Contracts for everybody!

Reds plan to tender Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Bill Bray and Jared Burton. No surprises, but Burton was a border case. And shouldn't they quit while they're ahead with this Jorny Vorto mope?

over 1 year ago RijoSaboCaseyWKRP 24 comments 0 recs |

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It's not delivery, it's D-Jorno!

"Don't turn off the TV if we've still got bats in our hands." - Dusty Baker

by PeteyHendrix on Dec 2, 2010 7:54 PM EST reply actions

so, the A's non-tendered Jack Cust...again.

And that’s exactly the kind of signing I can see Walt making. LH OBP machine with pop who can platoon in LF with Gomes and DH in interleague.

I don’t know if I like it or not, but I don’t hate it, and I sure as shit like it more than an Edmonds redux.

Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Dec 2, 2010 10:34 PM EST reply actions

I feel like I doesn't matter

Edmonds will still be unsigned in late March and Walt just won’t be able to help himself.

by Brian B on Dec 2, 2010 11:04 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'd be down with that.

His defense is probably worse than Gomes, but he hit .285/.410/.470 against righties this year, and his career line against them is .253/.387/.480. I feel like Gomes could put up an 800+ OPS against lefties, which would make for some serious LF production. (and maybe the worst LF defense in the league)

Also, Cust’s power has diminished of late, but I’m guessing he’d get a GABP boost a la Rolen. Who knows how much it would cost to get him, but he’s easily the best option available right now, IMO.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on Dec 3, 2010 8:08 AM EST up reply actions

I'd rather have the defense in left, though

is the Ellsbury thing like the Hanley thing or like the Rolen thing?

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Dec 3, 2010 8:24 AM EST up reply actions

id definitely take ellsbury over cust, too.

But if cost us Masset and Heisey, I think I’d rather have Cust and Masset than just Ellsbury.

Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.

by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Dec 3, 2010 8:48 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Also, Ellsbury is due arbitration, and Cust is now a FA coming off of a non-tender.

It’s not definite, but entirely possible, that Ellsbury will cost more in dollars than Cust will too.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on Dec 3, 2010 9:45 AM EST up reply actions

Thirded.

I’d take that.

"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."

by crolfer on Dec 3, 2010 8:37 AM EST up reply actions

Meh.

Cust will be 32 and has classic old-player skills. He’s already shown a serious decline in power (ISOs well over 200 in 07-08 but well under it in the last two years), and his good avg/obp last season was propped up by a babip 50 points higher than his career average. And as you mention, his defense is atrocious. I can see his performance falling off a cliff next year, and the upside at this point in his career is minimal.

He’s also pretty well known for being a bad chemistry guy. Honestly, I’d rather have Edmonds.

by ken on Dec 3, 2010 8:56 AM EST up reply actions

true, but his ISO against righties this year was .185. Nowhere near his peak but still well above average

He’s also going on 4 straight years of an OPS+ above 100. 2009 was his lowest, but the other three years were all 128 or higher.

It’s possible he could fall off a cliff, but it’s also possible a move to the NL and a much more hitter friendly park could do him wonders. I don’t love the idea, but if it’s him or Posednik, I’ll take Cust every time.

As far as the clubhouse issues, I didn’t know about that, but I’d hope the great chemistry this team has could weather one bad apple. And as far as Edmonds, I’d absolutely take him if I felt he wasn’t going to fall apart any day now. I just don’t trust him to make it to May, let alone a whole season.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on Dec 3, 2010 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

Even if it's him or Pods, I don't know

The A’s non-tendered Cust last year too, and sent him through waivers, but nobody claimed him. It’s possible that his defense is so bad that he’s of no use at all to an NL team.

by ken on Dec 3, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

I'm thinking of playing another year

by ol Pete on Dec 3, 2010 8:48 AM EST up reply actions

GO AWAY

Only difference between astronauts and old folks bein' that you never see one astronaut spoon feedin' dollar chilli to a worse-lookin' astronaut at Wendy's

by RoastBeefKazenzakis on Dec 3, 2010 8:51 AM EST up reply actions

Dunn is going to love that White Sox team.

I bet he’s cranking up the Journey right now.

by Brian B on Dec 2, 2010 11:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Pirates non-tendered Lastings Milledge

I know he’s kind of a knucklehead and has underachieved, but he’ll be just 26 come Opening Day. How about him for LF and Gomes can ride the pine?

Owners needed for NL-only fantasy baseball league....inquire within.

by cesarhernandez on Dec 3, 2010 12:14 AM EST reply actions

Dude's power has just disappeared

Not that he was ever a huge masher, but he just completely stopped hitting homeruns – just 8 in 677 PA over the past 2 years. His bat is OK for CF, but not adequate for LF. He would provbably be about an even trade off for Gomes – more defense, less offense. Neither can hit RHP to save their life – Miledge has a career OPS of .690 against RHP. I don’t want that in LF.

I imagine he will get interest from teams in need of a CF.

Only difference between astronauts and old folks bein' that you never see one astronaut spoon feedin' dollar chilli to a worse-lookin' astronaut at Wendy's

by RoastBeefKazenzakis on Dec 3, 2010 8:58 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with everything except his ability to play CF.

He’s a well below average corner guy. No way any team with a brain asks him to play CF. At this point he’s barely replacement level. He’s a 5th OF at best.

see what I did there with uzr? it’s like a LOL cats saber-pun combo.--Verka Serduchka

by nycredsfan on Dec 3, 2010 9:44 AM EST up reply actions