All through the week, we’ve lined the upcoming free agent class at MLBTR. We transfer as we speak to the outfield. Groups typically use left and proper fielders interchangeably, so we’ll mix them right into a single nook outfield group. It’s not an important class however is arguably among the many stronger choices in a lightweight marketplace for place gamers. Everybody within the heart area class might deal with a nook, however we’ll cowl them individually and look particularly at gamers who’ve logged substantial nook outfield reps this 12 months.
Word: solely gamers who’ve been on an MLB roster in 2023 are included. Ages listed are for the 2024 season.
High of the Class
Hernández entered the season as one of many prime hitters in all the free agent class. He appeared prone to get 9 figures if he posted one other offensive exhibiting close to the .283/.333/.519 slash he managed throughout his last three seasons as a Blue Jay. His first season in Seattle has been a roller-coaster, however he’s doing his greatest to salvage issues because the 12 months attracts to an in depth.
The righty-hitting slugger had a sub-.700 OPS in every of April, Might and July. He was wonderful in June and has been top-of-the-line hitters on the planet because the begin of August, hitting .344/.377/.591 in 167 plate appearances. The season line — .267/.312/.457 with 25 homers over 145 video games — is extra strong than elite, however he has appeared like classic Hernández during the last six weeks. He has additionally turned in respectable defensive marks in slightly below 1100 proper area innings, a welcome enchancment over constantly below-average grades for his glove in Toronto.
By catching hearth within the second half, Hernández has put himself again in consideration for a lofty multi-year pact. He has solidified himself as a probable qualifying supply recipient, which he ought to reject searching for an extended deal. His camp might take intention on the $100MM pact that Nick Castellanos landed from the Phillies two winters again.
On a regular basis Gamers
Brantley has assumed the “skilled hitter” moniker and continued to stay as much as it even into his mid-30s. He has been a effectively above-average offensive participant every time wholesome, together with a .288/.370/.416 line with extra walks than strikeouts a 12 months in the past. His season was reduce quick by August shoulder surgical procedure. The Astros introduced him again on a $12MM contract in hopes he’d be prepared not lengthy after Opening Day.
Continued soreness intervened. Brantley didn’t make his season debut till the top of August. He has solely appeared in 10 video games up to now. Accidents are an ever-present concern at this stage of his profession, however Brantley stays top-of-the-line pure hitters within the upcoming free agent class. Any crew that indicators him will bake in loads of relaxation days and certain rotate him between designated hitter and left area relatively than relying on him for 100+ begins within the outfield.
Duvall has been a nook outfielder for the majority of his profession, however the Purple Sox pushed him to main heart area responsibility in 2023. Defensive metrics counsel he’s higher suited to a nook — not particularly stunning given his age — however he has hit effectively sufficient to earn a increase relative to this 12 months’s $7MM wage.
The righty-swinging slugger has related on 19 homers in solely 310 plate appearances, with that workload restricted by an early-season wrist fracture sustained when he dove for a ball. It’s the type of manufacturing we’ve come to count on from the 10-year veteran: plus energy to compensate for a propensity for strikeouts and a middling stroll fee. Duvall has been an above-average hitter, as measured by wRC+, in 4 of the final 5 seasons. He has three 30-homer seasons to his identify and will have gotten there this 12 months have been it not for the damage. His age will restrict the size of provides on the desk, however he’s having one of many higher platform performances among the many outfield class.
Gurriel provides a broadly related profile to Duvall: right-handed energy with subpar on-base marks. He’s 5 years youthful and makes much more contact, though he’s strictly a left area possibility. Acquired from the Jays within the Gabriel Moreno/Daulton Varsho swap, Gurriel is batting .258/.308/.470 with 23 homers in 536 plate appearances — numbers which might be consistent with the strong profession monitor report he has compiled.
