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Gold Glove Nominees Announced

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The 2020 Rawlings Glove Glove Award finalists have been released, with the Cubs netting the most nominations with seven. The Mets, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Rays, and Red Sox were shut out.

The awards for defensive prowess will be handed out based on defensive metrics alone this year, since managers and coaches weren’t able to see players outside their regional bubble. Moving to a metrics-based system, even for a year, certainly make for interesting television, especially since these awards can make an impact on arbitration cases. Considering the uncertainty of a 60-game season, awards could carry greater weight than usual in those proceedings, thought that’s just speculation. Without further ado, here are this year’s nominees:

AL Pitcher

NL Pitcher

AL Catcher

NL Catcher

AL First Base

NL First Base

AL Second Base

NL Second Base

AL Third Base

NL Third Base

AL Shortstop

NL Shortstop

AL Left Field

NL Left Field

AL Centerfield

NL Centerfield

AL Right Field

NL Right Field

Nicky Lopez of the Royals was originally left off the list, but he is in fact a nominee at second base, one of four nominations at the keystone in the American League. It’s the only position with four nominations.

There are a few other interesting things of note. Perennial candidates like Andrelton Simmons and Matt Chapman did not make the list this year due to shortened seasons, nor did last season’s Outs Above Average leader Victor Robles. Both Gurriel brothers earned nominations this year, with the younger Lourdes (LF) joining perennial candidate Yuli (1B).

There are also a couple of largely part-time players that made the cut, like Hoerner of the Cubs and Mendick for the White Sox. Neither was the everyday second baseman, but they did reach the inning minimum of 265 total defensive innings. They qualified at second because that’s where they played the most innings. Mendick, for example, registered just 226 innings at second, but with 27 innings at third and 15 at shortstop, he ended the year with 268 total defensive innings played.

Catchers required a minimum of 29 games, which is how we got a pair of White Sox catchers making the top-3. Pitchers had to throw a minimum of 50 innings.

The winners will be selected using the SABR Defensive Index and announced on November 3rd, per sabr.org.

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Comments

  1. No Gary Sanchez is a slap in the face of fans of the greatest arm.

    5

    • Sanchez is probably the worst defensive catcher in baseball…

      12

      • Is Yukon serious? I’m assuming he has to be joking…the guy is closer to being a full time DH than gold glover

        2

        • Giving individual awards on less than 40% of a typical season is just stupid. How many of us really care? I read the article more out of curiosity than anything else. While yes there were unusual stress factors, the bottom line is the small sample size this year takes away the impressiveness of the winners in other years.

    • I’m a Yankees fan and Sanchez doesn’t deserve to be list. His caught-stealing rate has also been trending down the past few years.

      • I’m a Jays fan and trust me Lourdes Gurriel Jr. shouldn’t even come near a gold glove nomination. He made some nice diving catches in 2020 but I would say the majority of those dives were a result of running a terrible route, although he does have a cannon. He’s been worth -2.0 dwar in just 208 career games and -0.5 last year. He might win a silver slugger one day, don’t get me wrong the dude can flat out hit but his defense is not pretty at all.

        • Gurriel led all MLB LF in put outs and chances. He was second in range factor.

        • Did you actually watch him play defense though, it was not pretty at all. A few nice assists With the arm but I wasnt able to find his UZR or Other defensive metrics.

    • Lol Sanchez needs to worry about getting in shape. Anyone notice if your under 6’3″ Cashman wont sign you . I believe average height or close. Large dudes the reason why after 40 games each year they are playing with B team. Judge will never have a season on IR. Should move him to first. Stanton injuries come from his workout routine.

      Sanchez doesnt have a good SPring ball he will be cut.

  2. The Mets could probably run away with the Iron Glove awards though

    6

  3. The fact that Gold Glove awards have an impact arbitration cases is ridiculous considering they’ve always just been a popularity contest and not based off of who is actually deserving.

