The Orioles announced Friday that they’ve claimed infielder Lucius Fox off waivers from the Royals. The waiver claim gives Baltimore 33 filled spots on the 40-man roster.
Fox, 24, was a big-time international signing by the Giants out of the Bahamas back in the 2015-16 international signing period. Signed to a $6MM bonus, Fox was viewed as a gifted up-the-middle defender with a promising hit tool but a lack of power. San Francisco clearly wasn’t the only club enamored of his skill set, as he’s been included in a couple of notable trades — going from San Francisco to Tampa Bay in the Evan Longoria swap and from the Rays to the Royals in exchange for Brett Phillips.
To this point in his career, Fox has gotten on base at a respectable clip but has indeed demonstrated a lack of power. In five minor league seasons, he’s posted a .244/.339/.332 batting line — never topping five home runs or 20 doubles in a given season. Scouting reports on Fox, including this one from FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen, note that he has plus speed and strong defensive tools but is still inconsistent with the glove. Fox’s prospect star has dimmer in recent year, and he now comes to the Orioles as the next in a growing line of former-top-prospect waiver claims (e.g. Jorge Mateo, Jahmai Jones).
Fox still has an option remaining, so if he can’t win a piece of what should be a wide-open shortstop competition in Spring Training, he can still be sent to Triple-A Norfolk without needing to first pass through waivers.
“You had one of the most powerful infielders in the world. And your plan was to release this person? Good luck.”
Bravo. Bravo.
Can’t believe that the Royals would release Morgan Freeman
Is this the best name in baseball?
I can’t see it without thinking of the Batman character.
The Orioles have too much power for one team.
Worthy of a name claim.
This guys name makes him sound like either a Bond villain or a porn star.
Really hope he finds success in Baltimore. I always think it’s great for the game to see players from countries with little professional representation contribute.
YES
What happened to this kid ??? He was one of the prospects in baseball a few years back !! He was the headliner in the trade for Matt Moore. I know this happens too often. Sorry kid but what happened
It’s crazy that he just turned 24.
He was an athletic prospect with a lot of bat projection, similar to Jorge Mateo, and like Mateo, the bat has not developed.
Looks like the Giants got the better end of a crappy deal after all !!
Matt Moore sucked as a Giant.
People criticize Brian Sabean. But, a lot of his trades turned out like this. They got some value for guys that never amounted to much.
Add Tim Alderson for Freddy Sanchez to that list.
This is one of the less informative entries I have read on this site…
“More to come”
I was joking…Bob Newhart was this dry for decades and it worked for him…
my guy is fast, that’s for sure
Solid claim by the O’s and perhaps yet another improper evaluation by the Royals. Former top 100 prospect with skills. Still young enough to contribute, even as a solid bench/rotation player.
Tampa Bay got rid of him, also.
At this time of the off season, I don’t view it as a case of “getting rid” of a player. It’s a case of managing the 40-man roster, opening up spots, adding prospects in advance of the Rule 5. The Rays have an incredibly deep system, so they couldn’t keep Fox. The Royals are in a similar situation at the moment, so I understand the decision. I simply have no faith in the Royals. Sure, they have a top prospect in Bobby Witt, but when you play so poorly you get to pick second, and have multiple 100-loss seasons, you better have a few great prospects, but remember, this is also the same organization that drafted Bubba Starling at #5. They signed Hunter Dozier to an ill-advised long-term contract. I don’t have faith in their scouting and development. Over the past 20 seasons, they’ve had four winning seasons, meanwhile they’ve had 6 (6!!) seasons losing 100 games or more. They’re a bottom third organization.
That hunter dozier extension is so comically bad.
@JohhnyBets67, it’s another example of their many poor decisions, beginning with drafting him with their first-round pick. He’s now had one good season, 2019, the year of the rabbit ball. Peripherals indicated regression, and sure enough, he reverts to poor form in 2020, so they then sign him to a long-term deal that is already a bust. That’s not a contract a team like the Royals should make because it will significantly impact other moves. The Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, etc. can absorb that type of deal, but they also wouldn’t have ever offered it to a player like Dozier at this stage.
Ok first of all Bubba Starling was not a bad pick. Sometimes players don’t work out. At the time, the Royals sat at #5 on that draft with 4 elite pitchers at the top of the board and then a lot of question marks. Those pitchers went 1-4 and the so the Royals are staring at an elite 5-tool talent who also happens to be a home town kid. You make that pick every time. Obviously there are people picked after him that have been great players, no one is saying he wasn’t a disappointment with the benefit of hindsight, but they could’ve just as easily been criticized for passing on him and him having a huge career.
Secondly, Hunter Dozier was drafted intentionally to save pool money, which they used on Sean Manea, who brought us Ben Zobrist, who brought us a ring, so it’s a win already as far as I’m concerned. Dozier was unplayable this year, so there’s not much to say about that.
The Royals have had plenty of first round picks over the last twenty years there has been more Eric Hosmers and Alex Gordon’s than Colt Griffins and Nolan Watsons.
Dude, the Royals have like 5 shortstops in their system better than Lucious Fox.
Decent claim, but i can see KC letting him go; they have a ton of middle IF types, and Witt coming.
With 7 spots still open, O’s can get to work on signing Corea and Bryant…..
Didn’t the O’s acquire Jones for Alex Cobb?
Yes, Steve’s been making some mistakes today. Busy afternoon.
Too bad the Yankees or Mets didn’t claim him.
No room on their rosters with the Rule 5 rosters due this evening. Yankees have to add several players, which means they need to cut/trade or leave players unprotected at some point today.
Jam Jones was not claimed. Traded for
“Sometimes Orioles fans deserve to have their faith rewarded.”… just not in 2022.
Some need to really proofread before they post.
why do yu hay that?
Death, taxes, and the O’s claiming a middle infielder every year
Not sure I would call the Royals dumping Brett Phillips a “notable” trade.
Jahmai Jones was a trade acquisition not a waiver claim