Giants sign Cruz

[nyy26wc]

1) The Giants signed free agent OF Jose Cruz Jr. to a 1 year, $2.8 million contract.

After -8 RCAA/.789 OPS and 14 RCAA/.857 OPS seasons, Cruz hit .438 SLG, .317 OBA, .754 OPS, 0 RCAA in 124 games with the BlueJays. He has a .797 career OPS, compared to his league average of .774, and 17 RCAA in 747 games.

2) According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants are close to signing free agent 1B Andres Galarraga.

3) The A's re-signed 1B Erubiel Durazo to a 1 year, $1.065 million contract.

After 3 RCAA/.817 OPS and 10 RCAA/.909 OPS seasons, Durazo hit .550 SLG, .395 OBA, .944 OPS, 18 RCAA in 76 games with the Diamondbacks. He has a .918 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782, and 50 RCAA in 287 games.

4) According to the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers have some interest in Rickey Henderson, as well as Kenny Lofton. Meanwhile, Lofton is also reportedly on the Pirates's list.

5) The Pirates signed free agent P Julian Tavarez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Tavarez is coming off a 5.39 ERA/-24 RSAA season in 29 games (27 starts) with the Marlins. This was his 2nd double digit negative RSAA in the past 4 years and his 3rd negative figure during that time. However, his track record indicates 2002 could easily have a career year in terms of how he can go. In his 3 other negative RSAA seasons (throwing out 1993-94, when he pitched a total of just 9 games), he combined for a total of -19 RSAA. Meanwhile, Tavarez had a 23 RSAA season as recently as 2000, but can't be counted on to duplicate that feat. He has a 4.61 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.44, and -10 RSAA in 427 games.

6) The Brewers signed free agent OF John Vander Wal to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

After a 36 RCAA/.972 OPS career year in 2000, Vander Wal's had 5 RCAA/.806 OPS in 2001 and hit .429 SLG, .327 OBA, .756 OPS, -2 RCAA in 84 games with the Yankees in 2002. He has a .796 career OPS, compared to his league average of .767, and 18 RCAA in 1213 games.

7) The Redsox sent 1B Earl Snyder to the minors outright, after he cleared waivers. He had already been removed from the 40 man roster when he was designated for assignment last week.

8) The Diamondbacks re-signed P Eddie Oropesa to a minor league contract and signed OF Luis Garcia to a minor league contract.

After starting his career with a 4.74 ERA/-1 RSAA in 30 games as a 29 year old rookie with the 2001 Phillies, Oropesa had a 10.30 ERA/-16 RSAA in 32 games in 2002.

Garcia was 1 for 3 in 6 games with the 2002 Orioles.

9) The Angels re-signed P Scott Schoeneweis to a 1 year, $1.425 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

Schoeneweis had his 4th year with a negative RSAA in his 4 year career, when he posted a 4.88 ERA/-7 RSAA in 54 games (15 starts) in 2002. He has a 5.19 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.65, and -26 RSAA in 144 games.

Schoeneweis set the Angels record with his 4th consecutive year with an ERA at least .40 worse than the league average--

1    Scott Schoeneweis        1999-02    4   
T2   Ed Sukla                 1964-66    3   
T2   Mike Barlow              1977-79    3   
T2   Chris Knapp              1978-80    3   
T2   Mike Cook                1986-88    3   
T2   Russ Springer            1993-95    3   

He is 1 such season away from tying the AL record for lefties (no IP minimum for the 1st chart, but a 100 IP minimum for this one)--

1    Casey Patten             1902-05    4   
T2   Chubby Dean              1939-41    3   
T2   Bob Cain                 1951-53    3   
T2   Billy Hoeft              1952-54    3   
T2   Ted Bowsfield            1962-64    3   
T2   Rick Waits               1980-82    3   
T2   Scott Schoeneweis        2000-02    3   

10) According to the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks are interested in free agent P Ron Villone.

11) The Devil Rays re-signed P Dan Reichert to a 1 year, $510,000 contract, which avoided salary arbitration.

Reichert was the Royals first round pick in 1997 and the 7th pick overall in the draft. He's spent his whole career with the Royals, with a 5.53 ERA/-20 RSAA in 109 career games, including a 5.32 ERA/0 RSAA in 30 games (6 starts) in 2002. In September, the Devil Rays claimed him off waivers.

12) Indians MGR Eric Wedge says Josh Bard will be the starting catcher while Milton Bradley will get a chance to be the leadoff man.

Victor Martinez may be the team's catcher of the future, but the team would prefer for him to get a little bit more seasoning in the minors. Bard started his career with a .378 SLG, .255 OBA, .633 OPS, -7 RCAA in 24 games as a 24 year old rookie in 2002.

Bradley's an excellent choice for a leadoff man, as long as you want to cater to the fans who want to see the team make outs as quickly as possible.

