It’s been a quiet winter on the Hunter Pence front despite a remarkable bounceback effort that made him a finalist for 2019 Comeback Player of the Year honors in the American League. The veteran outfielder tells MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan (Twitter link), though, that he intends to play in 2020 and has been training and talking with multiple clubs about a deal. The Rangers, Pence acknowledged, are not one of those clubs.
Many wrote Pence off after a woeful finish to a seven-year run with the Giants. Originally a deadline acquisition by the San Francisco organization, Pence re-upped on a five-year, $90MM contract and hit quite well in the first three seasons of the deal. However, his offensive output deflated in his final two years with the Giants, as he batted just .249/.297/.368 over the course of 231 games.
Pence went to the Dominican Winter League in the 2018-19 offseason intent on revamping his swing mechanics, and any changes that he made appear to have yielded overwhelmingly positive results. He not only won a roster spot coming out of camp with his hometown Rangers (after settling on a minor league deal); he turned in his best offensive work since 2013. Pence looked reborn with a .297/.358/.552 slash, 18 homers, 17 doubles and a triple through 286 plate appearances. Groin and back strains limited his time on the field, but Pence demonstrated plenty of encouraging secondary trends in 2019.
His walk rate was at its best level since 2016, and Pence’s 21.8 percent strikeout rate marked an improvement over his 2018 level. Beyond that, his hard-hit rate soared (33.1 percent in ’18, 42.6 percent in ’19), as did his average exit velocity (88 mph vs. 91.4 mph) and barrel rate (5.1 percent vs. 9.1 percent).
As a 36-year-old corner outfielder/designated hitter who no longer appears to be a quality defender in the outfield corners, Pence is perhaps best limited to a part-time role — perhaps with an AL club that can afford to give him some at-bats in the DH spot. But considering his success in 2019, there’s little reason that to think that a club wouldn’t take a chance on a once-again productive veteran who is, by all accounts, revered in the clubhouse.
@alavila
@alavila +1
With Brexit going through it makes sense that Pence would come back. But I am surprised that Schilling didn’t do better. I mean he hardly ever got pounded.
What does Brexit have to do with Hunter Pence?
British currency pun
But didn’t they stay on the pound all along?
No one really knows what he’s guinea do.
Fat drunk & stupid is no way to go through life son
Speaking from personal experience?
Actually a personal experience with your mom
Good one… so original, I feel inspired. Can I steal this?
No chance dork
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_burn_centers_in_the_…
It’s ok. From now on, you’re on double secret probation
this is brilliant
He has a lot of competition in the outfield free agency market. A random team might offer him a minor league deal because they like him personally, but I’m thinking given his 1.8 WAR in 83 games last year that he feels he should be on a major league roster. He might not get that.
The guy who has also said he wants to play in 2020, and is curiously still free is Russell Martin. With some pretty bad catchers getting minor league contracts now, Martin is pretty clearly the best available catcher on the market. Like after Martin it’s probably Jesus Sucre… or Rafael Lopez.
Of course he should get a major league contract. His numbers were very good and he’s a tremendous leader.
He isnt getting a major league contract … minor league contract with an invite from a team with an inside track to a 4th or 5th outfielder job
Good luck! Dude is a gamer. Hate to see guys like this and Pedroia fade at the end, so fun to watch. Hopefully someone gives him a decent shot.
This is a good take.
Until Adell comes up, the Angels have three outfielders.
I’d love this guy as a fourth outfielder platooning with Goodwin. Mainly because I love watching him play.
I wish the Rangers would try to bring him back. They’ve discussed Castellanos at first base, but Hunter Pence would be a cheap bench player who has the same level of experience (none) at the position
Bring him back to Philly!
They’re reportedly looking for a RH hitting OF’er. Signing Pence would allow Haisley to sit against lefties with Cutch moving to CF vs lefties and Pence in LF. He could even give Harper an occasional day off maybe a day/night double header or against a tough lefty.
