Q and A - Scott Van Slyke

MARK MOKRIS asked:

Mack, I just saw on MLBTradeRumors.com that Scott Van Slyke was designated for assigment by the Dodgers. What do you think about the Mets taking a flyer on him? He just turned 26 and bats right handed and can play both corner outfield spots and first base. I heard his dad Andy Van Slyke on MLB radio a couple of months ago talking about how his son changed his swing around a year and a half ago and began to hit with a lot more power. For better or worse, his hitting profile kind of reminds me of Lucas Duda. Anyway this might be a low risk high reward situation. What do you think?

Mack:

Well, as Michael Baron says every morning (he reminds us of the date and how early it is in this process), it;s December 13th.

At this point we can only guess who the Mets had targeted this off-season for the outfield. I guess that Wil Myers was one of them, but I have no idea past that.

What I will say is this is the time of the year that teams have to DFA certain players to make room for other players they have either signed through FA or through a trade. Trust me, they didn't want to have to go through this process, but it is what it is and, for a short period, there are some potentially good players available out there.

Scott Van Slyke 33 | 1B Status: Active Tiburones de La Guaira Offseason Leagues Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional MLB Parent Club: LA Dodgers

Stats AVG: .231 HR: 7 RBI: 14 SB: 0

Bookmark Player Full Name: Scott T. Van Slyke Born: 07/24/1986 Birthplace: Chesterfield, MO Height: 6' 5" Weight: 250 Bats: R Throws: R

Selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 14th Round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft out of Burroughs High School (Ladue, Mo.). ... Was ranked the Dodgers' No. 18 prospect by MLB.com entering the 2012 season. ... Won the Southern League's 2011 batting title and posted the sixth-highest average among all full-season Minor Leaguers. ... Also finished in the top five in several of the league's offensive categories, including doubles (1st), home runs (T-5th), RBIs (3rd) and slugging percentage (2nd). ... Led Class A Advanced Inland Empire in RBIs and tied for the team lead in home runs in 2010. ... Led all Dodgers farmhands in doubles and ranked third in home runs and RBIs in 2009. ... Son of former Major League outfielder Andy Van Slyke.

2005-Present:
Year	Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
2005	DGR	GCL	.282	24	85	15	24	4	1	2	15	36	4	19	4	3	.330	.424	.753
2005	Minors		.282	24	85	15	24	4	1	2	15	36	4	19	4	3	.330	.424	.753
2006	OGD	PIO	.256	45	156	18	40	5	2	2	17	55	14	41	5	3	.320	.353	.672
2006	Minors		.256	45	156	18	40	5	2	2	17	55	14	41	5	3	.320	.353	.672
2007	GL	MID	.254	104	351	38	89	18	1	2	35	115	27	68	4	4	.310	.328	.638
2007	Minors		.254	104	351	38	89	18	1	2	35	115	27	68	4	4	.310	.328	.638
2008	GL	MID	.148	22	61	4	9	4	0	0	7	13	12	11	0	0	.280	.213	.493
2008	IE	CAL	.261	48	176	29	46	9	2	5	26	74	11	35	7	4	.309	.420	.729
2008	Minors		.232	70	237	33	55	13	2	5	33	87	23	46	7	4	.301	.367	.668
2009	IE	CAL	.294	132	496	75	146	42	4	23	100	265	61	128	10	7	.373	.534	.907
2009	ALB	PCL	.167	3	6	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	.375	.167	.542
2009	Minors		.293	135	502	76	147	42	4	23	100	266	63	129	10	7	.373	.530	.903
2010	IE	CAL	.307	48	189	34	58	12	2	9	35	101	17	39	3	1	.368	.534	.903
2010	CHA	SOU	.235	65	217	28	51	7	3	4	29	76	18	37	4	2	.300	.350	.650
2010	ALB	PCL	.289	12	38	5	11	4	0	1	5	18	0	7	0	0	.289	.474	.763
2010	Minors		.270	125	444	67	120	23	5	14	69	195	35	83	7	3	.329	.439	.768
2011	CHA	SOU	.348	130	457	81	159	45	4	20	92	272	65	100	6	5	.427	.595	1.022
2011	Minors		.348	130	457	81	159	45	4	20	92	272	65	100	6	5	.427	.595	1.022
2012	ALB	PCL	.327	95	358	68	117	34	1	18	67	207	46	64	5	3	.404	.578	.982
2012	Minors		.327	95	358	68	117	34	1	18	67	207	46	64	5	3	.404	.578	.982
2012	Majors		.167	27	54	4	9	2	0	2	7	17	2	14	1	0	.196	.315	.511

He obviously is ready to make the jump and had no future on a team with a desire to sign every established start in the business.

Yes, I would sign him.