Mets and Red Sox will seemingly settle for any extra outfielder
2006-01-21 11:19
by Bob Timmermann
The New York Daily News is reporting that both the Mets and the Red Sox are interested in free agent outfielder Jeff DaVanon.
I believe DaVanon is known as Plan G or possibly Plan K in terms of outfielders to put on your team. DaVanon has only two seasons with an OPS+ over 100 and his single season high in homers (12 in 2003) was helped out by going on a tear during the Angels three games against the Expos in San Juan (6 for 16 with 4 home runs.)
You could do a lot worse than Jeff DaVanon. He'll play solid defense, get on base, and steal at a high percentage. That said, he's better suited to be a fourth outfielder. In a starting role, his weak side at the plate will be exposed (though exactly what side that is seems to vary from year to year).
I believe I had read elsewhere that DaVanon was going to sign with another team last month, but failed a physical because of a bad shoulder. He was pretty much buried at the end of the Angels bench last season.
Rumor was he was going to Arizona but they didn't like his shoulder. DaVannon may have had the worst at bat I saw last year. Runner on third against the Mariners and less than 2 out and he struck out on three swings that had me questioning his eyesight or sanity or both. Looked like he was swinging at an up and in fastball when the pitch was away from him. If Scioscia saw what I saw, no wonder he was buried on the end of the bench.
Stan from Tacoma
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