The Phillies announced on Monday that they have signed veteran outfielder David Lough to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Lough, who turned 30 last week, has seen action in parts of four big league seasons — 2012-13 with the Royals and 2014-15 with the Orioles. This past season was, unequivocally, a struggle for the left-handed-hitting Lough, as he batted just .201/.241/.313 in 144 plate appearances with the O’s before being designated for assignment and eventually outrighted to Triple-A. Lough did return to the Majors in September for a bit, but because he finished the year having qualified as a Super Two player, the O’s non-tendered him rather than going through the arbitration process.
Prior to his 2015 struggles, Lough was a solid platoon option in the corner outfield. He’s never had much pop, but Lough combined respectable average and OBP marks against right-handed pitching with strong defense to provide value in K.C. and Baltimore. From 2013-14, Lough posted an overall batting line of .272/.310/.403, including a .277/.319/.411 slash against righties in that span. In 726 innings as a left fielder in his big league career, Lough has posted huge marks in Defensive Runs Saved (+20) and Ultimate Zone Rating (+13.5). He’s had similar success in right field (+9 DRS, +9.2 UZR in 639 2/3 innings), and he’s even drawn positive marks in a small, 347-inning sample in center field.
The Phillies currently have Cody Asche, Aaron Altherr, Peter Bourjos, Odubel Herrera and No. 1 overall Rule 5 Draft pick Tyler Goeddel in the mix for regular at-bats in the outfield this year. Lough will compete for the right to join that group, and if he’s able to land on the team and stick all year, he’d be controllable through the 2019 season, should the club keep him around.
Good luck to you
interesting signing with the log jam of below average to average outfielders already, but I like D-Lo and can see him having a bounce back year. Best of luck.
Altherr and Herrera aren’t below average.
Lough, Altherr, Bourjous, Goedell, and Herrera. The ball might never touch the grass.
I love what Klentak has done to the outfield. Speedy and they will turn other teams doubles to singles and so on. I think he needs to snag Lincecum for the rotation low cost, high reward, I’m really excited for this years team
I’m going to assume that by signing a guy like David Lough the Phillies have resigned themselves to the notion they could set some sort of modern record for least HRs in a season for 2016. I understand they’re rebuilding and you have to accept some setbacks but I can’t see this team hitting 100 HRs all season unless multiple players come out of nowhere to start knocking longballs over the fences.
Franco is good for 25, at least
Howard/Ruf probably will combine for 35 HR (they combined for 35 last year)
They’ll hit 100.
2014 Royals went to the World Series….
1B) Hosmer – 9 HR
2B) Infante – 6 HR
SS) Escobar – 3 HR
3B) Moustakas – 15 HR
C) Perez – 17 HR
LF) Gordon – 19 HR
CF) Cain – 5 HR
RF) Aoki – 1 HR
DH) Butler – 9 HR
Dyson – 1 HR
Valencia – 2 HR
Kratz – 2 HR
Ibanez – 2 HR
Willingham – 2 HR
Giavotella – 1 HR
Hayes – 1 HR
Maxwell – 0 HR
Ciriaco – 0 HR
Gore – 0 HR
Colon – 0 HR
Nix – 0 HR
Peguero – 0 HR
That’s 95 HR’s WITH the DH.and their bench players… (22 players all year long)
How many wins does 100HRs get you?
I have to think that this move has to come with the intent that they trade Asche… I thought that even before this signing. Angels are still looking for a lefty 3B/OF – and that’s exactly who Asche is….
Who would the Angels send them though? They don’t have many position players the Phillies need and the pitching pool to pick fro
Seems some what diminished from other trades, I see the Phillies taking a chance in Skaggs or asking for Tropeano, I’m not familiar with the Angels system but am aware it’s not a great one, maybe if it turned into a three team trade somehow it could make sense to me with the Phillies sending Asche to the Angels, Angels sending a player or two to Team X and Team X sending a young guy to philly, that’s how it plays out in my head but I don’t know time will tell