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Cubs Place Michael Fulmer On 15-Day Injured List

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The Cubs placed right-hander Michael Fulmer on the 15-day injured list due to a right forearm strain, according to Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times (X link).  Righty Daniel Palencia was called up from Triple-A in the corresponding move.

This is the second time in less than a month that a forearm strain has sent Fulmer to the IL, as he only returned earlier this week from a previous stint that sidelined him from August 25 to September 11.  Fulmer tossed two-thirds of an inning last Monday in what amounted to his only appearance in his return from the injured list.

Given the timing and nature of the injury, it would certainly seem like Fulmer’s 2023 season could be over.  Manager David Ross stated that Fulmer had been trying to pitch through some discomfort prior to his first IL trip, and if that forearm discomfort has continued, Fulmer will surely be held out beyond the 15-day minimum for precautionary reasons if nothing else.  With the Cubs in the wild card race, Fulmer might possibly be an option for a postseason roster if Chicago does make it into the playoffs, but that isn’t likely to be known until Fulmer undergoes another set of tests.

Fulmer has previously undergone both a Tommy John surgery and an ulnar nerve transposition surgery in his career, so he is unfortunately no stranger to significant arm problems.  This could give the Cubs and Fulmer even more reason for caution, and these late-season IL stints might certainly hamper Fulmer’s market as a free agent this winter.

The righty has a 4.42 ERA over 57 innings for Chicago this season, with a mediocre 11.8% walk rate standing out as Fulmer’s biggest problem.  This lack of control has undermined some other good numbers for Fulmer, as he has an above-average 27.4% strikeout rate and been among the game’s best at limiting hard contact.

Losing Fulmer is another blow to a Cubs bullpen that already lost closer Adbert Alzolay to a forearm strain earlier this week.  In need of relief help for the playoff push, the Cubs will be using Marcus Stroman out of the bullpen for at least a little while until Stroman fully ramps up after a lengthy stint on the injured list.  While Chicago’s relief corps has been solid overall this season, they’ll face a challenge with this makeshift approach over the regular season’s final weeks.

Red Sox Notes: Casas To IL, Dalbec Recalled, Kluber Shut Down

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The Red Sox have placed first baseman Triston Casas on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, the team announced. In a corresponding move, Bobby Dalbec has been recalled from Triple-A Worcester. In other Red Sox news, starting pitcher Corey Kluber was scratched from his rehab appearance at Triple-A this afternoon. He has been shut down for the remainder of the season, the club revealed to reporters (including Ian Browne of MLB.com).

Casas is in the midst of an excellent rookie campaign, putting up an .856 OPS with 24 home runs. He leads the Red Sox in walk rate and on-base percentage and has been Boston’s best hitter by wRC+. He has been especially hot in the second half, posting a 1.031 OPS since the All-Star break. The 23-year-old is one of only seven AL rookies to qualify for the batting title, and among that group, he ranks first in numerous offensive categories, including OPS, wRC+, and xwOBA. He is likely to earn some down-ballot support for Rookie of the Year, although Gunnar Henderson remains the clear favorite to take home the hardware.

Unfortunately, a sore right shoulder could spell the end of Casas’s season. His IL placement is retroactive to September 15, which means he could return on September 25 at the earliest. By that point, the Red Sox will only have six games remaining, and it’s highly unlikely they’ll be in contention for a Wild Card spot. If Casas returns to full strength, his team would surely love to have him for those final two series, but they have no reason to rush him back.

Taking his place on the active roster will be Dalbec, who has spent most of the 2023 season at Triple-A after a poor major league showing in 2022. Dalbec was phenomenal during a brief cup of coffee in 2020, hitting eight home runs in 23 games. He followed that up with a solid campaign in 2021, posting a .792 OPS and a 106 wRC+ in 133 contests. However, he had a rough time the following year. His OPS fell by more than 100 points and his power seemed to disappear.

Dalbec opened the 2023 season at Triple-A, and he has come up only briefly on a few occasions throughout the year. He has impressive numbers with Worcester – 33 home runs, a .938 OPS, and a 131 wRC+ – although he has underwhelmed in ten games at the major league level, going 2-for-12 with eight strikeouts. The Red Sox will hope he can access his power with the big league club to fill the void in the lineup that Casas left behind.

Kluber was scheduled to make his third rehab appearance at Triple-A on Saturday, but the Red Sox scratched him from the game. He will continue his rehab work at home but will not pitch for Boston again this season. The veteran right-hander has been on the injured list with shoulder inflammation since mid-June.

A two-time Cy Young Award winner, Kluber enjoyed a mini-renaissance with the Rays last season, making 30 starts for the first time since 2018. However, he has struggled tremendously in his age-37 campaign, pitching to a 6.26 ERA in nine starts and a 9.45 ERA in six appearances out of the bullpen. His contract contains an $11MM team option for 2024, although it is highly unlikely the Red Sox will exercise the option.

Rays Select Tristan Gray

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2:45pm: The Rays have officially selected Gray to the major league roster and placed Walls on the paternity list. In a corresponding move, Greg Jones has been recalled from Triple-A and placed on the 60-day IL, opening up a spot for Gray on the 40-man roster. Jones has not played since July 22 due to a hamstring injury.

12:32pm: The Rays are planning to select the contract of infielder Tristan Gray from Triple-A Durham, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He will be taking his spot on the active roster from Taylor Walls, who is going on the paternity list. The Rays will need to make a corresponding move to add Gray to the 40-man roster.

Gray joined the organization in 2018 as part of the trade that sent Corey Dickerson to the Pirates. He has spent the past three years at Triple-A with the Durham Bulls, where he has played all four infield positions. He also occasionally played the outfield corners during his time in college. Indeed, Gray’s defensive versatility is his strongest asset. His bat is serviceable but unexceptional; he has slashed .233/.299/.472 across his three seasons at Triple-A. He has demonstrated impressive power but poor plate discipline, hitting 69 home runs and 59 doubles but striking out in more than 30% of his trips to the plate.

