Baltimore Orioles: 10 Free Agent Left-Handed Hitters Team Could Pursue
By Ben Palmer
10. Jon Jay – OF
If there’s one good thing about Jon Jay, it’s that he’s going to be cheap. The Chicago Cubs were able to get him for a one-year, $8 million deal last season, and I wouldn’t be shocked if the Baltimore Orioles could get him for something similar or less.
Jay provides flexibility in the outfield, as he can play all three outfield positions fairly competently, and he’s not a liability at the plate. Last season, he slashed .296/.374/.375 with two home runs, 65 runs, 34 RBIs, and six stolen bases.
The Orioles’ big problem has been strikeouts, it’s always been strikeouts. They had the fourth-worst OBP as a team last season at just .312, and had Jay put up that .374 OBP on the Orioles last year, he would’ve led the team by a lot (the next-highest with at least 300 plate appearances was Seth Smith at .340).
Jay doesn’t provide any power, but the Orioles have plenty of that. Instead, he’s a solid contact hitter who gets on base and could be useful as a leadoff guy.