ATM report--Trades and free agency

[nyy26wc]

1) The Reds traded INF Pokey Reese and P Dennys Reyes to the Rockies for P Gabe White and minor league P Luke Hudson.

Reese had a pathetic year, even by the rotten standards of his mediocre career. Reese hit .343 SLG, .284 OBA, .627 OPS, -24 RCAA, .315 OWP, 3.45 RC/G, 45 RC in 133 games. It was the 3rd time in his career that Reese had under -20 RCAA and an OPS under .650. The only thing that prevented Reese from unseating Rey Ordonez for the worst OPS title in the NL was Reese falling 28 PA short of qualifying for the leader list. He has a .671 career OPS, compared to his league average of .785 and positional average of .743, -86 RCAA and -53 RCAP.

Reyes had a 4.92 ERA and -4 RSAA in 35 games (6 starts) in 2001. He has a 4.33 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.40, and -1 RSAA in 195 major league games.

White dropped from a tremendous 2.36 ERA/36 RSAA season in 2000 to a poor 6.25 ERA/-7 RSAA season in 2001. He has a 4.46 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.38, and 21 RSAA in 294 career games.

Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd says, "We look at this as a Hudson-for-Reyes deal, because Pokey won't play for us. We're looking at other things." The Rocky Mountain News reports the Redsox, Tigers, Mariners, Dodgers and Brewers are interested in trading for Reese.

2) The Indians traded P John Rocker to the Rangers for minor league P Dave Elder and the Rangers signed Rocker to a 1 year, $2.2 million contract.

Rocker had a 4.32 ERA and 1 RSAA in 68 games in 2001--30 with the Braves and 38 with the Indians. He has a 3.05 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.49, and 34 RSAA.

Elder's a 26 year old who split the 2001 season between AA and AAA.

3) The Cardinals signed free agent 1B Tino Martinez to a 3 year contract

Martinez hit .501 SLG, .329 OBA, .830 OPS, 11 RCAA, .556 OWP, 5.77 RC/G, 94 RC in 154 games in 2001. His -59 RCAP over the past 2 years made him the best player in the American League in terms of costing his team runs, relative to the league average at his position. Martinez has a .824 career OPS, compared to his league average of .769 and 1B average of .848, 89 RCAA and -99 RCAP.

4) The Royals signed free agent LF Chuck Knoblauch to a 1 year, $2 million contract and designated OF Endy Chavez for assignment.

Knoblauch hit .351 SLG, .339 OBA, .691 OPS, -9 RCAA, .447 OWP, 4.53 RC/G, 70 RC in 137 games in 2001. It was the 4th time in the past 5 years that Knoblauch had drops in his SLG, OBA, OPS, RCAA and RCAP and his 2nd consecutive year with a negative RCAA. Knoblauch has a .793 career OPS, compared to his league average of .764 and positional average of .732, 187 RCAA and 244 RCAP.

5) The Yankees officially announced the re-signing of free agent P Sterling Hitchcock to a 2 year, $12 million contract, with an option for 2004.

Hitchcock had a 5.63 ERA and -10 RSAA in 12 starts in 2001--3 with the Padres and 9 with the Yankees. It was the 3rd time he's had a double digit negative RSAA in the past 6 years, while he's only had a positive figure once during that time. Hitchcock has a 4.75 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.56, and -52 RSAA.

6) The Cardinals got awful news when MGR Tony LaRussa says Placido Polanco will probably be the team's starting LF.

Polanco is a perfect example of why a minor league like SF or HBP is a far better stat than batting average. Everyone can accept that SF and HBP are minor stats and nobody hurts the team by judging players based on that ability. But, managers excel in hurting their teams by judging players based on average.

Polanco's .307 average in 2001, and the .299 mark he's had during his mediocre career, obscures the fact that he's only an asset to the opposition. Polanco hit .383 SLG, .342 OBA, .725 OPS, -14 RCAA, .416 OWP, 4.39 RC/G, 70 RC in 144 games in 2001. It was the 2nd time in his 4 year career that Polanco had double digit negative RCAAs and RCAPs, with the only thing preventing him from having a 4 year RCAA streak and 3 year RCAP streak is not enough playing time in 1998 and 2000. Polanco has a .719 career OPS, compared to his league average of .786 and positional average of .773, -38 RCAA and -34 RCAP.

But, justice will be served. There should be a penalty for stupidity and in this case, there will be a penalty. The Cardinals will suffer for LaRussa's stupidity, but unfortunately for them, LaRussa will just look at the AVG, conclude that Polanco's helping and will no effort to remedy the problem.