    7

    • They changed the formula, who votes, and the overall voting system several years back. It’s a much better representation than it used to be. Hardly perfect, but also not the same as it was when Rafael Palmeiro was awarded a Gold Glove for 1B while he was a DH. That said, they’re just going by defensive metrics this year, but I’m not sure which ones. They had incorporated advanced metrics recently, but who knows in the year of COVID.

      As for the arbitration issue, I agree, but the stats they use in arbitration are basically standard ones. Arbitration is stuck in the 1970s and that’s the fault of both sides.

      3

      • Just stupid to give out individual awards and WS rings with such a small sample size.

        • Ok, ok…I’ll get off your yard, @looiebelongsetc.

          But, how bout dat Clint Frazier, doe?

    • Exactly. Baez, for instance, is a terrific player. But should he be above Brandon Crawford on the nominees?

        • Crawford? Maybe 3 years ago. Dude has lost A step. He’s become slow and Fat

          1

        • So, who’s the imbecil at Rawlings that dropped the turd in the punch bowl by Picking Brandon Belt over Freddie ?

          1

        • Easy Chief , You’re gonna get Banned. NO PERSONAL ATTACKS ALLOWED

        • It sucks Javy played his first years at 2nd due to Arussell. He would have a few already. This year was no good more errors at 8. He also had low Defrunsav. As Cubs fan. Realistically. Hesout. o

      • Well, 7 DRS vs. 2 DRS… 2.7 dWAR to a 0.6 dWAR Generally I hate the Gold Glove awards since Jeter won so many and he was a butcher at short but Baez clearly is a better defensive short stop than Crawford.

        Baez’s range is off the chart good. Anyone who thinks Baez doesn’t deserve to be on this list has never seen him play… the guy is amazing in the field. Body control, instincts, arm… just insane.

        2

        • Like said above Baez forced to play 2nd for first 4 years behind Russell his mantle would have a couple already.

  5. What a joke. Clint Frazier? Great hitter, not so much in field. Luis Robert over Kiermaier? No Adames? All these part-timers over actual starters? Proof that defensive metrics may not be all they are claimed to be.

    4

    • Kiermaier is definitely a snub, but I don’t see any statistical argument for Adames being a finalist. As far as Frazier, I think he benefited from the fact that the group of right fielders in the AL wasn’t great from a defensive standpoint. There were bound to be a few weird finalists this season.

      1

      • There is some truth to that. Weaker field of candidates and a shortened season. Betts being traded to the NL and Judge being injured took the two best defensive RFers out of play in the AL. That said, Frazier was very good in the OF. I can’t speak for the other two, but Frazier likely was deserving of the nomination. No way I would have predicted those three as the finalists heading into the season.

        4

    • Among AL Right Fielders with at least 200 innings, Frazier ranked 3rd in DRS, 2nd in UZR and range runs above average, 5th in outfield arm runs above average, and was in the top 69th percentile of outs above average.

      Adames was 7th in DRS, 12th in UZR, and was last in the entire MLB in outs above average. The one stat he was good in was range runs above average, which he led all shortstops, however it was the only stat he was notably above average in. He was defintiley not snubbed.

      It’s not a flaw in the defensive metrics, its a flaw in voting in general.

      6

      • He only played 27 games in RF, not even 1/2 the season, and only had one assist.

        1

        • You can’t really say he’s a good/bad fielder based on outfield assists, and he was still among the top 5 RF’s in less playing time.

    • Your absolutely right. everyone is hung up on sabermetrics and it isn’t the see all end all. I can assure after watching at least 40 O’s games Santander is closer to DH then gold glover. he improved from last year but the fact that he is mentioned makes this process absurd.

  6. Gotta love Clint Frazier getting the Gold Glove nomination in RF. He went from a bad OFer while still dealing either concussion after-effect, to a plus-defensive OFer. Going into 2020, no one would be surprised that the Yankee RFer would be nominated…just not this Yankee RFer!

    4

    • Awesome to see him get some respect for how hard he’s worked on his defense. Gotta be killing Yankees haters.

