ATM report--Signings

[nyy26wc]

1) The Phillies re-signed 3B Scott Rolen (1 year, $8.6 million), 1B Travis Lee (1 year, $3 million) and P Robert Person (1 year, $6.25 million).

Rolen hit .498 SLG, .378 OBA, .876 OPS, 32 RCAA, .649 OWP, 7.32 RC/G, 113 RC in 151 games. His OPS was the lowest it's been since his rookie season in 1997, but that's not an indictment of his 2001 play and instead is a testament to how good he's been during his career. After having injury problems that limited him to 112 and 128 games in 1999-2000, Rolen was healthy enough to play in 151 games in 2001, which enabled him to post the 2nd best RCAA of his career. Rolen has a .884 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778 and 3B average of .793, 138 RCAA and 128 RCAP in 744 games.

Lee hit .434 SLG, .341 OBA, .775 OPS, -3 RCAA, .482 OWP, 5.02 RC/G, 82 RC in 157 games. It was the 3rd consecutive time he's had a negative RCAA and the 4th time in his 4 year career that he's had a double digit negative RCAP. One of the signs of an unproductive player is when he can call a -11 RCAP a career best, which was what Lee did in 2001. He has a .746 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782 and positional average of .839, -28 RCAA and -72 RCAP in 551 games.

Person wasn't able to come close to duplicating his unexpected 22 RSAA season from 2000, posting a 4.19 ERA and 2 RSAA in 33 starts. He has a 4.51 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and -6 RSAA in 183 games.

2) The Expos re-signed P Javier Vazquez (1 year, $4.725 million) and C Michael Barrett (1 year, $1.15 million).

Vazquez had a 3.42 ERA and 31 RSAA in 32 starts in 2001, continuing a trend of increasing his RSAA and lowering his ERA every year of his career. He was tied for 5th in the NL in RSAA and was 5th with 208 SO. He has a 4.51 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.45, and -3 RSAA in 123 starts, but those numbers are distorted by a terrible rookie season in 1998, in which he had a 6.06 ERA and -44 RSAA. Since then, he's had a 4.06 ERA, compared to his league average of 4.52, and 41 RSAA in 91 starts.

Barrett had another terrible year, hitting .367 SLG, .289 OBA, .655 OPS, -32 RCAA, .277 OWP, 3.38 RC/G, 47 RC in 132 games. It was the 3rd time in his 3 years as a starter that he's had double digit negative RCAA's and RCAP's. He was 3rd in the NL in worst OPS and tied for 4th in worst RCAA. Barrett has a .686 career OPS, compared to his league average of .789 and positional average of .763, -68 RCAA and -50 RCAP In 355 games.

3) The Redsox re-signed P Ugueth Urbina (1 year, $6.7 million) and RF Trot Nixon (1 year, $2.7 million).

Urbina had a 3.65 ERA and 7 RSAA in 64 games in 2001--45 with the Expos and 19 with the Redsox. He has a 3.46 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.32, and 44 RSAA in 315 games.

Nixon had the best year of his career in 2001, hitting .505 SLG, .376 OBA, .881 OPS, 29 RCAA, .641 OWP, 7.06 RC/G, 107 RC in 148 games. He has a .846 career OPS, compared to his league average of .780 and RF average of .817, 42 RCAA and 35 RCAP in 410 games.

4) The Padres signed free agent OF Ron Gant to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Gant hit .452 SLG, .345 OBA, .797 OPS, 0 RCAA, .499 OWP, 6.02 RC/G, 43 RC in 93 games in 2001--59 with the Rockies and 34 with the A's. He has a .805 career OPS, compared to his league average of .745 and positional average of .765, 101 RCAA and 48 RCAP in 1713 games.

5) The Pirates re-signed P Sean Lowe (1 year, $950,000), INF Abraham Nunez (1 year, $550,000) and OF Adrian Brown (1 year, $450,000).