Bradley's OBA vs. the league average ranks among the all time leaders for the worst figure by a CF, through the age of 24 (min: 200 games)--

OBA                             DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE  
1    Corey Patterson           -.062     .278     .340  
2    Fred Beck                 -.047     .284     .330  
3    Peter Bergeron            -.043     .302     .345  
4    George Brickell           -.041     .315     .357  
5    Hal Jeffcoat              -.041     .303     .344  
6    Les Mann                  -.039     .292     .331  
7    Harry Craft               -.039     .303     .342  
8    Brian McRae               -.038     .291     .328  
9    Milton Bradley            -.037     .301     .338  
10   Frank Welch               -.035     .324     .359  

13) According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have ruled out trading for either Jeromy Burnitz or Ken Griffey Jr.

14) The Rockies signed P Darren Oliver to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Oliver's had 3 double digit negative RSAA's in the past 5 years, including back to back years (2000-01) with -27 and -26 figures. In 2002, he had a 4.66 ERA/-2 RSAA in 14 games (9 starts) with the Redsox, before they released him early in July. Oliver has a 5.02 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.66, and -29 RSAA in 246 games.

15) Mets GM Steve Phillips says he's conducting trade talks for a 3B, but "nothing is compelling." So, Ty Wigginton is still penciled in as their starting 3B. The New York Post reports the team is considering giving B.J. Surhoff a workout and possibly having him share the position with Wigginton, if he's signed.

16) The Redsox plan on having 280 seats at the top of the Green Monster this season. Meanwhile, the netting that catches HR balls hit over that wall has been removed.

17) The player's union has filed a request to get "documents that would reflect interclub communications and communications between the commissioner's office and clubs about free agent negotiations." According to Gene Orza, the request "is not uncommon in a preliminary investigation."

[Max Power]

Andres Galarraga!

Wow - - I thought he had retired.

Oliver in Coors - - - that, might be the highest ERA to be ever seen.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
The New York Post reports the [Mets are] considering giving B.J. Surhoff a workout and possibly having him share [3B] with Wigginton, if he's signed.

shudder.....when was the last time surhoff played third? 95 or 96?

[gyb13]

Originally posted by Max Power
Oliver in Coors - - - that, might be the highest ERA to be ever seen.

FWIW, here are some historically high Colorado ERAs (min 50 IP). Unfortunately, I don't have the home/road breakdown for everyone:

Starters
8.95 Bryan Rekar 96 (58.1 IP)
8.04 John Thomson 99 (62.2 IP) -> 7.01 at coors
7.14 Brian Bohanon 01 (97 IP)

Relievers
8.50 Andy Ashby 93 (54 IP)
8.41 Mike DeJean 99 (61 IP) -> 10.30 at coors
7.68 Scott Karl 00 (65.2 IP)

[sweaver]

Kids' stuff.....Oliver's going for 10.00!

[Gosfgiants]

Originally posted by Max Power
Andres Galarraga!

Wow - - I thought he had retired.

If the Giants sign him, does that automically make Snow or Minor trade bait?

[RichG]

Originally posted by gyb13
shudder.....when was the last time surhoff played third? 95 or 96?

He played 3 games in 99 and prior to that he didn't have a season with 3 or more games since 1993.

If it comes to Surhoff or Wigginton I don't think Glavine or Leiter will be happy and I hope it doesn't cause Trachsel to slow down.

[gyb13]

3B Fielding Chances, 2002 NL:

PHI 503
STL 499
CIN 491
PIT 483
NYM 479
SD 477
HOU 476
FLA 472
LA 464
AZ 446
MTL 438
COL 437
SF 427
MIL 407
ATL 397
CHC 362

it seems their pitching staff draws an average to above-average amount of plays at third... so it could definitely be a concern

[gyb13]

Orioles, Mets, and Yankees interested? ugh...

http://www.sunspot.net/sports/bal-sp...orts-headlines

sounds like a surefire Oriole free agent acquisition to me!

[gyb13]

and indeed he was. Surhoff has signed a minor-league deal with the O's.....his 2nd tour of duty with the club

[KCBOOMER]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
11) The Devil Rays re-signed P Dan Reichert to a 1 year, $510,000 contract, which avoided salary arbitration. Reichert was the Royals first round pick in 1997 and the 7th pick overall in the draft.

17) The player's union has filed a request to get "documents that would reflect interclub communications and communications between the commissioner's office and clubs about free agent negotiations." According to Gene Orza, the request "is not uncommon in a preliminary investigation."

1) I would like to see Reichert get with an organization that knew something about developing pitchers, but TB isn't it. The guy has great stuff with not enough command.

17) The Player's Union is a joke. If they aren't yelling they they don't hold a gun to the owners' heads to pay ridiculous salaries they are suing because the owners aren't paying ridiculous salaries.