Rockies outfielder/first baseman Ian Desmond has shown troubling signings in the first season of a five-year, $70MM contract, of MLB.com notes. Along with a .273/.319/.367 batting line that’s 35 percent worse than league average (per FanGraphs’ wRC+ metric), Desmond’s groundball rate and exit velocity have trended in the wrong direction. His 63.1 percent grounder mark is nearly 12 percent worse than his yearly average and ranks last among hitters with at least 300 PAs. At the same time, Desmond’s exit velo has dropped from 90.5 mph last season to 87.4 mph this year. But health issues have likely contributed to Desmond’s drop-off, as the soon-to-be 32-year-old has been on the disabled list three different times. Indeed, Desmond told Randhawa that the injuries – including the fractured left hand he suffered in spring training – have made it difficult for him to establish himself this season. Based on his track record, Desmond expects to return to form. “Line drives and hard contact. For me, that’s my game,” Desmond said. “I’ve got to utilize my speed, and I think there’s complete validity in hitting the ball in the air and launch angle and all that stuff, but at the same time, my swing and the results I’ve been able to produce over the years is plenty for me. And I think that game plays anywhere. The thing is just a matter of getting the swings off and timing.”
More from the majors’ West divisions:
- The Diamondbacks are pleased with the progress shortstop Ketel Marte has made in his first year with the organization, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes. Since the Diamondbacks acquired him from the Mariners last winter in a blockbuster trade that also included Jean Segura, Taijuan Walker and Mitch Haniger, Marte has made plate discipline and defensive improvements, Piecoro points out. The 23-year-old is running a 10.7 percent walk rate, up from 3.9 percent in 2016, and has hit a playable .271/.350/.409 in 206 plate appearances (compared to .259/.287/.323 in 466 PAs last season). And after receiving negative marks as a defender a year ago (minus-two defensive runs saved, minus-10.3 Ultimate Zone Rating), Marte has been respectable in the field for the D-backs (five DRS, 0.3 UZR). “He’s done a great job, especially given that we’re in a pennant chase,” general manager Mike Hazen told Piecoro. “He’s handled the position, locked it down after we lost both guys (Nick Ahmed and Chris Owings) to injury in the middle of the year.”
- The bounce-back year Delino DeShields has enjoyed this season could put him in line for a starting spot in the Rangers’ outfield in 2018, per T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. DeShields impressed as a Rule 5 pick in his rookie year, 2015, but plummeted to earth last season. He has returned in 2017 to bat a solid .280/.352/.383 with 28 stolen bases in 388 plate appearances. The Rangers have also been impressed with the speedster’s work in center filling in for the injured Carlos Gomez, with manager Jeff Banister saying: “It starts with ownership of playing center field. If you watch, I see things between pitches, he’s moving the left fielder over because he’s moving, or he’s moving the right fielder toward the foul line because of what he is seeing. It starts with that preparation. You are the leader, you are the quarterback.” With Gomez scheduled to hit free agency over the winter, DeShields could take over center for good next season.
It’s going to be very interesting to see what the DBacks decide to do with their shortstop situation this winter. Trading Ahmed seems to make the most sense although his value may be limited because of his injury. Owings has lots of defensive versatility so he should be kept as a Brock Holt or Ben Zobrist type player. Trading Drury could also be an option if they move Owings or Marte to 2nd base. They will likely need some bullpen help and their shortstop depth may be the way to get it.
They’re gonna move Goldschmidt to shortstop. Because he’s a god and can do anything.
Love your enthusiasm, AZPat!!
It’s……Godschmidt…..get with the times.
How long until the Rockies start trying to trade Desmond but refuse to eat any of his contract and want actual prospects in return?
Slugging is a little low but .270 isn’t bad
To include his walks
The same guy that you wish the padres signed in 2016
Evidently, Preller doesn’t think Desmond is worth what the Rockies are paying him. So Padres are out
.270 is actually really bad for that park
Over all smart guy
Wonder if the padres and dbacks line up as trade partners during the offseason
Padres need a ss and ahmed has 3 arb years and the dbacks could use what OF help?
Padres have OF available with Pirela Dickerson Cordero all vying for the 3rd OF with margot and renfoe. Sczur will probably be the 4th OF.
So maybe a deal can be had involving one of those three going to the dbacks and ahmed going to the padres plus whatever else it takes to get a deal done.
Nope, padres don’t need him. They have tatis, they have internal option, they have no reason to trade pieces of the farm yet, and more than likely if they do go outside of the organization… they grab some cheap free agent as a stop gap
Could go with a Ahmed for brad hand trade this winter
lol snakes don’t have the farm for hand
Goldy for hand… since you wanna make a dumb trade idea
If the Padres trade Hand it won’t be for a guy who is arb eligible this offseason
Desmond had a bad first year. The sky is not falling. There have been lots of successful contracts that had slow starts. I chalk this year up to the fluky Spring Training injury that allowed Mark Reynolds to grab the 1B job and run with it. He got Wally Pipp-ed, albeit to a far lesser degree. I am going to reserve judgment until after next season.
“Rockies outfielder/first baseman Ian Desmond has shown troubling signings” I like this typo.
Ian Desmond got paid!
Will the Rangers bring back the lost Derek Holland? Maybe he needs to re-sign with the Rangers and be there top ace pitcher. JD can and would get him back cheap and for a long term contract.