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Baltimore Orioles Interested In Outfielder Angel Pagan

By Ben Palmer

Oct 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Angel Pagan (16) hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning during game one of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Angel Pagan (16) hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning during game one of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in 35-year-old outfielder Angel Pagan. Pagan last played for the San Francisco Giants

The Baltimore Orioles aren’t going to spend a whole lot of money this offseason, and honestly, they shouldn’t. They’re likely going to make one decent-priced signing, and then sign a bunch of small-time guys.

Angel Pagan would be one of those small-time guys. While the 35-year-old isn’t the coolest looking pickup around, he would fit into the Baltimore Orioles offense, and it seems that the team is interested in him, according to Dan Connolly.

While Pagan isn’t a young man, he quietly had a nice season last year with the San Francisco Giants, batting .277/.331/.418 with 12 HRs, 71 R, 55 RBIs and 15 SB. He contributes all around, and he’s not a fielder that’s going to hurt you either.

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Is Pagan going to be a difference-maker on the Orioles? Likely not. But he’s a solid addition to a team that desperately needs an outfielder, and more than likely, he’s not going to be expensive at all.

Pagan could serve well near the top of the lineup, he has decent speed, can hit for a good average, and gets on-base at a pretty decent clip. In fact, the only players on the Orioles who had an OBP better than Pagan’s last year (.331) were Manny Machado, Hyun-Soo Kim, and Chris Davis.

If there’s anything the Orioles need, it’s someone who can get on base. They’ve struggled with OBP the past few seasons, ending last season 10th-worst in the MLB in team OBP (.317).

Pagan also  doesn’t strike out much, which is something the Orioles have desperately struggled with. Last season, the Orioles had the ninth-highest strikeout rate (21.7%) and the 11th-worst walk rate (7.7%).

Compare that to Pagan who, last year, had an average walk rate (7.2%) but an excellent strikeout rate (12.2%). Pagan works well as a top of the lineup hitter with his combination of OBP and speed. In fact, Pagan had seven fewer steals than the Orioles had as a team (19) last season, which was an MLB worst.

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Pagan is the type of player the Orioles could use. He’s cheap, he won’t hurt you in the field, and he’s a solid offensive player. Hopefully their interest in him will heat up.

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