7) The Diamondbacks re-signed free agent RF Danny Bautista to a 3 year, about $8 million contract.

Bautista hit .437 SLG, .346 OBA, .783 OPS, -4 RCAA, .448 OWP, 5.04 RC/G, 31 RC in 100 G/239 PA in 2001. The only time in his 9 year career that he avoided a negative RCAA and RCAP was when he posted 0 in both categories during a 17 game cup of coffee callup in 1993. He has a .706 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781 and positional average of .822, -65 RCAA and -84 RCAP. Bautista will take over the starting RF job that belonged to Reggie Sanders, who's a free agent that the Diamondbacks didn't offer salary arbitration to.

8) The Diamondbacks hired Robin Yount as 1B and OF coach.

9) Reds broadcaster, and former P, Joe Nuxhall is in stable condition after having a heart attack. The doctors expect him to be OK and he'll stay in the hospital for a few days for tests.

10) According to free agent P John Burkett's agent, he's accepted the Redsox's 2 year, $11 million offer. The Redsox deny that it's a done deal.

11) The Redsox re-signed P Willie Banks to a 1 year contract and signed 2B Carlos Baerga to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Baerga's been far more productive in 2000-01 than he was from 1996-99. After having -84 RCAA over that 4 year period, he was kind enough to ever team in baseball to not play for them and hurt anyone's pennant hopes.

In a very small sample size, Banks had an 0.84 ERA and 4 RSAA in 5 games with the Redsox in 2001. The only time in his career that he had a positive RSAA, and did it over more than just 5 games, was in 1993. Banks has a 4.85 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.24, and -41 RSAA.

12) According to the New York Times, "The Anaheim Angels are trying to shed [Mo] Vaughn's salary, and two people familiar with the Mets' strategy said the Mets have strong interest."

13) The Phillies are expected to invite Dave Hollins to spring training today.

14) Royals Allard Baird says the team is very close to making a trade, while the Kansas City star speculates it could be for Cubs OF Michael Tucker.

15) According to several reports, the Cubs are about to sign free agent LF Moises Alou to a 3 year, $24 million contract, with an option for 2005.

16) The Mariners will have a press conference today to officially announce Jay Buhner's retirement.

17) Rangers CF Carl Everett will have arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and the team hopes he'll be ready for the start of spring training.

18) To make room on the 40 man roster, the Rangers designated P Justin Thompson for assignment, while they also signed P Jeremi Gonzalez to a minor league contract.

GM John Hart says the team wants to keep Thompson, but at a low salary with incentives. After being acquired in the Juan Gonzalez trade, Thompson has missed the past couple of years due to an injury.

Gonzalez has missed the past 3 years due to injuries.

18) According to the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are interested in bringing back free agent P Todd Jones, who they traded to the Twins during the 2001 season.

19) The Indians signed INF Bill Selby and Ps Dave Mauer and J.D. Brammer to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

20) The BlueJays signed 1B/OF Brian Lesher, OF Chad Mottola and P Chris Peters to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

[Xanadu Dragon]

The Redsox re-signed P Willie Banks to a 1 year contract and signed 2B Carlos Baerga to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Why even bother?

[CubFan7125]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
18) hile they also signed P Jeremi Gonzalez to a minor league contract.

Gonzalez has missed the past 3 years due to injuries.

I remember thinking he had good stuff in 97 with the Cubs. Besides injuries however I think he was somewhat of a headcase. If he has his injuries behind him & has grown up the Rangers might have themselves a find here.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Three years off is a lot to comeback from 'tho.

[CubFan7125]

Originally posted by Xanadu Dragon
Three years off is a lot to comeback from 'tho.

Can anyone help me out with a productive example or 2. I can't come up with any.

[Xanadu Dragon]

Jim Bouton took off eight years - - but was not productive when he came back.

Jury is still out on Jose Rijo - six years.

Dave Stieb did 5 years off.

But, all these guys were old when they "came back."

[hmrsf]

10) According to free agent P John Burkett's agent, he's accepted the Redsox's 2 year, $11 million offer. The Redsox deny that it's a done deal.
---------------------------------------------------ATM report quote----------

Only Dan could put this together and take it back!

[CubFan7125]

If he botches signing John Burkett, that may be a new low for Duquette.

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by CubFan7125
Can anyone help me out with a productive example or 2. I can't come up with any.

I can't think of anyone who missed that much time, due to injuries, and was able to come back and be productive.

Feller was able to come back after missing a few years, but he was still pitching and staying in shape while "serving" in the military. Also, he doesn't count since he wasn't coming back from an injury.