It seems likely that Osleivis Basabe will cover for Walls as the primary shortstop, while Gray takes Basabe’s job as a utility infielder. Basabe has struggled lately, slashing .094/.171/.125 over his last 12 games, but he remains one of the top prospects in the Rays organization, and the team should give him every chance to succeed. He previously started at shortstop while Walls was on the injured list recovering from a strained oblique.

That being said, the Rays are set to face two right-handed pitchers this weekend in Baltimore, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer, which could give the lefty-batting Gray a leg up. Whatever his role, the 27-year-old long-time minor leaguer will strive to impress in his big league debut.

Justin Lawrence Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury

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Rockies reliever Justin Lawrence was removed from Friday night’s contest against the Giants with an injury to his left ankle. He was able to walk off the field, and following the game, manager Bud Black told reporters from MLB.com that Lawrence was likely to avoid a trip to the IL. That’s good news for the Rockies, who have dealt with more than their fair share of pitching injuries this year.

As Patrick Lyons of DNVR Rockies pointed out on Twitter, the team has already tied their franchise record for most starting pitchers used in a season. Starters Antonio Senzatela, Germán Márquez, Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Chase Anderson, and Ryan Feltner have all spent time on the IL. So too have several notable relievers, including Daniel Bard, Brent Suter, Lucas Gilbreath, Tyler Kinley, and Nick Mears.

Overall, Rockies pitchers have the worst ERA in the sport. That’s not entirely surprising, considering they play in such a hitter-friendly stadium, but even park-adjusted statistics paint a dismal picture of Colorado’s pitching staff. They rank last in the majors with a 4.92 SIERA.

Lawrence has been one of the few bright spots for Colorado this season. He ranks second on the team with a 3.95 ERA (min. 40 IP) and third with 1.1 FanGraphs WAR. He has recorded 11 saves and given up just four home runs in 62 appearances out of the bullpen. His performance this year represents a marked improvement over his first two seasons; from 2021-22, he pitched to a 6.52 ERA in 57 games.

That said, the 28-year-old righty has run into a rough patch as of late. On August 15, he allowed five runs on seven hits in a disastrous ninth inning, blowing a save and taking the loss. He hasn’t seemed quite the same ever since, pitching to a 7.00 ERA and 5.15 SIERA over his last 11 games. If his ankle injury is indeed as minor as it seems, it could give him a chance to take a brief rest and reset before returning to the mound for the end of the season.

Mets Giving Ronny Mauricio A Look At Third Base

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Ronny Mauricio played third base in a major league game for the first time last night, as the Mets took on the Reds at Citi Field.

The Mets no. 4 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has played just nine games at the hot corner in his professional career, two at Triple-A earlier this year and nine in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason. Prior to that, he had played nothing but shortstop since his professional debut in 2018. However, the Mets have Francisco Lindor firmly entrenched at short for the foreseeable future. If Mauricio is going to earn a more significant role in New York next season, he’ll need to learn a new position.

Mauricio played second base in his first ten games following his promotion on September 1. He has more minor league experience at second than third, having played 56 games at the keystone for Triple-A Syracuse this season. However, third base might be a better fit for his glove long-term. His arm is his strongest defensive tool, and indeed, he showed off his cannon with an excellent throw across the diamond last night. He also made a costly error, allowing a scorching grounder to bounce off his glove and into left field, but it was the exact kind of play that third basemen learn to make. Mauricio’s instincts at the position should improve with experience.

As the young infielder told reporters (including Mike Puma of the New York Post) through an interpreter after the game, “I wasn’t sure whether to charge at it or stay back and it just got me there. I think with a couple of more reps and just working on that I can make that play.”

The 22-year-old also spent time in left field for Syracuse, starting 26 games on the outfield grass. However, the Mets have more depth in the outfield corners than at third base, especially if former top prospects Brett Baty and Mark Vientos continue to underperform. Baty is slashing .212/.282/.314 in his rookie campaign, with nine errors and -4 Outs Above Average. Vientos hasn’t been any better, slashing .205/.251/.337 with three errors in only 18 games at third.

If Mauricio continues to hit well (he’s currently slashing .282/.333/.410) and starts to look more comfortable at third base, he could put himself in a good position for next season. The Mets aren’t giving up on Baty or Vientos anytime soon, but with the way those two have struggled, Mauricio has an opportunity to move up the depth chart.

Cardinals Notes: Nicolaisen Resigns, Marmol Staying Put

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Cardinals assistant hitting coach Daniel Nicolaisen has resigned, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed to reporters, including Rob Rains of STL Sports Page. He has accepted a new position as an assistant coach for the University of Mississippi softball team. The Denmark native earned his first big league job this past offseason after two years spent in the Cardinals minor league system. Prior to that, he worked as a softball coach at Seton Hall University. Evidently, he has decided to return to his roots; he grew up playing softball in Denmark.

The Cardinals will be promoting minor league hitting coordinator Russ Steinhorn to fill Nicolaisen’s spot on the major league coaching staff, at least for the time being. Funnily enough, it was Steinhorn who initially hired Nicolaisen as a minor league coach back in 2020.

In other Cardinals news, Mozeliak also confirmed to reporters (including Katie Woo of The Athletic) that Oliver Marmol will return to manage the club in 2024, the final year of his contract. Given the team’s disappointing performance this season – this will be their first losing campaign since 2007 – speculation that Marmol’s job was in jeopardy began to arise. However, the president of baseball operations didn’t mince words, saying, “I know he’ll be back next year.”