Lowe had a 3.61 ERA in 45 games (11 starts) with the Whitesox in 2001, before being traded to the Pirates during the offseason. It was the 2nd time in the past 3 years that he's had a double digit RSAA, with his 14 being a career high, but he's never been able to put together back to back positive seasons. Lowe has a 4.56 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.68, and 7 RSAA in 169 games.

Nunez hit .336 SLG, .326 OBA, .662 OPS, -9 RCAA, .397 OWP, 4.24 RC/G, 36 RC in 115 games in 2001. He has a .607 career OPS, compared to his league average of .785 and positional average of .716, -46 RCAA and -24 RCAP in 288 games.

Brown was limited to just 8 games in 2001. He has a .700 career OPS, compared to his league average of .784 and positional average of .790, -19 RCAA and -27 RCAP in 317 games.

6) The Cardinals re-signed C Eli Marrero to a 1 year, $850,000 contract.

Marrero hit .438 SLG, .312 OBA, .751 OPS, -5 RCAA, .428 OWP, 4.50 RC/G, 27 RC in 86 games in 2001, keeping intact his streak of having a negative RCAA in every year of his career. Marrero has a .653 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782 and C average of .736, -60 RCAA and -36 RCAP in 353 games.

7) The Reds re-signed 3B Aaron Boone (1 year, $2.1 million) and OF Juan Encarnacion (1 year, $1.55 million).

Boone hit .483 SLG, .351 OBA, .834 OPS, 7 RCAA, .555 OWP, 5.96 RC/G, 64 RC in 103 games in 2001, setting career highs in RCAA and OPS. He has a .792 career OPS, compared to his league average of .786 and 3B average of .796, 1 RCAA and 0 RCAP in 400 games.

Encarnacion hit .408 SLG, .292 OBA, .700 OPS, -15 RCAA, .376 OWP, 48 RC in 120 games with the Tigers in 2001, before being traded to the Reds for Dmitri Young. It was the 2nd time in his 3 years as a starter that he's had a double digit negative RCAA and the 3rd time he's had a negative figure. Encarnacion has a .753 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782 and positional average of .784, -36 RCAA and -48 RCAP in 444 games.

8) The Orioles re-signed P Jason Johnson to a 1 year, $4.7 million contract.

Johnson had a 4.09 ERA and 2 RSAA in 32 starts in 2001. It was the 1st time in his career he had a positive RSAA. Johnson has a 5.29 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.69, and -42 RSAA in 95 games.

9) The A's re-signed P Mike Venafro to 1 year, $812,500 contract.

Venafro had a 4.80 ERA and -2 RSAA in 70 games in 2001. He has a 3.95 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.76, and 19 RSAA in 212 games, while his ERA has gone up and RSAA has gone down each year of his
career.

10) The Devil Rays re-signed P Paul Wilson (1 year, $1.2 million) and signed 1B Brian Hunter and OFs Emil Brown and Terry Jones to minor league contracts.

Wilson had a 4.88 ERA and -7 RSAA in 37 games (24 starts) in 2001. It was the 2nd time in his 3 year career that he's had a negative RSAA. Wilson has a 4.87 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.44, and -23 RSAA in 74 games.

Hunter has a .728 career OPS, compared to his league average of .757 and positional average of .810, -40 RCAA and -82 RCAP in 699 games from 1991-2000.

Brown hit .299 SLG, .284 OBA, .583 OPS, -10 RCAA, .262 OWP, 3.00 RC/G, 13 RC in 74 games in 2001--61 with the Pirates and 13 with the Padres. It was the 5th time in his 5 year career that he's had a negative RCAA and RCAP and an OPS under .650. Brown has a .591 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781 and positional average of .787, -30 RCAA and -29 RCAP in 209 games.

Jones hit .325 SLG, .278 OBA, .603 OPS in 30 games with the Expos in 2001. It was the 5th time in his 5 year career that he's had a negative RCAA and an OPS under .625 and the 4th time his OBA was under .300. Jones has a .595 career OPS, compared to his league average of .780 and positional average of .784, -35 RCAA and -38 RCAP in 227 games.

11) The Tigers re-signed P Jeff Weaver to a 1 year, $2.35 million contract.

