Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
The Chicago Black Sox this weekend traded for yet another center fielder in what has become an increasingly desperate search for someone who can both field the position and provide a dollop of offense.
Dan Flores
So now, the Sox have turned to veteran Dan Flores, a 28-year-old right-handed batter who has a sterling reputation as a fielder and whose batting skills at least profile nicely for Black Sox Park.
The Sox sent AA pitcher Harold Newbold – one of the organization’s seemingly endless supply of promising pitcher prospects – to Mexico City in return for Flores.
“They better hope Flores pans out,” said Gayle Combs, an analyst for Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics, a blog devoted to the study of the BBA. “They’re starting to run through their young pitchers – and Newbold looks like he’ll be a good one.”
Still, Sox scouts are hopeful about Flores.
Although he just turned 28, Flores still rates as an elite fielder, with 10 range, 9 outfield error, and 9 arm ratings. He’s compiled a +8.5 zone rating so far this season, with a defensive efficiency of 1.066.
In comparison, De Los Santos – who was put on waivers Sunday morning – has a -1.4 zone rating in CF and a .955 efficiency. Machiavelli has fared a little better, with -0.9 zone rating and 1.004 efficiency, but still not where the Sox want to see their center fielding numbers. Holman, too, has been uninspiring, with a +0.5 zone rating and .976 efficiency.
All three of those players have struggled to hit even .200.
“They’re lousy at the plate and providing meh defense,” said Malcolm Wilkes, who covers the Heartland Division for BBA Weekly. “Not what you’re looking for. It’s anyone’s guess how Flores will hit in Chicago, which has an extreme pitcher’s park – but he should at least be able to field the damn position.”
Scouts are cautiously optimistic that Flores will at least be able to hold his own at the plate. They rate his contact at 9/9; his gap power at 9/9; his home run power at 3/3; his “eye” at 4/4; and his ability to avoid strikeouts at 9/9.
“His plate discipline isn’t ideal, but he should at least be able to put his bat on the ball consistently and get some doubles and singles,” Wilkes said. “Also, he’s still got elite speed, so that’s something.”
Flores may not be an All-Star at the plate, but he should at least plug what’s been a significant hole in the lineup, said Combs.
And in the insanely competitive scrum known as the Heartland Division, that ain’t nothing.