Fan favorite, awesome clubhouse presence.
Wouldn’t mind seeing him with the Bucs if we trade Marte. Reynolds in center with Polanco and a platoon including Pence could be good. Might be a trade candidate if he plays decently and a contender needs a bench bat.
What was his projected 2019 salary? Sounds like a perfect fit for the White Sox to pair some veteran leadership along with a platoon candidate for Mazara since Pence has much better splits against LHP.
Not sure why I keep trying to improve the White Sox, I’m a Cubs fan! :)
Too bad he cant play the outfield. If the NL had the DH like they should, the Cubs could really use a leader like Pence. They have lacked leadership since 2016.
“if a baseball player could do all the things a baseball player is expected to do, he’d have a job.”
The DH is cheating.
Anyway, you can put Hunter Pence in LF part time. It’s fine.
True on the glove. But if they’re worried about Mazara’s lefty splits this would be a cheap pickup for a guy that’s still hitting lefties. 1.015 OPS in 2019 against them.
Perhaps Theo would take him as a non-roster invitee if he’d accept a minor league contract?
The DH isn’t real baseball. It was implemented in the 70s to increase ratings by appealing to the lowest common denominator as far as “fans” are concerned. Basically, the DH is for people who are not smart enough to understand and appreciate the intellectual aspect of baseball and just want to see guys hit the ball.
Pence is my guy, he came up clutch so many times for us last year, I hope he comes back to Texas. I feel bad for Giants fans.
Was it because when we won the 2010 World Series we did it at your house instead of at home?
“We?” Were you on the team?
What number were you?What position?Enlighten us.
Calm down already. People are allowed to homer and stanz. It’s entertainment! Stop trying to be so cool from the comfort of your own keyboard.
*stan
Hunter Pence is the good guy of MLB. Wherever he winds up, his teammates will be happy to have him. I agree, Angels would be a solid fit in the interim.
He would be great for the Chisox to platoon in right field with Nomar.
RANGERS are going to regret not re-upping Hunter Pense… even worse than last years blunder of omitting Robbie Chirinos on a re-sign.
Pense is a gamer and A+ mentor and clubhouse guy.
Really gonna miss his input.
Maybe the Cardinals could grab him. He’d have a decent shot of at least beginning the season as the starting left fielder, and the Cards could certainly use a bat like what he showed last year.
Hunter Pence plays Atari 2600.
You don’t play Atari 2600…you live it.
Honestly don’t know why the Giants wouldn’t try to bring him back on a minors deal. No risk, you put people in seats, and possibly get a decent prospect or 2 at the deadline.
Oh lord…lol
Pence’s comeback season was one of my favorite stories to follow in 2019. Hope a solid team picks him up.
Hunter Pence played great last year, balky back got to him late summer. He stole 8 or 9 bases in spring training last year to show he was healthy, he ran a bit during the season too, and the more they played him the better he looked. Lots of clutch RBIs with an undeveloped lineup. He should close out his career in Texas. After 2021. Dump Odor now, play Solak at 2b and sign the guy..
Dump odor is a terrible odor. Some people carry it with them at all times. I think that is why patchouli is so popular in Northern California. That and standard hippie B.O., which is basically dump odor.
Captain Underpants is a 1st ballot inductee to the Nickname HOF.
22Leo, sounds like you are well-read on the subject…an odor-reader, as it were.
Love the idea of Rangers getting back on this. Platoon him with Guzman at first and trade for Marte to play center.
c chirnos
1 Pence/guzman
2 odor/solak
ss andrus
3 Frazier
rf calhoun
lf gallo
cf marte
dh choo
ut santana
Hope you find a team to play with, best of luck. Enjoy watching you play the game.
A natural for the Pirates to sign. A guy on the downside of his career, coming over to a team that is threadbare in the outfield. And Polanco is injury prone. Pence is the kinda guy who the Bucs have signed for years. And if he has a productive 4 months, they’ll trade him to a contender at the deadline