Steamer projections can be a handy way to evaluate players you may not be that familiar with to those you are familiar with.
For instance, we all know Michael Taylor, CF of the Nationals (now the Royals in 2021), and Jake Marisnick formerly of the Astros (and briefly in 2020 of the Mets).
Well, Drew Ferguson was blocked in the Astros minors on a team truly deep in outfielders, never making the majors, and was recently snatched up by the Mets.
Now 28, in 1,680 minor league at bats, the righty hitting 5'11", 190 Fergy has hit a very solid .293/.394/.452. He's also stolen 92 of 125, a clear sign he has speed and skills to steal a base.
And in 393 games in the outfield, he has had 25 assists vs. just 12 errors. 166 of those games were in CF.
That seems highly competent to me, real potential 5th outfielder stuff.
Steamers projects Ferguson at .228/.321/.360, not shabby for a 5th outfielder type who's got some speed and would be inexpensive salary-wise. I like the .321 OBP.
Michael Taylor? .237/.291/.395 career, in 1,664 at bats.
Taylor's Steamer #'s for 2021? .232/.294/.392. Virtually a dead heat with Ferguson. Taylor also has quickness. They seem in many ways to be similar players.
Jake Marisnick? .229/.281/.385 in his career. Slightly inferior to Taylor. Steals very similar to Taylor and Ferguson.
Marisnick's 2021 Steamers projection? .225/.282/.405. Also very comparable to Ferguson.
So, I am not saying Ferguson will be the Mets' 5th outfielder. The Mets may figure a way to add a 5th outfielder who is superior to Drew.
But he certainly seems like a legitimate possibility, being he is comparable to two MLB CFs in Taylor and Marisnick. He will have to also fend off another recent Met acquisition, Mallex Smith, whose been at times very good and also very bad at the major league level. His 2021 Steamers #'s are .246/.316/.361, again very comparable to Ferguson. But he bats lefty and the Mets may need a righty hitter more in the 5th OF spot.
Just thought I'd throw this out there as food for thought. If you'd like, though, you can take the 5th.
I'll hope for the best, but as of now, I prefer Marisnick.
ReplyDeleteI expect someone else to be added, though. I've read that Yasiel Puig, whom I've never been a fan of, has been humbled, confessed his sins, and wants a chance to show he's a better man. If he'd sign a MnL deal, I'd give him a shot.
Puig would be an interesting righty reserve OF bat. Upside. If he does 100% recommit.
ReplyDeleteJust no wild boar hunts with Yoenis.
Geez, I didn't really look at Drew Ferguson when they selected him, but he looks like a good depth piece and could be better than Heredia, or any of the other centerfield options they ran through last year. His 2019 AAA stats look pretty strong. He has hit at every level.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing the legwork on this one, Tom.
Tom, you know from my previous comments that I am a big (spelled B-I-G) Drew Ferguson fan. I think he would make a great addition as a 5th outfielder. I looked up his lefty/righty splits, and he seems to hit both pretty well, with above .800 OPS in each case. That given, he would project to hit lefties better than Nimmo, and might make a good platoon partner for Nimmo in LF this year. Who knows, with his speed on the base paths, his above average glove, and his offensive prowess from both sides of the plate, he might supplant Nimmo in the OF, making the kid from Wyoming a very attractive trade chip.
ReplyDeleteHerb, we will see. Ferguson may just get his overdue break with the Mets this year
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