The Orioles announced today that they have released veteran infielder/outfielder Danny Valencia. He had been designated for assignment recently.
Clearly, the O’s weren’t able to find a taker for any of the remainder of Valencia’s $1.2MM salary. Some of that could still be offset at the league-minimum rate, if Valencia catches on elsewhere.
While he’s limited to playing in the corners, and carries unexciting overall offensive numbers, Valencia could still appeal to teams that are considering specialized bench bats down the stretch. He has a long history of success against left-handed pitching.
There are many worse options. Could be a valuable pinch hitter come playoff time. Oakland?
He was not good when he was with Oakland a few years ago. He also got into a fight with Billy Butler in the A’s clubhouse and Billy Butler was put on the DL soon after that fight. Danny Valencia would mess up the A’s chemistry right now. So no thanks.
There were also rumblings of issues with Valencia in Toronto. Never got the full scoop as they were chasing New York for the division at the time.
There’s been rumblings of issues with Valencia virtually from day 1 in the minor leagues with the Twins, and they always follow him wherever he goes.
He had an ops of over 800 through 650 at bats in 2015 & 16. He was actually pretty good for Oak.
Guys who played with Danny and Billy when they were both with the Royals threw Billy under the bus and backed Danny. It was a weird fight.
I’ve heard from a definite unreliable source that Valencia is kind of a partier too. Could be part of the problem. Even though nothing was ever really reported in Toronto, he got dfa’d in the middle of a great season. You almost have to believe there’s something going on with him in clubhouses. And for the record I’m a Danny Valencia fan.
All throughout his trip up through the minors for the Twins it was a projected issue. Nobody of course rips on a mid grade minor leaguer by name to the press but some isolated attitude issues were a common thread at the time in the interviews and such youd read… and now that we have hindsight it’s pretty obvious they weren’t talking about the other guys like Plouffe who were threatening to make the roster coming up around the same time.
A friend of mine who goes to every spring training was chit chatting with Terry Ryan around the time he was coming up and all but confirmed the clubhouse concerns they had. Hearsay of course but… it happened.
Keep in mind that Butler was a known jerk in Kansas City. Valencia has been with the O’s twice and there has never been a rumor or hint about him being a negative in the clubhouse. He is what he is, a mediocre defender at 3B and OF who can pound lefties.
Giants should take a chance on this guy. Could be another lighting in a bottle version of “ Cody Ross” 2010
Go for it. Buyer beware. I love his bat. Hated his attitude in Seattle. Gimme -0.3 WAR Ryon Healy instead.
The Rockies should make a run at him. He couldn’t possibly be any worse than Pat Valaika as a bench bat.
Not a bad option. Seems like he could be good on the right team down the stretch.
Brewers could use him at 2B or SS maybe.
He can’t play middle infield unless you really want your defense to suffer.
I think ray_derek was being sarcastic, or I hope so at least
He’s a troll
Brewers are already sacrificing defense by putting Travis Shaw at 2B. So why not Valencia at SS.
It’s a joke, since they put Shaw at second and have like 8 infielders on their roster.
Great track record vs LHP
Exactly. Any team with some lefties that struggle against LHP can use Valencia as a RH bat. He killed lefties in Toronto. I didn’t like the move to DFA him in 2015.
Dodgers need him and closer Givens from Baltimore. Get on it!
Givens wouldn’t make it through the AL unclaimed on revocable waivers.
Givens is one of the few that were not available for trade.
Braves!
Why? No.
I’ll be very surprised if a playoff contender doesn’t take a flyer on him as a bench option.
Could be useful for the Yankees until Judge gets back. However, if the clubhouse cancer rumors are true then might not be the best of ideas.
Yeah, Valencia may not be the kind of “offensive” player you’d want in that clubhouse.
Could be valuable to a contender down the stretch but doubt any one will take a flyer on him. Many reports of this dude being a club house cancer throughout the years.
Valencia can hit, or at least could. But the number of times he has moved around suddenly from team to team amidst rumors or whispers of Danny annoying someone in the clubhouse… well, usually where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
I’ve always thought Valencia brought his U of Miami swagger with him after he was drafted. Having gone to school around the same time I just gave him the benefit of the doubt that it was cockiness rather than partying that caused the rumors that others have posted about. I never met him so I can only speculate. (I said the same about myself fwiw.)
Virus
He is a great bat off the bench especially against LH pitching. I wouldn’t have him as an everyday player. Defensively he is not very good.