As per reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in negotiations with free-agent center fielder A.J. Pollock, at one time a rumored target of Brodie Van Wagenen and the New York Mets.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, “[the] Dodgers are indeed in discussions with [Pollock]”. Earlier in the day, Rosenthal commented on “increased chatter” between Los Angeles and the 31-year-old Connecticut native, remarking on the Dodgers’ need for a right-handed hitting centerfielder.
Pollock spent the first seven years of his major-league career with the Arizona Diamondbacks after being drafted by the organization (first round, 17th overall, University of Notre Dame) in the 2009 MLB draft.
Despite averaging just 91 games played per season since making his debut in 2012 and 101 games per season from 2013 through 2017, Pollock’s value is evident.
In just over 2,500 career plate appearances (2,507), the center fielder has a .281/.338/.467 slash line with a .346 weighted on-base average, 113 weighted runs created plus rating, and 17.2 wins above replacement, as per FanGraphs.
Last season, Pollock had the most power-prolific campaign of his career with 21 home runs in 113 games, one dinger more than his previous career-high, 20, set in 2015 over 154 games.
The Hebron, Connecticut native’s advanced fielding metrics are astounding, with 54 defensive runs saved and a 22.3 ultimate zone rating over (parts of) seven MLB seasons. All but 115.1 of the 4,930 innings Pollock has played in the outfield have been spent in center field.
We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.