Mozeliak continued, “There’s always going to be finger-pointing on what went wrong, what could we have done differently. And that starts with myself…but I’m certainly encouraged with what I see from Oli as a young manager.” Indeed, it’s hard to pin too much of the blame for the Cardinals’ misfortunes on Marmol. While some have criticized his public communication skills and player relations (RE: his squabble with Tyler O’Neill and his initial comments about moving Willson Contreras off catcher), there’s only so much a manager can do when his pitching staff is bleeding runs and so many of his players are underperforming.

Moreover, St. Louis recently lost a long-time clubhouse leader when Yadier Molina retired, and they’re soon to lose another in Adam Wainwright. It’s understandable why Mozeliak doesn’t want to go through another major change in leadership; after all, it’s only been two years since Marmol took the helm, and he led the team to an excellent finish in 2022.

However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes coming to the organization. Mozeliak offered praise for much of his coaching staff, including rookie pitching coach Dusty Blake. At the same time, he acknowledged that adjustments must occur behind the scenes. As sources told The Athletic, the Cardinals are in the early stages of restructuring their entire player development system, and the team views improving the baseball operations department to be just as important as adding more pitching.

It’s easy to understand why the Cardinals would want to revamp their player development and baseball operations departments. Several of their top prospects and young players have struggled to perform at the big league level this season, including Matthew Liberatore, Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson, and Jake Woodford. The team has also struggled to make decisions, such as when they briefly moved Contreras to DH and briefly demoted Jordan Walker. Worst of all, the front office failed to put together a competitive pitching staff over the offseason, instead relying too heavily on a collection of aging veterans, injury-prone pitchers, and rookies. Suffice it to say, it hasn’t worked out.

The Cardinals don’t need to fire their manager, but clearly, they need to make some changes to address everything that has gone wrong in 2023. It seems to be a matter of when, not if, those changes occur.

Shohei Ohtani’s Locker Cleared Out, Update Expected Later Today

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As reported by numerous sources (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register), most of Shohei Ohtani’s belongings were removed from the superstar’s locker at Angel Stadium last night. The Angels are expected to provide an update on Ohtani’s status later today.

Following Friday night’s 11-2 loss to the Tigers, Angels reporters noticed many of Ohtani’s possessions either packed up or missing entirely. Team staff declined to provide answers, other than to state that more information would be made available on Saturday.

The AL MVP frontrunner has not pitched in a game since August 23 nor taken a plate appearance since September 3. He is dealing with a tear in his right UCL, which prematurely ended his season as a pitcher, and inflammation in his right oblique, which has kept him out entirely for the past 11 games.

When Ohtani initially suffered his oblique injury, manager Phil Nevin told reporters (including Alden Gonzalez of ESPN) that it was “just a tiny bit of inflammation,” and he did not expect Ohtani to require a stint on the injured list. However, he also acknowledged that oblique injuries “can be finicky at times,” so the Angels would take things day-to-day with their star player and not rush him back onto the field. It’s possible that the issue has turned into something more than just “minor” inflammation.

Earlier this month, Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo said it was “inevitable” his client would require an elbow procedure to repair his UCL this offseason. Given the uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s oblique injury, perhaps he and the Angels have decided to get an early start on such a procedure. The two-way star has made it clear on several occasions that he wants to play out the 2023 season. Still, the Angels are all but eliminated from postseason contention, and the sooner he addresses his elbow concerns, the more appealing he’ll be to potential suitors in free agency. If his oblique injury could keep him on the shelf for the rest of the season anyway, he might be wise to get his UCL fixed sooner rather than later.

That said, it remains unclear if Ohtani’s empty locker has anything to do with his oblique or his UCL; there could be an entirely unrelated explanation. However, considering the announcement expected later today, it feels safe to presume this is more than just routine clubhouse cleaning.

Previewing The 2023-24 Free Agent Class: Center Field

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Throughout the week, we’ve covered the upcoming free agent class at MLBTR. As Anthony Franco noted earlier today, we’ll now move to the outfield. You can check out that piece for a preview of the left field/right field options available this winter, but we’ll focus here on center field — one of the relatively well-stocked (emphasis on “relatively”) areas of the position player market this winter.

Note: only players who have been on an MLB roster in 2023 are included. Ages listed are for the 2024 season.

Everyday Options

Non-tendered by the Dodgers last year, Bellinger has enjoyed a hugely successful rebound with the Cubs. In 492 plate appearances, the former NL Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player has posted a huge .316/.358/.545 batting line with 25 home runs, 20 stolen bases and a career-low 16.1% strikeout rate. He’s walking at the lowest rate of his career (6.5%) and chasing balls out of the strike zone far more than he did at his peak. However, he’s also sporting career-high contact rates on pitches off the plate (71.7%) and pitches within the strike zone (87.1%).

Bellinger missed about six weeks of the season with a knee injury, which might be the only thing that stops him from reestablishing himself as a 30-homer slugger. Were it not for that absence, he’d have had a legitimate chance to deliver a 30-30 season with above-average defense at multiple spots (center field, first base).

The 2021-22 seasons were nightmarish for Bellinger, though they came in the wake of 2020 shoulder surgery. Bellinger also suffered a fractured fibula early in the ’22 campaign that could well have impacted him at the plate even after his return. His quality of contact isn’t as impressive as it once was — Bellinger averaged 91.1 mph off the bat with a 45.6% hard-hit rate in 2019, compared to 87.9 mph and 31.7% in 2023 — but the results are hard to ignore. In a market with so few bats of note, Bellinger stands not only as one of the best but also as the youngest option available.

The Cubs will make Bellinger a qualifying offer, and he’ll reject it with little thought. They’ll be one of many teams angling to sign him this winter, but Bellinger and agent Scott Boras will probably try to see to it that whoever inks him does so to the tune of $200MM or more.

