Its called risk vs reward. You’re taking a shot that he won’t continue to be s***. If he returns to form you have an Outstanding player on both sides of the ball. If he sucks you only invested the year. It’s really not that deep.
No teams want to give him a player option either. Its not just show me contract for himself. He needs to show the league when he can do. No team wants to be on the hook for a big number if he continues to suck with the bat.
It matters if you want to get things to hit generally. The Pirates lineup is embarrassing. And so far they added 2 Fat 1B/DH’s who both struggled last year to fix it.
He’s not a great CF. But calling him bad defensively in inaccurate. He’s more than capable of playing CF at Rogers Centre. He can play CF next year and shift to LF in 2024 for a better CF. Bottom line if a talent like that is available you go get it. Worry about the rest later. He fills a need in the OF and slots in perfectly in the lineup. Probably as the #2 hitter.
Tyler O’Neal was a flash in a pan. He strikes out a ton, has no plate discipline, and abuses TRT. He will never come within half of his career season in WAR again. We have moved beyond Randal Grichuk 2.0.
Yea don’t get me wrong great player. He could go back into the Outfield as well. I just didn’t see the 11 years coming. He just won’t be the level of player he is not in the final 4-5 years of that contract. Good for him though.
Lets hope Heaney has really figured it out because last time he was in the AL East he was an absolute pumpkin.
But those strikeout numbers last season were f***ing outstanding.