It has been a 12 months of peaks and valleys, although. Gurriel was among the many greatest hitters within the majors in Might and owns a .290/.344/.536 line going again to the beginning of August. In between, he hit .174/.220/.331. It’s a risky however usually efficient offensive profile. The D-Backs in all probability wouldn’t danger the qualifying supply, however Gurriel might obtain three or 4 years at $10MM+ yearly.
Pham is amidst his greatest season since 2019. The righty-hitting veteran has mixed for a .267/.336/.474 line with 16 homers throughout 423 plate appearances between the Mets and Diamondbacks. His 9.2% stroll fee is strong, if under his peak stage, whereas he’s placing out at a league common 22.2% determine. Regardless of his age, Pham nonetheless charges as a succesful defender in left area. He continues to submit enormous exit velocities, though that onerous contact is commonly mitigated by a propensity to hit the ball on the bottom. Pham isn’t an affect participant, however he’s a well-rounded common who can hit pitchers of both handedness effectively.
Renfroe has been a strong however unexceptional performer for the majority of his profession. He hits for energy and usually performs respectable proper area protection (though this 12 months’s metrics aren’t good). He’s not viable in heart area and runs subpar on-base marks. Renfroe has settled in as a second-division common, bouncing from crew to crew however incomes enjoying time wherever he lands.
He’s having a little bit of a down 12 months, together with his 20 dwelling runs in 538 plate appearances trending in direction of a profession low in a full schedule. He owns a .235/.299/.421 line between the Angels and Reds general. The strikeout and stroll profile is consistent with his profession marks, however he’s misplaced a pair ticks of exit velocity.
Robust Aspect Platoon
Gallo is athletic sufficient to deal with any outfield place and the Twins have given him some reps at first base. He had a powerful first couple weeks within the Twin Cities however has slumped since Might and now carries a .177/.301/.440 line over 332 plate appearances. The sub-Mendoza common is nothing new, however this 12 months’s 42.8% strikeout fee is excessive even by Gallo’s requirements. He has hit 21 homers and walked at an enormous 14.5% clip, resulting in a roughly common wRC+ determine (103). That’s nonetheless not the bounceback the Minnesota entrance workplace envisioned when guaranteeing him $11MM final winter.
After years of below-average offense for the Cubs, Heyward has discovered an offensive resurgence in Los Angeles. The Dodgers have virtually utterly shielded him from left-handed pitching, and he has responded with a .278/.357/.483 exhibiting over 303 plate appearances versus righties. Heyward is strolling at a ten.2% clip, has related on 14 homers and is simply placing out 16.5% of the time. He stays a superb defender. Groups should weigh that towards his age and years of underwhelming offense in Chicago, however he clearly earned himself one other massive league alternative and may even discover a two-year deal.
The Giants surprisingly made Pederson a qualifying supply final winter; much less surprisingly, he accepted. Pederson has nonetheless been an above-average hitter, however his offense is effectively down from final 12 months’s profession exhibiting. He’s hitting .247/.359/.427 with 13 homers by way of 376 plate appearances. That features 49 dismal plate appearances versus lefties, however he has a powerful .261/.367/.464 line with a 12.8% stroll fee when holding the platoon benefit. Pederson has by no means been a risk towards left-handed pitching and he’s a effectively below-average defender. It’s a restricted profile, however he’s superb on the factor he’s requested to do most frequently: hitting right-handed pitching.
The Dodgers have shielded Peralta from left-handed pitching, conserving him to 32 plate appearances towards southpaws. The ten-year veteran has a modest .259/.298/.391 exhibiting in 320 journeys to the dish towards righties. Peralta has a greater profession monitor report in that position, however his energy manufacturing has dropped off this 12 months.
Situational/Function Gamers
The Rockies and Blackmon have expressed mutual curiosity in a reunion. That appears the likeliest plan of action, although the career-long Rockie indicated he wouldn’t be against going elsewhere if Colorado didn’t deliver him again. Blackmon is proscribed to proper area or designated hitter at this stage of his profession. He’s nonetheless an efficient hitter, posting a .276/.368/.429 line with seven homers by way of 351 plate appearances. He received’t come near the $15MM wage he made this season, however he ought to get a one-year deal for a 14th massive league marketing campaign.
