Tweet
So one of the main ways to save money this offseason will be to trade Jorge Cantu, assuming he's in for the raise up to 6 mil.
We don't really have any in house options, but what about cheap alternatives on the FA market?
One of the main things we have going for us is that we have Wes Helms on the bench (Doesn't embarrass himself against LHP), and probably Gaby Sanchez (Should do well against LHP). This limits the need down to somebody who can just hit RHP instead of a full time player.
Not in any order
The "They probably can't handle 3b anymore"
Eric Hinske
The good: He has a .804 OPS against RHP this year, matching his career .804 OPS against them. He likely won't get a chance to start somewhere, since he didn't last year, so he might give a discount to start.
The Bad: Defense. He has a -5 career UZR/150 at the position. He hasn't gotten consistent play time there since 2004, only racking up 134 IP played there in the past 5 years. He's currently on the Yankees bench, and might rather stay there and get guaranteed post season play.
Last contract: 1 year, 1.5m with 1m in incentives
Russell Branyan
The Good: Although cooling down, he still has a .867 OPS on the year, including .905 against RHP. Has a career OPS of .837 against RHP. He's also playing in a park this year that absolutely kills LHP.
The Bad: He strikes out. A lot. He's cut down on them by a lot, which is why he's done better the past couple years, but he still strikes out a lot. And the FO supposedly wants to move away from that. He's also hasn't played 3b this season, and has a career -6.9 UZR/150 at the position. He also just recently suffered a herniated his back, bringing up if he'd be a complete embarrassment there next season.
Last Contract: 1 year, 1.4m with 350k in incentives.
Hank Blalock
The Good: Even in a down year, he still has a .773 OPS against RHP, with a career .849 OPS against them.
The Bad: His BB/K this season is Mike Jacob-esque. He's been a 1b/DH the past 3 years, having not played 3b regularly since 2006. With good reason, every single year since '05 he has posted a UZR/150 of under -10.
Last Contract: 5 year, 15m (09 salary: 6m)
Aubrey Huff
The good: has absolutely bashed RHP in his career, with a .845 OPS against them
The bad: Hasn't really played full time 3b since '06, although his career UZR/150 isn't that bad of a -4.4. More importantly: His ops against RHP this season is just .726. Some can be attributed to BABIP, other to drop in power.
Last contract: 3 year, 20m (09 salary: 8m)
The Reclamation Projects
Melvin Mora
The good: He is just one year removed from a .826 OPS and has a career .789 OPS. Even though he's old, he still plays a good enough 3rd base. Wouldn't need a platoon, as he'd be a full time player.
The Bad: He has just a .667 OPS this season, thanks to a completely drop in power. His ISO last year was .199, this year it's just 0.88. Other than a minor BABIP dropped (which could probably be pointed to the lack of power), everything else is in line. And a 38 year old getting his power stroke back isn't exactly something you bet on.
Last Contract: 3 year, 25m (09 contract: 9m)
Joe Crede
The Good: There are three things you know Joe Crede will give you. Two of those is a mid 700 OPS and 10 runs on defense.
The bad: The third is that he'll spend majority of time on DL.
Last Contract: 1 year, 2.5m, 4.5m in incentives.
Orlando Cabrera
The Good: He's more or less been orlando cabrera at the plate this year, with his typical empty avg, high 600/low 700 OPS. Wouldn't need a platoon
The bad: What should be in the good, his defense, went to utter shit this season, as he has posted a -15 UZR. Lost a step in his old age, or an aberration? he's also never played 3b, although we did have interst in him this past offseason to play there.
Last Contract: 1 year, 4m,
Chad Tracy
The Good: Plays a good 3b, with a career +4 UZR. His OPS against RHP from 2004 to 2007: .804, .952, .866, .891
The Bad: His OPS against RHP from 2008 to 2009: .708, .682. Both power and plate discipline went away.
Last Contract: 3 year, 13m (09 contract: 4.75m)
The Reach
Doug Mientkiewicz
The good: you can pencil him for a OBP-loaded mid 700 OPS. Would only take a MILB contract
The bad: outside of 1 IP in 2004, 2008 was the first time he's ever played 3b, racking up 244 IP for the pirates. The results weren't too hot: -3.7 UZR, thanks to a .918 fielding percentage. However, he's also plays a great 1b. I'd like to pick him up even if it's just to take off Ross Gload's spot.
Last contract: 1 year, 550k (MILB contract)
Frank Catalanotto
The Good: has a .799 OPS against RHP this year, with a career .820 OPS against them
The bad: he hasn't played 3b since 2001, and hasn't played 2b since 2002. Like Doug, would like to at least see him fill the Gload roll though.
Last contract: pro-rated MILB contract
The too unlikely
Akinori Iwamura
Mark Derosa
Placido Polanco
Not going to get into their good/bad, as they should be more or less known. however, they'll likely make around what Cantu makes, if not more, making their acquisitions basically a null. However, who knows what the market has in store.
There's probably more that fit into the "too unlikely" catagory. The main thing is just finding good players who'll only at most cost a couple mil. Don't think I missed anyone that falls into there.
I'd say my wish list is probably
1) Huff (might make too much)
2) Hinske
3) Tracy
4) Branyan (might make too much)
I'd say Tracy is definitely the most intriguing of the bunch though. He'll only be 30, and man he used to crash RHP.
