SB Nation - Chuck James

Flowers In December: Any Interesting Names on the Non-Tender List?

hugo — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:21:46 -0000

The midnight deadline by which teams had to tender contracts to their arbitration-eligible players has come and gone, and non-tendered players become free agents. As I reported before sitting down to a lovely evening of watching Iron Man and eating homemade pizza with Mrs. Hugo, the Jays kept all their arbitration-eligibles in the fold, makin offers to Brandon League, Brian Tallet, Jose Bautista, and Jason Frasor. Here is the list of non-tendered players, and it's got a few names worth some further look.

Ty Wigginton, IF/OF: Wigginton, who we've discussed earlier here, was cut loose by the Houston Astros despite having a fine season last year, batting .285/.350/.526 in 429 plate appearances and seeing time in the infield and outfield corners. He's been a solid hitter throughout his career and especially has crushed lefties. Beyond the Box Score also had good things to say about his defense at third base, though his reputation is less favorable. Wigginton made $4.35 last year and was due a raise - the Astros ultimately decided they couldn't afford him. As Rince mentioned earlier this week, we know the Jays have some interest in Wigginton. I think that interest makes sense: Wigginton will be a tad pricey, but no more than the Jays paid for David Eckstein last year, and much more useful. He provides power the team could really use, could spell Overbay against lefties (against whom he was awful last year) or else DH against them, and backup Rolen at third base. The only problem is that a few teams, like the Twins for example, will probably offer Wigginton an everyday job at third base, which the Jays can't do.

Joe Nelson, RHRP: Nelson will be 34 this season but had a very nice season last year with the Florida Marlins, striking out 60 over 54 innings and walking just 22, yielding just 1.19 walks and hits per inning pitched all told. He also had a good year in 2006 with the Royals and his minor league numbers are solid so it's not as if 2008 was a total aberration. Nelson was equally solid against righties and lefties. Sure, our bullpen is stacked, but with some relievers returning from injury and others possibly moving to the rotation, you can never have enough quality arms, particularly if the Jays decide to move bullpen help to fill needs in other areas. Nelson is arbitration-eligible for the first time so isn't in for any kind of big payday. He did a fine job last year and is a decent move for any team.

Daniel Cabrera, RHSP: Every year it seems like this guy has been primed for a breakout year, but it hasn't happened. He made $4 million last season and had his worst season ever, continuing to walk about a batter every two innings and seeing his K rate completely fall apart. He also battled elbow problems, which could either mean he will rebound if he's healthy now or that he's a bad risk if he's not. Sure, there's a school of thought that says he has killer stuff and just needs to put it together, and it could be suggested that Arnsberg could fix him. I suppose I wouldn't mind taking a pure flier on him with a really cheap deal, but my guess is that there won't be any shortage of teams in on him, and I don't think he's worth $4 million as he's never had a good season (never had a Whip under 1.4 or an ERA+ over 96). Last year was truly terrible and it's hard to justify $4 million on top of that. I say pass.

Jonny Gomes, DH/OF/1B: Gomes can't field worth a lick, but for a team like the Jays and their almost historically bad DH production in 2008, that's not a fatal strike against him. Gomes has been used as a part-time player against lefties, against whom he has historically fared quite well (.266/.369/.510 career). Gomes has basically had two below average years, one very good year, and one terrible year (2008). He is a bit of a worse version of Wigginton with some significant weaknesses compared to Ty: he can't play the field, he's not a good hitter against righties, and he is coming off a terrible season. Of course, he will be much cheaper, and DHs don't have to field. For a team as offense-starved as the Jays, he's probably worth a look, but I'm not expecting big things - he's only had one season that approaches what you want from a DH and that was back in 2005.

Chris Capuano, LHP: Capuano made $3.75 million last season and didn't throw a pitch while undergoing his second ligament replacement surgery on his left elbow. He is still on the way back and likely will not be ready for the beginning of the season. The Brewers didn't offer him a contract but might still bring him back on a lower-cost deal. The Springfield, Massachusetts native will turn 30 in August. He was a very useful mid-rotation starter in 2005 and 2006, averaging a 110 ERA+ over the two seasons and pitching to an excellent 174/47 K/BB ratio over 221 innings in 2006. Capuano is still young and is probably worth a look for the Jays, as he has a solid track record as a starter when healthy, he's still young, and it's not at all unforseeable that he will have a nice bounceback year. The two TJ surgeries are a caution though, as is the price tag. Add in the fact that he likely won't be ready for the start of the season (the TJ surgery was in May) and it's not clear that the Jays should spend more money on another injury project. Personally, though, I would much rather the Jays bite on Capuano than Cabrera. I'd take a look at the medicals and offer a short-term deal with some nice incentives and a quality option for next season - I could see Capuano rebuilding his career over the next two seasons. If there's someone I hope the Jays look at on this list, it's Capuano.