Grossman is a switch-hitter who makes his dwelling from the best aspect of the plate. He owns a superb .303/.407/.488 batting line towards left-handed pitching during the last three seasons. When dealing with a righty, he has has hit .199/.307/.334. The platoon splits have been much more drastic this 12 months. Grossman’s capacity to hit left-handed pitching makes him a strong position participant, though he’s miscast in an on a regular basis job. He signed with the Rangers for $2MM final winter and will earn a modest increase on that determine in 2024.
Over two years of below-average manufacturing culminated in Hicks’ launch from the Yankees in Might. The switch-hitter has discovered one other gear since signing with the Orioles, hitting .287/.381/.461 over 53 video games. That’s a glimpse of the hitter Hicks was at his peak, although he’s now a fringe defender and has landed on the injured listing twice with Baltimore. Whereas he’s in all probability a fourth outfielder on a contender, the 11-year veteran earned one other assured massive league alternative.
He received’t price a signing crew any greater than the league minimal, because the Yankees stay on the hook for the remainder of his consecutive $9.5MM salaries from 2024-25. Hicks’ camp will probably obtain various provides on the $740K minimal fee, which means he’ll make his resolution based mostly on golf equipment’ aggressive outlooks and the enjoying time out there.
Jankowski has been a high quality fourth outfielder for the Rangers after an offseason minor league pact. He’s hitting .265/.352/.335 over 282 plate appearances. Jankowski has wonderful strike zone consciousness and works loads of walks regardless of bottom-of-the-scale energy. He’s baserunner (19-for-20 in stolen base makes an attempt this season) and an above-average defender at any outfield spot. The entire dearth of energy means he’ll all the time be restricted to a situational job, however he’s probably secured himself an enormous league contract this time round.
Infield/Outfield Hybrids
Anderson bounces between third base and the nook outfield. He was a strong common for the Marlins from 2018-20 however is hitting .230/.317/.361 in additional than 1000 journeys to the plate during the last three years. Anderson has performed the ’23 marketing campaign in Milwaukee after being non-tendered by the Marlins. He hasn’t produced a lot past a strong first month, posting a .224/.309/.364 slash with a career-worst 30.1% strikeout fee in 94 video games.
Hernández struggled at shortstop to start the season. He has moved again right into a utility capability consequently, enjoying largely second base and heart area however logging some nook outfield motion and occasional shortstop work. He’s amidst a second straight effectively below-average offensive season, hitting .236/.294/.353 over 469 plate appearances. Issues have circled since a midseason commerce. After posting a .222/.279/.320 line in Boston, he owns a .267/.329/.427 slash by way of 146 plate appearances in L.A. He’ll probably land one other assured deal however appears hard-pressed to match the $10MM wage he acquired from the Purple Sox final September.
Kemp is a contact-hitting second base/left area possibility. He’s not an important defender at both spot, however he was a strong common for the A’s from 2021-22 earlier than a down ’23 marketing campaign. The left-handed hitter owns a .211/.304/.311 line by way of 398 journeys to the plate. That’s largely a mirrored image of an unsustainably poor .222 common on balls in play. Kemp has sturdy plate self-discipline and bat-to-ball expertise; he’s certainly one of simply two gamers (Luis Arraez being the opposite) with 300+ plate appearances and extra walks than strikeouts. He might discover a main league deal consequently.
After enjoying catcher, shortstop and third base in recent times, Kiner-Falefa has branched into the outfield for the Yankees in 2023. He has logged 267 1/3 innings in heart area and barely extra between the 2 nook spots (largely left area). Public defensive metrics have given him blended opinions, although that’s in all probability to be anticipated given his lack of expertise on the grass. Nobody will goal Kiner-Falefa as an everyday within the nook outfield. He’s not efficient sufficient a hitter for that. He has broadened his versatility for a bench position, although. Kiner-Falefa places the ball in play with out a lot affect and runs below-average stroll totals. He’s a contact-hitting utility possibility who owns a .253/.311/.332 mark since touchdown in New York.
