This is the second in a series of pieces previewing offseason club option decisions. This edition will focus on designated hitters and outfielders…
Designated hitters
- Nelson Cruz, Twins ($12MM option or $300K buyout): So let’s get this straight: Cruz has slashed .294/.385/.642 with 30 home runs in 362 plate appearances on a $14MM salary this year, and he’s actually in line for a pay decrease? This is looking like a brilliant signing by the Twins, who will no doubt exercise the 39-year-old Cruz’s option.
- Edwin Encarnacion, Yankees ($20MM option or $5MM buyout): Like Cruz, the 36-year-old Encarnacion has been one of the most prolific sluggers in recent memory. That doesn’t mean the Yankees will keep Encarnacion around, though. While he was enjoying another high-end year (.240/.346/.518 with 30 HRs in 451 PA) before fracturing his right wrist last weekend, the Yankees might decide they could spend Encarnacion’s money better elsewhere. After all, they won’t be hard up for other DH options in 2020.
Outfielders
- Alex Gordon, Royals ($23MM mutual option or $4MM buyout): The Royals certainly won’t bring Gordon back next year for $23MM, but he’s a franchise icon who hasn’t made it a secret he wants to spend his whole career in Kansas City. And Royals general manager Dayton Moore has great respect for Gordon, so expect the soon-to-be 36-year-old left fielder to return to KC next season at a more team-friendly price.
- Billy Hamilton, Royals ($7.5MM option or $1MM buyout): The same probably won’t apply to Hamilton, who has posted the worst offensive season of his light-hitting career. Hamilton has batted a woeful .209/.276/.262 with no homers in 293 PA, and even his always strong defense and base running haven’t been able to make up for his punchless production at the plate. He’ll return to free agency over the winter.
- Juan Lagares, Mets ($9.5MM option or $500K buyout): The 30-year-old Lagares joins Hamilton as another weak-hitting center fielder on his way to the open market. Lagares has long been known for his defense, but he has managed an unappealing minus-5 DRS/minus-4.0 UZR in center this season. Meanwhile, he has put up a horrid .186/.263/.267 line with a pair of HRs over 180 trips to the plate.
- Starling Marte, Pirates ($11.5MM option or $2MM buyout): This should be a no-brainer for the Pirates to exercise, as the soon-to-be 31-year-old Marte has turned in another respectable season in 2019. Despite a career-low 3.9 percent walk rate, Marte has slashed .285/.326/.505 and notched 20 homers and 17 steals across 462 PA. The defense hasn’t exactly been stellar (minus-5 DRS, minus-2.1 UZR), yet Marte has still been worth 2.5 fWAR.
- Kole Calhoun, Angels ($14MM option or $1MM buyout): This will be a tough choice for the Angels, who have seen Calhoun rebound from a subpar 2018 to bat .233/.318/.481 with 25 HRs (one fewer than his personal-high total) in 448 PA. Calhoun’s also a capable defender, which has helped him record the fifth season of at least 2.0 fWAR in his career. He’s set to turn 32 in October, though, and the Angels have an elite outfield prospect in Jo Adell knocking at the door. Therefore, they may be tempted to jettison Calhoun – quality track record be damned – and save $13MM.
- Adam Eaton, Nationals ($9.5MM option or $1.5MM buyout): The Eaton acquisition hasn’t worked out as hoped for the Nationals, who traded pitchers Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning to the White Sox for him prior to the 2017 season. Eaton hasn’t performed poorly by any means, but injuries limited him to just 118 games in his first two seasons in D.C. He has appeared in 108 this year, however, and batted a decent .276/.357/.396 with six HRs, 10 steals and 1.4 fWAR in 480 PA. As of now, the guess is they’ll keep the soon-to-be 31-year-old in the fold.
- Nick Markakis, Braves ($6MM option or $2MM buyout): Markakis has been one of baseball’s most durable players since his career began in 2006, but he took a pitch off the left wrist in late July and won’t return until sometime in September. His streak of 150-plus appearances will end at six seasons as a result. Still, the 35-year-old was in the midst of another decent season at the time he went down, and with Austin Riley perhaps set to move from the corner outfield to third base in 2020 (starting 3B Josh Donaldson’s a pending free agent), the Braves just might bring the affordable Markakis back for a sixth season.
