Kyle Lewis was the American League Novice of the Year in the COVID-shortened 2020, after striking.262 with 11 home-runs in just 58 video games. He has actually had a hard time to remain on the field given that, due primarily to issues with his ideal knee. He played in just 36 video games throughout 2021, and simply half that this year – in part, due to a concussion after being struck by a pitch in late May. By the time he ultimately went back to physical fitness, the Mariners had actually mostly carried on, and he ended the season with their Triple-A farm group in Tacoma. This certainly counts as a buy-low possibility for Mike Hazen: if Lewis can do anything like go back to the kind he displayed in 2020, it will be a certain win for Arizona. He’ll be a Super 2 this year, so will be arbitration eligible. MLB Trade Rumors tasks a $1.2 million income.
Cooper Hummel had actually been a little bit of a Varsho Lite up until now, splitting time in between the catcher’s position and the outfield. He struck just.176 over 66 video games and 201 plate looks for the Diamondbacks this year, with an OPS+ of 66. He’ll turn 28 later on this month, so was rather a late arrival in the big leagues to start with. It does leave the D-backs a little lacking a backup catcher behind Carson Kelly, unless they wish to return to Daulton Varsho, which appears a not likely circumstance. Backup catchers are not precisely challenging to acquire on the open market, let’s be truthful …
When inquired about how losing Hummel would impact Capturing depth, Hazen stated that including capturing is still on the table, however he favors a depth piece or backup to Kelly more than a main catcher today
The Seattle Mariners took Kyle Lewis 11th total in the 2016 draft, one area prior to the Boston Red Sox took Jay Groome that year. Hazen was working as the Boston GM (albeit still under Dave Dombrowski) at the time. He kept in mind liking Lewis and understood right away that he ‘d been taken one slot prior to they go to choose (*) When he was inquired about Lewis having reverse divides at the MLB level and how that would be used moving forward, Hazen raised the little MLB sample size element of those divides. He even more specified the MiLB numbers for Lewis were more typically divided. This caused a brief conversation on playing time due to all the injuries and Hazen postulated Left Field and DH as possible positions rather offhand. The huge takeaway was that he does not think Lewis will play Center Field at all in 2023 (he jokingly specified that the group has enough center fielders it will not be needed to run the risk of Lewis because style). This relocation was primarily about Lewis’ advantage with the bat and providing a right-handed alternative in the outfield when needed. (*) This relocation is basically the meaning of low threat, high benefit for the group. (*).
