Let's Pretend We Had A Lengthy Discussion on the Merits of Jonathan Villar

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1359139780185964548https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1359139780185964548

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Switch-hitter, multi-position infielder looks like this year's Edwin Nunez.



I recall him getting lots of hype as a youngster but turned into a journeyman, peaked several years ago with Houston, since been with the O's, the Marlins the Jays, Milwaukee

[bmfc1]

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/villajo01.shtmlhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/villajo01.shtml

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jonathan-villar/10071/stats?position=2B/SShttps://www.fangraphs.com/players/jonathan-villar/10071/stats?position=2B/SS

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/jonathan-villar-542340?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlbhttps://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/jonathan-villar-542340?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb



He's fast and he plays 2B, 3B, SS, CF.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Switch-hitter turns 30 in May. Is there still going to be a 26-man roster in 2021? Is there going to be room for Villar and Luis Guillorme to be on the active roster at the same time?

[smg58]

Had a very good season in Baltimore two years ago.



Not a great defender up the middle, but he won't kill you.



His power numbers plummeted last year, in a way that makes me think he was playing hurt.



Has hit a little bit better from the right side over his career.



I'm kind of surprised he had no offers to start somewhere, because he doesn't have a clear path to ABs here.



But as switch-hitting reserve middle infielders go, we could do a lot worse.

[smg58]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Is there going to be room for Villar and Luis Guillorme to be on the active roster at the same time?

You need two reserve infielders, so I don't see why not.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I suppose that if he has a better season than JD Davis (which is possible) he can become something of a regular player.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, the guy who loses an inside track at the opening day roster is José Peraza.



The real squeeze is going to be between Albert Almora, Jr., and Guillermo Heredia.

[smg58]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I suppose that if he has a better season than JD Davis (which is possible) he can become something of a regular player.

It is definitely insurance if Davis does not hit well enough to make his glove tolerable. Given that McNeil can be moved around the diamond, it is also good insurance in the event of an injury to basically anybody.

[seawolf17]

I know this isn't a prediction thread yet, but he's going to make us yearn for the halcyon days of Omar Quintanilla. And much like Quintanilla, if he gets any significant time at all, something has gone horribly wrong.

[LWFS]

Edgy MD wrote: Yeah, the guy who loses an inside track at the opening day roster is José Peraza. The real squeeze is going to be between Albert Almora, Jr., and Guillermo Heredia.

Almora and Heredia are pretty much the same, in terms of what they're giving you... it's just, which guy do you think will give you more with that particular skill set?



Peraza-Villar seems to be more of a defense-leaning vs. offense-leaning thing (Peraza's had more range/a more consistent glove, if the metrics are to be believed; Villar's got a little more pop/basestealing speed).



As with Olympic swimming pools and research papers... depth is good.

[Edgy MD]

Villar's got the big-league contract hanging over Peraza's head, as well as the copious big-league experience (162 games in 2019!).



As with the plaster beneath the bathtub and the guy with the loyalty card at the open-air drug market, he gets the first crack.

[LWFS]

Edgy MD wrote: Villar's got the big-league contract hanging over Peraza's head, as well as the copious big-league experience (162 games in 2019!). As with the plaster beneath the bathtub and the guy with the loyalty card at the open-air drug market, he gets the first crack.

WAITWAITWAIT-- this was a BIG-LEAGUE deal?



As with the non-emergency appointment at the dermatologist and the order of bacon from the diner cook who isn't the regular diner cook, this seems a little rash.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah. As weith Max Fried and Mike Fiers, he's set to make about $3.5 million.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I kinda like this roll of the dice. He was decidedly terrible last year, but 4.1 fWAR in 2019 was pretty damn good! His switch-hitteriness should present plenty of opportunities for him to show he's still got it.

[Lefty Specialist]

Not a terrible pickup, but not a game-changer either. Strengthens the bench considerably.

[Edgy MD]

If you guys have anything you need to say to Corey Oswalt or Drew Smith, you may want to get it said now. When these last two signings become official, Mr. DFA might well be knocking on their doors.



Daniel Zamora and Guillermo Heredia may also be looking over their shoulders.

[Willets Point]

I feel like I've had Villar as Yahoo! Fantasy player for several years. Like he just plugs in anywhere when my regular guys aren't playing that night.