Baltimore Orioles: Reasons to Like the Travis Snider Trade

Mar 1, 2013; Sarasota, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Travis Snider (23) is caught in a run down with Baltimore Orioles first baseman Steve Pearce (28) during the top of the sixth inning of a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

After another quiet winter offseason for the Baltimore Orioles (at least in terms of actual baseball news), the signing of Chris Parmelee a few days ago was indeed a disappointment. At least in terms of an “answer” for the search of a left-handed corner outfield bat.

A former first-rounder of the Minnesota Twins in 2006, he actually hits LHP better than RHP; but that was not the immediate need or target. Maybe a change of scenery will make a difference. And he can’t be a free agent until 2019, so, perhaps Parmelee provides depth and help for another time.

But soon on the heels of this acquisition came the revelation of a trade for Pittsburgh outfielder Travis Snider. No, this is not the second coming of Nelson Cruz. Actually, he might hit better.

Travis Snyder could prove better than Cruz or Markakis

WHAT?

Okay… don’t read that as a prediction of 40 home runs this year. But again, remember this: Cruz hit .213 for the three summer months of the year in 2014 and .271 total. Yes, we can be thankful for the game-changer he was for the O’s last year when he did hit and was not a vacuous hole in the middle of the lineup.

But let me throw something else at you. Travis Snider is entering his age 27 season. So what was Cruz like at the same age? Here you go, comparing their age 26 seasons …

	G	AB	H	HR	BA	OBP
Cruz – 07	96	333	72	9	.235	.287
Snider – 14	140	359	85	13	.264	.338

Cruz was even worse in 2008, but then in 2009 he broke out and became the player we all think of when we hear his name.

So will Snider become the player that Nelson Cruz is? And will he do it soon enough to be an asset for the Baltimore Orioles? I don’t know that it will definitely happen, but it certainly can happen. There is nothing to stop that.

Jumping out of the numbers above is the .338 OBP. This compares favorably with Nick Markakis in 2014, who posted a .342 OBP. Both are patient hitters, as Snider either earned a walk or HPB in 10% of plate appearances, whereas Markakis did the same in 9.3% of trips to the dish.

Several factors come into play when hoping for this sort of positive scenario I have been painting to come true. There is the favorable ballpark of Camden Yards for this pull hitter, the quality and competitive environment of Buck Showalter and the Orioles clubhouse, and the belief that Snider may be just now on the cusp of breaking out. Dan Duquette spoke of these factors last evening in Aberdeen, as recorded by Roch Kubatko in his column …

Travis Snider is a top draft pick and looks to me like he’s just coming into his own. Second half of the season last year he put together a terrific campaign. Ended up hitting well, getting on base, slugged over .500 and hit nine home runs over the second half of the season. He’s got excellent pull power which should play very well in Camden Yards. He’s got the kind of power to hit the ball out of the left-center field part of our ballpark.

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Chances are good that Snider is going to have two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. I would gamble that his stats at the end of those two seasons will exceed those of Nick Markakis. And it will be done at a fraction of the price – $2.1 million versus $11 million (2015 numbers only).

I believe it will be interesting to keep track of this over this next season or two – comparing the performances of Snider and Markakis … and let’s throw Colby Rasmus into that mix as well. Remind me to keep track of this if I somehow forget.

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