Infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich has elected free agency after clearing waivers, the Marlins announced today. He had been designated for assignment recently.
Dietrich, 29, possesses a quality left-handed bat that would aid many contending lineups. He also has a varied positional background, but he’s not considered a very good defender at any of the spots — second base, third base, and the corner outfield — he has tried out over the years.
Clearly, no other clubs were interested in paying the projected $4.8MM Dietrich would have commanded in arbitration. He’ll now be available to the highest bidder, with any acquiring team also picking up an added season of arb control (assuming he signs a one-year pact).
That rate of pay would be quite reasonable if Dietrich could even hold his own in the field, but defensive metrics have always been skeptical and it seems the scouts agree. He moved out of the infield in 2018 as the Marlins tried to find a fit, but his time on the grass hasn’t gone well either. Dietrich has graded quite poorly in left field over 1,120 career innings.
All that said, it still stands to reason that Dietrich will get some bites in free agency from clubs that like the idea of utilizing him as a bench bat that can at least plausibly fill in around the diamond. It doesn’t help that there are so many useful infielders floating around the market, but few can match his overall offensive productivity.
Through 1,716 plate appearances over the past four years, Dietrich owns a .262/.344/.428 batting line with 46 home runs — good for a 114 OPS+. He’s best utilized against right-handed pitching, which limits his overall utility but does mean he could occupy the larger share of a potential platoon pairing.
southi
I can see someone signing him in the $3 million range. He will get signed by someone for sure.
redsfan48
I could see Dietrich being the next version of Scooter Gennett if he’s picked up by the right team.
Danny B.
I don’t think Dietrich will get to Scooter’s power but I can definitely see a bump in Avg, OPS & RBI’s.
tylerall5
I thought for sure a team would have claimed him.
HalosHeavenJJ
Think he’d be a great pickup for the Angels, who really need somebody to play first base and bring a solid OBP, at least to turn the roster over a bit more.
If he could play a passable outfield, that would be great, but he obviously can’t.
casualatlfan
“He absolutely needs to be signed by the (insert team name here)!”
The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla
…that team is Cleveland, Easily. No doubt.
Michael Chaney
Agreed. He makes sense for just about any team, but the Indians almost seem too logical.
Samuel
In a way.
But the Indians have far too many LH batters that can’t hit LH pitching.
Love Dietrich. He will be picked up by a contender.
Watched his grandfather play when I was young. He didn’t do much. A Triple-A hotshot that got eaten up in the bigs. Indians gave up Norm Cash to get him. Cash had a very good career in Detroit and was a big part of the championship team in 1968.
RealLoGotti
FAX
ckeen1966
Cincinnati Reds no LH bat currently on their bench and they’ll love his versatility. He’s also an Ohio native so Reds / Indians make sense and both have a need for a guy like that,
kla0812
Brewers
kgreene3
I second this
Danny B.
I would like to see the Mets sign either Dietrich or Marwin Gonzalez to fill a super utility role.
callingoutdummies247
Just what the Mets news another slightly above average hitter who can’t field any of the positions he plays
callingoutdummies247
Need*
Danny B.
Everyone can’t be a gold glover.
wrigleywannabe
25 percent? Give me a breakthere is a diffetence between not gold glove and bad
justin-turner overdrive
A journeyman 1B with no power isn’t a good sign, you guys. He needs to go to Japan and retool his swing.
pinstripes17
Are you serious? He is a very versatile option that all teams should consider signing. Another awful take from the most “valuable resource”.
mordecai
He would be a good fit for the Twins, especially after they just picked up Cron.
bobtillman
He probably hits 20 HRs in a park that’s not the grand canyon in Miami….that punches his OPS to close to .800,,,that’s not bad for 4 million…..and he’s a ‘gamer” type….and if it’s the 9th inning and you’ve got to put him somewhere, he won’t do anything stupid….it’s not like Zobrist/Gonzales et al are GREAT fielders; they’re not…..
Decent pickup for a team that needs #6 or #7 hole hitter in the lineup…..Minny just claimed Cron (who clogs the bases, can’t field and strikes out a ton) to do 25% of what Dietrich can do….. and Cron will be more expensive…..
wrigleywannabe
25 percent? Give me a break
bobtillman
Ya, plead guilty. DD’s a better player than Cron….can help you win more ways….but 25% is overboard….
wrigleywannabe
Zobrist is a better hitter and fielder.
There is a difference between veing not great and being bad
This guy is a DH
bobtillman
I didn’t say that he was better than Ben; he isn’t. But guys who move around tend to get a little too much credit for their defensive abilities. Zobrist is at best OK as an OF, a bit short of that in the middle IF. And Dietrich is far from hideous.
campos101214
San Fran Bound
natsfan1066
Part of his OBP is because he’s known for ability to step in to a pitch and intentionally get hit by it. He also comes with a bit of an attitude or so I understand. Not a fan of Dietrich. Ranks right up there with the likes of Papplebon, just an everyday version.
Michael Chaney
What’s it like being in the Marlins’ clubhouse every day?
MarlinsFanBase
I wonder where you heard that Dietrich has an attitude? I’m a Marlins fan and have never heard of us having any issues with him.
He’s a blue collar player that maximizes the few tools he has, He’s a nice pick up for a lot of teams that find a fit for him. He’s best for an AL team because of the DH.
SoCalBrave
“blue collar player that maximizes the few tools he has”. That is the best description of Dietrich I’ve seen here. Those 14 HR per year will turn to 20 anywhere else.
MarlinsFanBase
Exactly. He’s not as gifted as other guys, but he’s a pretty good, serviceable guy to have playing certain roles and supporting certain efforts on a team. I hope he gets picked up by one of the contenders.
sufferforsnakes
He’ll end up in Cleveland.
MarlinsFanBase
Would’ve liked to have gotten something for him, but it seems that no team is willing to take on that arbitration price tag. He’s a good add for some team.
I could see him going to his hometown Indians.
bleacherbum
San Diego has a huge hole at 3B and not a ton of options.
roncox20
Not surprising to me that no team was willing to pay Dietrich $4.8M. Teams have access to the same information as the Marlins, and they understand that, because of Dietrich’s atrocious defense and slightly above average offense but limited power, he is worth less than most fans assume.
SoCalBrave
I think he’s worth more to other teams than to the Marlins. I’m sure he’ll sign with another team and be serviceable there.