Looks like Marte is going to be gone after this season.
at the very least, pick up the option and deal him
Pirates have another option after this one.
Why would the Pirates not pick up his option? His numbers are respectable, and he is cheap.
i think it’s a joke about just how cheap the Pirates are. yes the option is worth it, but the way they spend, probably not.
Where are you going to get $2 million in food stamps to pay him?
Cruz might go for 500 home runs. . . Is he a HOF if he does… Another 3 seasons after this would be a tall order. If you look at his stats. He might be a poor man’s David Ortiz.
And sucks for Markakis. I would have liked to see him make a “Healthy” run at 3000 Hits. I don’t think after this injury he’ll have a shot. He needed health and about four more Full Seasons to make it. Probably not gonna happen.
Then again. Encarnacion has better numbers than Cruz. And he’s not a Hall of Famer. . .
Cruz had a PED suspension, so that will work against him.
Yeah. Looks like he made a deal, reading about it. 50 games to deal. Or 100 without. Allowing him to sign with Baltimore.
No HOF for Him. Just Lots of Home Runs. . .
and granted, Ortiz was suspended for PEDs and still could get in, so there’s that.
Apparently, reading, again, Ortiz tested positive in the 2003 leaked testing of 100 players. But Official MLB testing didn’t start until ’04.
Manfred publicly backed Ortiz with HOF voters in 2016. Sighting the confidentiality of the 100 leaked player list in ’03. Saying we don’t know what drugs were being tested for.
Manfred also sighted Ortiz as being a transformative player for Major League Baseball. Saying to look at his numbers.
well in that case, we have no other proof of Clemens, Sheffield or Sosa. Bonds maybe there’s circumstantial but i think that’s it. why is Ortiz given a pass if he failed the test even if it was leaked?
And he passed
all his tests
after that!
I expect, unless Alex unexpectedly decides to retire, They decline the option, And sign him for something small like $4 million. I definitely would not expect something big. I think 4 million would be about right. Then he can retire like joe Mauer did
. If the Royals decline the option, which they should do, they’re already on the hook for $4 million. Asking the fan favorite/franchise icon, who incidentally will end the season with more Hits, Runs, Doubles, Total bases, and is on pace for his best BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, and OPS+ since at least 2015, to play for free* doesn’t seem like the right way to go about things..
*I understand he wouldn’t literally be playing for free.
I think we are much more likely to see something like 2 yrs/$7.5-9m as a reworked deal. And there will also be some sort of guaranteed 10 yr made up front office position along with it. He will have a job like George Brett and be around for spring trainings and ambassador type roles.
People will want him around for that anyway, and the franchise should to. It guarantees Alex more money and a longer career on the field and then in and around baseball. We aren’t winning in the next two years. Give him two more years then hang up a #4 next to 5,10,20 on the royals HOF.
Actually I imagine we could be in the hunt for a surprise run at a wild card in 2021……that will be the last year of Salvy & Danny’s contracts. Plus it’s possible we will already have Jackson Kowar or brady singer up by then…And in the rotation. but that’s just my fantasy, lol. I’m just hoping Wilmington can win the championship this year In the Carolina league. the next wave has won one championship together, hoping they win in A+ level.
I do wonder what kind of role Alex would have if he stayed on in that kind of capacity like George Brett.
I thought George Brett had the highest career totals for the Royals…..
Markakis is basically a lock to return to Atlanta.
Either way Atl is ponying up 2m. For another 4m you keep what has been a fairly useful piece, and then compare that to what else that remaining 4m buys you.
That paltry savings isn’t much needed what with Donaldson coming off the books if you believe the party line that the front office had spending room it didn’t utilize this past offseason.
I don’t think the Yanks will bring back EE. He’s expensive and worked wouldn’t have been picked uo this year if not for the injuries.
I’ve always liked Markakis. He’s a lot like LeMahieu in terms of being a low k high contact hitter. If they end up moving Frazier and Nick becomes a free agent I’d take a swing at him to be our LF in 2020. Maybe bring Tauchman back as the 4th OF if they let Gardilner walk.
I’ve long suspected that defensive ratings are anywhere from iffy to outright bunk, now I know it….
Marte gets to balls that 90% of CF’s can’t get to and has a rocket arm that limits singles to doubles constantly. He is an elite defender.