MLB's Five Most Flexible Teams
Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com
Jan 31, 2011
Major league teams have plenty of reasons to value versatility in their players. A versatile roster provides insurance against injuries, helps keeps players fresh, promotes job competition and allows guys like Craig Counsell to stay in the big leagues until they're 40.
Most of all, a versatile roster assists a manager with what could be his most challenging task day after day: making sure his hottest hitters are in the lineup.
As San Francisco Giants left fielder/third baseman/shortstop/second baseman Mark DeRosa once told me, "If you can hit, they'll find a place for you to play."
Ben Zobrist's career was going nowhere until the Tampa Bay Rays made him a super-utility player in 2008. In 2009, he made the All-Star team. "I may not have gotten the opportunities if I couldn't play several positions," he says. "Once you get those opportunities, if you hit, you're in."
Some teams emphasize versatility more than others. The New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies don't need many multi-position players because they have a lineup of sluggers who play 150-plus games a season. Last year, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen used the DH role as a way to increase his lineup options. This year, he has Adam Dunn. Versatility isn't the same priority.
The Texas Rangers went in the other direction. When they traded for Adrian Beltre, they turned Michael Young into a DH/everyday utility player. Manager Ron Washington now has more ways to fill out a lineup card than Texas has pickup trucks.
Texas wasn't the only team that improved its fortunes by increasing its versatility this offseason, but it tops this list of five:
1. Rangers. Their production (58 runs scored, 59 RBIs) at first base last season was the worst in the AL. That shouldn't be the case this season even if Mitch Moreland doesn't pick up where he left off in the postseason. Signing Beltre and trading for Mike Napoli gives Texas options it didn't have last season. Napoli brings a righthanded power bat who can DH, catch and play first. On a conference call to announce Napoli's arrival, general manager Jon Daniels said he wasn't sure where Napoli will fit in the lineup. But he was sure that Napoli would fit somewhere.
"Things happen during the year and we want to be prepared for all possibilities," Daniels said. "We got a taste of being in the World Series last year and we want to get back. We think Mike helps us do that."
2. Rockies. After making the All-Star team with the Baltimore Orioles last season, Ty Wigginton signed a two-year deal with Colorado even though he will head to spring training without a set position.
That doesn't mean he will hurt for playing time. A righthanded hitter, Wigginton can play first, second and third. With lefthanded hitters Todd Helton and Ian Stewart at the infield corners, Wigginton should get plenty of starts against lefthanded pitchers.
Jose Lopez, who played third base for the Seattle Mariners last season, will move back to second in Colorado, but he provides further righthanded-hitting insurance at the corner infield spots.
3. Giants. Though swapping in Miguel Tejada for Juan Uribe at shortstop was their only lineup change, the Giants' versatility will improve with a healthy return from DeRosa.
Manager Bruce Bochy could have trouble giving all of his veterans enough at-bats when they are all healthy. The corner outfield spots already are crowded with Pat Burrell, Cody Ross and Nate Schierholtz. If Pablo Sandoval keeps his weight in check, DeRosa shouldn't be needed at third. Aubrey Huff is a fixture at first, and here comes prospect Brandon Belt.
4. Tigers. Victor Martinez was signed to DH because he is a middle-of-the-order switch hitter who will offer lineup protection for Miguel Cabrera. But if young catcher Alex Avila struggles offensively, Martinez can move behind the plate and second baseman Carlos Guillen can DH. Detroit can use Ramon Santiago at second base or go to one of its youngsters.
5. Rays. Adding Manny Ramirez actually could increase manager Joe Maddon's options. If Manny hits, he will be the everyday DH and Maddon will have one fewer position with which to fiddle. But he still will have plenty of capable players to move around the field, including Zobrist, Sean Rodriguez, Reid Brignac and even Matt Joyce, who can play the outfield and first base.
That Maddon has the ideal player for his lineup maneuvering isn't an accident. After Zobrist struggled in 2007, Maddon called him before spring training and told him to oil up all of his gloves. "They wanted to try the utility thing," Zobrist recalls. "From where I was on the team, I'm like, 'I'm all for it.' "
You can reach McNeal via e-mail at smcneal@sportingnews.com or follow him on Twitter at @stanmcneal.
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