Takashi Saito, RHRP: Saito will be 39 at the beginning of last season and made $2 million last season, his third after coming over to MLB from Japan. Saito's major-league numbers are fantastic - if he was healthy, he'd be looking at tons of money as he has three very good seasons of closing under his belt, with a lifetime 229 ERA+ (compare Mariano Rivera at 199) and a career Whip of 0.91 (compare Rivera again at 1.02). But Takashi's health is a huge question mark after serious elbow problems, namely, a torn ulnar collateral ligament. In an attempt to avoid TJ surgery, the normal treatment (and a likely career-ender for a 39-year old pitcher), Saito underwent an experimental procedure by which plasma rich in platelets (an order of magnitude more than the normal concentration of platelets) drawn from his body was injected directly into the ligament at the tear site. It's not clear how successful the treatment will be long-term, but it will be interesting to see - particularly, if it is successful, whether other pitchers in their 30s will opt for the procedure in lieu of TJ surgery or retirement. Anyway, back from my medical-nerd digression. Saito returned from the procedure to pitch in the playoffs (not very well, but that's understandable). A 39-year old reliever doesn't necessarily make sense for a team like the Jays, who already have a rich bullpen, but if they plan to trade away some depth, it's never a bad idea to get all the quality arms you can. Saito probably makes more sense for another team, though I'd love to see him pitching for the Jays. If Ryan were traded away, Saito becomes a good (though not necessary) move in my opinion as you can use him in the closer role and give the Jays' younger pitchers high-leverage innings while easing them into closing duties.

Chuck James, LHSP: James is only 27 and was considered a pretty good pitching prospect but only made 7 starts last season and underwent shoulder surgery in August. He will likely miss all of 2009 but he posted pretty good numbers as a young lefty starter for the Braves in 2006 and 2007. He could be worth looking at, but I don't he really profiles well in the American League - he doesn't have overwhelming stuff and gives up too many fly balls and home runs while also walking too many. He could still have a decent career, but the Jays have plenty of guys like this and better who aren't recovering from shoulder surgery.

Jamie Burke, C: He'll be 37 for the 2009 season and isn't coming off a good year, but a backup catcher with a 94 career OPS+? You could do worse.

Kevin Cash, C: Just kidding.

Today's title from the lovely song by Mazzy Star, one of the more underrated bands around.

Players being non-tendered

Adam J. Morris — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:12:07 -0000

Evan Grant reports the Rangers have non-tendered Doug Mathis, although they hope to re-sign him as a minor league free agent. No word on Willie Eyre and whether he was tendered a contract. Willie Eyre was tendered a contract. So much for my tricksy Rangerses theory.

Names of players around the majors who have been non-tendered are dribbling in, and thusfar include:

Willy Taveras

Jonny Gomes

Takashi Saito

Yhency Brazoban

Angel Berroa

Scott Proctor

Chuck James

Tim Redding

Chris Capuano

Ty Wigginton

Clay Hensley

I shall add more names as I see them.

The Rangers are looking for a righty-hitting DH, supposedly, and I'd be interested in taking a look at Gomes, who looked like a stud in the making as a rookie in 2005, and has struggled since.

And I'm sure they'll touch base with Wigginton, although I'm betting he's going to end up with a 2-3 year deal at $5 million or so per year.

Braves LH Starting Pitcher: The Now and The Future

gondeee — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:36:30 -0000

At the major league level…
… Our best left-hander might actually be Mike Hampton, and that’s just scary. He’s a free agent (finally), but late this season he showed some signs that the old (good) Hampton was coming back. With the premium for pitching out there in baseball, if we can resign Hampton to an incentive laden contract we might actually get a decent pitcher who still has a lot to prove. I know, I don’t like it either, but would we really rather count on Tom Glavine for another full year?

