Can Michael Cuddyer continue his newfound success at the plate?
Cuddyer, 34, is entering his 14th Major League season. In 2013, Cuddyer became the third Rockies' player over the last seven seasons to win the NL Batting Title, hitting .331. He joined teammate Carlos Gonzalez, who accomplished the feat in 2010 and former Rockies' outfielder turned St. Louis Cardinal, Matt Holliday in 2007. His 2013 performance was the first time Cuddyer batted better than .300 in a season. His previous career high was .284, which he accomplished twice for the Twins in 2006 and 2011.
2014 can only be described as a crossroads type season for Cuddyer, a season that could define where his career stands going forward. Cuddyer is in the final year of a three-year, $31.5 million contract that he signed with the Rockies prior to the 2012 season. By the time Cuddyer steps onto a Major League field in 2015, he will be 36 years old (he turns 35 on March 27). Typically, 36-year-old baseball players are on the decline of their careers.
Cuddyer's success in 2014 is crucial for his career going forward. Injuries have been a factor recently, which is part of the reason why Manager Walt Weiss is moving Cuddyer from the outfield to first base. Since 2011, he has averaged 123 games played per season, not great by any starting player's standard. Even during his amazing 2013 season, Cuddyer nearly missed being the NL Batting Champion due to number of at bats. He played in 130 games during the 2013 due to a nagging wrist injury, and recorded 489 official at bats. Had Cuddyer missed anymore time, he probably would not have won the NL Batting Title. Playing first base will likely help Cuddyer's offense at the plate. He won't be required to move as much at first base as he had to playing in the outfield.
Weiss also announced that Cuddyer would be primarily batting second in the lineup this season. In 2013, he mostly batted fourth in the lineup. Batting second will provide him extra protection in the lineup, especially with Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki backing him up.
One problem Cuddyer will have to face entering the 2014 season is his power. He had a total of 20 home runs during the 2013 season. However most of them (16) came in the first half of the season. Cuddyer only homered four times in his final 56 games (204 at bats) last season. It's an alarming statistic, especially when you consider Cuddyer plays in a hitter's friendly ball-park like Coors Field.
Granted the 2013 splits between home games and road games for Cuddyer weren't horrible. He hit 11 home runs at Coors Field, compared to nine on the road. He hit .351 in 225 at bats playing in Coors Field. However in 264 away from Colorado, Cuddyer hit .311. The overpowering effect that Coors Field provides hitter didn't make Cuddyer that much better of a hitter. If anything, this shows how solid a hitter he was in 2013.
Cuddyer's career will turn one of two ways come next off-season. He'll either have a great 2014 season and be signed to a multi-year contract by a team looking for outfield or first base help. My guess is the Mets might look into signing Cuddyer next year, even trading for him this season if they happen to be in playoff contention. The other result would be that Cuddyer has an injury-plagued 2014 season and gets one-year contracts going forward. If he wants a multi-year contract, then 2014 has to be a great season.
I think Cuddyer has a solid season for the Rockies, batting around .290-.300 with 15-18 home runs. Will it be enough to get a multi-year deal next off-season? I think there will be some desperate team that gives him that type of contract. Signing baseball players is two-fold; out of a need and a desire. If Cuddyer has a solid 2014 season, there will be some team that needs him. Based on that need, there will be some team that desires to give him a multi-year contract.
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