The Baltimore Orioles have added another power bat to their lineup after reportedly agreeing to terms with slugger Pedro Alvarez on a one-year contract on Monday night. Agent Scott Boras has done it again.
The deal is said to be pending a physical and Alvarez will earn $5.75 million in addition to $1.5 million in incentives once it's official. The Orioles have yet to confirm the agreement.
Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune reported the agreement; FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal noted it was a one-year deal pending a physical; Joel Sherman of the New York Post disclosed the financial terms; and Rich Dubroff of CSNMidAtlantic.com specified the incentives.
Alvarez was non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in December as he was entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. Pittsburgh didn't find it worthwhile to keep the 29-year-old on board for around $8 to $9 million due to his high strikeout rate and poor defense. However, the O's are perhaps a better fit for him since he can be used as a designated hitter and won't be a liability in the field.
The six-year MLB veteran had a solid campaign with the Pirates in 2015 after hitting .243/.318/.469 with 60 runs scored, 27 home runs and 77 RBI in 150 games. However, he struck out 131 times in 437 at-bats and accumulated a -2.3 defensive WAR after committing 23 errors (most in the MLB at his position) in 124 games at first base.
Pittsburgh also had little use for Alvarez since it's set at third base with Josh Harrison and Jung-Ho Kang, and at first base with John Jaso, Michael Morse, Jason Rogers and Sean Rodriguez.
He's a much better fit in Baltimore being that he will help manager Buck Showalter keep his defense intact and more consistent. At this point it's unclear, but Chris Davis figures to get most of the reps at first base while Mark Trumbo will likely spend a lot of his time in the outfield (he logged 88 of his 142 games in the outfield last season). However, that could change considering Trumbo is a better first baseman and Davis has done a good job in right field throughout his career.
Showalter also won't have to worry switching up both Davis and Trumbo at the DH position as much as previously expected because Alvarez's bat allows both sluggers to get more consistent playing time in the field.
Alvarez brings yet another left-handed power bat to the Orioles' lineup. He's clubbed 111 homers over the past four seasons, which have been the best of his career, and he'll now be in a lineup with Davis, Trumbo, Manny Machado, Adam Jones and others, so he'll likely get a good look at hittable pitches.
