Initially I was surprised he only got one year but then I looked at those 2012 numbers. Keep those in mind next time you're tempted to bring out the phrase "X is not a playoff-caliber 1B". :-)

The final piece!

Initially I was surprised he only got one year but then I looked at those 2012 numbers. Keep those in mind next time you're tempted to bring out the phrase "X is not a playoff-caliber 1B". :-)

It was quite the down year for him. Didn't even lead the league in strikeouts!

Reynolds actually looks to have been a little unlucky with his BIP in 2012. His LD% popped back up to 17% after two years at 13%. Also his HR/FB % was his lowest since 2008. His Strike looking percentage jumped from 23% to 27% while his strike swinging percentage dropped from 28 to 24%. Maybe trying to make more contact is not his thing.

"Swing away Merrell"

Even if last year is what Reynolds is going to be, that's still approximately eleventy gajillion times better than Kotchman was. Ick.

Comps for Reynolds, through age 28, centered on him in terms of OPS+ and PAs, guys with power who strike out a lot, ranked by WAR Fielding Runs:



I think the one thing I really learn from this list is how absolutely immobile Nick Swisher is on the bases. Even now he has barely more SB per game in the majors than his father did.

I forgot about Palmer. He really is the perfect comp.

I like Reynolds, but the handwringing over this decision by some orioles fans is bizarre. Reynolds didn't provide much value last year, and while bringing him back for a year at $6M wouldn't have been a bad move, it's hardly going to make or break this team. If anything, this decision shows that Duquette isn't just assuming that the orioles are going to repeat what they did last year and that no moves are necessary (although it would be nice if they picked up another hitter...I'd love to get Youkilis for a year).

I think the one thing I really learn from this list is how absolutely immobile Nick Swisher is on the bases.

Which is funny, b/c he doesn't appear slow in the OF. Maybe he just has no instincts for reading a pitcher's move, a la Bernie Williams.

I like Reynolds, but the handwringing over this decision by some orioles fans is bizarre. Reynolds didn't provide much value last year, and while bringing him back for a year at $6M wouldn't have been a bad move, it's hardly going to make or break this team.

I don't think it's major handwringing, but an undercurrent of concern. This does really put a hurt on team depth, and I'm not sure where DD is going to find this 'other hitter' that the club really needs. Mark seemed like a good one-more-year pickup to me.

I'm not sure where DD is going to find this 'other hitter' that the club really needs

I'd target Scott Hairston. Right-handed bat, and it would be useful to not have to stick Chris Davis in the outfield if someone goes down.

Vlad Guerrero is available.

Is Lance Berkman retiring?

Laroche isn't a bad option.

I forgot about Palmer. He really is the perfect comp.

I think of Reynolds as being like Russ Branyan. The big difference is that Reynolds hits righty, and it seems like he's actually worse defensively -- I never heard Branyan's fielding described in the same ghastly terms as Reynolds' 3B defense was in '11. Other than that, they're both power hitters, both 3B/1B, both strike out at record paces, and now Reynolds is hitting the same teams. (I suspect Branyan was better, honestly, but was less healthy and didn't catch any other breaks either.)

Laroche isn't a bad option.

But he's going to cost a lot more, take multi years, and 'need' to play every day.

I saw Mark as a useful insurance policy. He's become quite the first sacker, and if he hits a bit better (which I think he will), he gives you a solid option. at 6M these days, that's a chance worth taking.

But he's going to cost a lot more, take multi years, and 'need' to play every day.

As a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer, Laroche will also cost his new team a draft pick.

Cleveland puts a lot of guys on, and doesn't hit any home runs. This makes sense as a cheap one year option. There's a strong sense of 'what's the point'?, but you need to put forth a token effort to win games.

There's a strong sense of 'what's the point'?, but you need to put forth a token effort to win games.

Speaking of which, I took a look at their 2012 numbers at baseball reference earlier today, because "what's the point" was my first thought, too, so I wanted to see what their roster looked like. Holy god was their starting rotation awful last year. The ERA+ for their top 6 (by innings) pitchers:

79
72
92
71
61
65

Speaking of which, I took a look at their 2012 numbers at baseball reference earlier today, because "what's the point" was my first thought, too, so I wanted to see what their roster looked like. Holy god was their starting rotation awful last year. The ERA+ for their top 6 (by innings) pitchers:

I just went to look and saw that Roberto Hernandez made a few starts for them. He needs to at least use a middle initial.

I never heard Branyan's fielding described in the same ghastly terms as Reynolds' 3B defense was in '11. Other than that, they're both power hitters, both 3B/1B, both strike out at record paces, and now Reynolds is hitting the same teams.

Your first statement negates your second. Reynolds is not a third baseman and anyone who thinks of him as one is kidding themselves. However, he's passable at first base and, as an Orioles fan, I wouldn't have minded bringing him back for another year.

Now the Orioles very much need to sign another bat (if not two)- either someone who can play first base like the aforementioned Laroche or the oft-suggested Youkilis, or they have to pick up a full-time DH and hope that Davis gets better defensively by playing everyday.

I've been making the Dean Palmer Mark Reynolds comp for years. HERE and HEREand HERE

Judging entirely by his performance against the Yankees (more or less all in September), I would have expected him to be a $20 million/year guy.

Roberto Hernandez made a few starts for them. He needs to at least use a middle initial.

I say we just call him Fausto Carmona and be done with it.

I say we just call him Fausto Carmona and be done with it.

By authority of BBTF, I hereby confer upon him the name of Fausto Carmona, as well as his past, present, future, and mother. And I further decree that everything will be just like it was before all this happened! And no one will ever mention it again... under penalty of torture.