George Springer is one of the MLB’s most premier dual-threat outfielders. At age 31, his defense is still very good but not as good as it once was. Springer played fairly well in a shortened 2020 season. In 189 at-bats he hit 14 home runs and drove and 32 runs while maintaining a .265 batting average.
Details
Selected 11th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft Springer was part of the Houston Astros youth wave coming up in the mid-2010s. He made his debut in the 2014 season right after the Astros brought up Jose Altuve a couple of seasons prior. Making his debut in April 2014, Springer made an immediate impact and had 15 home runs before the All-Star break which is a record for an Astros rookie. Carlos Correa came up in the 2015 season to complete the beginning of the Astros’ youth movement and helped the Astros advance to the 2015 American League Division Series.
The Astros missed the playoffs in the 2016 season but bounced back in the 2017 season. Springer helped lead the Astros to their first world series title ever although it was through a cheating scandal. Springer was named the World Series MVP and set a record with eight extra-base hits in the World Series. He was an All-Star in three straight seasons from 2017-2019.
Throughout his career, Springer has a .270 batting average, with 174 home runs and 458 runs batted in, along with a .361 OBP. In 2019 Springer hit a career-high 39 home runs and drove in 96 runs. Springer is a world champion, a World Series MVP, and a two-time silver slugger winner.
Ideal Contract
Springer will be looking at a multi-year deal as one of the best players in the free-agent market. He also is one of the few true center fielders on the free-agent market making him even more desirable. A deal would likely look to be around five years and close to $100-$130 million. Teams will be looking for a player like Springer so finding a job should be fairly easy. He is from Connecticut and may have a preference to be near home.
Toronto Blue Jays:
The Blue Jays surprisingly made the playoffs in the 2020 season after an expedited youth wave came through Toronto. The one position where they are truly lacking going forward is center field. They would gain tremendously by having the power and speed combination as well as the defense that Springer can bring to the field and the large center field of the Rogers Centre.
Los Angeles Angels:
The Angels may have Mike Trout and Jo Adell but that doesn’t mean that they can’t make one of their strengths one of the best in baseball. If they had Springer they would immediately be the best outfield in the league, surpassing their crosstown rivals the Dodgers.
New York Mets:
The Mets have been lacking a center fielder of the future and may look to the free-agent market to fill that gap. The Mets would immediately get a major boost to their defense up the middle and add another great bat to their lineup.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
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