2014 looked like it was going to be a big season for Grant Green, but he never really got much of a chance. What happened to the player that people were so excited about when he was acquired at the end of the 2013 season?
Was Green’s 2014 a failure?
Green’s stats were just fine. He had a .278 wOBA in just 104 plate appearances in the majors, but that almost doesn’t matter. Green absolutely raked in Salt Lake with a massive .394 wOBA. Even when you adjust for the environment, that’s still pretty damn good production. It wasn’t a surprise though because shredding minor league pitching is what Green should do.
Where Green’s season appears to be a failure is that he only got those 104 plate appearances. At the end of 2013, Green looked like a candidate to start at third base. Then the Angels traded for David Freese. That was OK though because the Angels looked like they might trade Howie Kendrick to open up second base for Green. That didn’t happen. But that was still kind of OK because Green seemed like a strong candidate to win a bench spot. Then he lost the spot to John McDonald because the Angels prioritized leadership.
For that reason, 2014 was something of a failure for Green. He couldn’t break through and force his way into the lineup for an extended period. Some of that was his fault, some of it wasn’t.
Which part was his fault?
It is tempting to say that Green had nothing left to prove in the minors, but that’s only partly true. His bat is pretty well proven, but his glove isn’t. Green is still something of a man without a position. The Angels tried him at second, short, third, first and left throughout 2014, but he never really took to any of them. Having positional flexibility is nice, but it doesn’t count for much when you can barely play any of those positions.
That might be a bit harsh since we didn’t get a real opportunity to assess Green’s defensive prowess at any position, but the fact that the Angels traded for Gordon Beckham late in the season speaks volumes about what the Angels though about Green’s ability to provide depth in the infield if injury were to strike down the stretch.
Has his window to be part of this team already closed?
It might have. There is again rumblings that Howie Kendrick might get traded, in which case Green could finally get a real chance. If that doesn’t happen though, Green could once again be on the outside looking in. That same lack of defensive value is going to hold him back again in 2015 as the only real role available for him should Kendrick and Freese both hang around is that utility infielder role.
A good enough bat can always overcome a poor glove, but Green’s bat isn’t that good. He has proven he can hit for average, but he doesn’t walk much nor does he have much power. An empty batting average just isn’t going to be good enough to justify carrying an infielder with stiff movements and a frying pan for a glove.
Final Answer
Getting 61 plate appearances in May and then no more than 19 plate appearances in any month afterwards isn’t much of a fair shake for any player. Green may not be in for a much fairer shake in 2015. If that happens, he may not get a fair shake until he finds his way to another organization.
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