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The OF Conundrum

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Here's a deal I posted on BTV that just makes too much sense.
Indians get: CF Nick Senzel
Reds get: A. Rosario and B. Rocchio

Yeah, I like Rocchio's ceiling too. A lot. It's a slight overpay, but we just have so many guys like Rocchio in the system.
We would be getting an actual major league center fielder. Something we don't have much of. Let Rosario learn how to play CF for the Reds.
We already have Senzel. Here are the 2019 stats for Senzel and Oscar Mercado.

Senzel: 414 PA's, .256/.315/.427/.742, OPS+ 87, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 14 steals in 19 attempts, 101 K's
Mercado: 482 PA's, .269/.318/.443/.761, OPS+ 96, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 15 steals in 19 attempts, 84 K's

They're the same player except Mercado is six months older. And Senzel strikes out more and doesn't hit quite as well. Even last year was the same.

Senzel 78 PA's, .186 BA, Mercado 86 PA's, .128 BA.
 
We already have Senzel. Here are the 2019 stats for Senzel and Oscar Mercado.

Senzel: 414 PA's, .256/.315/.427/.742, OPS+ 87, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 14 steals in 19 attempts, 101 K's
Mercado: 482 PA's, .269/.318/.443/.761, OPS+ 96, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 15 steals in 19 attempts, 84 K's

They're the same player except Mercado is six months older. And Senzel strikes out more and doesn't hit quite as well. Even last year was the same.

Senzel 78 PA's, .186 BA, Mercado 86 PA's, .128 BA.
I agree Wham. I don't see him as a fit on this team. If it isn't someone like Frazier or Santander or Mancini then we should just go with what we got.

I edited it to say that I have little faith in Mercado and that I hope he proves me wrong.
 
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We already have Senzel. Here are the 2019 stats for Senzel and Oscar Mercado.

Senzel: 414 PA's, .256/.315/.427/.742, OPS+ 87, 12 HR, 42 RBI, 14 steals in 19 attempts, 101 K's
Mercado: 482 PA's, .269/.318/.443/.761, OPS+ 96, 15 HR, 54 RBI, 15 steals in 19 attempts, 84 K's

They're the same player except Mercado is six months older. And Senzel strikes out more and doesn't hit quite as well. Even last year was the same.

Senzel 78 PA's, .186 BA, Mercado 86 PA's, .128 BA.
I think Senzel is going to be a better player than Mercado, but it won’t matter if he’s hurt every year. That was one of his negatives in the minors and he’s done nothing to dispel that knock since he’s been on the Reds.
 
I dont think I would trade Rosario straight up for Senzel.

Senzel is OLDER than Amed.

Amed was a better prospect, and if he had been kept in MiLB until he was 24, we would be raving about him now.

Senzel is basically a 3B who has been converted to CF at the MLB level. Fans drool over him, but insist that Rosario can't convert from SS.

Senzel is a name, who has done nothing at the MLB level...and he can't stay healthy.

I certainly wouldn't trade Rosario PLUS any prospect of value for him.

Now, if the Reds want to trade Senzel and Stephenson, (they don't and wont), then we can talk.

Rosario, Mercado, Hedges, Bracho, and money...for Senzel and Stephenson.

Remember, trades are partly about immediate need and leverage. We don't need to make a trade, but the Reds need a shortstop. They are dreaming if they think they can really contend with a bunch of guys playing shortstop that would all be DFAd by us.
 
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The outfield conundrum....

Left field: Eddie Rosario (no conundrum)

Center field:

Bradley Zimmer - hitting .429 and Bimbo says he looks great after a healthy off-season. At age 28 this is a do-or-die season for a guy with tremendous range and arm in center and killer speed on the basepaths. But even 100% healthy, can he hit? In 455 career AB's he's hitting .224 with a 36% strikeout rate.

Oscar Mercado - like Zimmer, has the range in center and speed on the bases, only without the arm. Hit .269/.761 in over 400 at-bats as a rookie in 2019. Two years younger than Zimmer.

Daniel Johnson - another fast, strong athletic type with a big arm. Already 25 with nothing left to prove in the minors. Has two HR's and a double in 13 at-bats this spring. Might be better suited to right field but according to Bimbo will do just fine in center.

Amed Rosario - hit .287 in over 600 AB's with the Mets in 2019. At 6'2", 189 is built more like an outfielder than a SS. Could thrive in his new position where he can concentrate on hitting similar to what happened with Lonnie Chisenhall after he was moved to the outfield.

Right field:

Josh Naylor - Got everybody excited when he went 5-for-7 against the Yankees with four extra base hits in the playoffs. A fluke or has he figured something out? Still only 23 with only 350 career ML at-bats. Hits lefties as well as righties so no need to platoon.

Jordan Luplow - Crushes lefties, runs well, and plays solid defense, but can he hit right-handed pitching? He's hit .188 against righties in 2019 and 2020 in 138 AB's. Luplow looks like the odd man out as he's been hurt and does not yet have an at-bat this spring. He's 27 so the clock is ticking for him as well.

Harold Ramirez - Weak defensively with a noodle arm but sprays the ball around and can run (92nd percentile in sprint speed). Has power potential at 5'10", 232 pounds but hits too many ground balls (57% in 2019 against 16% fly balls). A Yandy Diaz clone at the plate unless he can raise his launch angle. Hit .276/.728 in over 400 AB's as a 24-year-old rookie for the Marlins in 2019. Only 10 AB's last year due to COVID positive and a bad hammy.

