Oakland Athletics’ Danny Valencia Can Help, Including Against Lefties
Did the Blue Jays know what they were doing when they designated Danny Valencia for assignment? Based on his recent performance with the Oakland Athletics, it seems like they simply didn’t have room for him in their loaded lineup. Although he has three more years remaining on his contract, they had so many top-of-the-line bats that they could afford to give away a utility man who would be valuable in any other lineup.
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When he left Toronto, Valencia was batting .296/.331/506, with seven home runs and two stolen bases. He’s continued to have success since arriving in Oakland, with seven hits in 16 at-bats, including a pair of home runs. With Valencia on board, the A’s have more versatility in the field, and a fairly potent bat in their lineup – especially against left-handers.
The A’s haven’t had many high-average hitters over the last few seasons. A part-time utility man who can bat near .300 is a rarity, but Valencia is that player.
If he has a weakness, it’s that he’s not very good at taking pitches. His 5.8 percent walk rate is below average, and his 23 percent strikeout rate is on the high side. Valencia has a lot of unproductive outs, and his high BABIP suggests that he will come back to earth at some point this season. But he also has a lot of success at the plate, something the Oakland Athletics have been lacking from the likes of players Billy Butler.
Valencia is certainly cementing himself into the A’s lineup as a fan favorite, with a walkoff single and a pair of home runs in his debut weekend. But fans should be cautious about getting too attached. Valencia has never played more than a handful of games in a season, and he has pretty strong splits for someone who hasn’t been used as a platoon player in the past.
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In his career, Valencia has 1028 at-bats versus right-handed pitchers, and he has hit .233 against them. When he faces lefties, Valencia is batting .326, but he’s only picked up 592 at-bats. It’s almost as though no one has ever noticed that he would be better off sitting against right-handed starters.
Is Valencia a potential platoon partner for Josh Reddick? He’s played some limited games in right field, although he’s spent more time as an infielder, primarily at third base. But the Oakland Athletics’ worst performer against lefties is not Brett Lawrie – it’s Reddick. By sitting Reddick against left-handers, the A’s give themselves a better chance to win.
Perhaps instead of using Valencia to rest their infielders for the rest of the season, the A’s should consider trying him in right field, much as it might upset Reddick. Valencia will give them a better shot to win, and Oakland should be willing to acknowledge that. He will be expensive to retain in arbitration, and the A’s must find out if it’s worth it.