Ryan Flaherty

Flaherty is a light-hitting utility infielder on the wrong side of 30. Not ideal. He missed extended time with a right shoulder injury in 2017 and struggled mightily in his limited major-league action. While Flaherty has walked in over nine percent of his plate appearances over the past three seasons, he's also struck out in more than a quarter of his trips while displaying diminishing power. He has never posted a batting average above .224, his wRC+ marks have ranged from 51 to 84 and he has a total of six stolen bases in 452 career games. Flaherty can still play second base and third at a decent level, but that probably won't be enough to earn him a major-league role out of camp.

Flaherty saw his offensive numbers steadily decline from 2013 to 2015 and the trend continued as the super-utility player put together arguably his worst offensive season in 2016. He saw consistent playing time from May to mid-June in place of an injured J.J. Hardy, but wasn't able to get into any sort of groove at the plate. In 176 plate appearances, Flaherty posted a .217 average, hit three home runs and finished with a .610 OPS. He somehow managed to put together the worst strikeout rate of his career (27.3 percent), while also recording the best walk rate of his career (9.7 percent). With five major league seasons of replacement-level production, it is clear that the 30-year-old is destined to be no more than a utility player going forward.

Flaherty is supposed to be an infield utility player, but he has been thrust into additional playing time each of the last three seasons due to injuries to Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, and J.J. Hardy. Despite about 900 at-bats over his four years with the Orioles, the former Rule 5 Draft choice's best season slash line is when he hit .224/.293/.390 in 2013. His best offensive tool is his power. Flaherty could approach 15 home runs if he were given everyday at-bats over the course of a season, but it will take injuries to make that scenario a reality. His strikeout rate is a problem at 26.9% last season. Even if he could be streamed, he will still be a liability in nearly every fantasy category. At 29, there is little room for growth left for Flaherty. Even worse, Flaherty had eligibility in most leagues at second base, third base, and shortstop, but the only position in which he logged over 20 games in 2015 is second base.

Flaherty fills a niche for the Orioles in that he can play pretty much anywhere they ask him to play. In 2014, he played first base, second base, third base, shortstop, left field. and right field. That flexibility gives him some value in AL-only leagues in 2015 as he will qualify at second, short, and third on draft day. The increased playing time in 2014 did not lead to any kind of power breakout that he teased at with less playing time, as he only had two more extra-base hits this past season with 40 more plate appearances. He is limited to a platoon role as his numbers against lefties have become progressively worse, and his numbers against righties are not anything to write home about either. Outside of the occasional homer, he is not going to do much for fantasy owners because he hits at the bottom of the lineup and does not run well.

After plucking Flaherty in the Rule 5 draft prior to 2012, the Orioles surprised some by keeping him on the roster for nearly all of 2013. Flaherty showed some pop, hitting 10 home runs in limited action with three more in the minors. The problem is that Flaherty will never be more than an average hitter. He spent most of the first half under the Mendoza line before hitting .297 in June while Brian Roberts was injured. The Orioles seem likely to find a second baseman on the free-agent market, which means Flaherty should remain a reserve. However, the injury to Manny Machado could leave Flaherty with a path to extra at-bats early in the 2014 season.

Baltimore held on to Flaherty for the entire season after grabbing him in the Rule 5 draft last winter. He started the season in a utility role and ended it in a platoon at second base. With just 49 games above the Double-A level prior to 2012, Flaherty was overmatched against MLB pitching with his OBP and OPS well behind his minor league numbers. Flaherty was never one to take a walk, but his 3.6 percent walk rate is certainly an area for improvement if he hopes to get an everyday job. There are a number of options for Flaherty in 2013. He could get more experience in the minors, or he could be used in a utility or platoon role with the Orioles. Flaherty's ability to get at-bats for the Orioles depends mostly on the health of Brian Roberts, who was injured for most of 2011 and 2012.

Flaherty put up solid numbers at Low-A Peoria, going .276/.344/.470 with 20 home runs. He's not great with the glove, however, and at 23, he was old for the level. Moreover, with top prospect Starlin Castro progressing rapidly, Flaherty's future probably lies at second base if he can continue to hit at higher levels. Expect Flaherty to see some time at High-A and/or Double-A this year.

Flaherty hit for average and power in his professional debut, putting up a .297/.369/.511 line at Low-A as a 21-year old. His defense is average at best, and he might get moved to another position eventually, but he's a good bet to climb through the Cubs system rapidly due to his bat.