[Edit to add: It's very difficult to maintain muscle and strength while trying to lose weight (fat).]
As someone who has set aside 50 pounds this year and learned a lot about how the body uses energy, I can relate to the idea that for some, it's probably better to keep the weight to keep the strength. When you cut, you can somewhat maintain strength, but it's very hard to build it at the same time. I, for example, started to stall out a bit in my lifting (I'm trying to build a foundation that I never really had) while eating at a caloric deficit. This is expected. When I started eating at "maintenance" for awhile, my strength improved in the weight room. The general saying is that you can't build muscle, lose fat, and gain size in a deficit - unless you have supplements that aren't "enhancing". And, by the way, it is very much possible to build strength, lose fat and get fit in your mid-fifties, probably not for former elite athletes, but certainly so for the average Joe.
In a guy like Vog's case, I would be okay with the weight if it translated to light tower power, which it does not seem to. With that caveat, I have a little bit of a problem with it. Of course, it could also be that Vog needs a technique overhaul if he wanted hit for greater power. If he is going to cover the plate and recognize pitches, then I would urge him to become more fit.
He is in a bit of a catch 22 however because he plays a position that teams look for power from.