Bader’s offense in 2023 certainly hasn’t been that of an everyday player. He’s batted just .237/.280/.356 on the year — the worst performance in any of his full seasons at the MLB level. Part of that is likely due to an uptick in fly balls and decrease in the percentage of those flies that have become home runs, but Bader has probably also had a bit of misfortune on balls in play; his .268 BABIP is 50 points lower than the career mark he carried into the year.

Even with some slight positive regression, it hasn’t been a good year at the plate. Bader has never walked much, and he’s doing so at just a 5% clip in 2023. He’s putting the ball in play more than ever before (career-low 17.5% strikeout rate), but he’s rarely doing so in an impactful manner (86 mph average exit velocity).

That said, Bader’s most valuable skills are still shining. He’s a lights-out center fielder — a legitimately elite defender who’s posted 6 Defensive Runs Saved and 10 Outs Above Average in just 735 innings this season. He’s also pummeling left-handed pitching, hitting southpaws at a .317/.380/.610 clip this season. Bader’s above-average speed is on display more than ever before, too. His 19 steals are a career-best mark, and he’s only been caught three times.

Bader’s glove alone will earn him a multi-year deal, and he showed from 2018-21 that he has the potential to deliver at least average offense. In that four-year run with St. Louis, Bader hit .244/.325/.420 in 419 games. With a high floor and a ceiling in the four to five WAR range, Bader could surprise some onlookers with a strong multi-year deal this winter. That he’s ineligible for a qualifying offer only helps his case.

Speaking of preternatural outfield defenders, you’d never know by watching Kiermaier in the outfield that his 2022 season ended with hip surgery. The longstanding defensive wizard is back to vintage form and enjoying one of his best all-around seasons. The longtime Rays outfielder has logged 866 innings in center field in his first year with Toronto and racked up 16 Defensive Runs Saved and 11 Outs Above Average. He’s nowhere near his career-best 38 DRS (not a typo), but those 16 DRS rank eighth in the Majors at any position (one behind his outfield-mate Daulton Varsho in left field). His 11 OAA are tied for “only” 14th in the game.

Injuries tend to come with the territory for Kiermaier — in part due to the reckless abandon with which he plays his position — and the Jays have been good about affording him plenty of rest to keep him fresh. He also had a brief stay on the 10-day IL after a collision with the outfield wall required eight stitches in his elbow. He’s tallied just 361 plate appearances this year but turned in a nice .271/.331/.433 batting line with eight homers and 13 steals.

Kiermaier managed to land a one-year, $9MM deal in Toronto when he was coming off a notable surgery, and he’s now had a healthy and productive season. He’s not only reestablished himself among baseball’s premier defensive players, he’s turned in one of his best offensive campaigns, on a rate basis, and should be in position to command a multi-year deal. The Jays will face an interesting call on the qualifying offer. A one-year deal for Kiermaier worth around $20MM might well prove worthwhile, but the risk of injury is so substantial that they may opt not to roll those dice.

Though he’s often been used in a part-time role, Taylor is enjoying a career year offensively in Minnesota, where he’s swatted a personal-best 20 homers in just 354 trips to the plate. He’s also added 14 doubles and swiped 13 bases in 14 tries. Granted, a career-low 5.9% walk rate and career-high 33.3% strikeout rate call into question how likely it is that he can sustain this type of output, but Taylor’s .229/.281/.456 slash is roughly average, by measure of wRC+ (99).

Moreover, even if a team doesn’t expect Taylor to replicate that offense, he’s a strong enough defender that there’s a case to trot him out to center field every day anyhow. In 891 innings this year, he’s posted positive marks in DRS (5) and OAA (9). Dating back to 2017, he’s posted respective marks of 68 and 52 in those categories, ranking as one of the best defensive players in MLB — regardless of position.

Taylor’s glove alone makes him a viable source of two to three WAR, and if he shows he’s able to sustain his 2023 power surge, he could find himself in an everyday role. He’ll have a chance at landing a multi-year deal this winter. He’s QO-eligible, but solid as his season has been, he won’t receive one.

Platoon Options

He’s primarily been a corner outfielder in his career, but Duvall was signed to play center field in Boston and has done so for 448 innings during the 2023 season. That number would be higher had he not missed multiple months with a fractured wrist. Defensive metrics like DRS (-6) and OAA (-3) aren’t a fan of Duvall’s work in center, as one might expect for a 34-year-old who’s effectively playing out of position.

Duvall’s once-elite grades in the outfield corners have faded to average or slightly above in recent seasons, and the corners are probably where he’ll play the majority of the time with a new team. But he’s at least capable of handling part-time center field work, and his bat is his carrying tool anyhow. While Duvall has a penchant for low walk rates and bottom-of-the-barrel OBPs, there’s little doubting his power. He’s enjoying a nice rebound at the plate, hitting .254/.316/.543 with 19 home runs in only 310 plate appearances.

Duvall isn’t likely to sign as an everyday center fielder, but he can float through all three outfield slots and mix in time at designated hitter wherever he signs in 2024 — likely on a multi-year deal.

Gallo got out to a blistering start after signing a one-year, $11MM deal with the Twins. They’ve stuck with him throughout the year, even though his bat went cold in May and has never really rebounded. Gallo is hitting just .177/.301/.440 on the season, but he’s delivered a dreary .159/.287/.365 slash in his past 275 plate appearances. The Twins would’ve had ample justification to move on at any point, but he could yet finish out the year on their roster. Gallo recently hit the 10-day IL with a foot injury and could return during the final couple weeks.

Since being traded from the Rangers to the Yankees in 2021, Gallo carries a .166/.293/.396 batting line in 970 plate appearances. He’s smashed 53 home runs in that time — 21 this season — but also has fanned in 40.5% of his plate appearances. Someone with his power and walk rate will likely get a big league deal this winter, but it’s hard to imagine him being ticketed for an everyday role in center field, where he’s played just 46 innings this season (but has 463 innings of experience in his big league career).