Merrifield’s contract comprises an $18MM mutual possibility with a $500K buyout. The Jays are very prone to decline their finish, sending the veteran again to free company. He’s one of many higher gamers out there within the second base class but in addition has loads of nook outfield expertise, the place he’s roughly a league common defender. Merrifield is hitting .279/.321/.391 on the season, strong offense however a line that matches higher on the keystone than at a bat-first outfield place.
Veteran Depth
Calhoun obtained into 44 video games for the Yankees, hitting .239/.309/.403 throughout 149 journeys to the plate. He elected free company after clearing outright waivers final month.
Dickerson appeared in 50 video games for the Nationals after signing a $2.25MM free agent deal. He put up a career-worst .250/.283/.354 line and was launched in early August. Dickerson had been a median or higher hitter for the majority of his profession however he’s in minor league deal territory at this stage.
Grichuk began the season effectively in Colorado. It fell aside after a deadline commerce to the Angels, with whom he’s hitting .203/.253/.392 in 41 video games. The Halos have put him on waivers at the very least twice; he went unclaimed each occasions. He ought to nonetheless discover a main league deal based mostly on his capacity to cowl all three outfield spots and hit left-handed pitching. The righty-swinging Grichuk owns a .291/.332/.538 slash towards southpaws during the last three seasons. He’s a .240/.285/.389 hitter versus righties in that very same interval.
The Reds rolled the cube on a bounceback 12 months from Myers final winter, guaranteeing him $7.5MM. It didn’t materialize, as the previous All-Star hit .189/.257/.283 in 37 contests. Cincinnati launched him in June as their wave of younger expertise hit the main league stage. He didn’t signal elsewhere after that.
Pillar broke camp with the Braves after an offseason minor league deal. He has held his roster spot all 12 months, hitting .236/.260/.422 with seven homers in 169 plate appearances. A previously elite defender in heart area, he’s extra of a nook possibility at this stage of his profession. Pillar nonetheless performs respectable protection in a sheltered position and has some pop, however it’ll include a effectively below-average OBP.
Pollock’s offensive productiveness has collapsed over the previous two seasons. He nonetheless hit left-handed pitching effectively a season in the past however didn’t produce towards pitchers of both handedness in 2023. Pollock compiled a .165/.215/.318 line in 54 contests between the Mariners and Giants and was launched by San Francisco two weeks in the past.
Profar settled for a $10MM cope with the Rockies late in Spring Coaching after opting out of his contract with the Padres. His time in Colorado was a catastrophe, because the switch-hitter managed solely a .236/.316/.364 line regardless of the confines of Coors Subject. The Rockies launched him on the finish of August. Profar circled again to San Diego on a minor league deal and was shortly known as to the MLB membership. He might discover one other main league deal this offseason, however he’s coming off his worst season in 5 years.
Tapia is a contact and velocity participant who’s greatest suited to left area. It’s an atypical profile that has led to diminishing enjoying time over the previous couple seasons. He obtained into 59 video games between the Purple Sox and Brewers this 12 months, hitting .230/.308/.338 between the golf equipment. Launched by Milwaukee final month, he’s now in Triple-A with the Rays.
Winker as soon as appeared like an elite platoon possibility, mashing right-handed pitching for the Reds over his first four-plus seasons. He has by no means been defender, although, and his energy has evaporated during the last two years. Winker hit .219/.344/.344 for the Mariners in 2022 and has mustered solely a .199/.320/.247 slash in 61 video games for the Brewers this summer time. He has been out since late July due to again spasms. Winker may nonetheless discover a main league deal from a membership hoping for a rebound, however he’ll hit free company coming off the worst season of his profession.
