The Royals have received multiple trade inquiries on fleet-footed right fielder Jarrod Dyson, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). As is the case with teammates Lorenzo Cain, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Alcides Escobar and Wade Davis, Dyson is a free agent following the 2017 season, so the Royals could conceivably feel compelled to part with him this offseason if they receive a solid return.
The problem, as Crasnick notes, is that Kansas City would probably need to add another right field option in his place, as Dyson currently projects as part of a platoon with Paulo Orlando in right field, and Orlando is best limited to facing left-handed pitchers. Given the number of corner options on the market, though, it’s certainly plausible that the Royals could move Dyson and add an affordable platoon partner for Orlando on a one-year deal.
Dyson, 32, is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn a modest $2.5MM in 2017, so the scenario I just laid would probably result in Kansas City’s payroll rising a bit, unless they waited out the market and inked a left-handed-hitting veteran to a minor league deal. But, that $2.5MM figure also undoubtedly makes Dyson appealing to other teams. The lifetime Royal batted .278/.340/.388 last season, and while he offers next to no power, he’s a blistering baserunner that has averaged 31 steals per season over the past five years despite averaging just 284 plate appearances per season in that time. His wheels play well on the defensive side of the coin as well; Dyson received a +11 rating from Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield last year and +16.7 from Ultimate Zone Rating. He’s capable of playing all three outfield positions.
Dyson does have his shortcomings. In addition to the aforementioned lack of power — he has just seven career homers in 550 games — he’s also batted just .231/.305/.285 in his career against lefties, suggesting that he should continue to be platooned. Dyson’s speed, defense and affordable nature would make him an attractive target for any team looking for an upgrade at any of the three outfield spots, however, provided they can find a right-handed bat to complement him.
This has the Cardinals written all over it
Agree. Can see a Dyson and Pham platoon in center next year if they don’t sign Carlos Gomez. Fowler just doesn’t seem like a typical Cardinal move so doubt that happens.
I really dont see the Cardinals in on this one. He is 32 and not really an everyday player. I see them going after Cain over Dyson. I hope the Cardinals realize they are missing a #3 hitter in their batting order.
Yeah, a player with a distinct fault like Dyson is a total Oakland move, not a STL one. This has Beane written all over it, as he will get him to play him everyday to about a 2 WAR season as the A’s struggle to get to .500, while Ian Desmond and Carlos Gomez probably explode for mvp vote-seasons again, smh
I don’t want Dyson in Oakland. Better options are out there.
I agree Cain would be a better fit and they definetly need a 3 hitter. I just don’t see the cardinals paying the price the royals will want from a rival however, and I also doubt the royals trade Cain this offseason. I bet they try one more run with this core and wait until the deadline if they’re out of the race to sell off.
If the Cardinals want to go out and get a Dyson type player strictly for speed and defense they need to consider and Edwin Encarnacion or at the very least Mark Trumbo to take over at 1st base and put Carp back at 3B. This is allow the Cardinals to get that #3 guy they desperately need.
1.Dyson CF
2.Carpenter 3B
3. Encarnacion 1B
4.Piscotty RF
5.Diaz SS
6. Gyorko 2B
7.Molina C
8. Grichuk LF
9.Pitcher
Thats a pretty solid and well rounded line up,
We already have a #3 hitter. Matt carpenter. Just needs to be used there. Dyson, fowler, Blackmon or other lead off type hitters allow us to bat carp 3rd instead of lead off. Dyson and sign Turner. Done.
Carpenter in not a #3 hitter. Anytime they stick him there he struggles.
Yeah, another guy who can’t hit lefties. 🙂
Dang! Didn’t realize Dyson was 32
I was thinking the same thing! I thought he was young
Me too! I thought they called him up in 2013 or something and he was 26!
This could be a trade the Cardinals make as a backup plan
I agree with that I do think they have other outfielders on their mind
Orlando is definitely better against LHP, but it’s not like he’s atrocious against RHP.
Career vs LHP (252 PA) .290/.313/.458
Career vs RHP (483 PA) .280/.306/.398
Dyson Career vs RHP (1123 PA) is .266/.329/.368
I guess I should add more context… Orlando’s numbers against RHP are extremely BABIP-fueled (as are his numbers vs. lefties to a lesser extent). He has a career .359 BABIP against righties and strikes out nearly six percent more often against righties as he does against lefties. He also only walks at a 2% clip vs. righties.