Grichuk was enjoying a fine season in Colorado, slashing .308/.365/.496 at the time of a trade to the Angels. His bat has wilted since that swap, as he’s turned in a tepid .203/.253/.392 output in 154 plate appearances. Grichuk has 14 homers in 417 plate appearances overall. As is frequently the case, he’s played all three outfield spots but graded out below-average in center. Grichuk is best suited for corner work, where he has positive grades for his career. That’s particularly true in right field, where his strong throwing arm is best deployed.

Teams in need of help against left-handed pitching will surely be drawn to Grichuk’s massive .320/.386/.573 slash when holding the platoon advantage this year. He’s a lifetime .266/.314/.502 hitter in such situations as well. He’s gone unclaimed on waivers twice, but that’s likely due to a $9.333MM salary more than it is sheer disinterest in him. Grichuk makes for a fine bench bat who can be used in a larger role as injuries elsewhere on the roster might necessitate.

Infield/Outfield Hybrids

Hernandez had a great first year in Boston after signing a two-year deal, tanked in 2022, was extended anyway, and has struggled for much of the 2023 season. Since a trade to the Dodgers, he’s rebounded to the tune of a .267/.329/.427 slash, but the offense has been suspect as a whole for the bulk of the past five years. That 2021 campaign stands out as Hernandez’s only above-average season at the plate since 2019. Over the past five seasons, he owns a collective .237/.306/.394 line.

Hernandez can go get it in center field, however — evidenced by 23 DRS and 17 OAA in just 2629 career innings at the position. He’s a viable defensive option around the outfield and at second base, although the Red Sox proved this year that he shouldn’t be entrusted with anything more than emergency duties at shortstop. Hernandez has generally hit lefties well and has enough defensive aptitude and versatility to command a big league deal.

Kiner-Falefa got his first career look in center field this year, and held his own, though the Yankees have used him at the position more sparingly as the season’s worn on (in part due to recent promotions of other players). “IKF” has previously drawn plus defensive marks at third base and left field, and he’ll now hit the free agent market as a light-hitting jack-of-all-trades who can be deployed in super utility fashion. He’s hitting .240/.307/.341 on the season, which is roughly in line with his career .261/.314/.346 batting line in 2397 plate appearances.

Fourth Outfielders and Depth Candidates

Engel posted eye-popping defensive marks in center during his first two big league seasons (2017-18) and hit well in a small sample from 2020-21. He’s still an above-average defender, though not to the same extent as he was at 25-26 years of age. He’s also a career .224/.279/.349 hitter who’s battled multiple injuries in recent seasons. His glove alone will get him interest on a minor league deal though.

It’s easy to overlook just how good Marisnick has been defensively in his career. Since his 2013 debut, he ranks eighth among all outfielders with 80 DRS and 12th with 53 OAA. That comes despite the fact that nearly everyone ahead of him on the list has hundreds, if not thousands more innings in the outfield. He’s a career .228/.281/.385 hitter in 2247 plate appearances, however, and the lack of offense typically relegates him to minor league deals and bench roles.

Pillar was a human highlight reel early in his career with the Blue Jays, but his defensive prowess has understandably waned as he’s aged into his mid-30s. The Braves have only given him 24 innings in center this year, primarily deploying him in left field. Pillar has never gotten on base at a high clip, and this year’s .236/.260/.422 slash is a bit more of an extreme development of his lifetime .258/.295/.409 batting line. He signed a minor league deal with a $3MM base this past offseason and could find similar interest this winter.

Tapia has good bat-to-ball skills and speed but is light on power, evidenced by a career .273/.317/.388 batting line. Much of his production at the big league level has come at Coors Field, and he was released twice in 2023 (Brewers, Red Sox) after posting a combined .230/.308/.338 line. Tapia has primarily played left field but has 469 innings of center field work in his career. He’ll probably sign another minor league deal this winter.

Previous installments: catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop, corner outfield.

Previewing The 2023-24 Free Agent Class: Corner Outfield

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Throughout the week, we’ve covered the upcoming free agent class at MLBTR. We move today to the outfield. Teams often use left and right fielders interchangeably, so we’ll combine them into a single corner outfield group. It’s not a great class but is arguably among the stronger options in a light market for position players. Everyone in the center field class could handle a corner, but we’ll cover them separately and look specifically at players who have logged substantial corner outfield reps this year.

Note: only players who have been on an MLB roster in 2023 are included. Ages listed are for the 2024 season.

Top of the Class

Hernández entered the season as one of the top hitters in the entire free agent class. He looked likely to get nine figures if he posted another offensive showing near the .283/.333/.519 slash he managed during his final three seasons as a Blue Jay. His first season in Seattle has been a roller-coaster, but he’s doing his best to salvage things as the year draws to a close.

The righty-hitting slugger had a sub-.700 OPS in each of April, May and July. He was excellent in June and has been one of the best hitters on the planet since the start of August, hitting .344/.377/.591 in 167 plate appearances. The season line — .267/.312/.457 with 25 homers over 145 games — is more solid than elite, but he has looked like vintage Hernández over the last six weeks. He has also turned in decent defensive marks in just under 1100 right field innings, a welcome improvement over consistently below-average grades for his glove in Toronto.

By catching fire in the second half, Hernández has put himself back in consideration for a lofty multi-year pact. He has solidified himself as a likely qualifying offer recipient, which he should reject in search of a longer deal. His camp could take aim at the $100MM pact that Nick Castellanos landed from the Phillies two winters back.

Everyday Players

Brantley has assumed the “professional hitter” moniker and continued to live up to it even into his mid-30s. He has been a well above-average offensive player whenever healthy, including a .288/.370/.416 line with more walks than strikeouts a year ago. His season was cut short by August shoulder surgery. The Astros brought him back on a $12MM contract in hopes he’d be ready not long after Opening Day.