Participant Choices
Conforto has a borderline possibility case. By tallying 350 plate appearances, he vested the flexibility to say no an $18MM wage for subsequent 12 months in favor of free company. He has returned from the shoulder damage that price him all of final season however hasn’t discovered his peak offensive kind. Conforto owns a .251/.343/.405 slash with 15 homers by way of 426 journeys to the plate. That’s extra consistent with his barely above-average work from his 2021 season (.232/.344/.384) than his All-Star type of 2017-20.
The left-handed hitter had began to search out his stride popping out of the All-Star Break earlier than struggling a left hamstring pressure that despatched him to the injured listing on August 25. He’s anticipated again from that imminently, simply in time for what the Giants hope can be a playoff run. This might go in both path relying on how Conforto finishes the 12 months.
Soler’s opt-out resolution is evident. He has a $12MM wage for subsequent 12 months, which might escalate to $13MM if he returns from an indirect pressure in time to tally 18 extra plate appearances in the course of the common season. In both case, it’s not prone to dissuade him from exploring the market.
After a down first season in Miami, the streaky slugger has carried out on the middle-of-the-order stage the entrance workplace had envisioned. Soler has popped 35 homers with a .240/.329/.513 line by way of 532 journeys to the plate. He’s strolling at a strong 10.9% clip and has reduce his strikeout fee by 5 share factors to a manageable 24.9%.
Soler is a effectively below-average defender. The Marlins have used him largely at designated hitter, although he has picked up 233 2/3 proper area innings. Any crew that indicators him is doing so for the bat, however he might discover one other three-year pact in a market with out many clear offensive upgrades.
Membership Choices
The Brewers have an $11.5MM possibility on Canha that comes with a $2MM buyout. It’s a $9.5MM resolution that figures to be borderline for a small-market Milwaukee membership that has a penchant for taking the cautious route with regard to possibility selections. It’s an affordable sum in a vacuum, as Canha has carried out effectively. He’s hitting .264/.360/.406 in 445 plate appearances, together with a stellar .303/.394/.459 over 36 video games since a deadline commerce that despatched from the Mets to the Brew Crew.
Even in his mid-30s, Canha is an efficient offensive participant. He attracts loads of walks and has reduce his strikeout fee to a career-low 16% this 12 months. He doesn’t have prototypical energy for a nook outfielder/first baseman, however he’s adept at getting on base. If Milwaukee determined to not commit the $9.5MM themselves, Canha might in all probability discover one thing related on the open market.
Minnesota holds a $10MM possibility that comes with a $1MM buyout. This gave the impression to be trending towards a buyout a number of months in the past, as Kepler was hitting .195/.273/.398 by way of the top of Might. For the reason that calendar flipped to June, he’s mashing at a .274/.341/.516 clip to flip the script. The left-handed hitter owns a .251/.321/.482 line with 22 homers altogether. Instantly, the $9MM distinction between his possibility and the buyout seems like wonderful worth, particularly since he continues to play sturdy proper area protection.
The Twins have various left-handed hitting outfielders. Even when they have been fascinated about subtracting Kepler from that surplus, they might achieve this by exercising the choice and buying and selling him. That or just conserving him round for one more season now appear likelier than the buyout.
One other borderline case, Atlanta holds a $9MM possibility with no buyout determine. One of many sport’s streakiest hitters, Rosario slumped to a career-worst .212/.259/.328 exhibiting and underwent corrective imaginative and prescient surgical procedure a season in the past. He has rebounded in 2023, placing collectively a .267/.320/.479 clip with 21 longballs in 470 journeys to the plate.
Rosario is placing out greater than he did throughout his time with the Twins, although he’s additionally drawing a number of extra walks. He’s a power-over-hit left fielder who usually performs common protection. If the Braves are assured he’d replicate this 12 months’s manufacturing, the $9MM worth level is respectable worth.
Earlier installments: catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop
