Danny Valencia
Whether there’s an injury to Shaw, Thames, Aguilar, or in the outfield, Danny Valencia could make sense as a depth option for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.
Valencia posted a .263/.316/.408 slash line in 78 games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018. But this came after three straight years of double-digit homers and quality production. He absolutely rakes against left-handed pitching, and could provide depth for the Milwaukee Brewers at the infield corners, in the outfield, or as a bench bat.
Valencia actually signed a Minor League deal last year with the Orioles, and made the Opening Day roster. He was released last August when the Orioles committed to gutting their team of veterans, and trying to start a rebuild. He didn’t hook on with a contending team at the end of the season.
While the 34-year old Valencia would certainly prefer a Major League deal, it looks like he’ll have to take a Minor League deal if he wants to continue his career in 2019. The Milwaukee Brewers are set to contend, and saw both Thames and Ryan Braun miss time last year. If he’s looking to find a team that might need his services at some point in 2019, spending a month or two in Triple-A in San Antonio isn’t the worst option. Valencia is a solid fit for the the Brewers, and could provide a boost in the event of a key injury.