Three Utility Infielders Find New Homes

Royals signal Garrett Hampson to one-year, $2 million deal

Hampson defines what it means to be a utility participant — the twenty sixth man on the roster who contributes not by means of offensive prowess however through baserunning and defensive versatility. Regardless of as soon as being a 50 FV prospect, he by no means turned an on a regular basis common with the Rockies, hovering round substitute degree because of his constantly poor hitting (he posted a wRC+ of 64 in every of his first three full seasons in a Khris Davis-esque streak). Considerations about his energy potential within the minors had been validated by his pedestrian exit velocities within the majors, maxing out at 11 homers even within the favorable circumstances of Coors Area.

After being non-tendered by Colorado, Hampson signed a one-year take care of the Marlins, the place he was roughly a league-average hitter over 250 plate appearances. This sudden uptick in offense was largely a mirage of batted ball luck; he posted a .379 BABIP in comparison with a .320 profession baseline (within the ballpark with the best BABIP), the bottom barrel price of his profession, and no enhancements in stroll or strikeout charges.

You actually shouldn’t expect something resembling a league-average hitting line from Hampson, however his baserunning and protection are nonetheless enviable. He has averaged +4.2 BaseRuns per 150 video games performed, and whereas he’s not a quantity stealer, he has an 81% profession success price. His expertise on the basepaths have translated to defensive vary at each single place apart from first base and catcher. It’s extraordinarily tough to keep up a top quality of fielding regardless of being consistently ping-ponged between the infield and outfield, particularly from the start of a giant league profession, but Hampson has carried out admirably wherever he’s been stationed.

Hampson has been above common with the glove spending the appreciable majority of his time at up-the-middle positions, an asset to groups who can spend a roster spot on a defense-first participant and/or rebuilding golf equipment seeking to increase their inexperienced pitching staffs with stable gloves. The Royals actually match the latter standards, with eight members of their current projected pitching staff, together with three members of the beginning rotation, getting into 2024 with fewer than three years of service time. A almost definitely use case for Hampson will probably be as a platoon accomplice with the left-handed Kyle Isbel and Michael Massey, although he may get time nearly wherever given the dearth of confirmed abilities on the roster.

Mets signal Joey Wendle to one-year, $2 million deal

Wendle is finest recognized for his four-year tenure with the Rays, the place he thrice eclipsed 500 plate appearances and three WAR (or a pro-rated 2020 equal) regardless of by no means locking down a single place. As an alternative, he rotated between second, third, and shortstop, primarily manning the keystone early on, then seamlessly shifting the majority of his begins to 3rd base when Brandon Lowe had a completely wholesome season at second. When he hit at an above-average clip, he did so with out a lot pop or plate self-discipline, placing bat on ball and constantly putting line drives into the outfield. He maximized his productiveness given his lack of uncooked energy or raise in his swing, but it surely relied on his plus velocity and bat management, which couldn’t final endlessly.

Wendle broke into the majors late, enjoying his first full season for the Rays at age 28. Regardless of getting into free company for the primary time, 2024 will signify his age-34 season. Because of this, he’s misplaced a step over time, evident in his declining defensive and baserunning worth. He took further bases on hits much less continuously than earlier than, and final season was his first as a below-average defender by RAA. His line-drive price went from nice with the Rays to below-average with the Marlins, and hitting the ball on the bottom over half the time isn’t efficient for somebody who doesn’t have the foot velocity to leg out infield hits. The warning indicators had been there in his age-31 season in 2021, so it’s unsurprising Tampa traded him that offseason, (accurately) anticipating a future decline. Wendle was by no means nice with the Marlins, however his manufacturing utterly fell aside over the past couple months of his tenure there, with a -6 wRC+ over the past two months of the yr.

Wendle will slide into the position beforehand held by fellow left-handed multi-positional infielder Luis Guillorme, who was non-tendered following a down yr truncated by a calf damage. It’s considerably shocking that Guillorme was let go given his arbitration estimate of $1.7 million and observe document of success in a bench position, particularly together with his disciplined strategy on the plate and excessive stroll charges. Ought to each Wendle and Guillorme return to type subsequent season, the Mets will probably be buying and selling a factors of OBP for a couple of extra extra-base hits, although the previous’s decline in athleticism make it tough to see him as an impression participant, even in his restricted position.

White Sox signal Paul DeJong to one-year, $1.75 million deal

Just one place participant contributed extra detrimental WAR to his staff than Wendle in final season’s second half, and it simply so occurred to be DeJong. Within the first half with the Cardinals, he hit under league common and put up the most effective defensive numbers of his profession, placing him on a three-win tempo for the season. With St. Louis nicely out of competition, they flipped him to the Blue Jays, the place he fell right into a historic droop. In 13 video games north of the border, he went 3-for-44, putting out 41% of the time with out drawing a stroll or clubbing an extra-base hit. His .068/.068/.068 slash line was good for a -76 wRC+, prompting the Blue Jays to launch him after simply three weeks.

DeJong then signed on with the Giants, themselves in the midst of a horrific offensive implosion. Whereas he was acquired to take enjoying time from the getting old Brandon Crawford, his struggles in Toronto adopted him west, the place he hit even worse than Crawford. He wasn’t as traditionally terrible as he was with the Jays, however he nonetheless hit simply .184 with no stroll earlier than the Giants lower him free as nicely.

The query going ahead stays whether or not or not DeJong’s abysmal second half was a 31-game anomaly or a real change in his expertise degree. There are actually crimson flags in his under-the-hood numbers; zero walks in 94 plate appearances is regarding, however his chase price capturing over 54% after leaving St. Louis (in comparison with a 32% profession price) could also be even worse. His energy nearly utterly evaporated as nicely. A mixture of lowered exit velocity with extra floor balls than fly balls for the primary time in his profession led to only one barrel in 60 batted ball occasions. Steamer’s projections actually put a great deal of weight into his disastrous run, forecasting a .276 OBP and 76 wRC+, with a strikeout price a couple of factors above his profession norm.

DeJong’s signing received’t drag the White Sox, who scored the second-fewest runs within the majors final yr, out of the cellar, however it’ll at the least stabilize their infield scenario within the quick time period. With the arrows pointing down on 40-man infielders José Rodríguez and Lenyn Sosa, the Sox lack speedy plug-and-play choices on the six past Nicky Lopez. Their clearest choice for the longer term is prime prospect Colson Montgomery, our 12th-ranked prospect atop the 55 FV tier. However whereas Montgomery has regarded nice in professional ball, he’s removed from an ideal prospect, and his poor defense at shortstop could necessitate a future place change, although he’s by no means performed an inning wherever else within the minors. He additionally suffered a again damage that restricted him to simply 84 video games in 2023, together with a comparatively unimpressive displaying within the Arizona Fall League. It’s doable that DeJong may maintain down the fort for the early season, making means for a midseason debut from Montgomery.