The Braves have announced they have signed an outfielder Jordan Luplow. This is a one-year contract worth $1.4 million.
Luplow, 29, has appeared in MLB’s past six seasons, spending time with Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Tampa and Arizona. He’s served as a valuable part-timer at times, but his production has been pretty inconsistent.
He had brief major league showings with the Pirates in 2017 and 2018, but got his most extended playing time with Cleveland in 2019. His 85 games this season is still a career high, and he has reached a whopping .276. ./.372/.551. This production was 41% above the league average, as evidenced by his 141 wRC+. However, the vast majority of that damage was inflicted left-handed, as right-handed hitter Luplow cut .320/.439/.742 with the peloton advantage and only .216/.274/.299 without it. This led to extremely unbalanced production: a 205 wRC+ against left-handers but only 52 against right-handers.
He couldn’t carry that into 2020, with his batting line slipping to .192/.304/.359 for an 84 wRC+. He bounced back in 2021, which included a trade to the Rays. He finished this campaign with a line of .202/.326/.454, 116 wRC+. Curiously, his left-handed bias was reversed that season, as he produced a 95 wRC+ against them but a 143 against the nordpaws.
Before 2022, the Rays traded him to the Diamondbacks, but he didn’t hit any pitchers that year. He finished the campaign with an overall line of .176/.274/.361. That was equivalent to a 78 wRC+, with an 85 with peloton advantage but 69 without.
Over 323 major league games, Luplow’s work total equals an approximate league average. He walked at a healthy 11.8 percent and hit 45 home runs for a career .213/.313/.432 batting line. That equates to a 102 wRC+, which is 2% above the league average, with a 125 against lefties and 76 otherwise.
Defensively, Luplow is considered average or better on the grass. Defensive Runs Saved gave him a +4 for his work on the field, with Ultimate Zone Rating at 10.3 and Outs Above Average at zero par. He’s played more in the corners but is able to play adequate center field in a pinch.
Atlanta’s outfield mix will consist of Ronald Acuna Jr. in right field and Michael Harris II in the center. Left field is more of an open question, as both Eddie Rosario and Marcel Ozuna have been below par in each of the last two seasons, Rosario’s playoff exploits not including. It’s possible that Luplow and left-handed hitter Rosario form a left-handed platoon, although it’s also possible that Luplow serves as the fourth outfielder who gets the occasional start against particular left-handers. Rosario’s career platoon splits are notable but not drastic, as he has a wRC+ of 108 against right-handers and 85 otherwise. Harris also hits from the left side and could get the occasional day off while giving center to Luplow.
2022 was Luplow’s first officiating season and he earned a salary of $1.4 million. He was pitched by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a raise to up to $2 million, but the Diamondbacks slated him for assignment in November. Luplow now clings to Atlanta for 2023, earning exactly the same salary as this year. He’ll finish 2023 before the six years of MLB service needed to reach free agency, meaning Atlanta could retain him for 2024 via arbitration if they choose. He also has an option year left and could be sent to the minors to serve as a deep.
Although the salary is modest, it brings the club closer to luxury tax territory. Roster Resource currently pegs the club’s payroll at $197m with a competitive payroll tax calculation just under $230m. That leaves them just over $3 million from the CBT threshold of $233 million.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
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