Red Sox vs the AL East: right fielders
Aug 17, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Carlos Beltran (36) at bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
5. Carlos Beltran, Yankees
More than any other Yankee acquisition last offseason, Beltran totally flopped in 2014. Beltran missed a great deal of time with an elbow injury, playing in only 109 games for the Yankees, but he was awful even when he was on the field, slashing .233/.301/.402 with terrible defense, checking in at -0.5 WAR. With some extra luck and a healthy season, it’s fair to imagine that Beltran could improve a bit in 2015, especially considering his .252 BABIP last season. However, at 37 years old, it’s also unreasonable to expect some sort of massive resurgence from the switch-hitter. Beltran will provide some power and should be at least replacement level going forward, but it’s looking like his 3 year/$45M was a mistake by New York.
Sep 17, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Steven Souza (21) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the fifth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Nationals 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
4. Steven Souza, Rays
Souza, a 25-year old career minor leaguer, made a name for himself last season with an incredible year at Triple-A Syracuse. In 96 games for the Chiefs, he slashed a remarkable .350/.432/.590, clubbing 18 home runs and stealing 26 bases, showing the potential to be a well-rounded, dominant player in the highest level of the minor leagues. Souza’s major league debut was not quite so kind to him, as he hit only .130/.231/.391 in 26 plate appearances with the Nationals (though he did hit two home runs), but there is still plenty of hope for his future. Souza was Tampa Bay’s biggest return in the Wil Myers blockbuster trade, and they clearly feel that he will be able to carry some sort of success into the big leagues. However, he’s still relatively unknown and, while he certainly has a huge ceiling, I will err on the side of caution with these rankings.
Sep 16, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Travis Snider (23) hits an RBI single against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Pirates shutout the Red Sox 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
3. Travis Snider, Orioles
The Orioles lost longtime right fielder Nick Markakis to free agency this offseason and Snider, whom they acquired from the Pirates, was the team’s choice to replace Markakis. A former top prospect for the Blue Jays whose career had seemingly fizzled out, Snider put himself back on the map with a solid season in 2014. Over the course of 140 games in Pittsburgh, Snider slashed .264/.338/.438, showing the ability to consistently reach base for the first time in his career. Snider showcased solid peripherals, suggesting that last season’s performance is repeatable, as his 9.5% walk rate was above his career average of 8.3% and his 18.7% strikeout rate was significantly lower than his career mark of 25.0%. At 27 years old, Snider has a good shot to improve in the coming season and should be a solid option in Baltimore.
Sep 1, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) points to left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (not pictured) after he scored on his RBI single eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
A virtual unknown headed into the 2013 season, Betts has skyrocketed through the ranks of the minor leagues since then. He slashed .309/.411/.491 with 16 home runs and 46 steals between Single-A Greenville and High-A Salem in 2013 and then was even better last year, hitting .346/.431/.529 between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket before a summer promotion to Boston. With the Red Sox, he was one of few bright spots on a Boston team which struggled down the stretch, hitting .291/.368/.444 across 52 games. As an athletic pure hitter who can seemingly do it all, there are high hopes for Betts in 2015, with many expecting him to lock down the leadoff role in a potent Red Sox lineup. As a 22-year old rookie, Betts might fall a bit short on those expectations in his first full season, but there’s no doubt that he has the potential to be a major contributor as soon as this season.
Sep 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) rounds the bases on his two run home run during the eighth inning to tie the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. New York Yankees won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
1. Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
After a pair of injury-shortened seasons in 2012 and 2013, Bautista came back with a vengeance last season. He played in 155 games for the Blue Jays and had himself an excellent year, hitting .286/.403/.524 with 35 home runs and 103 RBIs. One of the true sluggers in the game of baseball, Bautista even walked more than he struck out last season while posting an elite 159 wRC+, meaning that he was 59% better than the league average. His range isn’t spectacular, but his phenomenal arm makes him a roughly average defender in right field and his prowess at the plate makes him one of the most valuable players in baseball. At 34, he’ll begin to slow down soon, but there’s no reason not to think that he can have another elite season in 2015.