Angelswin.com 2017 Season Primer Part XI: Left Field

[AngelsWin.com]

By Robert Cunningham, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer - 

Author’s Note: If you missed the previous installments you can find Part I here, Part II here, Part III here, Part IV here, Part V here, Part VI here, Part VII here, Part VIII here, Part IX here, and Part X here.

Billy Eppler, just like his predecessor, struck early in the offseason this November, acquiring the Angels left field solution for 2017 by trading for OF Cameron Maybin from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for RHR Victor Alcantara.

Initially a lot of fans were lukewarm to the deal and not particularly dazzled by the pickup but hindsight being 20/20 it may prove to be a pretty savvy move by our new GM. Let me explain why.

First of all, per Jeff Fletcher’s initial report on the trade, Maybin said that Braves hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, in 2015, helped him adjust his mechanics and, in Maybin’s words, “… he pretty much changed my career”.

Perhaps more importantly you can see that change in Cameron’s batted ball profile:

Maybin’s overall fly ball percentage has reduced significantly, particularly against RHP. In 2015 and 2016 it was 6.3% and 8.1% lower than his career average. Just as importantly a lot of that reduction has been siphoned off into this line drive and ground ball percentages resulting in a higher batting average on balls in play (BABIP) which is what you would expect to see when you hit more line drives.

Essentially it appears that Cameron may have adjusted his swing plane slightly and in his more recent swings his back leg appears to bend a bit more and he does not seem quite as upright and stiff when making contact compared to earlier in his career (the author is not an expert in swing mechanics!).

No matter what the change is, this improvement in his batted ball profile is what you would like to see in a good leadoff hitter. Maybin has the ability to spray the ball to all fields (which he has always been pretty good at), steals bases at an efficient rate, runs the bases well, and puts pressure on the opponent’s defense.

Maybin is a center fielder by trade but for the Angels he will man left field in the 2017 season and act as an injury reserve if Trout or Calhoun hit the disabled list for any reason. He should provide plus defense in left field to what is quite likely the best overall outfield in all of baseball.

Team defense has been a primary goal for Billy Eppler and he has done a really great job focusing on it this offseason. High quality defense has the ancillary effect of reducing overall innings pitched and total pitch counts because more balls in play are converted to outs so this has an important side effect for the team as a whole and for a rotation and bullpen that will be challenged to pump out close to 1,400 total innings across a full MLB season.

It seems very likely to the author that the Angels will employ Cameron in the leadoff spot, particularly against RHP, for the 2017 season with Escobar hitting in the 2-hole which should create a really dynamic 1-2 punch at the top of the order.

If Maybin can manage at least a .340 OBP and Yunel, hitting behind him, can match his career .351 OBP, they will provide a lot of RBI opportunities to Mike Trout hitting out of the 3-hole. This has goodness written all over it and if Cameron continues to perform this offense could be even more productive than it was last year.

On the off chance Cameron is injured the Angels recently signed OF Ben Revere to a 1-year deal. Revere should prove to be a capable reserve 4th OF to spell the regulars on their days off and should be a dynamic pinch runner and hitter off of the bench. It is also possible that Ben could enter a platoon with Maybin if Cameron regresses/reverts to his pre-2015 numbers. We will talk more about Revere in the Bench section of the Primer.

This trade has a lot of potential if you really believe in Maybin’s revamped mechanics -- and it is clear that something did change in his batted ball profile -- but the question will be whether or not it is a sustainable one.

If it is viable, watch out because Cameron could quickly become a new fan favorite in very short order.

MAYBINVILLE Claude?

View the full article

[Troll Daddy]

Maybin rhymes with Hasbin

joking, I love this trade! Wishing him a strong season. Love the speed Eppler injected into the team with Maybin/Revere. 

[Second Base]

I think regardless, LF will be better. Maybin will be a rock solid defender out there and can run. And if he doesn't hit, Ben Revere is the best 4th OF we've had, I dunno in 10+ years? 

So we'll prevent runs and apply pressure on opposing pitchers with those guys.

Upgrade.

[tomsred]

Great job as always Robert!  If these two guys have a solid year, it should be a great boost to our team, both defensively and offensively.  They can also provide time for the development of J. Jones.  Fingers crossed!

[NachoPop]

I know a lot will depend on performane, but what do you think the chances are of the Angels extending one of their potential free agents to ease the pressure on next offseason? And who is most likely? Replacing LF, 3B, 2B and C all over again leaves a lot of uncertainty.

[Angelsjunky]

I also like the trade and think Maybin may surprise some. It would be foolish to expect him to reproduce his .315 batting average, which was built on a .383 BABIP in just 94 games played, but I do think he's capable of hitting something like .285/.350/.400 with 25 SB, a 110 wRC+ and a 3+ WAR, which would make him a good leadoff hitter.

[ettin]

1 hour ago, NachoPop said:

I know a lot will depend on performane, but what do you think the chances are of the Angels extending one of their potential free agents to ease the pressure on next offseason? And who is most likely? Replacing LF, 3B, 2B and C all over again leaves a lot of uncertainty.

Out of the group that Eppler has brought on board for 2017 I actually think Maybin has the highest probability of being offered a contract after the season is over. I've watched video and read a lot about him and he seems like a really thoughtful, intelligent family man and he will be 30 years old entering 2017. If he performs as they hope it would not be unsurprising to see him offered a 3 or 4 year contract.

Espinosa is probably not the long term fit the Angels want at second base so I don't see him being considered post-2017. The Angels will likely approach some of the same 2B targets they inquired on this offseason, next offseason, preferably going after a younger hitter that can handle RHP better.

Bailey might be a candidate if he performs well. Escobar probably will see his last season in an Angels uniform in 2017 despite his excellent bat skills. Nolasco will likely be gone unless Tropeano or Heaney experience setbacks. Street no matter if he succeeds or fails in 2017 will probably be gone by the start of 2018 due to payroll concerns (either via trade or buyout of his option).

Maldonado is under arbitration control through the 2018 season and Perez is under control for a while as well so C isn't as big a deal unless the Angels end up moving Perez before the start of 2017.

We will have to see what happens in 2017. If the Angels are out by the trade deadline a lot of these rental players will be traded and we may fill some of these holes at that time.

[totdprods]

I think Espinosa stands a good chance at being re-signed too, simply because of how versatile he is and being a hometown guy. Eppler is tight enough with money I imagine any advantage he can get to save a buck is something he'd consider and probably another reason he targeted Espinosa.

I love Sherman but I cannot imagine he is a factor in the '18 plans in any way at this time. He can certainly play his way into them, but it would take an absolutely torrid Spring, a red-hot start at AAA, and production right off the bat for him whenever he catches a glimpse of Anaheim before I think he's a factor. Fletcher is probably more in their mind, but he's still likely a year away.

I could see Espinosa being locked up to a two or three year deal, with the intent of him being the everyday 2B again in 2018, then possibly transitioning to a super-sub/different position sometime in 2019, ultimately a UT IF in the final year, comparable to Izturis/S-Rod. It'll depend on his performance this year of course, and his attitude/expectations. Would he be more amicable to a lesser deal or reduced role simply because he's in Anaheim? Maybe, maybe not.