The Arizona Diamondbacks signed outfielder Kole Calhoun from the Los Angeles Angels to a two year contract on Monday. According to Spotrac, Calhoun is set to make $6 million in 2020 and $8 million in 2021.
Calhoun batted .232 with 33 home runs and 74 runs batted in during 152 games in 2019. During his 632 plate appearances with the Angels, Calhoun scored 92 runs, collected 128 hits, 29 doubles, one triple, 70 walks, a .325 on base percentage, a .467 slugging percentage, 258 total bases and two sacrifice flies.
Despite the low batting average, Calhoun set career highs in home runs, slugging percentage and runs scored in 2019. One area where Calhoun needs to work on to be better is his overall plate protection. The bottom line is he strikes out way too much. This past season Calhoun struck out 162 times in 2019. However that was not even a career high. In 2015, Calhoun struck out 164 times.
Once while with the Angels over the last eight years, Calhoun also was recognized for his defense. In 2015, Calhoun won the American League gold glove award for his outstanding consistency in right field. He only committed four errors in 157 games.
Calhoun is expected to join a Diamondbacks outfield that includes left fielder David Peralta and center fielder Ketel Marte. Calhoun is replacing Adam Jones in right field. Jones signed on with Orix Buffaloes of the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan on December 10. The Major League Baseball veteran signed a two year deal worth $8 million.
With Calhoun no longer in the mix in the Angels outfield, Los Angeles will be hoping that Justin Upton will have a bounce back season. In 2019, Upton had a career worst .215 batting average.
