The Rangers and Indians are looking at free agent outfielder Ryan Spilborghs, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The 32-year-old outfielder was non-tendered by the Rockies about a month ago.
Spilborghs scuffled to a .210/.283/.305 line in 2011. Prior to that, his career line was a healthy .281/.354/.440. A right-handed hitter, Spilborghs has faced lefties in 40% of his career plate appearances and has done well against them. He's capable of playing all three outfield positions.
With the Rangers, Spilborghs would make a good platoon partner for David Murphy in left field, if the Rangers are to use Josh Hamilton in center. Shelley Duncan or Aaron Cunningham could similarly match up with Michael Brantley for the Indians, though Duncan may be utilized at first base. Plus, neither Hamilton nor Grady Sizemore seem likely to play 150 games, so outfield depth takes on added importance for both clubs.
I would like to have this guy to platoon in left with Prado, at the very least, to give Chipper more days off.
He wouldn’t even help the Braves. He was cut for a reason.
He wasn’t cut just not tendered a contract for 2012 by the Rockies. He is a solid and verisitle player, he’s got a short swing so he’s good off the bench and in spot starts. He had many big hits for the Rox, I remember a few long homeruns off some real hard throwing relievers. He has no problem hitting a 97 mph heater but a slider breaking down and away is a little different story. He is a valuable back up outfielder for sure…
Good Ole’ Tom Cassidy, I didn’t even realize I was replying to you. I wouldn’t have wasted my time, all the readers on this site know you’re a joke. Stay off it, I’m tired of seeing you name and comments!
Oh, so mean. I’m a joke how exactly? But you are correct. You make perfect sense. He barely hit .200 in COLORADO. He was cut by a team with no offense, and no teams have any interest in him. And a few home runs make a player good? Flawless logic, Thizzie. Also, learn to spell before attacking other posters. Tell your mother I said hello.
He wasn’t cut dude, figure it out. The Rockies have a very good offense but weak pitching and their outfiled depth is strong with Cargo, Smith, Cuddyer, Fowler and Blackmon. He’ll sign and be a good role player, he’s not awsome but he is good. Like I said though, he wasn’t cut by the Rockies!
He was so bad that he could even get tendered a contract from a bad team. That means he isn’t good. It’s not hard to figure out. It’s pretty much the same thing as being cut. And their offense isn’t very good. They have Tulo and CarGo. That’s really it.
The Rox have a very strong offense and they’ve been highly competitive for the last 5 years.
How can you say he isn’t good, have you ever watched him play over his last 8 years in the big leagues?
The article was about the interest that Spilly is getting and you turned it into a bash session, back off dude…
“Good Ole’ Tom Cassidy, I didn’t even realize I was replying to you. I
wouldn’t have wasted my time, all the readers on this site know you’re a
joke. Stay off it, I’m tired of seeing you name and comments!”
But I am the one on a bash session?
All I said was he wouldn’t help the Braves, and his stats prove that. I have evidence to back up my claim, not just “he will be good because he will be.” That is all.
I agree to an extent. I don’t want to see him platoon with Prado since both are right handed hitters who hit lefties well. I would like to see either him or Cody Ross signed as the 4th outfielder. The Braves need a back-up outfielder who can cover CF in an emergency. Right now the only back-up CF they have is Jose Constanza, and Spilborghs would be a big upgrade over him.
Josh should play LF and save his ligaments a little, and we should bring up Martin to play CF. Before he signed anywhere, they raved about how he has all this ability and potential. We shouldn’t be paying him 3mil/yr just to sit in the minors. CALL HIM UP!!
Martin is still very young. He’ll have a chance to compete for the CF job, but it’s very likely it will be a platoon between Gentry & Borbon. Martin had a great stint in AA, but came back to earth in AAA. I imagine he’ll be sent to AAA to get a little more work under his belt. But he will be here by September, to stay…that’s for sure.
That’s true, he did regress some in AAA. But I’m saying I don’t think the Rangers would be paying him more than some of our ML starters to stay in the minors.
He had a down year in 2011, but otherwise he’s solid in the OF. Not only that, but he’s one of the nicest guys in MLB. I can’t wait to see him sign with another team and come back and stick it to the Rockies for letting him go.
Agreed, I have enjoyed watching and getting to know Spilly. He’d be an asset to any club…
Is that why the other day when he was on MLB Network doing an interview he said that no teams have shown any interest? That must be because he’s an asset!!
Still early dude, he’ll sign and make the squad for whatever team he plays on. He’ll probably hit about .275 with 10-15 HR’s like he usually does… Plays all three OF positions with some pop. Seems like the article stated that two of the top AL teams are looking at him, didn’t I read the Rangers and Indians. I thought so!
The Indians are one of the top AL teams now? Oh, jeez. “tweeted by Jon Heyman.” You’re going to believe that when he came out and said no teams had interest in him?
Yes the Indians were top of their division for most of the year before the Tigers made their strong playoff push. You’re such a know it all. You make me not want to read the comments…
Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, Tigers, Rangers, and Angels are all better. But good point.
Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, Tigers, Rangers, and Angels are all better. But good point.
You don’t have to be a know it all to know the Indians aren’t one of the top teams in the AL..
Well they were pretty good last year
Well if you consider a team who was middle of the road in hitting, not so hot in pitching and fielding, with a losing record and only showed up for half the season pretty good, then yeah, they were awesome.
He had a down year in 2011, but otherwise he’s solid in the OF. Not only that, but he’s one of the nicest guys in MLB. I can’t wait to see him sign with another team and come back and stick it to the Rockies for letting him go.
Can you say “Garrett Atkins v. 2.0”?
no
How? He so similar to Atkins in so many ways: a few good years (in Colorado, how hard is that?) and then completely falling off the table. Atkins was very productive for a few years (in Colorado also, coincidence?) before he started sucking.
Sure he’d be a great platoon partner in LF for a month or two, then when Martin comes up in June or July, he’d be a 6th OF on our 25 man roster. There’s no need for him.
hes Guatemalan thats cool enough