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  • Stat of the Week: Top Defensive Free Agents

    Stat of the Week: Top Defensive Free Agents

    The MLB hot stove is warming up as free agency begins. It’s a market led by Shohei Ohtani and is top-heavy in starting pitching.

    But what of our favorite topic, defense? Who are the best defensive players currently available in free agency?

    Below is a list of the 5 free agents who recorded the most Defensive Runs Saved in 2023. We’ll go through them one by one and spotlight some other defensive standouts.

    Most Defensive Runs Saved in 2023 – Among Current MLB Free Agents

    Player Position Runs Saved
    Kevin Kiermaier CF 18
    Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF 14
    Matt Chapman 3B 12
    Carlos Santana 1B 11
    Austin Hedges C 11

    Three-time Fielding Bible Award winner, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier heads the list. Kiermaier won the Award this past season. His 18 Runs Saved ranked tied for second behind Brenton Doyle for the MLB lead. The 2023 season was a prove-it year for Kiermaier, who will be 34 years old a few weeks into the 2024 season. He’s an old man by center field standards but in 2023 posted his best WAR (3.9) in the last 6 years.

    Lourdes Gurriel Jr. finished 3rd in the Fielding Bible Award voting last season and his 14 Runs Saved helped him total a career-high 3.0 WAR in helping the Diamondbacks reach the World Series. Gurriel is known for an arm that deters baserunner advancement. His 5 Outfield Arm Runs Saved ranked tied for 2nd among left fielders.

    Matt Chapman won the AL Gold Glove award at 3rd base and finished 3rd in the voting for the Fielding Bible Award. His track record at 3rd base as both hitter and fielder is strong and he figures to net a big contract this offseason in a market light at his position.

    Carlos Santana upped his defensive game considerably at age 37, leading all 1st basemen with 11 Runs Saved in 2023. Santana isn’t just a DH option, even at his age. He ranked 2nd among those at the position in Good Fielding Plays ending up on highlight reels more often than you might think.

    Austin Hedges may not get a big-money contract but – at least for now with robot umps still a minimum of a year away- he brings value as one of the game’s best pitch framers. He tied for the major league lead in our pitch-framing stat, Strike Zone Runs Saved, in 2023.

    Besides these 5 players, prominent free agents with a degree of defensive excellence to their game include:

    Michael A. Taylor leads all center fielders in Runs Saved over the last 3 seasons. He led the position with 19 in both 2021 and 2022 with the Royals before totaling 5 Runs Saved in 2023 with the Twins.

    Jason Heyward finished with 5 Runs Saved in right field in a part-time role with the Dodgers last season. He might not be the best fit in center field any more and he may not rack up Runs Saved like he did in his younger days but he’s still a stellar defender. Heyward is the overall right field leader in Defensive Runs Saved since their first season of tracking, 2003.

    Joey Wendle is another player along the lines of Hedges, who is limited in offensive contributions but can still be of value in the field. From 2021 to 2023 Wendle has played the equivalent of a little more than one MLB season at shortstop and totaled 18 Runs Saved. He’s also proven to be of similar value when he plays second base, where he amassed 26 Runs Saved between 2018 and 2022.

    And don’t forget about Jung-hoo Lee, who is making the jump from KBO to MLB. Lee saved 9 runs in a 2023 shortened by injury, the most of any KBO center fielder. KBO players are judged using an MLB out probability basis so it stands to reason that Lee can hold his own there in the majors.

    One more name to bring up and that’s Cody Bellinger. Bellinger has totaled -4 Runs Saved in center field the last 3 seasons. But he could be a standout right fielder, as he tallied 18 Runs Saved in winning the Fielding Bible Award there (along with the multi-position Award) in 2019. He also had a solid 5 Runs Saved in part-time duty at first base last season.

  • Playing The Field: Targeting Defensive Improvements At The Trade Deadline

    Playing The Field: Targeting Defensive Improvements At The Trade Deadline

    Defense is incredibly important for sustained success. We’ve written about it before and it’s still true.

