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Who will be the O's every day second baseman in 2020?

wildcard

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wildcard Hangout Grand Counsel

wildcard

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While the popular answer seems to be Hanser Alberto there are several reasons why that may not be true.

1) While he hits lefties extremely well (948 OPS in 2019) he didn't hit righties well (604 OPS in 2019).   With about two thirds of the pitchers in the league being right handed he has to show he can change that unfavorable split.

2) In the 2nd half of  2019 Alberto platooned with Rio Ruiz at 3B.   Alberto hits lefties and Ruiz in the  2nd half hit righties.   There has not been a third baseman added this off season which could  cause  Alberto to be needed in  platoon at 3B.

Stevie Wilkerson came through he minors as a second baseman.  He Had a 783 OPS vs right-handed pitching last season.    Might he be part of a platoon  a 2B?

Pat Valaika has a career  OPS vs lefties of 752.   Valaika came thought he minors as a SS but has played more 2B than SS in the majors and has a 993 career fielding percentage at 2B.

Dilson Herrera had an 832 OPS in the AAA International League for the second year in a row.     He has come through the minors as a 2B.

I would think all 4 will see time in ST at 2B as they try to show they should be at least part of the O's in 2020.

 

 

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Frobby Hangout Grand Counsel

Frobby

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The thread title assumes we will have an “everyday” second baseman.      We probably won’t. But I think Alberto will play more there than anyone else.    He’s a very good defender there.    Will be interesting to see if his R/L splits remain so extreme.

 

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Just Regular Hangout Grand Counsel

Just Regular

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Asdrubal seems to be the first of the Dozier/Kipnis/Gennett/Holt/Wilmer basket he was formerly part of to sign on for a utility job with a good team.  Will they all?  Would Elias spring to ~$2M for the right value?

Wilmer Flores really seems to have learned to hit as a part-timer, and is still young enough I'm curious to see if it could scale.  He hasn't had an everyday gig since he was an overmatched pup.

Scooter Gennett was a shockingly really good hitter in 2017-2018 before injuries robbed him of last year.

Those are two profiles that kind of cry out for Baltimore playing time to show the league what they've grown into, or might still be able to be.  I don't think any contender would enter with these guys as a Plan A.

I do think it would be neat to employ Flores/Hechavarria/Gennett opening the year for some fraction of Villar's salary, and wouldn't be worried about Pipp'ing Ruiz/Martin/Alberto if we could, though in candor Flores at 3B seems to have been pits of the earth when last tried.

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wildcard Hangout Grand Counsel

wildcard

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I 

2 minutes ago, OrioleDog said:

Asdrubal seems to be the first of the Dozier/Kipnis/Gennett/Holt/Wilmer basket he was formerly part of to sign on for a utility job with a good team.  Will they all?  Would Elias spring to ~$2M for the right value?

Wilmer Flores really seems to have learned to hit as a part-timer, and is still young enough I'm curious to see if it could scale.  He hasn't had an everyday gig since he was an overmatched pup.

Scooter Gennett was a shockingly really good hitter in 2017-2018 before injuries robbed him of last year.

Those are two profiles that kind of cry out for Baltimore playing time to show the league what they've grown into, or might still be able to be.  I don't think any contender would enter with these guys as a Plan A.

I do think it would be neat to employ Flores/Hechavarria/Gennett opening the year for some fraction of Villar's salary, and wouldn't be worried about Pipp'ing Ruiz/Martin/Alberto if we could, though in candor Flores at 3B seems to have been pits of the earth when last tried.

Hanser is projected to get 2.25M in arbitration.  I don't think Elias is paying more that that for a 2B.   He may go 2.5-3m for a veteran SS is my guess.

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mdbdotcom Hangout Grand Counsel

mdbdotcom

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9 minutes ago, DirtyBird said:

You are probably right, but he should have a chance to win a roster spot in spring training.

I don't think players win major league jobs in spring training under Elias. If Hays couldn't do it with the spring he had last year, it probably can't be done. Also, his .505 OPS in AFL might be an indication that he has some development work to do at AAA.

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