Diamondbacks consider shifting Yasmany Tomas to LF
The Diamondbacks are considering rearranging the alignment of their outfield, potentially having left fielder David Peralta and right fielder Yasmany Tomas trade places, manager Chip Hale said Friday.
“We’re definitely talking about it,” Hale said. “(Outfield coach) Dave McKay and I, (General Manager Dave Stewart) and (Chief Baseball Officer) Tony (La Russa), we think it might be best to switch them around.”
With last year’s right fielder, Ender Inciarte, traded to the Atlanta Braves, the Diamondbacks likely will be taking a step back at the position defensively. Inciarte was a dominant corner outfielder, even winning a Fielding Bible Award for his defensive prowess.
Diamondbacks trade raises stakes for Yasmany Tomas
Neither Peralta nor Tomas is regarded as highly as Inciarte, but, by all accounts, Peralta is the better of the two, and teams generally prefer the stronger defender in right field.
When the club shifted Tomas from third base to the outfield early last season, they put him in right because that was where he said he felt more comfortable. But with a full spring for Tomas to work out in left, Hale is less concerned.
“If we’re going to do it, we want to do it right away and get him training there right away,” Hale said. “But nothing has been decided yet.”
Teams typically want the player with the better throwing arm in right field, but Hale wasn’t sure who has the stronger arm between Peralta and Tomas.
“I’m hoping that Tomas, being a full-time outfielder now in spring training -- his arm strength is great but his accuracy wasn’t very good last season, and I’m hoping that improves,” Hale said.
Of the 215 career games Peralta has played in the outfield at the major-league level, 160 have come in left with only 49 in right. Still, at least according to the advanced defensive numbers, Peralta is better in right field than left. He has compiled a 12.2 UZR/150 games in right and a minus-5.9 in left.
Tomas had a minus-15.6 in 57 games in right field last year.