      4

      • Oddly, seems to be killing a few Yankee fans too. If they saw him play, they’d wouldn’t be arguing. I was skeptical myself about what he might do out there. I saw him make some nice plays early on, but still wasn’t sold. Eventually, I was like, wait, this guy has now turned himself into a good OFer. As you said, have to give him credit.

        2

        • Which is most definitely an excellent example of, “we all find happiness in our own way”, @bloodysux.

          I’m glad you’ve made peace with having one of the worst squads in baseball.

          2

      • True, but he is an awesome athlete. I love the fact that this will significantly boost good trading value when the Yankees may need it most. He and Voit could bring back something pretty decent now.

  7. This is why the Cubs won their division along with Darvish and Hendricks pitching quality starts. It definitely wasn’t the bats nor the relief pitching.

    3

    • If only it was like football where you could score runs while on defense lol

      1

    • What a Joke Frazier gets nominated for a GG. A injury prone Judge is better than Frazier.

      • What’s a joke is Gallo not winning it in RF. He had like a top 3 DRS in the league, and he finished behind Clint…Frazier. I hate that so much.

        But at least we are starting to get better defensivley. Taveras is a top 3 defensive center fielder (just not enough playing time last season), IKF is a god-gifted athlete at third, and Gallo is… the 1b to Betts’ 1a in right field.

        • What are you talking about? The award has not been given out. These are the finalists. Gallo can still win.

          1

        • Lol, I’m an idiot. I glanced over the title once I saw Gold Glove, and thought Gallo came in 2nd lol. My bad.

          1

      • mlbnyyfan….Do you ever even watch baseball or is that your excuse? Frazier is a vastly improved defensive ball player and FYI, Judge isn’t on the field enough lately to be considered better than anyone.
        The GG award is pretty much a popularity contest these days…just like All Pro in Football…..

        3

        • Rocky, how many games did Frazier play in RF? In a normal season he would have been exposed. Verdugo was snubbed but again who really cares other than the players?

        • Wait, @rocky7…
          He doesn’t watch baseball?

          Well, that sure would explain things.
          ;)

          1

        • Rocky you obviously didn’t read the article. The award is based on hard metrics this year, the opposite of a popularity contest

    • Darvish if he had it his way there be no fans in stands for his starts. He is golden in playoffs and worth every penny.

      Cubs fans we need givethis guy standing o. Everytime he goes onto field.

  8. Take me back to 1999 when Rafael Palmeiro won it but only played 28 games at 1B and 128 as the DH for the Rangers. What a joke!!!

    2

    • Rafael Palmeiro won the 1999 AL 1B GG while he primarily served as a DH. Although he shouldn’t have won that year (Tino Martinez should’ve), Palmeiro was the AL’s best defensive 1B. The Rangers 1B Lee Stevens was not a good defensive 1B but he absolutely could not hit as a DH. Some players couldn’t (Magglio Ordonez for example).

      1

  9. Gold glove is one of those that’s more a popularity contest over a true metric of their performance. Albeit they do a decent job at least getting the finalist right.

    1

    • So I goes all the sabermetrics behind these players are based on popularity? Interesting theory.

      • I’m that case—— Molina should be on the list. Congrats to Tyler O’Niel
        For making the cut!!! However, Bader had a better yr

      • The winner doesn’t win based on sabermetrics lol … they might become finalist because of it. But look, Nick Markaksis won it a couple years ago and he was rough in the outfield… he should have never won it

    • Yes and no. We will see who wins NL RF Mookie or JHEYWRD. Even though Mookie played more time Jhey has tops in DRS. If its popularity Mookie wins. JHEY has best arm in RF all of MLB. Add #9

  10. If Zach Plesac is so good with the glove, then why did he think he could go out and NOT catch COVID?

    4

    • Part of being a good fielder with the glove is getting rid of it fast.

      On the field? Catch and release quickly.

      Covid? Catch and get better quickly.

      Plesac apparently did both this season.

      1

  11. LET’S GO IKF!!! People need to realize his defensive abilities It was a pleasure watching him man the hot corner last season.