Frankly, I don’t think Orlando is much of an option even in a platoon setting, but I can see him at least posting passable numbers against lefties. It’s much harder to see that against righties over the course of a given season.
Dyson’s numbers against RHP appear far more sustainable.
Fair point re: BABIP. Orlando doesn’t walk against anyone so that’s not really an issue for me. My personal opinion is Dyson, Orlando or Orlando/Dyson are all roughly equal and I don’t really have a preference between the three plans. I think the Royals will give Dozier and Bonifacio and whoever else all the opportunity in the world to steal the RF spot, but I don’t see them spending money there. It is what it is.
That said, to me it’s not worth paying Dyson $2.5m to be a platoon guy and a pinch-runner. If we do end up keeping him, it only makes the Billy Burns trade more nonsensical to me.
FWIW it’s worth and just because I was curious, here’s Paulo’s OPS splits in the three years he spent in AAA (BR.com didn’t have career and I’m too lazy to look further and/or compile).
2015: (L) .726 (R) .700
2014: (L) .626 (R) .826
2013: (L) .826 (R) .669
Cards should get. Dyson. Billy Ham and go back to 80’s style Cards baseball…
Been speculated as a target of the A’s as a CF. Forst hasn’t been shy about stressing the need to get better defensively, and speed is something this team has been lacking as Crisp got older. Not sure how well a 32 yo under contract for one more season fits in with the rebuild, but he would undoubtedly provide a couple of elements Oakland needs, and he’s cheap.
He’s a good fit, and so are the other players on that list.
I’m hoping if they do make this trade, that they also make an attempt to acquire Hosmer, too.
Manaea, Olson and Lowrie for Hosmer and Dyson?
They would probably have to throw in Chapman, as well.
I’m not keen on trading Manaea. I also think Healy needs to be transitioned over to 1b. Chapman certainly isn’t ready to come up. So move Healy to first, have Lowrie be a 3b placeholder (or maybe sign Valbuena?) until Chapman comes up
Interesting. Fangraphs literally just wrote an article on Dyson being a possible underrated trade target and boom – news breaks that he is getting inquired upon by teams looking to trade for him.
I guess cards also
Get rid or Gore before Dyson, cant trade dyson
Gore? Who would want Gore? He’s never taken a major league at bat before. The idea is to trade your 32 year old player for someone who may help after 2017. Having Gore and/or Billy Burns on the bench to pinch run only solidifies the idea that Dyson should be traded.
I am not surprised to see trade interest in Dyson, but I doubt he will be traded.
The Royals love him and he seems very happy with the Royals. He has an important role on the Royals, he is not redundant on the roster.
He is very affordable and not likely to fetch a huge return. I can see why other teams would want him but I see no strong reason the Royals would trade him away for what will likely be offered in return. Short of a suitor offering an MLB ready starting pitcher with at least two years of control (which I doubt will happen) he will stay put in KC, probably past 2017.
I would love to see Hosmer on the Mets, just don’t know what it would take trade wise. Any thoughts?
As an above commenter mentioned, none of the core with the possible exception of Wade Davis is getting traded in the offseason unless you absolutely blow us away. They’re making one last go and if they’re not competing at the deadline, then you may see some trades.
Maybe it’s unfounded optimism, but I don’t see Hos leaving. He’s such a staple in the community and seems to be genuinely happy here. I know it’s counter intuitive, but my gut is he leaves a ton of money on the table and stays in KC, maybe with an opt out or a shorter deal like 4 years so he can still be a FA again at an age when he could still make a little money.
He’ll be gone. Don’t do it to yourself, he’s gonna be gone. He’ll be offered a Jason Heyward-esque contract loaded with opt outs if he has the breakout offensive season we’ve been waiting on. The Royals just won’t be able to match the 200m offer based on potential alone. And I’m fine with that – The guy still hasn’t really found his stride on offense and the Royals can’t afford to bet that much on potential.. I think if any of the core get re-signed long term it will be Moose, as Alcides already has a replacement and Cain is getting too old and is too fragile to sign long term.
The Angels could solve the 2nd base puzzle if they trade for the Moose to play 3b and then put Escobar at 2nd base…
I just feel sorry for Jarrod. The Royals completely botched his career, so at this point I’m just hoping he gets traded and posts a 5 WAR season out of spite. 3WAR 2016 while only playing half the time. .340 OBP. No power, yeah, I get it.