The Orioles announced Thursday that corner infielder/designated hitter Pedro Alvarez has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk. The veteran Alvarez would’ve had the right to reject that assignment in favor of free agency, though Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com tweets that he has accepted the assignment and will remain in the organization.
Alvarez, 31, showed that he still has plenty of power in his latest run with the Orioles, swatting eight homers in just 127 plate appearances and notching an impressive .234 ISO. However, he remains strikeout-prone and posted just a .180/.283/.414 batting line on the season overall.
Baltimore actually used Alvarez at third base more than at first base in his latest run with the team, as an early injury to Tim Beckham created an opening at the hot corner. Manny Machado had been the team’s primary third baseman for years, of course, but he voiced a preference to move over to shortstop, his original position, following the departure of J.J. Hardy, and the organization accommodated that wish. Unsurprisingly, defensive metrics weren’t kind to Alvarez in his limited time at third base, though that was to be expected. The slugger drew poor ratings at third base even when it was his primary position, but he’d seen all of 53 innings at third over the past three seasons combined before lining up there in 2018.
Alvarez will remain on hand in Triple-A and could conceivably get a call to the big leagues again later this year. The O’s figure to be active sellers at this summer’s trade deadline and will need to plug some of the myriad holes created by trading away more productive veterans. Of course, the club may also want to fill those eventual vacancies with younger options than Alvarez, who’ll once again be a free agent at season’s end.
Good for him. Stay humble, grind it out, and soon you’ll get another chance.
He played 95% of the year at AAA last year. This isn’t at all surprising.
They have given him tons of chances now. He has had some big hits and I think he’s a fan favorite. Problem is he just gets lost when pitchers are able to throw quality breaking pitches
Nobody wants that guy. It was this or the Japanese Beer League.
The amazing thing was that his defense at third was tolerable at first….then the wild throws…then first base…then he got out if shape. Sad…has amazing power.
Then the TJS, oh wait he’s not on the Angels sorry
Alvarez has a prior agreement with the orioles that he gets a higher salary when demoted than someone in his shoes typically would. Which makes senses for him to stick around and earn some more cash playing here but I don’t see an opportunity ever opening itself up in Baltimore.
I hope the Bull rakes at AAA. It’s hard not to root for the guy. He’s a great clubhouse presence and has accepted his assignment to the minors like 4 times now with never complaining. Always stays humble and keeps working at keeping the dream alive.
Probably a little late in the career to finally figure out how to hit offspeed pitches. He’d be a hall of famer if they were only allowed to throw him fastballs. Then again, if my aunt had baIIs she’d be my uncle.
Yeah I’m not so sure about these comments. His glove was terrible before the arm became his terrible. 25-27 errors every year. Would never agree to play winter ball when the Bucs wanted him to. Do not miss this half of a half of a player at all. I always check in on his and Cutch’s box scores hoping the latter to be tearing it up and the former to be tearing it down.
He very much seems like a great guy. Easy to root for.
Alvarez was batting only .180? That’s 30 points better than Chris Davis. What a difference an albatross contract makes.
I wouldn’t want to throw 100 million in the garbage either. I can understand the reluctance. I’m hoping this time off is good for Davis’ head. I think he needs an “injury” and a minor league assignment before we may see any results but I’m trying to be optimistic
Agreed
He must really like Baltimore.