Lefty slugger Pedro Alvarez is a limited player, but he’s just thirty years of age and is coming off of a season in which he slashed .249/.322/.504 with 22 long balls in just 376 plate appearances. Most of the damage, as usual, came against righty pitching. And Alvarez is best kept away from a fielding glove (though he did see time last year at third base). But he has actually generated positive baserunning ratings of late, and the overall package still makes him a potent DH option and bench bat — the same basic formula that landed him a $5.75MM contract last year from the Orioles.
On the one hand, we’ve seen other such hitters fall shy of expectations. Adam Lind, for example, took just $1.5MM from the Nationals. And older lefty sluggers such as Ryan Howard and Justin Morneau also remain available. (The right-handed Billy Butler, among others, also has yet to sign.) Of course, it’s easy to forget that Alvarez waited until March to sign last year, so perhaps it’d be unwise to count out agent Scott Boras’s ability to find money when it’s least expected.
As team sort through their internal options, perhaps an injury or renewed assessment could turn the tide for Alvarez. While it would be foolish to overstate his impact at this stage — he’s no longer an everyday third baseman who can provide over thirty long balls — there’s little reason to think that Alvarez isn’t a useful MLB player. And the fact that he can still handle third base in a pinch doesn’t hurt.
Here are seven landing spots that make some degree of sense; weigh in with your pick in the poll below.
- White Sox [Current Depth Chart] — Chicago currently projects to have quite an unproven MLB roster on Opening Day, and yet more holes could open if the club pulls off a spring trade or two. Unless the team shifts Melky Cabrera to the DH hole, that spot is wide open at present. Adding the veteran hitter might help keep fans in the seats and ease the transition that the club is overseeing.
- Twins [Current Depth Chart] — Though Kennys Vargas, Byung Ho Park, and Robbie Grossman currently factor in the picture as DH candidates in Minnesota, there has been some rumored interest — though there are also indications that it’s overstated. The Twins do have good reason to see what they have in that trio, though perhaps the club could also see the merit in adding a proven slugger to the stable.
- Rangers [Current Depth Chart] — If we suppose that Shin-soo Choo is still deemed capable of playing the outfield without yet another injury, and that Texas still isn’t sold on Joey Gallo, then perhaps there’s still some room for Alvarez on the roster. Alvarez’s camp reportedly tried to get the Rangers to bite before they added Mike Napoli, but it’s not clear whether the interest as reciprocated.
- Athletics [Current Depth Chart] — Catcher Steven Vogt and first baseman Yonder Alonso both hit from the left side, and each could spend time at DH, but adding Alvarez would give the team another weapon against righties. Even if power prospect Ryon Healy is on the roster, the right-handed hitter would still have plenty of opportunities at the corner infield spots as well as the DH hole.
- Orioles [Current Depth Chart] — It’s a bit of a stretch at this point, but if Baltimore is willing to give Mark Trumbo time in right field, Alvarez could make a return. That’d likely mean punting on Rule 5 picks Anthony Santander and Aneury Tavarez, and perhaps passing over a third lefty hitting outfielder in Michael Bourn, but the O’s have not shied away from loading up on sluggers in recent years.
- Mariners [Current Depth Chart] — This really comes down to one question: does Seattle fully believe in Dan Vogelbach? The young southpaw slugger is slated to battle for playing time with Danny Valencia at first base, but if the M’s feel he’s not quite ready to handle a significant load in the majors, then perhaps they could pivot to Alvarez.
- Phillies [Current Depth Chart] — If there’s a National League team that could make some sense, it’s probably the Phils. While they’d like to see what Tommy Joseph can do at first, he’s hardly a slam dunk and currently lacks a platoon partner. The rebuilding club could split time there and perhaps see if Alvarez becomes a deadline trade chip.
Which team do you think will sign Alvarez? (Link for app users.)
It’s not so much his glove that’s the problem as it is his throwing. He’s like a position player version of Jon Lester; can’t throw to the bases.
Apparently you’ve never seen him play firstbase.
Brewers seem like a good fit. Miller Park is hitter-friendly, the Brewers need some pop off the bench and whilst he is limited positionally, it’s not like Thames is a sure thing at 1B.
Well they gave him three years so they’re pretty committed this season, especially as a rebuilding team that doesn’t expect to compete this season
Just because they signed him to hit for 3 years, doesnt mean he will.
He can offer a great stick off the bench but cannot play any position. I don’t think he’s a fit in the NL.
As a Pirate fan, a warning, don’t expect Pedro to start hitting until June. And then he is prone to long dry spells.
And his damage is done when there’s no one on base at the end of games.
I just assumed he was waiting until June to sign, skip the bad months.
“Adding the veteran hitter might help keep fans in the seats and ease the transition that the club is overseeing.”
Hey, Todd! In addition to your wonderful baseball acumen I believe you have a talent for comedy.
