We have this guy, his name is Bryce Harper. He's kind of a big deal. LF is his. Rendon plays second or we move Zimmerman to first and trade Morse. Or we trade Morse and play Rendon at first.
Harper is unlikely to play left field at the big league level. His arm and overall defensive ability(projection of course, as he gets more experience) suit him better in RF, or possibly in his early years, a CF.
Morse is our LF to start next season, and LaRoche the 1B.
LaRoche will be gone either during the season, or will play it out and be let go, with Morse moving back to first base. That opens up left field, without a person in sight to take it, in terms of in house options ready to play. And if you happen to think Bryce Harper is the LF, then RF is open without an answer ready in the next 12 months or so. Werth/Harper will be our CF/RF, in some order, for the last half of the 2012 season IMO.
No matter how you want to spin it, corner OF/1B is much more open than the middle infield, where we have two young players with a lot of ability already having a year of experience together AND a kid at the AAA level that could push either for a job next year.
For two MI spots, we have 3 players(Desmond, Espinosa, Lombardozzi). For 3 corner OF/1b spots, we have 2 guys(Harper/Morse). If you want to expand that to OF/1B with the uncertainty of where guys play, we have 3 guys(Werth, Harper, Morse), for 4 positions. There is a spot open at OF/1B, while we already have an extra option at MI.
Maybe the off season changes things and we make some moves. Right now though, there simply is no debate - we have multiple long term options ready on the middle infield. Not so much for the corner OF/1B positions.
Im not saying Rendon won't be a 2b option. Just that that absolutely is NOT without a doubt where he ends up. Id honestly wager that he ends up in the OF before 2b. 1b is a last resort, because his size isn't ideal at that position.