    • He was fun to watch in our handful of games against ya… still no Manny El Ministro but IKF is coming up!

  12. Bellinger and betts should win pretty easily. Especially after the postseason they have had in the field.

    2

    • Not 100% sure, but gold glove is based on regular season accomplishments I believe. Post season is irrelevant for the award.

      2

  13. Gotta love how the White Sox have not one but TWO Gold Glove nominees.

    • So do the Pirates, so I’m not sure that’s a huge accomplishment.

    • The Seattle Mariners have two as well in JP Crawford and Evan White.
      White is young and needs to hit at this level, but his defense is nothing short of spectacular and the fact that his struggles at the plate haven’t had an ounce of bleed over tells me he is mature beyond his years and gives me great hope that he will figure out the hitting.
      May be one of my favorite 1st basemen ever.
      Checks off a ton of boxes that I like from a first baseman.
      Crawford is a bit different in his defense, he has to be among the best at throwing to first base from some funky angles yet he is more accurate that way then a “normal” throw.
      He’s got some growth but you can see his talent is ready to explode.
      The Mariners have some good pieces and if you haven’t watched you are missing out.

      1

      • Just admit that you don’t understand statistics other than traditional counting stats.

        1

      • Kinda hard to get snubbed when it’s based on metrics, but you keep doing you

        • Apparently it’s not based on metrics because Vazquez was the most valuable defensive catcher according to Fangraphs.

        • What metric are you looking at specifically, because there are a ton of metrics for catchers and Vazquez is well behind the pack on the ones I’m looking at.

        • Fangraphs has a “defensive runs above average” figure that shows Vazquez as the most valuable defensive catcher in the league. Also, you don’t need metrics to tell you that James McCann had 4 errors in just 27 starts. Compare that to a total of 3 between Vazquez(1), Grandal(2), and Perez(0) over 103 starts.

  15. As a Padres fan, I’ll be the first to say I’m biased here, but even without the homer factor, you cannot tell me that Baez, Rojas and Swanson are all OBJECTIVELY better defenders at Short than Fernando Tatis Jr??? I can give you Baez, he’s an amazing defender, but come on with Rojas and Swanson? Haven’t done the deep dive on defensive metrics yet, so I could be totally wrong here, but it just does not add up for me.

    2

    • Also didn’t Rojas miss 1/3 of the season for COVID? Is catching that somehow more heavily weighted than catching balls hit at you for 20 more games?

      1

      • @Rocky7 if you think Frazier deserves to be a GG finalist your crazy. Yes he’s improved but a finalist NO WAY!!!

        • hey mlbnyyfan, just admit you don’t even watch Yankees baseball next time. Clint Frazier has become a fantastic defensive outfielder, you have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about.

          3

    • Just looking at metrics, Story is more of a snub than Tatis.

      2

      • Story’s definitely underrated, I don’t know how you could quantify this but I wonder if they calculate multiple things with Arenado next to him; like having an amazing defender next to you hurting your case.. Because Machado definitely keeps tatis from proving more range skills in his stats.

    • Swanson led all SS in Defensive runs saved I believe so, yeah he is better. GG finalist 2 years in a row, should win it this year.

    • For every 5 amazing plays Tatis makes, he throws at least one into the dugout. Those count too

      Hyperbole but also it’s not

      • Laughing@You Not so for Tatis in 2020. He made 3 errors total in 57 games. MAYBE 2 were on throws.

  16. TC, please list their UZR’s and how many DRS they have, since that’s all that matters. I’ll check back in awhile to see the edit!

    2

  17. Love me some Chuck Nazty, but this is the wrong list he should be repping

  19. Charlie Blackmon?? Could voters just not think of another NL RF? Or did everybody vote for Mookie so they chose 2 other finalists at random?

  21. Kieirmaier – a former platinum glove winner – is probably a snub but he had some terrible plays early on in the season. Looks like he’s lost a step and his reputation?

