The Orioles have claimed infielder Hanser Alberto off waivers from the Giants, per a club announcement. Southpaw Donnie Hart was designated for assignment to clear roster space.
If you’re keeping score at home, this is now the fourth time Alberto has been designated and claimed this winter — and the second time by the O’s. The Baltimore org had recently dropped him from the 40-man in order to claim lefty Josh Osich from the Giants, who in turn claimed (and have now waived and lost) Alberto.
In retrospect, perhaps it’d have all been easier had the O’s dropped Hart in the first place. Perhaps the team’s evaluation of the 28-year-old — and/or its non-Alberto infield assets — has changed in the meantime.
Hart has appeared in each of the past three MLB campaigns, working to a 3.43 ERA in 81 1/3 innings with 6.0 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 along with a 52.6% groundball rate. He was knocked around in his twenty appearances in the majors last year, though he did manage 41 frames of 2.41 ERA ball at Triple-A.
stop claiming him already. he will provide exactly no value to whichever club he sticks with.
I didn’t even know the Giants waived him,watched him yesterday making good plays at 2nd,the Dudes head must be spinning lol
I’m surprised they designated Hart. He’ll probably be claimed in short order.
Here’s hoping he will be picked up by a club that will let him play. He deserves to play, not ride shuttles…imo.
Hart’s fastball sits at 89. He does an okay job getting the ball on the ground but I’m guessing they preferred Osich and his 95 MPh heater with a similar GB profile. Can’t complain Hart’s been given his chances here. They probably don’t see much projection in him with his weak stuff.
Thanks for your reply and spot-on observations. I appreciate that. As long as the best guys make up the team, we should be okay.
Not only that, but last year Hart did not get lefties out like he did his first season.
Many non-Alberto infield assets out there, but remarkably few Alberto infield assets available now or in recent memory.
Alberto Gonzalez is probably the most accomplished, unless you include Quilvio Veras on the basis of Alberto being his middle name. Alberto infield assets drop off quickly from there. Raul Adalberto Mondesi, maybe?
Lol this is gold
Hart was a pet project of Duquette, not surprised to see him gone, he never put it together after his rookie season. It’s definitely concerning though that he was DFAed to claim a guy we just DFAed. Idk what happened there. My guess is Hart had a scuffle in camp. Alberto means nothing to us, we have a billion bad infielders.
Hart posted very solid minor league numbers and had a bit of big league success. Not to mention he’s left handed. I understand why he was given so many chances. The guy we just claimed Osich is older with even worse numbers. Hart will probably be claimed.
No more downvotes huh, they gave in to X?