Continued soreness intervened. Brantley didn’t make his season debut until the end of August. He has only appeared in 10 games thus far. Injuries are an ever-present concern at this stage of his career, but Brantley remains one of the best pure hitters in the upcoming free agent class. Any team that signs him will bake in plenty of rest days and likely rotate him between designated hitter and left field rather than counting on him for 100+ starts in the outfield.

Duvall has been a corner outfielder for the bulk of his career, but the Red Sox pushed him to primary center field duty in 2023. Defensive metrics suggest he’s better suited for a corner — not especially surprising given his age — but he has hit well enough to earn a raise relative to this year’s $7MM salary.

The righty-swinging slugger has connected on 19 homers in only 310 plate appearances, with that workload limited by an early-season wrist fracture sustained when he dove for a ball. It’s the kind of production we’ve come to expect from the 10-year veteran: plus power to compensate for a propensity for strikeouts and a middling walk rate. Duvall has been an above-average hitter, as measured by wRC+, in four of the last five seasons. He has three 30-homer seasons to his name and could have gotten there this year were it not for the injury. His age will limit the length of offers on the table, but he’s having one of the better platform performances among the outfield class.

Gurriel offers a broadly similar profile to Duvall: right-handed power with subpar on-base marks. He’s five years younger and makes a lot more contact, although he’s strictly a left field option. Acquired from the Jays in the Gabriel Moreno/Daulton Varsho swap, Gurriel is batting .258/.308/.470 with 23 homers in 536 plate appearances — numbers that are in line with the solid career track record he has compiled.

It has been a year of peaks and valleys, though. Gurriel was among the best hitters in the majors in May and owns a .290/.344/.536 line going back to the start of August. In between, he hit .174/.220/.331. It’s a volatile but generally effective offensive profile. The D-Backs probably wouldn’t risk the qualifying offer, but Gurriel could receive three or four years at $10MM+ annually.

Pham is amidst his best season since 2019. The righty-hitting veteran has combined for a .267/.336/.474 line with 16 homers across 423 plate appearances between the Mets and Diamondbacks. His 9.2% walk rate is solid, if below his peak level, while he’s striking out at a league average 22.2% figure. Despite his age, Pham still rates as a capable defender in left field. He continues to post huge exit velocities, although that hard contact is often mitigated by a propensity to hit the ball on the ground. Pham is not an impact player, but he’s a well-rounded regular who can hit pitchers of either handedness well.

Renfroe has been a solid but unexceptional performer for the bulk of his career. He hits for power and typically plays decent right field defense (although this year’s metrics aren’t good). He’s not viable in center field and runs subpar on-base marks. Renfroe has settled in as a second-division regular, bouncing from team to team but earning playing time wherever he lands.

He’s having a bit of a down year, with his 20 home runs in 538 plate appearances trending towards a career low in a full schedule. He owns a .235/.299/.421 line between the Angels and Reds overall. The strikeout and walk profile is in line with his career marks, but he’s lost a couple ticks of exit velocity.

Strong Side Platoon

Gallo is athletic enough to handle any outfield position and the Twins have given him some reps at first base. He had a strong first couple weeks in the Twin Cities but has slumped since May and now carries a .177/.301/.440 line over 332 plate appearances. The sub-Mendoza average is nothing new, but this year’s 42.8% strikeout rate is high even by Gallo’s standards. He has hit 21 homers and walked at a huge 14.5% clip, leading to a roughly average wRC+ figure (103). That’s still not the bounceback the Minnesota front office envisioned when guaranteeing him $11MM last winter.

After years of below-average offense for the Cubs, Heyward has found an offensive resurgence in Los Angeles. The Dodgers have almost completely shielded him from left-handed pitching, and he has responded with a .278/.357/.483 showing over 303 plate appearances versus righties. Heyward is walking at a 10.2% clip, has connected on 14 homers and is only striking out 16.5% of the time. He remains an excellent defender. Teams will have to weigh that against his age and years of underwhelming offense in Chicago, but he clearly earned himself another big league opportunity and might even find a two-year deal.

The Giants surprisingly made Pederson a qualifying offer last winter; less surprisingly, he accepted. Pederson has still been an above-average hitter, but his offense is well down from last year’s career showing. He’s hitting .247/.359/.427 with 13 homers through 376 plate appearances. That includes 49 dismal plate appearances versus lefties, but he has a strong .261/.367/.464 line with a 12.8% walk rate when holding the platoon advantage. Pederson has never been a threat against left-handed pitching and he’s a well below-average defender. It’s a limited profile, but he’s very good at the thing he’s asked to do most often: hitting right-handed pitching.

The Dodgers have shielded Peralta from left-handed pitching, keeping him to 32 plate appearances against southpaws. The 10-year veteran has a modest .259/.298/.391 showing in 320 trips to the dish against righties. Peralta has a better career track record in that role, but his power production has dropped off this year.

Situational/Role Players

The Rockies and Blackmon have expressed mutual interest in a reunion. That seems the likeliest course of action, though the career-long Rockie indicated he wouldn’t be opposed to going elsewhere if Colorado didn’t bring him back. Blackmon is limited to right field or designated hitter at this stage of his career. He’s still an effective hitter, posting a .276/.368/.429 line with seven homers through 351 plate appearances. He won’t come close to the $15MM salary he made this season, but he should get a one-year deal for a 14th big league campaign.

Grossman is a switch-hitter who makes his living from the right side of the plate. He owns an excellent .303/.407/.488 batting line against left-handed pitching over the last three seasons. When facing a righty, he has has hit .199/.307/.334. The platoon splits have been even more drastic this year. Grossman’s ability to hit left-handed pitching makes him a solid role player, although he’s miscast in an everyday job. He signed with the Rangers for $2MM last winter and could earn a modest raise on that figure in 2024.

