With the World Series now officially over, and we are now in "silly season," aka free agency, there will be many names thrown out and attached to various teams until the big names are signed. To follow up on a recent Morning Briefing that we wrote, we thought that we should take a deep dive into outfielder George Springer and some of the landing spots that he might find himself playing for next year.
Springer is hitting free agency for the first time in his young career, and according to Patrick Creighton of ESPN 97.5, Springer wants out of Houston. According to Patrick's sources, Springer intends to leave the Astros after pre-season talk of an extension never materialized.
Let's take a close look at 2019, which was the last full 162 game season played. In 2019, Springer played a total of 122 games and had 556 plate appearances. Springer ended the 2019 regular season with a total of 39 home runs, 96 RBI's and a batting average of .265. This performance resulted in an all-star appearance and finishing 7th in MVP voting for AL shortstop.
During the shortened 2020 season, Springer slashed .265/.359/.540 with 14 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .899 OPS. He went deep four times in the postseason, leading the Astros to the ALCS, where they lost seven games to the Rays.
During Springer's rookie season, he played very well. In his 78 game appearances, Springer had a total of 20 home runs, 51 RBI's and had a batting average of .231
In 2016, when Springer played all the 162 games, his results were also pretty good. Springer's 2016 stat line included 29 home runs, 82 RBI's, .457 slugging percentage, and a .261 batting average.
Springer's postseason stat line is also impressive. Springer has played in 13 series over five years. Springer has a .339 batting average in his two World Series appearances, with 11 RBI's and a total of 19 hits.
Atlanta Braves
With the braves getting to the NLCS this season for the first time since 2001 and even taking the eventual World Series winner the Los Angeles Dodgers to a final Game 7, their outfield needs some serious help as two current outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Nick Markakis, are both heading for free agency.
Currently, the Atlanta Braves sit with less than $93 million in projected payroll, so they might be able to make an excellent offer to Springer
New York Mets
The New York Mets are in desperate need of a right-handed bat and center fielder, plus with the new owner Steve Cohen will want to make a big splash in his first year of ownership, the New York Mets might be the favorite to land the outfielder. The one possible stumbling block for the New York Mets could be the fresh memories of another failed big outfielder that they signed: Yoenis Cespedes.
Boston Redsox
We are not putting much stock into the Boston Redsox sealing the deal, but with the departure of Mookie Betts and a terrible 2020 performance, the RedSox might want to go big and replace one RF star with another. One interesting fact to note is Springer is a Connecticut native and grew up a Red Sox fan.
Washington Nationals
Having George Springer in the Washington Nationals lineup would be downright scary for opposing pitchers, and the top of the lineup for the Nationals would look like this:
SS Trea Turner
RF George Springer
LF Juan Soto
Additionally, the Nationals have been looking to lock down the right-field since Bryce Harper left in free agency during the 2019 offseason. The Nationals are most likely to decline right fielder Adam Eaton's $10.5 million and Anibal Sanchez's $12 million's option for the upcoming season, so the money could be there for the Nationals sign the right fielder. As much as Eaton is a fan favorite, Springer would be an upgrade both in the field and add a much-needed bat and protection for Juan Soto.
We want to thank Baseball Reference.com for providing all the stats in this article.
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