Ben Zobrist Could Still be O’s Best Trade Option

As long the race for the AL East remains closely competitive, expect the Orioles to become buyers at the trade deadline yet again. The team is ranked 12^th in the MLB in batting average, 17^th in total hits, and 20^th in OBP. As usual, they’re near the bottom in stolen bases (28th), but remain atop the league in power stats ranking 5^th in home runs, 6^th in RBIs, and 6^th in slugging %. So it is obvious that power isn’t necessarily needed in the lineup, but a little more can never hurt. As for pitching, the team is currently ranked 12^th in ERA, 16^th in strikeouts, 14^th in opponent batting average, and 16^th in opponent OBP.

As any Birds fan can attest, the team needs to stop being so inconsistent offensively if they want to make a push for the postseason. No more of this great month, awful month, great month, awful month. The Orioles need another hitter who can hit for average, get on base, steal bases, and provide a spark night after night.

One player that comes to mind is Ben Zobrist. The A’s have made it clear that they are taking phone calls for Zobrist and as Roch Kubatko puts it, “the Orioles are going for it again” at the trade deadline.

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So why is Zobrist a viable option for the Orioles? First, he can play just about every position and O’s fans know how much Buck loves defense and versatility. However, let’s focus on the hitting aspect. With 19 home runs this year, the team needs to move Manny Machado down to the middle of the lineup to knock in more runs. This would allow Zobrist to slide into the leadoff spot. From 2009-2014 Zobrist had double digit steals, just as you’d want from a leadoff hitter. While this wouldn’t greatly impact the Orioles amount of stolen bases for the year, it does mean more RBI possibilities. Zobrist’s highest on base percentage was .405 back in 2009 with Tampa. While he has yet to reach that again, Zobrist has had a pretty consistent OBP, reaching .354 in both 2013 and 2014. If he were on the Orioles for both of those years, he would have been second on the team in that category.

Zobrist also hits consistently for a solid average. The past three years he has hit comfortably in the .270 range. If Zobrist was in the Orioles lineup from 2012-2014 he would be top 5 on the team in average all those years (300 AB minimum). While off to a shaky start this season, with his .261 average and .346 OBP, Zobrist would still be placed in the top 5 on the team in both categories (100 AB minimum).

What fans tend to overlook is that Zobrist has hit pretty well in Oriole Park the past couple years while being a Ray. In 2013 Zobrist hit .270/.357..405 at Oriole Park. He became even more comfortable in 2014, hitting .306/.381/.556 with four doubles, a triple, and a home run. The downside to Zobrist coming to Baltimore as the team’s leadoff hitter is that he is hitting .200 with the bases empty this year. That was the upside Nick Markakis had last year as the Orioles leadoff hitter, as he hit .293 with no men on base, similar to Machado’s .294 AVG of the same category in 2015.

Zobrist’s impact wouldn’t be that of a Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto but it isn’t low either. Unfortunately, nor is his price – perhaps a starter/bullpen pitcher, role player, and/or prospect would land him. His six-year contract ends after this season, so any team who acquires him would be getting a few-month rental.

So, should the O’s give up what it would take to get Zobrist for a few months? If they are indeed again “going for it,” my answer is a resounding “YES!”