This offseason there are a lot of questions with
how teams are going to set the table in 2013. Michael Bourn is a free
agent and a game-changing player at the leadoff spot. There are many
different shades of leadoff around baseball from the slap-hitting base-stealer
to the Billy Beane classic that just gets on base. A pure leadoff hitter
like Bourn is hard to come by, but a lot of teams are making due with some
less-than-typical players. Over the next
week, I will be breaking down each team, the options they currently have to
leadoff, and who they may be in the market for this offseason. My last post (pending moves over the week, as
I have already had to edit for the Toronto/Miami deal and the signings of Juan
Pierre and Melky Cabrera) will analyze the available free agents and players
that may be on the trade block.
The
AL East was, as always, a focal point in baseball this season. The Red Sox struggled along with injuries en
route to their worst winning percentage since 1965. In their stead, the Orioles gave the Yankees
all the competition they could handle and wound up a game short, beat Texas in
the wild card game, and lost to the Yankees in the ALDS in five games. Toronto has already been making big moves
this offseason and has been mentioned as a frontrunner in the division next
year. The Yankees have some questions
this winter between free agents and aging players. The one team in the East that really had a
virtual lock at leadoff coming into the offseason is the Rays.
Blue Jays
With the first blockbuster
trade of the winter, the Blue Jays got themselves two premier leadoff hitters
to set the table for their potent run-producers. Jose Reyes has another
solid season in 2012 at .287/.347/.433 and is one of the best in baseball.
The Jays also have the option to hit Reyes second behind Emilio
Bonifacio. The speedster saw his 2012 season shortened by two thumb
injuries and a knee injury. Even so, Bonifacio stole 30 bases in 33
attempts and in only 64 games. Bonifacio provides some utility, spending
time at 2B, 3B, SS, and all three outfield positions during his four seasons in
Miami. The Jays will have to assess his health and where he fits in the
defensive alignment to see if he will play every day and potentially leadoff or
be their super-utility and pinch-running threat. No longer after completing the megadeal, the
Blue Jays also landed Melky Cabrera for the top of their order. Cabrera was
leading the NL in batting average at .346 before he was suspended 50 games for
testing positive for testosterone.
Cabrera also had a career year in Kansas City with 201 hits, 102 runs,
44 doubles, 18 homers, 87 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He will likely hit behind Reyes and ahead of
the power in that order, though hitting Cabrera #2 will drop Lawrie down to #6
or #7.
Orioles
The Orioles thought they
had their leadoff problem figured out for a long time in Brian Roberts.
The switch-hitting second baseman is a .280 career hitter with four
straight years of 30+ steals (2006-09) and three straight years of 100+ runs
(2007-09). However, injuries have kept Roberts to only 115 games over the
past three seasons combined. In his stead, the Orioles used six other
players. Endy Chavez and Nate McLouth are both free agents. Nolan
Reimold is coming off season-ending neck injury. Robert Andino has been
shipped off to Seattle for outfielder Trayvon Robinson. Xavier Avery may
not be starting next year behind Reimold, Nick Markakis, and Adam Jones.
Markakis got the most at-bats at leadoff and hit .335/.390/.489, but has
spent most of his career hitting 2-4. If the O's land a
middle-of-the-lineup bat – they have been rumored to be actively pursuing Josh
Hamilton – then it would free
up Markakis to hit leadoff. They could also re-sign McLouth or Endy
Chavez for left field and leadoff.
Rays
Desmond Jennings came
into 2012 with big expectations to be a dangerous leadoff hitter.
Jennings did not disappoint on the bases (31 of 33 stealing bases), but
his .246/.314/.388 performance at the plate was a little lackluster.
Heading forward into 2013, Jennings will still be heading up the Rays
order that has some big holes behind him with the departure of BJ Upton and
Carlos Pena. If he can get on base at a higher rate, he has the potential
to be one of the most dynamic leadoff hitters in the game.
Red Sox
No injury was felt as
deeply for the Red Sox as Jacoby Ellsbury. Coming off his MVP runner-up
campaign in 2011, Ellsbury only managed 74 games and caused a revolving door of
fill-ins in at leadoff: Mike Aviles, Pedro Ciriaco, Daniel Nava, and Scott
Podsednik. If Ellsbury can stay healthy, he is a potential MVP and one of
the most impactful hitters in all of baseball. When he is out of the
lineup, the Red Sox have a big hole to fill at the top of their order. They very well could be in the market for
outfield depth and a player who can lead off if Ellsbury misses more time. Boston could be in the market for McLouth or
Chavez for depth after their injury-ridden outfield in 2012.
Yankees
We end this list in the
Bronx where Derek Jeter flew under the radar (amazingly enough) with his
effective hitting at the top of the Yankee order. The Captain hit an
amazing .364/.392/.550 in the first inning in 2012. Even at 38 years old,
Jeter led the majors in hits. The big question is the ankle injury that
he suffered in the ALCS. If Jeter misses time, the Yankees do have Curtis
Granderson, who hit leadoff for the Tigers before the 3-team blockbuster deal
that swapped him for Jackson. Granderson has also scored 100+ runs and
driven in 100+ runs in each of the past two seasons. They also have Brett
Gardner, who missed most of 2012 with right elbow surgery, but is regarded as
one of the fastest players in baseball.
The Yankees are also the most logical team to re-sign Ichiro Suzuki
after his high production after his trade to New York from Seattle. Ichiro will also likely be asking for a high
salary figure that the Yankees will be among the few able and willing to match.
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