Wil Myers scouting report and fit with the Mariners
Wil Myers is one available right-handed option that fits the Mariners preferences well. What could he bring the Mariners lineup?
Wil Myers was once a coveted top prospect by most of the league, but things never completely panned out. While he has never reached his ceiling, Myers has carved out a role in the majors because of the specific strengths he carries.
Coincidentally one of his best strengths is one of Seattle’s biggest needs this offseason. Let’s take a deep dive into the player that is Wil Myers and what he could bring to Seattle.
The 32 year old has spent his last 7 seasons in Tampa Bay after becoming a really nice young player in Tampa Bay. Last season Myers played all over the diamond, spending time at all three outfield spots and first base.
Myers is surprisingly a good defender and a good athlete even for his size and age. He ranked in the 86th percentile in Outs Above Average, while still running in the 73rd percentile for speed.
Only playing in 77 games last season because of a knee injury is a concern, but if his medicals check out we would expect a defensive upgrade. This is a good thing for Seattle, especially in a platoon situation with Jarred Kelenic. He can also handle first base which would be nice for a backup role with Ty France.
Left-field defense was a massive problem last season with Jesse Winker spending most of the season there. Myers and Kelenic would be a tandem that is above league average.
In addition to his defense, Seattle would likely acquire Myers for his consistent offensive ability. He is especially effective against lefties, making him a nice platoon partner with Kelenic.
Myers owns a career 110 WRC+, but in the last few years he has hovered between 104 and 110. He owns a 119 WRC+ against lefties and a 106 against right-handed pitching. This is important because he is much better than some of the available players for Seattle as an overall offensive performer.
The North Carolina native has a 30-home-run season under his belt but now hangs around 15 home runs per season. Despite his power, Myers is not much of a threat to get on base. Last season he posted a .315 on-base percentage, and Fangraphs projects him for a .312 next season.
Myers also has plenty of swing and miss in his game, striking out at around a 30 percent rate. He is not a typical “Control the Zone” type of player, but Ultimately he is a really good fit for the Mariners. The front office continues to state that they would like a right-handed hitting corner outfielder who can handle the corner infield spots.
While Myers is a really nice fit here, I am not convinced Seattle is going to sign a free-agent position player. Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander prefer to hand-select players via trade, rather than settling for a player who may not fit perfectly.
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