Five corner outfielders A’s could consider
Left fielder Robbie Grossman recast himself as a hitter with the A’s in 2020, adjusting his swing for more power and pulling the ball more than ever.
It helped make Grossman one of the A’s most productive hitters in the shortened season. With Grossman now a free agent, it also might price him out of Oakland’s offseason plans.
Grossman led the A’s with an .826 onbaseplusslugging percentage in 2020 and hit eight home runs in 51 games. Defensively, he ranked fifth among AL left fielders in SABR defensive index, a year after being a 2019 Gold Glove finalist. At 31 and a switchhitter, he should draw interest from teams looking for corneroutfield help this offseason.
If Grossman signs elsewhere, the A’s would lose a bat that helped balance their lineup from the left side, which could force them to look for a lefthandedhitting replacement. In their system, Seth Brown is an option, and Luis Barrera has compiled good numbers in the minors; general manager David Forst said Wednesday that both
could be considered for a role in 2021.
“Seth has shown what he can do up here, Luis is very close to being ready for a chance,” Forst said. “Also guys like Skye Bolt and Buddy Reed switchhitting provide that. But a lefthandedhitting outfielder is very much a part of our internal conversations.”
If the A’s aren’t comfortable going into 2021 with those options, they could explore the freeagent market. Here are five lefthandedhitting corner outfielders they could consider:
David Dahl
Dahl, 26, was nontendered by the Rockies this month a year removed from an AllStar season. In 2019, Dahl hit .302 with 15 home runs in 100 games before missing the final two months of the season with an ankle injury. Injuries have been an issue for the No. 10 overall draft pick in 2012, who has not played more than 100 games in a season. He played in 24 games in 2020, hitting .183, before having right shoulder surgery in September. ( He’s expected to be ready for spring training.) Given that history, Dahl might fit a platoon situation, which the A’s could employ with Mark Canha in left or to give Stephen Piscotty days off in right. Dahl played all three spots in Colorado’s outfield, mostly in left. Notably, his career OPS is nearly 200 points higher at the Rockies’ hitterfriendly park (. 918) than on the road (. 722).
Eddie Rosario
Rosario, 29, was another nontender casualty ( by Minnesota) but could carry a larger price tag. Rosario, who hit 32 home runs with 109 RBIs for the Twins in 2019, had 13 homers and 42 RBIs in 57 games in 2020. The Twins chose not to extend him a contract offer for 2021 with his salary projected to increase to about $ 10 million in arbitration ( all 29 other teams also passed on claiming him on waivers at that price). Rosario compiled an OPS of .800 or better in three straight seasons ( 201719) and received MVP votes each of the past two seasons. He hasn’t been a very selective hitter ( a career 19% strikeout rate), but he did post a careerbest 8.2% walk rate in 2020. He’s said to have lost a step defensively, but Rosario did rank fourth among AL left fielders in SABR defensive index in 2020, one spot ahead of Grossman.
Joc Pederson
If the A’s wanted to make a slight splash, they could pursue Pederson, a Palo Alto native who is coming off a down season with the Dodgers but should draw plenty of interest. Pederson, 28, hit a careerhigh 36 home runs with an .876 OPS in 2019, but dipped to .190 with seven homers in 43 games in 2020. He did rank in the top 5% of majorleague hitters in exit velocity and broke out in the postseason, batting .382 with two homers and a .991 OPS for the World Series champions. Pederson has a career .849 OPS against righthanded pitching compared with .576 off lefthanders, and in recent seasons, he almost exclusively has faced righties, making him another strong platoon candidate. With the A’s, Pederson could play for manager Bob Melvin, who’s from Menlo Park — and play closer to home without joining a former rival in the Giants. The website MLB Trade Rumors projects a twoyear, $ 18 million deal for Pederson this offseason.
Brock Holt
Holt, 32, spent seven seasons with Boston as a superutility player and hit a careerbest
.297 in 87 games in 2019. He signed a oneyear, $ 3.25 million deal with the Brewers for 2020, but hit .100 in 16 games and was released. The Nationals then signed him and he hit .262 over his last 20 games. Holt has the type of defensive versatility the A’s have coveted in the past, playing every position in the majors except catcher. Most of his outfield work, nearly 800 innings, has been in left, and he has played his most innings at second base — another spot where the A’s could use help. Holt posted onbase percentages of .362 and .369 his final two seasons in Boston and has a reputation as a solid clubhouse presence.
Matt Joyce
Joyce signed a twoyear, $ 11 million contract with the A’s before the 2017 season and had one of his best years, hitting a careerhigh 25 home runs. He hit .208 in 83 games in 2018, though, missing time with a lumbar strain. Joyce was 32 when he signed that contract and is 36 now but still can get on base — he posted a .408 onbase percentage in 2019 for an Atlanta team that used him mostly off the bench and a .351 mark in 2020 playing left and right field for Miami. Joyce would be familiar with the Coliseum outfield and, at this stage in his career, might be best suited to a parttime role.