    • He might be heading into the Kevin Pillar zone. A great defender, still very good, but losing just a little as he enters his 30s? Pillar is now probably better at the corner. Not saying that’s true about KK, but defense is a young man’s game. He could be very good to excellent, but maybe not as elite as before. I’ll have to see how he looks over a full 162-game schedule before making that conclusion. Too much small sample noise in this year.

    • From the SABR website, they only used SABR Defensive Index (SDI) to determine finalists.

      “Due to the compressed 2020 MLB season, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award qualifications have been amended to rely solely on the SABR Defensive Index this year. The SDI draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts, including data from MLBAM’s Statcast, Sports Information Solutions, and STATS, LLC.”

      1

      • I was wondering if anyone would get around to that. Actually, SABR’s SDI has been used as part of Gold Glove selection process since 2013 and as mlbdodgerfan2015 noted, it was the sole basis for this year’s selection.

        I suspect that in days gone by, a voter covering a team that didn’t have a strong selection in a position would say to himself something like. “Who should get my vote? Let’s see., X won last year and he looked pretty good in the few games I saw him this season, so I’ll vote for him.” A player’s past record with Gold Gloves helped, as did his record as a hitter or pitcher and his team’s record.

        After MLB began expanding, there was a while in which your team might not have a game against another team in the league because they were in a different division or you might only see them a handful of times.

        All these variety of things led to an award that really didn’t tell you much about who was the best fielder at a position.

        • Defensive metrics, while improved from the past, are still quite hokey. It’s amazing how much more sophisticated it is today but at the end of the day it seems like not all metrics point to the same conclusion as to who is the best. But in the past, we just had fielding percentage (assists, putouts, errors; and caught stealing percentage for catchers) and the eye test on who made spectacular plays.

        • If anyone is curious. This is how the 2019 SABR Defensive Index (SDI) by fielder (if you scroll down) relative to the actual GG winner (bolded). Seems like SDI determined the winner for the most part. A couple of one-offs, Lindor, Rizzo and Greinke won even though they were clearly not the SDI position leader.

          sabr.org/sdi/2019-final#NLSS

  22. Even in a partial season there’s no better 3B than Matt Chapman.
    Kyle Tucker? Isn’t he routinely replaced for defensive reasons late in games?

    • Actually, I missed that he wasn’t even nominated. His defensive numbers weren’t as good as prior years, but I’d chalk that up to small sample noise I alluded to above. Out of the three nominees, I’d go with Urshela, but I suspect Chapman takes it back next year.

      2

  23. Interesting that Kiermaier was not even in the top 3 at center field. He’s good but he makes a big show of out relatively easy catches.

    1

  24. I thought for sure Jesse Winker would have been a nominee for Gold Glove at DH. Seriously what are they thinking?

  26. Frankie Linder is a notable snub, previous Platinum Glove winner. Linder struggled at the plate but played his usual stellar SS, one error all season.

  27. Grish played an awesome CF regardless if he wins the award or not.

    1

    • Pinstripe your high on something as well if you think Frazier deserves to be a finalist. He’s played part time and I admit he’s improved but he’s not in the top 3 in all the AL.

      1

  29. Only one for MLB, regardless of league. Although any list is subjective, I’m not listing who I think the best fielder is. I removed names, listed the numbers, made a choice then added back the names:

    P CHC Kyle Hendricks
    C CLE Roberto Perez
    1B OAK Matt Olson
    2B KCR Nicky Lopez
    3B COL Nolan Arenado
    SS CHC Javier Baez
    LF TOR Lourdis Gurriel
    CF CHI Luis Robert
    RF TEX Joey Gallo

  30. Niko Goodrum was solid all year but he’s not a highlight reel SS, not that that’s what wins a gold glove. Just getting listed here, when he was not a SS until this year, and then had Detroit move him to 2B, so hot bat Willie Castro could play there, must be pretty satisfying for him.

