Outfielder/designated hitter Carlos Quentin, who had reportedly planned to file for retirement following the 2015 season, will instead attempt a comeback in 2016, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Quentin, 33, didn’t play in the Majors this season, even though his three-year contract with the Padres ran through the end of the 2015 campaign. San Diego traded to Atlanta alongside Cameron Maybin and Matt Wisler in the April blockbuster that sent Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton to the Padres. Quentin, though, was primarily included in the deal to help offset some of the salary the Padres were accumulating. He was designated for assignment and subsequently released shortly after being acquired. Quentin signed a minor league deal with the Mariners following his Atlanta release and played in five Triple-A games with their top affiliate before deciding he would retire.
Perhaps the six months of rest have helped to rejuvenate the oft-injured Quentin, whose once promising career was plagued by a series of knee, wrist and shoulder issues. Quentin batted a mere .177/.284/.315 in his final season with the Padres (2014), but from 2009-13, he was a well-above-average bat when healthy enough to take the field. Quentin hit .252/.346/.485 and averaged 32 homers per 162 games in that time, with his park-adjusted offense coming in 23 percent better than a league-average hitter.
Quentin would almost certainly be looking at a minor league contract if he were to sign with a big league club this offseason. Agent Brodie Van Wagenen of CAA Sports tells Heyman that his client has been working out at first base and feels he can help teams there, as well as in the outfield and at designated hitter. As such, an American League club in need of right-handed pop makes the most sense when speculating on possible fits.
Yankees?
How about the royals or pirates?
I dont see the Pirates. They had a couple of chances a few years back to get him and never did. Plus if he cant hack it in the field they cant DH him. Pirates will more than likely trade/non-tender Pedro and go with Morse at first until Bell is ready
Would be very surprised if it was the Pirates. They already have a marginal defender/righty power hitter in Michael Morse, and they have to know that their overall team defense wasn’t as consistently solid last year as in 2014. Quentin is an OF in name only, think of Delmon Young wearing ice skates for a visual. If anyone could possibly play 1B as poorly as Pedro Alvarez, it might be Quentin.
Why would they need him? Arod, Bird, Tex…
He is a Dipoto special. Dipoto will probably give him 5 years at 12 million per. Then when it doesn’t work out. He will blame it on everyone else. Claiming that he never wanted him.
Because when Dipoto talks about injecting speed, athleticism and defensive value into his outfield, our minds all naturally gravitate toward Carlos Quentin.
Like he did with the Diamond Backs? Or like he did with the Angels? Mat Joyce was his golden boy. Blaton Madsen Hanson Green just to name a few that were supposed to make the Angels a World Series contenders
Gasp. A GM had moves that didn’t work out? Dipoto also acquired Skaggs and Santiago for Trumbo, he got Corbin to Arizona, he acquired six years of Andrew Heaney for one year of Howie Kendrick. The Street acquisition looks just fine, as does his extension, and he got the better end of the Grilli-for-Frieri swap as well. The Joe Smith signing has worked well in Anaheim, too.
The moves you listed there — Joyce, Blanton, Madson, Hanson, Green — cost the Angels two years of Kevin Jepsen, three of Jordan Walden and two of Alberto Callaspo in addition to a few million bucks.
If you’re going to gripe about anything, do it about giving up Randal Grichuk for David Freese. (Though Freese was valuable in the two years the Angels had him, and Salas has been better than I expected.)
It’s easy to point to any GM’s missed moves, but doing so while neglecting to mention any of the positive strides the organization took with him in charge is silly and doesn’t reflect well on the person doing so.
Skaggs the same pitcher who has arm trouble every season? If he can stay healthy maybe. How about trading 4 players for a two month rental in Grienke? 3 years of control of Walden for Hanson? Refusing giving Grienke the 6th year on the deal the Angels offered him? Spare me this he built the farm system up crap. Green is absolute garbage. Hell he wasn’t even starting in triple A.
He traded three players for Greinke–Segura, Hellweg and Pena and save for one season of Segura, the players Milwaukee got have been underwhelming.
The good news is that as a DH Quentin should be able to stay healthy 80 games a season.
The Orioles would be a good fit. He could DH and play the outfield.
Don’t expect much of a contribution from him in the field. He’s a hitter who can put on a glove once in a while. Think Delmon Young with bad knees and no arm.
He’d be a great RH DH platoon option for a team with a left handed DH. The White Sox come to mind.
He should go to whatever division Greinke ends up in.
Tokyo Hog Slingers.
Seems like he will be a low cost high reward type of signing. A one year deal, invitation to spring training. I could see Tampa or the A’s to go after him. Some smaller team that could use a dh.
I guess he should try to hook on with an American League team where he can start in triple a as a DH.
His defense is bad, but if he can hit, I guess.
White Sox loving living the past. They’ll bring him back
This would be a good under-the-radar acquisition for the Red-Sox, we could use some outfield depth in Pawtucket.