Over two years of below-average production culminated in Hicks’ release from the Yankees in May. The switch-hitter has found another gear since signing with the Orioles, hitting .287/.381/.461 over 53 games. That’s a glimpse of the hitter Hicks was at his peak, though he’s now a fringe defender and has landed on the injured list twice with Baltimore. While he’s probably a fourth outfielder on a contender, the 11-year veteran earned another guaranteed big league opportunity.

He won’t cost a signing team any more than the league minimum, as the Yankees remain on the hook for the rest of his consecutive $9.5MM salaries from 2024-25. Hicks’ camp will likely receive a number of offers at the $740K minimum rate, meaning he’ll make his decision based on clubs’ competitive outlooks and the playing time available.

Jankowski has been a quality fourth outfielder for the Rangers after an offseason minor league pact. He’s hitting .265/.352/.335 over 282 plate appearances. Jankowski has excellent strike zone awareness and works plenty of walks despite bottom-of-the-scale power. He’s a good baserunner (19-for-20 in stolen base attempts this season) and an above-average defender at any outfield spot. The complete dearth of power means he’ll always be limited to a situational job, but he’s potentially secured himself a big league contract this time around.

Infield/Outfield Hybrids

Anderson bounces between third base and the corner outfield. He was a solid regular for the Marlins from 2018-20 but is hitting .230/.317/.361 in more than 1000 trips to the plate over the last three years. Anderson has played the ’23 campaign in Milwaukee after being non-tendered by the Marlins. He hasn’t produced much beyond a solid first month, posting a .224/.309/.364 slash with a career-worst 30.1% strikeout rate in 94 games.

Hernández struggled at shortstop to begin the season. He has moved back into a utility capacity as a result, playing mostly second base and center field but logging some corner outfield action and occasional shortstop work. He’s amidst a second straight well below-average offensive season, hitting .236/.294/.353 over 469 plate appearances. Things have turned around since a midseason trade. After posting a .222/.279/.320 line in Boston, he owns a .267/.329/.427 slash through 146 plate appearances in L.A. He’ll likely land another guaranteed deal but seems hard-pressed to match the $10MM salary he received from the Red Sox last September.

Kemp is a contact-hitting second base/left field option. He’s not a great defender at either spot, but he was a solid regular for the A’s from 2021-22 before a down ’23 campaign. The left-handed hitter owns a .211/.304/.311 line through 398 trips to the plate. That’s in large part a reflection of an unsustainably poor .222 average on balls in play. Kemp has strong plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills; he’s one of just two players (Luis Arraez being the other) with 300+ plate appearances and more walks than strikeouts. He could find a major league deal as a result.

After playing catcher, shortstop and third base in recent years, Kiner-Falefa has branched into the outfield for the Yankees in 2023. He has logged 267 1/3 innings in center field and slightly more between the two corner spots (mostly left field). Public defensive metrics have given him mixed reviews, though that’s probably to be expected given his lack of experience on the grass. No one will target Kiner-Falefa as a regular in the corner outfield. He’s not effective enough a hitter for that. He has broadened his versatility for a bench role, though. Kiner-Falefa puts the ball in play without much impact and runs below-average walk totals. He’s a contact-hitting utility option who owns a .253/.311/.332 mark since landing in New York.

Merrifield’s contract contains an $18MM mutual option with a $500K buyout. The Jays are very likely to decline their end, sending the veteran back to free agency. He’s one of the better players available in the second base class but also has plenty of corner outfield experience, where he’s roughly a league average defender. Merrifield is hitting .279/.321/.391 on the season, solid offense but a line that fits better at the keystone than at a bat-first outfield position.

Veteran Depth

Calhoun got into 44 games for the Yankees, hitting .239/.309/.403 across 149 trips to the plate. He elected free agency after clearing outright waivers last month.

Dickerson appeared in 50 games for the Nationals after signing a $2.25MM free agent deal. He put up a career-worst .250/.283/.354 line and was released in early August. Dickerson had been an average or better hitter for the bulk of his career but he’s in minor league deal territory at this stage.

Grichuk started the season well in Colorado. It fell apart after a deadline trade to the Angels, with whom he’s hitting .203/.253/.392 in 41 games. The Halos have put him on waivers at least twice; he went unclaimed both times. He should still find a major league deal based on his ability to cover all three outfield spots and hit left-handed pitching. The righty-swinging Grichuk owns a .291/.332/.538 slash against southpaws over the last three seasons. He’s a .240/.285/.389 hitter versus righties in that same period.

The Reds rolled the dice on a bounceback year from Myers last winter, guaranteeing him $7.5MM. It didn’t materialize, as the former All-Star hit .189/.257/.283 in 37 contests. Cincinnati released him in June as their wave of young talent hit the major league level. He didn’t sign elsewhere after that.

Pillar broke camp with the Braves after an offseason minor league deal. He has held his roster spot all year, hitting .236/.260/.422 with seven homers in 169 plate appearances. A formerly elite defender in center field, he’s more of a corner option at this stage of his career. Pillar still plays decent defense in a sheltered role and has some pop, but it’ll come with a well below-average OBP.

Pollock’s offensive productivity has collapsed over the past two seasons. He still hit left-handed pitching well a season ago but didn’t produce against pitchers of either handedness in 2023. Pollock compiled a .165/.215/.318 line in 54 contests between the Mariners and Giants and was released by San Francisco two weeks ago.

Profar settled for a $10MM deal with the Rockies late in Spring Training after opting out of his contract with the Padres. His time in Colorado was a disaster, as the switch-hitter managed only a .236/.316/.364 line despite the confines of Coors Field. The Rockies released him at the end of August. Profar circled back to San Diego on a minor league deal and was quickly called to the MLB club. He could find another major league deal this offseason, but he’s coming off his worst season in five years.

