2018 MLB Free agency rumors: Outfield
- OF Lorenzo Cain, 32 years old
- 595 PA, 74 R, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 16 SB, .288/.347/.438, 3.2 WAR—Fangraphs
- 566 PA, 79 R, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 20 SB, .289/.350/.439—Marcels
With all of the hype on J.D. Martinez, it might surprise many baseball fans to see Cain projected to be a more valuable player. The big difference, of course, is their defense. Cain doesn’t have the elite fielding numbers he had a few years ago, but he can still handle the position. He’s also projected to be an above-average hitter and add value through base running.
His 3.2 WAR projection would make him a top-10 center fielder and would be a significant improvement on the San Francisco Giants center field situation. Fangraphs has Gorkys Hernandez and Steven Duggar getting the bulk of the playing time in center field for the Giants. They are projected for a combined 0.4 WAR. Cain could be three wins better than that.
- OF J.D. Martinez, 30 years old
- 630 PA, 89 R, 38 HR, 106 RBI, 3 SB, .277/.350/.545, 2.7 WAR—Fangraphs
- 496 PA, 73 R, 31 HR, 81 RBI, 3 SB, .290/.358/.570—Marcels
Martinez had a monster run of hitting after joining the Diamondbacks last season, hitting .302/.366/.741, with 29 homers in 62 games. He’s the best power bat out there and will get paid accordingly. That being said, there is a risk here.
Fangraphs is projecting 630 plate appearances for Martinez. He’s done that once in his seven-year career. He’s played nearly120 games in each of the last two seasons, which is why Marcels has a more modest playing time projection. He’s also been one of the worst right fielders in baseball defensively the last two years and is a negative on the bases.
"I know one thing, they need J.D. Martinez's bat in the middle of that lineup." - @KMillar15 #IntentionalTalk pic.twitter.com/2u2ZbyLEPH
— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) January 2, 2018
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Despite his flaws, Martinez has reportedly been offered a five-year contract by the Red Sox. Super agent Scott Boras went into the offseason looking $200 million for Martinez, but that doesn’t seem likely in a five-year deal.
Martinez won’t be a $40 million player, but something in the range of $25-$28 million per year isn’t out of the question.
- OF Jarrod Dyson, 33 years old
- 455 PA, 49 R, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 29 SB, .262/.329/.371, 1.7 WAR—Fangraphs
- 429 PA, 58 R, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 28 SB, .255/.323/.371—Marcels
Dyson has never been a league average hitter, but his glove and baserunning provide value to any team he’s on. Over the last two years, his defense in centerfield has been comparable to the Reds’ Billy Hamilton. With elite defensive skills, Dyson has regularly been at least a league average player despite never having more than 400 plate appearances.
Next: Fantasy Baseball: Stash these AL young guns in 2018
The Giants are projected for 28th in WAR at center field among the 30 MLB teams. Jarrod Dyson would be a cheaper alternative to Lorenzo Cain, should the Giants want to upgrade from Gorkys Hernandez or Steven Duggar. If they plan to contend in the NL West, they should be looking at Cain or Dyson.
All of these 2018 MLB Free agency rumors are making us ready for the 2018 MLB season. Are you ready?