Baltimore Orioles: Who will be in right field and where will they rank in AL East?

Baltimore Orioles: Who will be the right fielder and where will they rank?

By Nate Wardle | Mar 16, 2017

Mar 8, 2017; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Craig Gentry (14) is greeted by catchers Caleb Joseph (36) and outfielder Seth Smith (12) after hitting a three run home run in the second inning of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

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2. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays’ RFs – Jose Bautista, Ezequiel Carrera, Dalton Pompey

Ah, Mr. Bautista. Enemy number one of the Orioles, and their fans from what Dan Duquette said over the offseason.

If the Orioles had their affairs in order in right field, they might be able to pass Bautista. That is if you believe he is on the decline. However, I think 2016 was a bit of an aberration.

Jose hit .236/366/.452 in 2016 with 22 HRs, 24 2Bs, 69 RBIs and 68 runs in 116 games. The average was down significantly from his career average (.255), and he missed time due to injury.

Bautista’s defensive numbers have been all over the map over his career, although his dWAR has mainly just been negative. In recent years, his total fielding runs above average, and defensive runs above average numbers have joined the negative numbers, and his range, well it isn’t very good. Bautista trends more and more toward liability in the outfield, but with Kendrys Morales at DH, in RF he will be.

We’ve talked about Carrera and Pompey already, and I expect Carrera to be the primary backup if he doesn’t seem platoon time in left field.

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