    In 2021 the Yankees and Red Sox were the only playoff teams not ranked in the top 15 of Defensive Runs Saved. The World Series champion Braves finished the season 8th in Runs Saved. One of their midseason additions was Adam Duvall, the 2021 Gold Glove winner in right field. The Dodgers and Astros are consistently Top 10 in Runs Saved and both teams consistently make deep postseason runs.

    The Yankees subsequently made major improvements in the infield and at catcher and have gone from 29th in 2021 to 1st this season. The Red Sox, who spent much of the season in the Top 10, currently rank 11th. But not every team has made that kind of climb

    So, I wanted to see which teams with realistic postseason aspirations can improve defensive holes in their roster at the trade deadline.

    Defense gets somewhat overlooked at the trade deadline but the Braves in 2021 showed how important trading for defense can be. Most players mentioned here aren’t big splash trades. They are role players that can take these teams to the next level.

    The current 2022 team rankings in Runs Saved can be found here.

    Atlanta Braves (+11 DRS, T-16 in MLB) 3 GB in NL East, 1st in Wild Card

    Last season the Braves were one of the most active teams at the trade deadline, trading for Duvall and Eddie Rosario. This season, the need may be there again. Duvall was just shut down for the season with a wrist injury so the Braves will need to fill that void.

    Michael Harris II has been exceptional in CF since being called up, posting 5 Runs Saved. He needs a little more support in the corners, where Ronald Acuna Jr. is at -3 Runs Saved and left field has been a revolving door among Rosario, Marcell Ozuna and Guillermo Heredia. All are offense-first players.

    The Braves offense is one of the best in baseball, so adding someone who is defense-first shouldn’t cause them too much of a hit.

    Left Field -10
    Right Field -4

    Michael A. Taylor would be an interesting defensive addition. Taylor led center fielders in Runs Saved last season and ranks tied for first in 2022. He’s played both corner outfield positions and his presence would allow the Braves to essentially have two center fielders in the game at the end of the game. Taylor and Harris next to each other would be an incredibly exciting defense to watch.

    The Royals might not want to trade Taylor. He’s theirs for a reasonable $4.5 million next season if they don’t deal him. But he’d be a great glove for any team in this pennant race.

    Tampa Bay Rays (14 DRS, 14th in MLB) 3rd in Wild Card

    After finishing 4th in Runs Saved in 2021, Tampa Bay has dipped slightly, this season. Tampa Bay is usually closer to the top 5 in Runs Savedbut currently ranks 14th. The Rays had some major injuries, with Wander Franco missing time and now Kevin Kiermaier being shut down for the season. Thankfully for them they have Taylor Walls to back up Franco but other positions have been problematic for their defense.

    Kiermaier is annually in the discussion for best defensive outfielder in baseball. His loss is going to be huge down the stretch for the Rays. He’s finished top 5 in CF in Runs Saved in every season since 2015. Brett Phillips has been a good replacement for Kiermaier in past seasons but his numbers are underwhelming in center field (-5 Runs Saved) in 2022. He’s been much better in right field (8 Runs Saved).

    One thought is that the Rays didn’t want the extra year of Taylor (mentioned above as a Braves option), that they could try to snag Bradley Zimmer from the Blue Jays but it seems unlikely the teams would trade given that they are playoff rivals.

    First base is the other problem area for Tampa to try to shore up and a position that has plenty of options. Ji-Man Choi has played the majority games at first. He currently has -2 Runs Saved but he isn’t known for his defense.

    An addition of Christian Walker would make Tampa’s infield defense one of the best in baseball. Walker is the runaway leader in Defensive Runs Saved at first base but would be a more expensive piece to trade for since he’s not a free agent until 2025.

    Josh Bell is the other first baseman Tampa Bay can go after. The reason to get Bell is for his bat, but he’s been much better defensively than he has been in previous seasons. He’s currently at 2 Runs Saved, though he’s never finished a season with a positive Runs Saved total. He averaged -6 Runs Saved from 2016 to 2019 but has progressed to the point of rating slightly above average.