    • One more year at SS, Niko Goodrum should improve. Harold Castro should be the everyday 2B and Willi Castro should move to 1B. Jeimer Candelario is a good 3B. The Tigers have two young outfielders who are simply great defensively. Unfortunately, they haven’t shown they can hit: Still while the Tigers can’t score runs, they can at least make it hard for opposing teams to. I’d like to see LF Victor Reyes, CF Derek Hill and RF Daz Cameron play everyday and given a chance to improve with more PA. Hill wasn’t even given a sniff of a decent chance. Christin Steward doesn’t hit or run the bases very well and is a poor defensive OF. At least Hill and Cameron can do two of three.

  31. As a Blue Jays fan… Lourdes Gurriel Jr doesn’t belong within 1000 miles of a gold glove conversation. He has a nice arm, but he takes a lot of terrible routes and still makes too many boneheaded plays.

    1

    • In all fairness, AL left field didn’t have that many quality fielders. The best was Kyle Tucker who only had +3 DRS, .9 range runs above average and 1.1 UZR.

      1

  32. I doubt more than 2 players on one team will win.So any two of Jason Heyward? Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez should easily win. Baez has been snubbed for the last 3 years. I think he’ll finally get one. Contreras has been snubbed too though. Hard to pick. Rizzo should be the unanimous winner for 1st. Maybe even a platinum glove again.

  33. Lol. Clint Frazier… this is a joke, right? Guy misplays more balls in right field than the worst kid on a t ball team

    1

        • Whatever done talking about this. Paul O’Neil is 100 times better than Frazier in Right field and he never won a GG.

          1

        • ‘zactly, @Mo.

          Frazier was a legitimate centerfield prospect with Cleveland. The athleticism & arm were *always* there. I’m more than willing to chalk up his poor defense in ’19 as a one off due to the concussion he suffered the year before.

          I’m not entirely sure he’s a gold glover. I do – however – think he’ll be above average with the leather. I’m ready to move forward with Clint as part of the Yankee core.

          1

      • Which should tell you something, @mlbnyy”fan”.

        I gotta say, you certainly continue to plod forward with rather dubious takes. There’s something kinda admirable about that?

  34. Rays have played tremendous defense this playoffs and I don’t see one player from them. I guess the number show different? Or they’re just playing out of their minds. Wendle, Adamas, Kiermaier, Choi, zunino, have all wowed me this playoffs. They’re a fun team to watch play defense.

    • The thing about the Rays is, most of them play several positions well. So they don’t show up among leaders at any particular position. Perhaps there should be a utility category for gold gloves.

    • The Gold Glove awards only consider the regular season. I have not watched the Rays all season so I might be wrong, but they might be on a defensive ‘hot’ streak in the playoffs that was not reflective of their regular season defense.

      • The Rays outfield basically consist of three center fielders with Margot, Kiermaier and now Arozarena… Not so much a defensive hot streak as it is that they have three players who cover more ground than UPS.

  35. How can Jackie Bradley Jr. not be on the list? Anyone who watches him day in and day out knows he’s the best defensive centerfielder in the game today.

    • How does Yadier Molina find a helmet for his gigantic head?

      “For me at 38 years old I’m still the best”

      Yadier Molina was great at one time but the game has passed him by. Still a serviceable and above league average back stop but he is no longer the elite defender he thinks he is. There is no shame in what he has done, it’s just players are younger and more athletic.

  37. I’ll take the entire Rays defense, at all positions over every player on this list.

    Sincerely,
    Houston Astros

  38. Christian Vazquez? Highest rated catcher according to Fangraph in AL.

    1

  40. Acuna’s good, but not a GG. Swanson was fantastic defensively this year.

  42. Kiké Hernandez should be on there. The best defensive 2B in the NL who is also excellent at other positions.

  44. Sure is nice to see two Marlins as finalists.

    Anderson isn’t a long shot at 3B with Arenado there, but Rojas may have a shot.

  47. Darvish if he had it his way there be no fans in stands for his starts. He is golden in playoffs and worth every penny.

    Cubs fans we need givethis guy standing o. Everytime he goes onto field.

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