The Indians announced Tuesday that veteran outfielder Matt Joyce has been granted his release from his minor league contract, making him a free agent. The Cleveland organization informed Joyce late last week that he would not make the big league roster. Joyce will now have the opportunity to seek a landing spot with just over a week until the regular season commences.
The 34-year-old Joyce had a rough 2018 season with the A’s (.208/.322/.353 in 246 PAs) and didn’t hit much in his limited time with the Indians organization this spring (5-for-27 with three walks and seven strikeouts). However, he’s only one season removed from batting .243/.335/.473 with the Athletics in 2017.
Broadly speaking, Joyce has been a quality platoon bat in the outfield corners over the past decade, hitting right-handed pitching at an above-average clip while playing largely solid defense. In nearly 3400 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Joyce is a .250/.351/.451 hitter.
Sorry but his 2017 stats show at least two years of lousy ABs. Joyce’s strength has been his versatility and I was happy when the Indians signed him because I thought he had something left. In today’s game there are cheaper options for an on the decline back up. Brock Holt became a rock star last year but if he didn’t have a career year, he too would be looking for a job despite his even more versatility.
What’re you talking about? He had an ops above .800 in 2017. In what world does that qualify as lousy?
He probably just saw the batting average and ran with it…
Correct. I went back and saw his 25 hrs for the A’s in 17. My bad on that but his overall averages of .240 BA and about 14 hrs per year is misleading in that the 25 hrs was never duplicated in any other season.
Wow Dewey didn’t realize you were an advanced metrics guy, BA and HRs.
Yep, that pretty much sums up a ball players worth.
Hello Joyce???!?!?
Crowded house in Cleveland. No surprise on the Joyce decision.
He’s finished.
Wow “he’s only 1 season away from batting .243…..with a career .240 BA….if that’s impressive these days then I just don’t know anymore……I was waiting for somebody to mention his metrics, and they did with the OBS comment making him sound like Mookie Betts or Aaron Judge!
Well that changes everything….multi year contract for min $10 Million per…wow he’s a bonefide weapon in the lineup…his OBS was above 800…assuming that he can even get on base consistently which is a dream…..come on JD Goat..give us all a break!
Thank you for showing everybody your intelligence. If you get an .800 ops mixed up with superstars, that’s on you, not everybody else.
Re-Joyce
Like how he was given a contract after years of mediocrity and Denard Span is sitting at home. This could also be because Span wouldn’t lower himself to a minor league deal, which to his credit is beneath his abilities. Rant over.