    Other names to watch would be Dominic Smith of the Mets and Michael Chavis of the Pirates, both of whom have played the position at about an average level for their respective careers.

    Seattle Mariners (38 DRS, 8th in MLB) 2nd in Wild Card

    While it’s hard to criticize the 6th-best defense in baseball the Mariners have a big hole in left field (-10 Defensive Runs Saved). Jesse Winker gets the majority of playing time there and currently has -11 Runs Saved, the worst out of all LFs in baseball. Winker’s never been known for his defense but this season has been even worse than past seasons. It’s hard to see them getting an everyday left fielder to play over Winker but I think a defensive replacement and someone who could hit would be a great fit.

    Tommy Pham is one for them to consider. Pham has 4 Runs Saved in left field, would be a solid late-game replacement for Winker, and could play vs left-handed pitching. He’s never been great defensively but is definitely an upgrade over Winker, because of his speed and ability to cover more ground.

    The only issue with Pham being acquired is the price, he’s signed through 2023.

    Robbie Grossman is a potentially cheaper option for whom 2023 wouldn’t be a concern (he’d be one for the Braves too). He’s a little better than Winker in the field, currently has 2 Runs Saved, and is a potential useful bat as a switch-hitter.

    San Francisco Giants (-30 DRS, 28th in MLB) 3 games out of Wild Card

    The Giants have been one of the biggest disappointments defensively in 2022 and their bad defense has caused them to sink, to the point where they might not be buyers any more.

    Here are some of the positions that have been the biggest problem.

    Second Base -13
    Third Base -14
    Shortstop -8
    Left Field -18

    They need help all over the field so there are plenty of options available for them. The Giants love to move players around and use utility players. There are a couple players that fit that bill that shouldn’t cost too much to acquire.

    Joey Wendle of the Marlins would be the perfect fit in San Francisco. Wendle has played 2B, 3B, and SS for Miami this season and has positive career Runs Saved in all three positions (3 Runs Saved overall in 2022). His contract includes a club option for 2023 so he could be more than just a one-year rental. Wendle would dramatically improve the defense at any position they decide to play him.

    In left field Joc Pederson, Luis Gonzalez, and Darin Ruf have played the most. All three of these guys have struggled, with each at -4 Runs Saved or worse there. Options like those previously mentioned (Taylor, Grossman) are out there. Another potential fit could be Sam Hilliard of the Rockies as a late-game replacement. He has experience at all three outfield spots and would be a defensive upgrade.

    Philadelphia Phillies (-22 DRS, 26th in MLB) Tied for 3rd Wild Card

    Going into the season the Phillies knew defense would be an issue. Signing Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber were moves meant to bolster the offense. The Phillies planned on having Bryce Harper play RF but once he started to have shoulder issues, he could only DH.

    Castellanos has been the worst defensive right fielder this season with -12 Runs Saved. Schwarber is second to last in left with -7. The outfield isn’t the only problem area for the Phillies defensively though. The entire team has had defensive issues.

    Third Base -11
    Shortstop -8
    Left Field -5
    Center Field -7
    Right Field -14

    Wendle is a great fit here too. As I mentioned for the Giants, Wendle has been exceptional in multiple infield positions. He’s a match for any team looking to add a glove at the deadline.

    Matt Reynolds of the Reds could be an infield option for Philly as a useful defensive replacement. Reynolds has 1 Run Saved at third base and 3 Runs Saved at at shortstop.

    Reynolds would be a defensive upgrade over Didi Gregorius and Bryson Stott at shortstop and/or a potential ninth-inning replacement for Alec Bohm at third base. It’s a very small pickup that could have a good payoff.

    Considering how bad the outfield defense has been, a big-time defensive stud would make a nice splash for the Phillies. Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Red Sox would give them an elite defender to put between Schwarber and Castellanos … if the Red Sox were willing to trade him.

