The Cubs have designated infielder Mike Olt for assignment, the club announced. His roster spot was needed for the acquisition of Austin Jackson, which Chicago also made official.
Olt, 27, has never regained his trajectory after topping out as a prospect that rated as high as 22nd on league-wide rankings. In the midst of a disappointing 2013 season, he was dealt to Chicago as part of a package deal that sent righty Matt Garza to the Rangers. Vision issues were noted as a cause for concern at the time, and Olt has dealt with a right wrist fracture more recently.
Last season represented Olt’s first real opportunity at the big league level, in spite of that rough 2013, but he did not make the most of it. Over 258 plate appearances, Olt swatted 12 home runs but slashed just .160/.248/.356 while striking out an even 100 times.
He cracked the Opening Day roster as Chicago’s starting third baseman, but that run was short-lived. Olt suffered the aforementioned wrist injury and was ultimately replaced, as had been expected anyway, by Kris Bryant — after the team was assured of keeping another year of future control.
Nevertheless, another team will likely be glad to take a shot on Olt’s upside. He’s always been regarded as a potentially solid defender at third base and has shown plenty of pop in his right-handed bat. And despite his struggles in relatively scant action at the big league level, Olt has hit will at Triple-A over the last two years. In 246 turns at bat there this season, he’s slashed .273/.346/.477.
Wow. I remember when the big argument was whether he or Arenado was the better prospect.
Good add for a non-contending team to give him a shot for the last month of the season, see if a change of scenery will help. Could see Brewers, White Sox, Braves, maybe even Tigers if they are considering moving Castellanos to LF
Phillies should grab him and let him play 1st the rest of the year. Maybe a change of scenery will help him.
He’s got soft hands at 3rd, not the greatest range, but he can pick it. I predict Casey McGee 2.0 but more value with the glove.
Padres- definitely Padres. Preller is very familiar with Olt from his days in Texas before he was apart of the Garza deal.
Didn’t the Phillies once say to Texas that they weren’t trading Lee there unless they got Olt back? Howard is still struggling, and Franco isn’t expected back for another 2-3 weeks. Phillies have first say on waivers.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the White Sox take a flyer on Mike Olt. They have had little success finding a solution to their third base problem in recent years. There appears to be no good options in free agency this off-season at the position which would require the White Sox to pursue a trade in order to upgrade at the hot corner since they are lacking immediate internal options in their minor league system.
In my opinion, recently promoted infielder Tyler Saladino who has predominately been a shortstop in his minor league career has the glove but lacks the desired power to be considered a core option for the team going forward. Former top prospect Matt Davidson has been a bust at AAA since his acquisition from the Arizona Diamondbacks for then team closer Addison Reed in December of 2013. Unlike Davidson, at least Olt has shown an ability to hit successfully at the AAA level and might be worth the gamble if acquired by the White Sox in the coming days. He could audition for a spot on the team’s 2016 roster in the final 5 weeks of the regular season.
I will save you the trouble, the Olt audition would be a failure. IMO, sox should look into acquiring a guy like Alex Guerrero from the Dodgers. You probably could get him inexpensively and though he is at best adequate at 3rd, I think he will hit a bit if he gets everyday ABs. Though he has an opt out if traded he would likely waive it if promised the everyday role.
As I mentioned, my suggestion was for the White Sox to take a “flyer” on Olt in the coming days and utilize him in September to see what he may offer in terms of offense and defense at a position of need. A change of scenery, reworking his approach at the plate, even further vision testing all might make a difference.
Olt is at a crossroads in his career and the White Sox have nothing to lose at this point with limited internal options at 3B and an additional need for more power in their lineup. If he fails, then the White Sox would need to explore trade options anyway, which wouldn’t present themselves until the upcoming offseason.
Little risk for a team to pick him up and work on his approach at the plate but I don’t think he’ll ever hit big league pitching.
i really fell bad for mike but im pulling out for him hope he can get things figured out mike still has time to have a good career. hopefully a team claims him change of scenery may help him
So glad the Brewers past on this AAAA player when Texas offered him for Greinke. Not that they got a lot from the Angels either but at least they didn’t get this guy as the centerpiece.