Btw-I will be attending many White Sox games this season, as usual. I can assure you the addition of Pedro Alvarez will have no bearing on my attendance. In fact, I’m hoping to see many of the White Sox elite prospects come May, June or July. The club already has enough “flip’ candidates to deal by the trade deadline as it is. In the meantime, I’m good with Melky Cabrera as the regular DH or a rotation of players like him, Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia, Matt Davidson and Todd Frazier, as manager Rick Renteria has already hinted will happen with the role in 2017.
End up in Asia
Haha yeah I’d like to see him hit like 60 bombs in Korea
He’d make a career there
Japan or Korea
I don’t see how that would be a bad move for him. Make okay pay, clobber Korean pitching (or do moderately well in NPB) and come back in a year or two.
Provided there’s an interest in him in the Asian leagues.
Most likely going to see him do a James Loney. Play at AAA somewhere and get signed to a club with a injury.
Well he’d have to move overseas, and I’m assuming that’s not what he prefers.
Sugar Land Skeeters.
He may end up at the waffle house ….
Cardinals need to pick up Billy Butler. Someone always gets injured in the outfield and infield, and he would also be a nice bench bat or fill in player as needed. He’s only 30 and won’t be too expensive.
Lol they got jedd
Rather have jedd
Still a better option than smoak. Sign him up jays
The correct answer is the Mets.
The Metropolitans will be lucky to have either David Wright or Lucas Duda on the opening day roster, and if the plan is to again make a morale-boosting mid-season trade of several minor-league arms for Kelly Johnson, and rescue James Loney from being released for the sixth time or whatever, I promise violent revolution in Queens. Let’s get this guy. There is no question we will need him at some point.
We need another righty outfielder as well so no one is ever again forced to watch Granderson or Bruce bat against lefties. Maybe bring back Angel Pagan? He is probably deserving of a similar post to this one, I’d suggest.
Is it just me or is Lucas Duda supposed to be the Mets first baseman for like 10 years now?He’s on the field less than David Wright it seems.
I was surprised that Pedro Alvarez didn’t sign with Team Boras, ehr the Washington Nationals earlier this month. Instead they went with former Mariner Adam Lind to share 1B with Ryan Zimmerman.
As a result, I’m going with another Washington team to sign Alvarez, the one in Seattle. He can replace Lind as their left-handed platoon partner at 1B as well as occasionally spell Nelson Cruz at DH and provide a lefty bat off the bench when not starting.
The contending Mariners can be patient with 24-year old slugger Dan Vogelbach and give him regular AB’s at AAA, perhaps in the hope that he can also improve his glove work at 1B. It’s not like Cruz is going anywhere anytime soon. He is signed through 2018 and entrenched in the DH role so Vogelbach will have to cut it at 1B in the next two years if he stays in Seattle.
That’s bad news for the Ms. Vogelbach was considered incompetent to play 1B in A ball. If he gets a full season in the field, his name will become for defensive metrics what Mario Mendoza’s is for batting average!
Haha, hope everyone realizes I was saying “M’s” and not trying to call him “Ms. Vogelbach.” Just kinda fell that way. Should’ve used the apostrophe.
Scott Boras will get a job for Alvarez but it might take another month or two
I would have liked an “other” option without the league designation. I see overseas or independent ball in his future.
No interest in Alvarez, I want Coco Crisp
End of Story
Dude, we get it, you’re in love with an old, washed up OF.
Well, he this article suggests that Pedro is an answer and I say he is not.
I see him signing with the White Sox, allowing them to have flexibility to make another trade or two
nationals on a 1 year deal paid out over 12 years
Rockies Rockies Rockies Rockies imagine a world where him and Mark Reynolds can just go smash at Coors field.
I hope the Blue Jays sign him and we can finally get rid of Justin Smoak.
I don’t know about Pedro, but Kelly Alvarez would be a top flight addition to any organization and move right to the top of the baseball wives depth chart.
She was always heading up charity drives and other good work.
Pedro Alvarez is by definition, a one dimensional player. He does hit homeruns, but only against right-handed pitchers, and usually, in non-pressure/ bases empty situations. He rarely walks (less than 1 of every 10 AB), and he strikes out nearly 29% of the time. His defensive glovework is atrocious, but his throwing is worse. He might serve as an occasional pinch-hitter, or a limited designated hitter (against right-hander pitchers only). Pedro is like an NFL place-kicker…. limited opportunities for usage in a game, capable of successfully kicking in only the perfect conditions, and statistically only capable of making a FG from 50 yards and beyond. Most GM’s recognize that any MLB roster has no room for a player offering no defensive versatility and minimal offensive upside.
Any team that can’t give him a minor league contract with a invite,it looney he still can hit for power I hope Oakland gets him or the twins could use his bat
The mets for sure should take a look
Would be what eric campbell was last year but with better results
Is it just me, or is like 75% of the Twins’ roster a 1B/DH? Why would they want Alvarez? If it was a Big Papi type, sure, sign him & get rid of the rest. But this isn’t exactly a significant upgrade (if an upgrade at all).