The other left-handed options are perhaps even less desirable. Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James have shown little recent ability to pitch in the big leagues. While James seems to be a complete lost cause, Jo-Jo may still have some more opportunities left. He has to improve his entire game and learn how not to let one mistake spiral out of control into a multi-run inning.

The future Braves left-handed starting pitcher…
… After suffering through a series of injures early in the season, Cole Rohrbough once again displayed why the Braves think so highly of him while holding his own after a promotion to Myrtle Beach.

He’s a nasty left-handed strikeout pitcher who commands his fastball and uses his curveball as an out pitch. He’s absolutely a strikeout pitcher, and one who could move quickly through the system again next year. Odds are he’ll start in Myrtle Beach then move up to Mississippi in the middle of the year. The Braves seem to think the world of Rohrbough, and he will get every chance to succeed and may be moved quicker if he dominates.

More for future consideration…
2. Jeff Locke – One of our most promising young pitchers. He had a rough year in the win department and a tough first half, but he turned it around in the second half and will move up the ladder slow and steady. He should get better at each stop, as Rome was his first real test this year. He’s a prospect who should be considered a top end of the rotation starter.

3. Brett DeVall – Our first pick in this year’s draft didn’t throw much in games after signing, but he was one of the more talented arms to come out of high school and should be given a shot at Rome next year to prove what he can do. He’s already a big framed guy with room to fill out. His pitching style has been compared to Tom Glavine.

4. Scott Diamond – A non-drafted guy who took a bonus to sign with the Braves last year. He is probably one of the biggest surprises in the system this season. Between Rome and the Beach he went 15-and-3 with a 2.89 ERA. He didn’t get hit too much or walk too many, and he still struck out 123 in 152.2 innings pitch. Diamond will be intriguing to watch next season as he should start the year in Mississippi.

5. Richard Sullivan – For some reason I really like this kid. He came out of nowhere when he was drafted out of SCAD, and after easily handling the Appy League he did really well in Rome. He’s said to have a very funky delivery that makes his pitches hard to pick up. In 54.2 innings pitched he only walked four and gave up one homerun while posing an exceptional ground-ball rate. He might be good enough to start at the Beach next season, but he could stand to repeat Rome in the first half.

6. Edgar Osuna – Osuna built upon a very successful 2007 with what could be described as a breakout 2008. He posted ten wins while leading Rome with 135 wins strikeouts in 125.1 innings and a great 3.38 ERA. Like he did last year he’s pitching in the Mexican league this winter as a situational lefty, which adds to his flexibility down the road in making the majors as either a starter or a reliever.

7. Jose Ortegano – He had a disappointing season for two reasons. First he struggled on the mound with some poor situational pitching, and then a shoulder injury setback then ended his season. Hopefully he can rebound next year and post numbers that led him to be named the Most Spectacular Pitcher in short season minor league baseball.

8. Johnny Venters – Venters might be the next Morton or Parr in the system. He’s a community college guy who’s taken some time to develop, and has been slowed by injuries, but many say he’s finally put it together this year. He’ll get a chance to get more innings under his belt in Hawaii this winter and could find his way to Mississippi next season.

9. Steve Kent – This long-term Australian project may finally be ready to spend some time on a full season club, and after two years of rookie ball he’ll still only be 20-years old next year. Keep an eye on him next year as he is primed to have a breakout season.

10. Steve Evarts – He had some setbacks this year with injuries and off the field distractions, but when he’s on the mound he’s been northing short of spectacular. Unfortunately he had Tommy John surgery in June and it will be another year before we will finally see what the 43rd overall pick in the 2006 draft can do.

11. Chad Rodgers – He doesn’t seem as much of a prospect as he once did. He came out of the gate strong in 2006, but after an average 2007 he had a not-so-spectacular 2008 at Rome. He also missed some time late in the year with a shoulder strain. Rodgers is going to have to reprove himself as a prospect, but at least he’s getting innings under his belt.

Others: Brett Oberholtzer (2008 eighth round pick posted some great numbers in the GCL); Luis Avilan (A young and difficult to hit Venezuelan power pitching prospect); Dimaster Delgado (Young Panamanian fireballer scuffled a bit in complex ball, but is still an interesting guy to watch)