Alex Rios: The best defensive outfielder in the majors?

[Modern_epic]

Ok, maybe not, but according to the Fielding Bible II, he has saved the most runs out of any outfielder over the past 3 years.

I got this from Sabernomics, a pretty awesome blog for nerding and baseball.

The best players by position:

Pos. Player Runs Saved
1B Albert Pujols 61
2B Chase Utley 63
3B Pedro Feliz 50
SS Adam Everett 48
LF Alfonso Soriano 42
CF Carlos Beltran 44
RF Alex Rios 49
C Jason Kendall 27
P Kenny Rogers 27

I don't know exactly where Wells is on this list, but from what I've read, he wasn't anywhere near the top in CF. Which raises the question, for the 100th time: why haven't those two swapped positions yet?

[kelso]

I think Ilike his cannon arm in right field instead. Wells is an excellent CF with great range and a Gold Glove winner; its not like we're playing some hack ahead of Rios.

I'm looking forward to Rios taking the next step at the plate and possibly becoming an elite player in all areas of the game. He should be a 30-30 guy this year, but if he could ever be a 40-40 guy, with everything else he has, he would be the franchise player Wells has not yet become (and may never be).

[Modern_epic]

First off: really, you're bringing up gold gloves? Derek Jeter won one the same year as Wells last did. Palmeiro won one during a season he DHed 80% of the season. I thought we all agreed they were a joke by now. Not that Wells didn't deserve at least two of his, including the most recent in '06, but gold gloves? (The voters have surprisingly gotten it right in not giving him one since, though. Or not surprisingly, when you consider his offense.)

On to the main point, though:

All the defensive metrics show that if Wells of this year is the same Wells of last year, it is pretty much like we are playing some hack out there (or, if you're being generous, Johnny Damon). Before the recent hamstring issues I wasn't expecting him to be that bad again, but now I'm not sure.

But even if Wells is as good defensively this coming season as the second best year he's ever had, Rios of last year had better range than Wells would, to go along with his better arm. And getting Wells out of center can take away some wear and tear (and probably injuries) that would keep him sub-par in (or out of) the batters box.

Snider has a cannon of an arm too, I hear, so it might make even sense to do a three man move. You can hide Wells' arm in left, shift Rios and Wells a bit right to hide Snider's range, and have probably the best defensive outfield in baseball.

[kelso]

I am not suggesting Rios isnt as good as you say he is, however Wells isn't as bad as you say he is either. The shine is off because of the injuries, the sub-par plate numbers and the gigantic contract that always preceeeds his play in any discussions.

I would only move Wells to left if we knew for sure we were going to keep him and not move him as part of a bigger shake-up of the roster. Moving Wells to left-field will hurt his value even more than his contract, last season injuries and plate numbers already do. Also, both of us are making the assumption (albeit safe IMO) that Snyder is here to stay and is going to be a stud. I think there is still a move or two to make for JP to settle the roster down, as we have a log-jam at the utility positions (infield and outfield) and it will take away at bats from the likes of Lind and any youngster catcher we want to keep on the roster.

[J-Roc]

I think Ilike his cannon arm in right field instead. Wells is an excellent CF with great range and a Gold Glove winner; its not like we're playing some hack ahead of Rios.

I'm looking forward to Rios taking the next step at the plate and possibly becoming an elite player in all areas of the game. He should be a 30-30 guy this year, but if he could ever be a 40-40 guy, with everything else he has, he would be the franchise player Wells has not yet become (and may never be).

This could mean nothing, but from what little I saw of him at the Baseball Classic, he looks like the same guy. I saw him hit a homerun. But his approach at the plate looked the same. He'll always just be a contact hitter.