Seven candidates for center and right field.
 
and, if I hear correctly from Zach Maisel, we are keeping 6 of them....
 
I'm thinking the 2022 outfield could be Rosario, Johnson, and Naylor. Ramirez would be the fourth outfielder with Nolan Jones knocking on the door. Although if Eddie Rosario has a typical year they could resign him like they did with Cesar Hernandez this year.

It will be fascinating to watch how the outfield conundrum works itself out this year.
 
The outfield conundrum....

Left field: Eddie Rosario (no conundrum)

Center field:

Bradley Zimmer - hitting .429 and Bimbo says he looks great after a healthy off-season. At age 28 this is a do-or-die season for a guy with tremendous range and arm in center and killer speed on the basepaths. But even 100% healthy, can he hit? In 455 career AB's he's hitting .224 with a 36% strikeout rate.

Oscar Mercado - like Zimmer, has the range in center and speed on the bases, only without the arm. Hit .269/.761 in over 400 at-bats as a rookie in 2019. Two years younger than Zimmer.

Daniel Johnson - another fast, strong athletic type with a big arm. Already 25 with nothing left to prove in the minors. Has two HR's and a double in 13 at-bats this spring. Might be better suited to right field but according to Bimbo will do just fine in center.

Amed Rosario - hit .287 in over 600 AB's with the Mets in 2019. At 6'2", 189 is built more like an outfielder than a SS. Could thrive in his new position where he can concentrate on hitting similar to what happened with Lonnie Chisenhall after he was moved to the outfield.

Right field:

Josh Naylor - Got everybody excited when he went 5-for-7 against the Yankees with four extra base hits in the playoffs. A fluke or has he figured something out? Still only 23 with only 350 career ML at-bats. Hits lefties as well as righties so no need to platoon.

Jordan Luplow - Crushes lefties, runs well, and plays solid defense, but can he hit right-handed pitching? He's hit .188 against righties in 2019 and 2020 in 138 AB's. Luplow looks like the odd man out as he's been hurt and does not yet have an at-bat this spring. He's 27 so the clock is ticking for him as well.

Harold Ramirez - Weak defensively with a noodle arm but sprays the ball around and can run (92nd percentile in sprint speed). Has power potential at 5'10", 232 pounds but hits too many ground balls (57% in 2019 against 16% fly balls). A Yandy Diaz clone at the plate unless he can raise his launch angle. Hit .276/.728 in over 400 AB's as a 24-year-old rookie for the Marlins in 2019. Only 10 AB's last year due to COVID positive and a bad hammy.

Seven candidates for center and right field.
with all due respect to these guys - thats a pretty modest group - and more explains the continuing conundrum
 
with all due respect to these guys - thats a pretty modest group - and more explains the continuing conundrum

I also don't like Naylor in RF either to be honest. He doesn't look like a RF and he doesn't play out there all that well yet. I guess we shall see, but I don't like him as an OF defensively
 
I also don't like Naylor in RF either to be honest. He doesn't look like a RF and he doesn't play out there all that well yet. I guess we shall see, but I don't like him as an OF defensively
He looks more like an OF than at 1B. No infielder likes throwing the ball to a 5'10" 1B if they don't have to. Josh has got himself physically ready to play OF and that is where he's best suited. That doesn't mean he's the best option right now for the job, but the kid should be a good hitter with moderate power.
 
He looks more like an OF than at 1B. No infielder likes throwing the ball to a 5'10" 1B if they don't have to. Josh has got himself physically ready to play OF and that is where he's best suited. That doesn't mean he's the best option right now for the job, but the kid should be a good hitter with moderate power.

He just doesn't look that great out there honestly, but it's a high probability he is in RF. Johnson is on the outside looking in for the big league spot.
 
I also don't like Naylor in RF either to be honest. He doesn't look like a RF and he doesn't play out there all that well yet. I guess we shall see, but I don't like him as an OF defensively
Well, with Bobby Bradley losing 35 pounds and hitting the ball well this spring they really have to give him a legitimate shot. He's 25 and it's time to find out what he can do against major league pitchers. We don't want another Jesus Aguilar situation.

Which means Naylor is in right field. Maybe he "doesn't look like a right fielder" and "doesn't play out there all that well yet". OK, but he's lost a lot of weight since coming over from San Diego, he runs well enough, and he'll get better if he plays everyday. He's spent a lot of time at first base so far. If he can concentrate on one position I'm sure he'll get better even if he doesn't "look like a right fielder". BTW, what does a right fielder look like?
 
He just doesn't look that great out there honestly, but it's a high probability he is in RF. Johnson is on the outside looking in for the big league spot.
I don't agree with that at all. Right now, if Naylor and Johnson are in a fight for RF Johnson's winning. I'm not sure they're battling for the same position though.
 
I don't agree with that at all. Right now, if Naylor and Johnson are in a fight for RF Johnson's winning. I'm not sure they're battling for the same position though.

Well Johnson hasn't played in CF in an A game and the last few games Johnson hasnt even played in an A game, so I am not exactly sure what's going on there. Sadly we don't have any of the B game info (why can't both set of games be on TV lol) I would prefer Johnson to be out there over Naylor when it comes to defense.

I know Bimbo said Johnson is focusing on CF in B games, we just haven't seen him play out there yet. So I will wait to see where he ends up, but right now I feel like Naylor is the guy who is the RF going forward. Johnson has to show he can field at similar level as Mercado and Zimmer, plus Zimmer actually is looking better than we thought he would.
 

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