Baltimore Orioles Trade Target: Cincinnati Reds Billy Hamilton
Among the possible Baltimore Orioles trade targets, outfielder Billy Hamilton looks like one of the better matches. Will he spend 2018 in an Orioles’ uniform?
This offseason will be a little different for the Baltimore Orioles. It’s very doubtful they add any slugger to the roster. Instead, we can expect them to target pitchers and possibly a true leadoff hitter. The latter is where Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton could help them out.
Even before his MLB debut in 2013, one thing has been clear about Hamilton: he’s fast.
Hamilton has averaged 73 stolen bases per 162 games in his big league career. Although he has never led the league in the category, each season ends with one more than the previous. The fleet-footed switch-hitter swiped a career-best 59 last year while continuing to put up less impressive statistics at the plate. The inability to hit well has caused many to question whether he’s worth it in a trade.
Entering 2018, Hamilton will carry a .248/.298/.334 batting line. Unfortunately, getting on base is not something he does incredibly well. If he could, Hamilton might be an elite leadoff hitter and not someone the Reds regularly bat at the bottom of the lineup due to his offensive limitations. Speed is great at the top, but more important is getting on base.
Hamilton is almost void of power. Even playing half his games at Great American Ballpark has resulted in an average of five home runs per 162 games. It’s unlikely to change. He is what he is and no ballpark will change this.
After several seasons of lackluster at-bats, the Reds seem ready to trade Hamilton. Now that he is in his arbitration years, paying him to do one thing really well is tougher. At league minimum, it was okay for Hamilton to hit poorly, steal a ton of bases, and put up good defensive numbers.
In 2017, Hamilton was a finalist for the Gold Glove Award in center field. Ender Inciarte ended up winning it, but Hamilton should remain proud nonetheless.
How Hamilton Fits with the Orioles
Hamilton would fit in well with the Orioles because of his speed. Baltimore consistently ranks at the bottom of the league in stolen bases. With Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo relying on home runs to put up crooked numbers, there hasn’t been much room for a player like Hamilton.
An opportunity will open up next year with at least one of the corner outfield spots available. Although, Hamilton is likely to remain in center field with Adam Jones shifting to a corner spot.
Last season, Manny Machado led the Orioles in stolen bases with nine of them. Joey Rickard, who only received 277 plate appearances, ranked number two with eight.
The Baltimore Orioles aren’t built to run or take the extra bag. This is a very slow team that could really use one guy to carry the load.
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The beauty of the American League is that Hamilton doesn’t even need to bat leadoff in order to help the Orioles in this department. Batting him ninth would put him in a pseudo leadoff position. His speed could still help out the middle of the order while still limiting his at-bats.
Baltimore needs to start envisioning what life beyond 2018 will look like. Jones and Machado are both free agents after next season. Hamilton could help aim them in a different direction where they are not completely relying on four-base hits to get them through the season.
In addition to giving the Baltimore Orioles some wheels, Hamilton’s switch-hitting abilities gives them another left-handed option when righties are on the mound. The 2017 starting lineups were filled with mostly righties, which surely hurt them at times.
His ability to play Gold Glove-caliber defense also takes away the burden from the less effective corner outfielders the Orioles will employ next year.
Next: MLB Free Agents Tracker: Top 25 free agent hitters
Hamilton rounds out the Baltimore Orioles very well. Rather than make a big signing for a new outfielder, that money can go toward finally putting together a good starting rotation. Hamilton won’t cost a king’s ransom and should thrive in Baltimore.