Tapia is a contact and speed player who is best suited for left field. It’s an atypical profile that has led to diminishing playing time over the past couple seasons. He got into 59 games between the Red Sox and Brewers this year, hitting .230/.308/.338 between the clubs. Released by Milwaukee last month, he’s now in Triple-A with the Rays.

Winker once looked like an elite platoon option, mashing right-handed pitching for the Reds over his first four-plus seasons. He has never been a good defender, though, and his power has evaporated over the last two years. Winker hit .219/.344/.344 for the Mariners in 2022 and has mustered only a .199/.320/.247 slash in 61 games for the Brewers this summer. He has been out since late July because of back spasms. Winker might still find a major league deal from a club hoping for a rebound, but he’ll hit free agency coming off the worst season of his career.

Player Options

Conforto has a borderline option case. By tallying 350 plate appearances, he vested the ability to decline an $18MM salary for next year in favor of free agency. He has returned from the shoulder injury that cost him all of last season but hasn’t found his peak offensive form. Conforto owns a .251/.343/.405 slash with 15 homers through 426 trips to the plate. That’s more in line with his slightly above-average work from his 2021 season (.232/.344/.384) than his All-Star form of 2017-20.

The left-handed hitter had started to find his stride coming out of the All-Star Break before suffering a left hamstring strain that sent him to the injured list on August 25. He’s expected back from that imminently, just in time for what the Giants hope will be a playoff run. This could go in either direction depending on how Conforto finishes the year.

Soler’s opt-out decision is clear. He has a $12MM salary for next year, which would escalate to $13MM if he returns from an oblique strain in time to tally 18 more plate appearances during the regular season. In either case, it’s not likely to dissuade him from exploring the market.

After a down first season in Miami, the streaky slugger has performed at the middle-of-the-order level the front office had envisioned. Soler has popped 35 homers with a .240/.329/.513 line through 532 trips to the plate. He’s walking at a solid 10.9% clip and has cut his strikeout rate by five percentage points to a manageable 24.9%.

Soler is a well below-average defender. The Marlins have used him mostly at designated hitter, though he has picked up 233 2/3 right field innings. Any team that signs him is doing so for the bat, but he could find another three-year pact in a market without many clear offensive upgrades.

Club Options

The Brewers have an $11.5MM option on Canha that comes with a $2MM buyout. It’s a $9.5MM decision that figures to be borderline for a small-market Milwaukee club that has a penchant for taking the cautious route with regard to option decisions. It’s a reasonable sum in a vacuum, as Canha has performed well. He’s hitting .264/.360/.406 in 445 plate appearances, including a stellar .303/.394/.459 over 36 games since a deadline trade that sent from the Mets to the Brew Crew.

Even in his mid-30s, Canha is a good offensive player. He draws plenty of walks and has cut his strikeout rate to a career-low 16% this year. He doesn’t have prototypical power for a corner outfielder/first baseman, but he’s adept at getting on base. If Milwaukee decided not to commit the $9.5MM themselves, Canha could probably find something similar on the open market.

Minnesota holds a $10MM option that comes with a $1MM buyout. This appeared to be trending toward a buyout a few months ago, as Kepler was hitting .195/.273/.398 through the end of May. Since the calendar flipped to June, he’s mashing at a .274/.341/.516 clip to flip the script. The left-handed hitter owns a .251/.321/.482 line with 22 homers altogether. Suddenly, the $9MM difference between his option and the buyout looks like excellent value, especially since he continues to play strong right field defense.

The Twins have a number of left-handed hitting outfielders. Even if they were interested in subtracting Kepler from that surplus, they could do so by exercising the option and trading him. That or simply keeping him around for another season now seem likelier than the buyout.

Another borderline case, Atlanta holds a $9MM option without a buyout figure. One of the sport’s streakiest hitters, Rosario slumped to a career-worst .212/.259/.328 showing and underwent corrective vision surgery a season ago. He has rebounded in 2023, putting together a .267/.320/.479 clip with 21 longballs in 470 trips to the plate.

Rosario is striking out more than he did during his time with the Twins, though he’s also drawing a few more walks. He’s a power-over-hit left fielder who typically plays average defense. If the Braves are confident he’d replicate this year’s production, the $9MM price point is decent value.

Previous installments: catcher, first base, second base, third base, shortstop

Luis Rengifo Undergoes Biceps Surgery

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Angels infielder Luis Rengifo underwent surgery to repair a torn left biceps, manager Phil Nevin informed reporters after tonight’s loss to the Tigers (relayed by Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com). The expectation remains that he’ll be ready for Spring Training.

Rengifo, 26, suffered the freak injury last week while taking practice swings in the on-deck circle. The Halos initially announced the issue as a tendon rupture, though Nevin said it was a full biceps tear. He was quickly ruled out for the season and placed on the 60-day injured list. It wasn’t clear until tonight that he’d require surgical repair.

It’s a sour end to what had been a strong season for the switch-hitting infielder. Rengifo had been one of the few bright spots in a dismal second half. While he carried a .219/.312/.326 line into the All-Star Break, he raked at a .318/.374/.587 clip from the Midsummer Classic on. That brought his season slash to an above-average .264/.339/.444 mark with 16 home runs through 445 trips to the plate. He almost certainly would’ve surpassed last year’s personal-high 17 longballs were it not for the injury, while he walked at a respectable 9.2% clip after drawing free passes just 3.3% of the time a season ago.

Rengifo has bounced around the diamond. He’s primarily a second baseman but handled regular shortstop duty while Zach Neto was on the injured list. Rengifo can cover third and was playing in the corner outfield upon Neto’s return until his own injury. While public defensive marks haven’t been enamored with his glove anywhere, his versatility and solid offense made him one of the Halos’ more effective position players.

In February, Rengifo won a $2.3MM salary at an arbitration hearing. He’ll earn a raise going into 2024 and is eligible for that process through ’25. He’s on track to hit free agency in advance of his age-29 season.

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