    Bradley Jr. has played mostly right field for Boston this season and has 6 DRS there. In center field he’s at -1 Runs Saved but his track record is excellent. He makes defense look incredibly easy and could cover ground like few other outfielders.

    Bradley another player for whom next season is a consideration, as he has a mutual option in his contract, but given the Phillies’ desire to win, the price could be worth it.

  • The many multi-position standouts of 2018

    The many multi-position standouts of 2018

    Tigers outfielder JaCoby Jones had the most Defensive Runs Saved of any outfielder in the majors this season.

    But he did not win a Fielding Bible Award, nor will he win a Gold Glove, as he was not among the finalists named at the position in which he was eligible, left field.

    Jones actually played more innings in center field this season (that’s where he was Fielding Bible eligible), but at the time of his team’s 138th game (Rawlings’ standard), he had played more games in left. Regardless, he didn’t win in either spot. He was the most notable of a few players who were multi-positional standouts and finished behind Javier Baez in the Fielding Bible Awards, but merit more than a passing mention for their 2018 contributions.

    Jones saved 21 runs—11 in 452 innings in left field and 10 in 558 innings in center field. He ranked fourth at the former position and seventh at the latter position. He’s one of five players to record at least 10 Defensive Runs Saved at two positions in the same season since Baseball Info Solutions began calculating the stat in 2003. The others are Alex Rios (2008 CF and RF), Ben Zobrist (2009 2B and RF), Nyjer Morgan (2009 CF and LF) and Ender Inciarte (2015 LF and RF).

    Jones’ 21 Defensive Runs Saved rank second for a season among Tigers outfielders in the DRS era, trailing only Austin Jackson’s 26 in 2011.

    What made Jones great depended on where he played. In left field, he fared better on balls hit to the shallowest part of the outfield. In center, he provided more value in tracking down balls hit to the deepest part of the ballpark.

    Jones was boosted by a pair of home run robberies (one shy of Adam Engel for the MLB lead). They were two of his 15 jumping catches, tied with Kevin Kiermaier for second among outfielders. Only Billy Hamilton of the Reds had more with 18.

    Harrison Bader of the Cardinals was in a similar position to Jones in that he split his time between two outfield spots – center field and right field – and excelled at each. But not playing enough at either one may have hurt him when it came to consideration.

    Bader saved 11 runs in 615 innings in center field and eight runs in 270 innings in right. He was very good at tracking down balls hit to both the shallowest and deepest parts of the ballpark at each spot. His 72 sprinting catches ranked second among outfielders behind Inciarte’s 77. (Per Statcast, Bader’s 29.9 feet per second sprint speed ranked eighth among those whose speed was measured at least 25 times.) His nine diving catches tied for fourth.

    Among infielders, Miguel Rojas’ season of 14 Runs Saved with the Marlins should not be forgotten. Rojas saved 10 runs in 657 innings at shortstop and four runs in 285 innings at third base. He also saved one run in 102 innings at first base, though lost one run in 68 innings at second base.

    What was most impressive about Rojas’ play at shortstop was his range (he had positive ratings on getting outs on balls hit up the middle and in the hole) and his avoidance of mistakes. He finished with 22 Good Fielding Plays and 13 Misplays & Errors there, as charted by BIS Video Scouts. (Good Plays are often Web Gem-caliber plays; Misplays are plays that have a negative consequence, such as costing the opportunity for an out.) Rojas’ ratio of 1.7 Good Plays to Misplays/Errors was the best among shortstops last season.

    Another infield standout was Joey Wendle of the Rays. Wendle played at least 60 innings at four positions last season. At second base, his primary spot, Wendle saved five runs, with much of that coming through making nice plays on balls hit in the first base-second base hole. He added more value there through his performance in the many Rays’ defensive shifts (which are not counted in the basic Runs Saved computation). He also chipped in a run in a little more than 150 innings at third base.

    Jones, Bader, Rojas and Wendle don’t have any hardware to commemorate their work. But they’re worthy of remembering when we think about the year in defensive excellence.