The Cubs and outfielder Nate Schierholtz have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year pact worth $5MM, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Schierholtz is represented by Damon Lapa and Scott Leventhal of All Bases Covered Sports Management.
Chicago picked Schierholtz up on an affordable one-year, $2.25MM contract last offseason after he was non-tendered by the Phillies (Philadelphia had acquired him in the Hunter Pence trade with San Francisco). The 29-year-old Schierholtz slashed .251/.301/.470 with career-bests in home runs (21), RBIs (68), runs (56) and plate appearances (503). As usual, most of his damage came against right-handed pitching, as can be seen in his .262/.300/.499 slash line against them. He received just 66 PAs against left-handers, clearly indicating his role as a platoon player.
Power is really overvalued. Schierholtz is platoon OF, who plays below average defense, struggles to maintain an OBP over .300 and he will be making the same amount as Gardner just because he posted double digit HR’s for the first time in his career.
I agree with some of this but his defense has always been above average, especially his arm, and in his career he has never posted an OBP below .300
Actually his arm has been considered below average for 4 of his 6 MLB seasons and he hasn’t had a positive UZR/150 since 2010. With regard to his OBP, his career OBP is .314 but it has dropped to around .302 in each season he has had more than 300 PA.
Ehhh, I will give you UZR but I’ve watched him nail too many guys on the basepaths in his career to admit that he has a poor arm. Regardless, the point of the post was that power is overrated, which I agree with.