The Orioles announced that they’ve signed infielder Dilson Herrera to a minor league contract. Presumably, he’ll be invited to Spring Training to compete for a roster spot.
Herrera, is still just 25 years of age despite the fact that he’s five years and two notable trades — Marlon Byrd, Jay Bruce — removed from his MLB debut with the Mets back in 2014. Shoulder troubles have derailed the former top prospect’s development and limited his MLB chances, but he did play a full season in Triple-A upon returning to the Mets organization on a minor league deal last year. In 460 plate appearances there, Herrera slashed .248/.330/.501 with 24 home runs but a career-worst 27.6 percent strikeout rate.
Strikeouts haven’t typically been a major detriment for Herrera, who owns a career .280/.344/.471 batting line in parts of five Triple-A seasons. The departure of Jonathan Villar has left the Orioles quite thin in the infield, so Herrera should have a shot to pick up some at-bats if he shows well next spring and makes the club. He’s primarily been a second baseman in his career, but the Mets have him time at first base, third base and in the outfield corners while playing with their Syracuse affiliate in 2019.
This guy has been mishandled in his career. Clearly should not have been rushed to MLB where he was overwhelmed, and still hasn’t mentally recovered.
He may not be much, but clearly mishandled.
Mets.
Smart career move. He could make the team. I would have to imagine that we add a major league shortstop at some point; but it just doesn’t get much easier than competing against guys like Stevie Wilkerson or Pat Valaika.
Orioles are going to lose 120+ games, next year. Yikes.
The team won 54 games while pitching Dan Straily, David Hess, Gabriel Ynoa, Aaron Brooks, and Asher Wojechechowski for nearly half of the team’s starts. Also started rule 5 pick Richie Martin at SS.
It’s hard to believe the team can be that much worse this year considering the lack of talent that was thrown out on the field last year. If Elias signs any bounce back starting pitchers and a legitimate defensive major league SS I’d have to imagine the team can match last years total. Or edge it out by a game or two. Not that I care if we win 45 or 56 games….
But they won’t have Dylan Bundy or Andrew Cashner anymore, and it’s hard to imagine replacement level talent taking over their spots.
They had a god awful team this year and still weren’t the worst in MLB.
Yep. And the Tigers still have no decent offensive players. They won’t have Castellanos for a full season this year also. Also won’t have the elite production Shane Greene gave them closing out games in the first half.
I wouldn’t mind being worse than the Tigers next year to get a better pick—I just don’t see it being likely.
O’s have a tougher division. They have a chance at losing 110 games plus Detroit has better starting pitching. The critical matchups will be how the O’s play against the Blue Jays and how the Tigers play against the Royals. O’s chances of being worse than Detroit is quite good.
Was just an opinion, wasn’t trying to demean the team or its fans. They just traded Bundy who, while not a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, was at least somewhat of an innings eater. Just painful to see teams like the O’s and Tigers being so inept.
I didn’t take any offense to the comment. The team is terrible. That’s by design. I was just commenting my thoughts. It wouldn’t really matter if the O’s did lose 120 games this year. It’s much more important that the young guys progress than the wins or losses.
The Orioles are following the same plan the Cards and more so Astros used. They were inept, but are far from it now. See ya in 3 years.
Unfortunately for Herrera, his one little window with the Mets closed very quickly.
The trade where they got him and Vic Black seemed pretty solid at the time, but went the typical Mets route (although it was still a good roll of the dice for 1 meaningless month of Marlon Byrd and John Buck.)
Hes garbage
…said everyone of Hanser Alberto this time last year.
Yeah, but to be fair, at the time, the claim wasn’t a ridiculous one, as Alberto’s triple slash line then was far worse than it is for Herrera right now (.192/.210/.231) with a .440 OPS and a 18 OPS+ as opposed to .203/.293/.394 with a .687 OPS and a 88 OPS+ for Herrera.
So didnt you just kind of make my point for me?
….and yet he is somehow still better than you at fielding, hitting and throwing a ball.
How so? Thats a mystery.
You are so uneducated. He tore up AAA and still has upside
Now this is the kind of player I want flipping my kids’ burgers at a sweet Sunday Barbecue.
Good pickup for the O’s…tons of upside potential with this guy.
Those saying he has been mishandled are correct, at least by the Mets…when he was with Cincinnati he was in AAA and did well enough for a call up…but then didn’t resign with them as I am sure he thought he was going to stay on the MLB roster and he absolutely wasn’t ready.
He has a ton of skill and potential but I sometimes wonder about his maturity (just watching him play) as he doesn’t seem consistent.
Tons of potential there and I wish him the best.
Orioles are historically used to being a winner and fans will grow even more impatient as time goes on. Elias should keep his head on a swivel for anyone named Barnes!
Huge Orioles fan. Baltimore fans are used to the Ravens being a winner. To suggest that we are used to the Orioles being a winner is funny. the O’s were good for about a 5 season window for the last 25 years. The team from 98-2011 was a dumpster fire.
Now if you’re much older than I am; you might be used to the O’s winning. But even those guys should’ve re-adjusted by now.
Yeah, my Dad grew up in Baltimore in the 60s and 70s. He was used to the Orioles being winners.
Does that include Matt Barnes from Boston? Is he going to throw at him during a game?
Doubt I’m much older but three WS victories nothing to ignore. There was the Oriole Way and there are enough of the former O’s around to keep the way alive.
Too many fish dinners with champ kind and hanging around with Alice sweet from Norfolk too much to get the Platoon reference.
Phllies fan but attend handful of O’s games each year. Hour away, nice park and Inner Harbor. It is hurtful to see what they are going through at this time. Herrera is not a bad chance to take. Only 25? Seems like he has been around longer? What the heck! Let him play!
Great buy low by a team with nothing to lose.
Worst case scenario he hits .210 with a few walks and dingers and they move on.
Best case he gets hot and puts up an .800 or .850 OPS at 2B and returns something at the deadline
Of course it is a minor league deal, they are a minor league team
I think this is a really good pickup for the Orioles. Has a lot of talent and speed which the Orioles are lacking.