Due to a busy month of December, many of the high free brokers from this offseason are off the board, assuming the Carlos Correa cope with the Mets finally will get over the end line. From MLBTR’s list of the highest 50 free brokers, solely three stay unattached: Jurickson Profar, Andrew Chafin and Michael Wacha. That signifies that groups nonetheless on the lookout for upgrades should sift via the remainders, on the lookout for expertise that different golf equipment have neglected.
One fascinating candidate who deserves a glance is Adam Duvall, who hasn’t been written about on MLBTR since August. If any groups have curiosity in him, it hasn’t been leaked to the general public but. It’s not particularly stunning that his market has been quiet so far. His 2022 was minimize brief in July when he required season-ending wrist surgical procedure. He additionally limped to a .213/.276/.401 line within the first few months of the season whereas placing out in 32.1% of his plate appearances. That manufacturing was 13% beneath league common, as indicated by his 87 wRC+.
That’s definitely not an excellent platform for a visit into free company, however there are nonetheless issues to love about Duvall. The plate self-discipline challenge has all the time been there, as he has a profession 6.7% stroll charge and has by no means completed a season above 8.7%. He’s struck out in 28.5% of his profession journeys to the plate and has been at 25.8% or above in every season of his profession. For reference, this yr’s league averages had been an 8.2% stroll charge and 22.4% strikeout charge. Nonetheless, he’s all the time paired that with super energy, topping 30 house runs in a season thrice. He additionally hit 16 within the shortened 2020 season and 12 this yr previous to being shut down.
He’s additionally thought of to be a robust defensive outfielder. He’s tallied 58 Defensive Runs Saved on the grass in his profession, 28 Outs Above Common and has a 22.7 from Final Zone Score. His DRS and UZR slipped to beneath common in 2022, however OAA nonetheless was fairly bullish, inserting him within the 88th percentile within the league. His arm power positioned within the 78th percentile, his outfielder leap within the 74th and his dash velocity 67th.
If 2022 confirmed Duvall’s profile at its worst, 2021 confirmed how priceless it may be. He struck out in 31.4% of his plate appearances and walked in solely 6.3% of them, however he launched 38 house runs, stole 5 bases, led the Nationwide League in RBIs with 113 and offered glorious protection. He received a 9.9 from UZR, 19 DRS and +4 OAA. That DRS determine was tied with Michael A. Taylor for finest within the league amongst all outfielders whereas the UZR rating was within the high 5. That was primarily nook outfield work, however 210 2/3 innings out of his 1155 complete innings got here in middle subject. He was awarded the Nationwide League Gold Glove award for proper subject. All advised, FanGraphs calculated him to be value 2.7 wins above alternative for the yr.
Duvall is now 34 years previous and coming off a down yr, each by way of well being and efficiency. It could be simple to roll one’s eyes on the concept of a workforce bringing him aboard and giving him a big function. Nonetheless, the pickings in free company are getting slim and each participant nonetheless out there’s going to have flaws in a method or one other. Duvall seemingly received’t earn an incredible wage in free company as a result of his struggles this yr, however he has the power to supply sturdy nook outfield protection whereas taking part in middle subject every now and then. His plate self-discipline isn’t nice however he has super energy. It’s additionally potential that the upcoming shift bans will enhance his batting common by a couple of factors, since he was shifted in 71.7% of his plate appearances this yr regardless of hitting right-handed. Even along with his struggles on the plate in 2022, he was nonetheless value 0.9 fWAR in 86 video games earlier than the wrist challenge put him out for the second half. He isn’t more likely to kill you in a platoon capability both, as his profession splits aren’t drastic, with a 101 wRC+ in opposition to lefties and a 94 in any other case. For a workforce on the lookout for a low-cost flier to seek out some sneaky worth this late within the offseason, they may do a lot worse.
