Mariners corner infielder Ryon Healy and outfielder Keon Broxton both elected free agency rather than accept an outright assignment, the team announced. Both players went unclaimed on waivers and will be free to sign with any club this winter.
Healy, 28 in January, underwent August hip surgery that was expected to sideline him for four to six months. That makes the decision to outright him all the more understandable, though he’d have been at risk even if he were healthy. The OBP-challenged slugger spent two seasons in Seattle but managed just a .236/.280/.423 batting line with 31 home runs in 711 trips to the plate after being traded to the A’s in a now-regrettable deal for righty Emilio Pagan. (Oakland also cut bait on Pagan and traded him to Tampa Bay, where he blossomed into one of the league’s best relievers in 2019.)
A clear timetable on Healy’s return to baseball activities isn’t known, but he could draw interest from clubs looking for some right-handed pop this winter. Healy doesn’t walk often (just 4.7 percent of the time) but also doesn’t strikeout at an egregious rate (22.2 percent in his career). He has experience at both infield corners but is best-suited for first base/designated hitter work, making him a bit redundant for a Mariners team that has Daniel Vogelbach on the big league roster and first base prospect Evan White looming in the upper minors.
The 29-year-old Broxton, meanwhile, played on three different teams this season but couldn’t find success with the Mets, Orioles or Mariners. Broxton turned some heads with the Brewers back in 2016-17 when he showed an intriguing blend power, speed and center field defense while hitting .227/.318/.424 (including a 20-20 campaign in 2017). But strikeouts have been an enormous issue for Broxton, who punched out in an astonishing 45.6 percent of his 228 plate appearances this past season. Given that lack of contact, his ensuing .167/.242/.275 slash is hardly surprising.
Broxton has 17 Defensive Runs Saved, a 9.6 Ultimate Zone Rating and rates in at a whopping 34 Outs Above Average, per Statcast, over the past four MLB seasons. There’s little doubt that his glove is outstanding, but his 61.4 percent contact rate is the second-lowest among all MLB hitters in that same span.
Ryon Healy could be getting a decent paycheck, his 2017 season is good enough upside for a club needing some 1B pop.
Almost certain that he won’t play next season and as he’s needing to rehab and of course that always easier when attached to team that will cover that cost he should have stayed put. Guaranteed money vs no money is the best money.
Sadly, he has massive health problems…..
Super AIDS unfortunately.
AIDS.
Ryon Healy has hit 69 career home runs.
Nice
prolly should retire while he has this golden opportunity
Begamin He should wait till April 20th to retire.
why didnt i think of that
Healy needs a team that can commit a full time DH role to him. Maybe a team in rebuild mode like KC or Baltimore.
Healy is awful, at his best he rides hot streaks
Aren’t all players at their best when riding hot streaks?
With everyone hitting HRs nowadays I don’t believe Healy will get a decent paycheck. That’s unfortunately his only positive.
Crazy splits on Broxton’s literally “among the very best” defensive performance and his “among the very worst” offensive stats.
Like a latter day Gary Pettis, but in an era that GP’s lifetime .642 OPS and career 22.6% strikeout rate probably would have cost him his starting job long before he amassed 4,150 career plate appearances.
Healy seems destined to sign in Japan or Korea. He’s a classic 4A guy who might mash overseas but I don’t see him doing it here. Great guy, love his attitude and his love for the game, I wish him well.
I don’t think Jamal Adams is going to get traded from New York
interesting take on the article about Healy and Broxton
Both to the trash heap of former mlb players.
Broxton sounds like a good fit on the DBacks.
Teams in need of a corner infielder:
Orioles (Both)
Red Sox (1B)
Yankees (1B)
Indians (potential 3B)
Tigers (3B, maybe)
Royals (because they’re the Royals)
Angels (1B)
Mariners (Both)
Rangers (1B)
Braves (Backup 3B?)
Marlins (1B)
Phillies (Maybe 3B?)
Nationals (Emergency type guy here?)
Brewers (If Thames leaves)
Pirates (Platoon guy with Moran?)
Rockies (Not really)
Giants (Just because they’re the Giants)
Most of these teams are fits for Healy as well.
Both the corners in SF need an upgrade. Brandon Belt is worthless on 1st and Evan Longoria is painful to watch. Frankly all of the infield is horrible for the Giants with the exception of Dubon and perhaps Solano.
I dont think the Yankees really need a 1B. Voit, Ford, Bird, DJLM, possibly Andujar/Stanton.
The Brewers hold a very reasonable option for Thames, meaning only way he leaves is via trade
Thames will be back. He had a solid season and is showing that he can hit lefties at a more consistent clip. He also is a fan favorite and has had some clutch hits the last few seasons. Wouldnt be surprised if they get another right handed bat for first to spell thames against the tough lefties though–which wouldnt be a terrible idea. Dont think Tyler Austin is the solution even though he had a nice little run for the Brewers the last few weeks of the season.
One of these days Tyler is going to get a good long look and open eyes. He needs to cut his strikeouts but he can mash.
Why do the Mariners need a 3B guy exactly? Seager was just worth 2.3 WAR in 105 games and is under contract for two more years.
Also, why would they want Healy when they just outrighted him?
Healy strikes out to much for the Giants to consider him.
If you think Seattle needs an OF upgrade you haven’t been paying attention. Especially if you think both. We have a guy that busted a nut playing for us. You might have heard of Mitch Haniger.
They also have a glut of OFers in the minors getting ready to come up. The only positions there is a question mark besides pitching is 3rd and catcher. We have a catcher they are very high on we will see. 3rd is more of a question mark. We will be trading OFers in a year or two.
the Yankees do not need another 1B only kind of guy to go with Luke Voit, Mike Ford and Greg Bird . . . . not to mention that Gary Sanchez is obviously not going to be a catcher long.
1b is probably the one position the Orioles don’t actually need. The only reason Mancini isn’t playing first is Davis, and that might change by next season. They also have Mountcastle knocking on the door in the minors.
So who has the lowest contact rate Steve? I’d be nice if you mentioned that…..
Keon just could not make solid contact to be a starter, or even a bench guy at that. Its a shame too, because when he did barrel a ball up, it went a long way. way too many strikeouts though. Plus, he played some of the best center field ive seen.
Healy might get a minors deal, he’s got pop but teams will want to see how he does after he recovers
Every time I see a guy like Broxton (and there are way too many of them) I think of the scene from the M. Night Shyamalan movie “Signs”….the one about an alien invasion. Joaquin Phoenix played Merrill, a former MiLB star with power and wiffs……….
SFC Cunningham: You really got the strikeout record?
Merrill: Felt wrong not to swing.
I wonder what we could get for Fat Danny? Maybe a bucket of used balls? It was embarrassing to see him go to the AS game. I know we weren’t good but send anyone but.him. Almost all of his success came when the M,s were in that hot streak to start the season. Probably will be the highlight of his career.
They need to get White up here and sign a guy that can give White a rest every once in awhile. Probably an older guy that can hit but not play everyday. A real DH that is not Vogelbach. Find a guy like Cruz maybe without the steroid past.
wonder if Healy gets a 2-year deal like Graveman, Smyly, or Eovaldi did. unconventional for a hitter, but this is an unconventional case here.
also, dont think the Pagan deal is as regrettable given he waa trades again before breaking out.