ago, Sydnor said:

Hate might not be playing in the AFL:

Plans to send Hays to the Arizona Fall League suddenly are on hold because the ankle apparently has flared up again. He’s on the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.

http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2018/09/pointless-to-predict-future-roster-leftovers-from-last-night.html

I have no inside information, but I’d be cautious about projecting Hays anywhere until the ankle issue is remedied. It seems to me this could more of an issue and I fear that the injury could require more than rest.

Personally, I’d much rather see Stewart than Rickard. He might not be a long term piece, but was playing well before he sustained the groin injury. I also think he could benefit from the call to the major and perform better. Stewart will be 25 before next season, so I’d rather play him and see what happens on a team that is likely to lose 100 games. Rickard is a 27 year old fifth outfielder that should likely be non-tendered when he becomes eligible for arbitration. 

 

So non tendered after the 2019 season?  

[oriole]

Mancini/Stewart in LF

Mullins/Andreoli in CF

I don't know about RF. I don't have a lot of faith in Hays/Diaz being ready to start the year. Some combination of the two and some other non established players or under appreciated defensive types.  

 

[Sydnor]

1 hour ago, wildcard said:

So non tendered after the 2019 season?  

I think that’s the move, but I’d be okay with it if the organization DFA’d him after this season. 

[wildcard]

20 minutes ago, Sydnor said:

I think that’s the move, but I’d be okay with it if the organization DFA’d him after this season. 

Its hard for me to see Rickard being DFA'd this off season.  He is still making close to the minimum, so he is cheap.  He still has two options left.  Hays and Diaz who are the heir apparents at the corner outfield spots have not pushed their way to the majors yet.  He is a useful 4th outfielder if nothing else.  

[Tx Oriole]

3 hours ago, Thato'sfan said:

So Mullins is going to play center

Hays will likely man one of the corners if he has a solid AFL and spring performance

But left field is currently vacant and Mancini should not be plugged there for the sake of keeping Mark Trumbo out of the outfield.

I think Rickard should be the everyday guy until Diaz is ready. Some might think he's awful but he has improved a lot this year. He works the count, has plus sprint speed, avg defender, avg arm. He has maximized his power output as his ab/hr ratio projects out to be 20+ hr over 600 ABs. He has improved significantly against righties and he isquickly becoming a solid bench piece. He isn't a long term answer but he is playing well enough to merit regular playing time.

Andreoli, while having a top 10 sprint speed in the MLB, lacks the power and bat upside of Rickard. Of course, that upside is a low .700 ops guy, so this ultimately doesn't mean much in the long run.

For further proof that resigning Jones would be a mistake, Rickard's ops is .720 while Jones' is .746

A smart team shouldn't pay millions for that sort of marginal difference in a lost season.

No to Rickard. There has to be a LF in the minors that can play in Baltimore. Other than Rickard. I would think there would be someone ready or near ready. hope so anyway. 

[El_Duderino]

Should give Stewart a crack at LF next year. Really no downside in finding out out. 

[OriolesMagic83]

1 hour ago, oriole said:

Mancini/Stewart in LF

Mullins/Andreoli in CF

I don't know about RF. I don't have a lot of faith in Hays/Diaz being ready to start the year. Some combination of the two and some other non established players or under appreciated defensive types.  

 

Buck is that you platooning Mullins with Andreoli?  There's good reasons that Andreoli is 28 and hasn't established himself as a major leaguer.