We don't really have any in house options, but what about cheap alternatives on the FA market?
One of the main things we have going for us is that we have Wes Helms on the bench (Doesn't embarrass himself against LHP), and probably Gaby Sanchez (Should do well against LHP). This limits the need down to somebody who can just hit RHP instead of a full time player.
Not in any order
The "They probably can't handle 3b anymore"
Eric Hinske
The good: He has a .804 OPS against RHP this year, matching his career .804 OPS against them. He likely won't get a chance to start somewhere, since he didn't last year, so he might give a discount to start.
The Bad: Defense. He has a -5 career UZR/150 at the position. He hasn't gotten consistent play time there since 2004, only racking up 134 IP played there in the past 5 years. He's currently on the Yankees bench, and might rather stay there and get guaranteed post season play.
Last contract: 1 year, 1.5m with 1m in incentives
Russell Branyan
The Good: Although cooling down, he still has a .867 OPS on the year, including .905 against RHP. Has a career OPS of .837 against RHP. He's also playing in a park this year that absolutely kills LHP.
The Bad: He strikes out. A lot. He's cut down on them by a lot, which is why he's done better the past couple years, but he still strikes out a lot. And the FO supposedly wants to move away from that. He's also hasn't played 3b this season, and has a career -6.9 UZR/150 at the position. He also just recently suffered a herniated his back, bringing up if he'd be a complete embarrassment there next season.
Last Contract: 1 year, 1.4m with 350k in incentives.
Hank Blalock
The Good: Even in a down year, he still has a .773 OPS against RHP, with a career .849 OPS against them.
The Bad: His BB/K this season is Mike Jacob-esque. He's been a 1b/DH the past 3 years, having not played 3b regularly since 2006. With good reason, every single year since '05 he has posted a UZR/150 of under -10.
Last Contract: 5 year, 15m (09 salary: 6m)
Aubrey Huff
The good: has absolutely bashed RHP in his career, with a .845 OPS against them
The bad: Hasn't really played full time 3b since '06, although his career UZR/150 isn't that bad of a -4.4. More importantly: His ops against RHP this season is just .726. Some can be attributed to BABIP, other to drop in power.
Last contract: 3 year, 20m (09 salary: 8m)
The Reclamation Projects
Melvin Mora
The good: He is just one year removed from a .826 OPS and has a career .789 OPS. Even though he's old, he still plays a good enough 3rd base. Wouldn't need a platoon, as he'd be a full time player.
The Bad: He has just a .667 OPS this season, thanks to a completely drop in power. His ISO last year was .199, this year it's just 0.88. Other than a minor BABIP dropped (which could probably be pointed to the lack of power), everything else is in line. And a 38 year old getting his power stroke back isn't exactly something you bet on.
Last Contract: 3 year, 25m (09 contract: 9m)
Joe Crede
The Good: There are three things you know Joe Crede will give you. Two of those is a mid 700 OPS and 10 runs on defense.
The bad: The third is that he'll spend majority of time on DL.
Last Contract: 1 year, 2.5m, 4.5m in incentives.
Orlando Cabrera
The Good: He's more or less been orlando cabrera at the plate this year, with his typical empty avg, high 600/low 700 OPS. Wouldn't need a platoon
The bad: What should be in the good, his defense, went to utter shit this season, as he has posted a -15 UZR. Lost a step in his old age, or an aberration? he's also never played 3b, although we did have interst in him this past offseason to play there.
Last Contract: 1 year, 4m,
Chad Tracy
The Good: Plays a good 3b, with a career +4 UZR. His OPS against RHP from 2004 to 2007: .804, .952, .866, .891
The Bad: His OPS against RHP from 2008 to 2009: .708, .682. Both power and plate discipline went away.
Last Contract: 3 year, 13m (09 contract: 4.75m)
The Reach
Doug Mientkiewicz
The good: you can pencil him for a OBP-loaded mid 700 OPS. Would only take a MILB contract
The bad: outside of 1 IP in 2004, 2008 was the first time he's ever played 3b, racking up 244 IP for the pirates. The results weren't too hot: -3.7 UZR, thanks to a .918 fielding percentage. However, he's also plays a great 1b. I'd like to pick him up even if it's just to take off Ross Gload's spot.
Last contract: 1 year, 550k (MILB contract)
Frank Catalanotto
The Good: has a .799 OPS against RHP this year, with a career .820 OPS against them
The bad: he hasn't played 3b since 2001, and hasn't played 2b since 2002. Like Doug, would like to at least see him fill the Gload roll though.
Last contract: pro-rated MILB contract
The too unlikely
Akinori Iwamura
Mark Derosa
Placido Polanco
Not going to get into their good/bad, as they should be more or less known. however, they'll likely make around what Cantu makes, if not more, making their acquisitions basically a null. However, who knows what the market has in store.
There's probably more that fit into the "too unlikely" catagory. The main thing is just finding good players who'll only at most cost a couple mil. Don't think I missed anyone that falls into there.
I'd say my wish list is probably
1) Huff (might make too much)
2) Hinske
3) Tracy
4) Branyan (might make too much)
I'd say Tracy is definitely the most intriguing of the bunch though. He'll only be 30, and man he used to crash RHP.
Comment