The 2015 Outfield At A Glance
By Fred Owens
Internal Options
Joining the aforementioned duo on the current 40 man roster as outfielders are Zoilo Almonte, Jose Constanza, Todd Cunningham and Joey Terdoslavich. Potential internal options not on the roster Dian Toscano who Jeff profiled after his signing will certainly join it at some point very soon and Joe Benson who I discussed in depth a couple of days ago.
Almonte, Constanza, Terdoslavich and Toscano (trying saying that quickly) profile as corner outfielders – in this case that’s left except for resting Markakis – while Cunningham, Benson are center field options. Benson is said to have a right fielder’s arm so slip him into that slot if needed as well.
Almonte signed a major league deal and is out of options that makes him favorite to be on the 25 man roster barring a horrible spring training. The switch hitter is one of the nearly men in baseball. He has talent and he’s nearly been there a lot but never made it. His AAA numbers –.275/.331/.431/.762, 24 homers, 30 doubles and 105 RBI in 680 AB – look playable yet he’s never displayed that in the majors.
Constanza is a AAAA player and left handed. He would need a platoon bat if he were to be on the 25 man roster in April. I don’t think that happens as I expect either he or Cunningham to be removed form the roster when Toscano is added.
Like Almonte, Terdoslavich is a switch hitter who flashes power in AAA and would be playable defensively in left if he’d shown he could hit in the majors; he hasn’t. His bat will have to show up this spring to get the nod.
Toscano hasn’t faced professional pitching in a competitive environment for two years. I expect him to start at Gwinnett and get a couple hundred PA under his belt before getting the call.
Cunningham has a light hitting center fielder’s bat. His ISO broke 100 last year for the first time since 2010. The bat makes him unlikely to fill a corner role but a likely first option should BJ fail to improve. For those thinking Constanza, he isn’t a good center fielder.
A healthy Joe Benson could signal Cunningham’s departure from the roster. When he’s had extended at bats he’s had OBPs between 310 and .368 with ISO of 130 or higher. He a solid defender in center and has the arm to play right as well. If the former number one prospect stays injury free and hits well in spring training, he could well be on the bench in April.
Of this group Benson and Toscano look like potential 25 man candidates this year. Almonte and Joey have to show up hitting to get a long look while Cunningham and Constanza slip down the depth chart.