James Jones Appreciation Post
July 20, 2017Scouting Francisco Mejia: WFNY Video Shorts
July 20, 2017With the MLB Trade Deadline less than two weeks ago, plenty of names will begin to surface that the Cleveland Indians are interested in. Currently leading the American League Central division, the team has been struggling as of late, but are prepping themselves to make a postseason run in October (and possibly early November) if and when they turn it around.
A new name that the Indians are interested in is Giants third baseman Eduardo Nunez, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Indians are scouting infielder Eduardo Nunez, among others.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 20, 2017
Not only did Cleveland get a first-hand look at him during their three-game series in the Bay that just concluded Thursday afternoon, but they also did in 2016, when Nunez was an All-Star for the Twins, an Indians Central division foe.
The Giants primary third baseman this season hasn’t missed a beat at the plate while his team is one of the worst teams in the MLB. In 188 at-bats, Nunez has a .297/.322/.409 slash line with 19 doubles, four home runs, 26 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. He is available for trade due to the Giants struggles, his contract expiring, and the expected addition of Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco.
Currently in his eighth season, the 30-year-old biggest eye-popping stat are his stolen bases, especially over the last four years. In his career, he has averaged a .276/.315/.403 slash line to go along with 104 doubles, 16 triples, 38 home runs, 213 RBIs, and 122 stolen bases.
Manager Terry Francona and the Indians have always loved players who can play multiple positions and Nunez does just that. This season, he has played four different positions:
- Third base: 43 games
- Shortstop: 9 games
- Left field: 18 games
- Right field: 2 games
In his career, he has played five different positions:
- Second base: 23 games
- Third base: 220 games
- Shortstop: 244 games
- Left field: 36 games
- Right field: 6 games
Not only would he be an upgrade at the plate over whoever would most start in Kipnis’ place, assuming it’s Giovanny Urshela or Yandy Diaz at third base (Jose Ramirez would move to second), but he also has plenty of experience all around the field as well and can play wherever it’s needed when called upon.
After signing a one-year, $4.2 million deal to stay with San Francisco this past winter, Nunez will be a free agent at season’s end. This could not only mean that the Indians could potentially acquire him for a small return. If they can do that, it would benefit them to pull the trigger on the deal. Even when Kipnis returns, Nunez would be a great utility infielder, and even a nice pinch runner when he’s on the bench. If things don’t work out, the Indians just don’t have to re-sign him following the season.
Urshela may be the better fielder, but if Kipnis is expected to be out for quite some time, it may be worth acquiring Nunez not only to start now, but for insurance later this season. He brings it offensively and on the base paths and with the offense struggling like it is, it may be the little bolt that this team badly needs.
7 Comments
Small cost being maybe 8-10th ranked prospect? Possibly 8 and 22 or something like that? I feel like with the flexibility we have with Gonzalez being able to play wherever, also Jram able to go to second. Do we need another utility IF?
dWAR for Nunez is -1.0 so far this year…
How does a pinch hitter and pinch runner have dWAR?
π
I thought about adding a 3B several weeks ago. He’s having a better year than Kipnis. Play him @ 3B, and let JRam play 2nd. Make Kip earn his ABs
A banjo hitting utility guy is not what we need. They’re right to scout him. Hamstrings can be a couple of weeks or the rest of the year. No one knows the answer to that.
http://GoogleFinancialJobsCash220TopMediaGetPay$97Hour… β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β β«β β :::::!pa220l..,.