Weaver had a 4.08 ERA and 9 RSAA in 33 starts in 2001. He has a 4.57 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.74, and 7 RSAA in 92 starts.

12) The Brewers re-signed P Chad Fox to a 1 year, $1.2 million contract and designated minor league P George Perez for assignment, to make room on the 40 man roster for Eric Young.

Fox had a 1.89 ERA and a career high 19 RSAA in 65 games in 2001. He has a 3.26 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.30, and 20 RSAA in 150 games.

13) The Giants re-signed P Jay Witasick to a 1 year, $1.25 million contract.

Witasick had a 3.30 ERA and 8 RSAA in 63 games in 2001--31 with the Padres and 32 with the Yankees--before being traded to the Giants for John Vander Wal earlier in the offseason. It was the 1st time in his 6 year career that Witasick had a positive RSAA and he been working on a streak of 2 consecutive years with a double digit negative RSAA. Witasick has a 5.32 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.75, and -31 RSAA in 155 games.

14) The Royals re-signed CF Carlos Beltran to a 1 year, $3.5 million contract.

Beltran hit .514 SLG, .362 OBA, .876 OPS, 31 RCAA, .631 OWP, 7.51 RC/G, 123 RC in 155 games in 2001. It was the 1st time in his 3 year career that he had a positive RCAA. That's right. He didn't do it in his overrated Rookie of the Year season in 1999. Beltran has a .796 career OPS, compared to his league average of .780 and CF average of .766, 9 RCAA and 2 RCAP in 423 games.

[nyy26wc]

15) The Marlins re-signed P Ryan Dempster (1 year, $2.475 million), 1B Derrek Lee (1 year, $2.7 million), 2B Luis Castillo (1 year, $3.325 million), SS Alex Gonzalez (1 year, $1.7 million) and C Mike Redmond (1 year, $650,000).

After a productive 3.66 ERA/20 RSAA season in 2000, Dempster took a big step backwards in 2001, posting a 4.94 ERA and -18 RSAA in 34 starts. He has a 4.62 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and -23 RSAA in 106 games.

Lee hit .474 SLG, .346 OBA, .820 OPS, 8 RCAA, .541 OWP, 5.60 RC/G, 89 RC in 158 games in 2001. He has a .781 career OPS, compared to his league average of .782 and 1B average of .839, 1 RCAA and -42 RCAP in 549 games.

After a productive .806 OPS/17 RCAA season in 2000, Castillo fell to .341 SLG, .344 OBA, .685 OPS, -12 RCAA, .430 OWP, 4.38 RC/G, 69 RC in 134 games in 2001. He has a .705 career OPS, compared to his league average of .783 and 2B average of .749, -18 RCAA and 5 RCAP in 558 games.

Gonzalez complied perfectly with the apparent MLB rule that requires players named Alex Gonzalez to have awful seasons. He hit .377 SLG, .393 OBA, .680 OPS, -21 RCAA, .358 OWP, 3.71 RC/G, 56 RC in 145 games. Gonzalez's had a double digit negative RCAA in each of his 3 years as a starter, this was the 2nd consecutive time he's been under -20 and he has a .660 career OPS, compared to his league average of .789 and SS average of .702, -83 RCAA and -29 RCAP in 415 games.

Redmond hit .426 SLG, .376 OBA, .801 OPS, 1 RCAA, .525 OWP, 5.40 RC/G, 21 RC in 48 games in 2001. He has a .727 career OPS, compared to his league average of .788 and C average of .742, -13 RCAA and 2 RCAP in 256 games.

16) The Dodgers signed P Odalis Perez (1 year, $625,000) and SS Alex Cora.

Perez had a 4.91 ERA and -5 RSAA in 24 games (16 starts) in 2001. He has a 5.38 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.46, and -23 RSAA in 52 games.

Cora dropped from his awful -16 RCAA/.591 OPS level as a rookie in 2000 to .306 SLG, .285 OBA, .591 OPS, -27 RCAA, .249 OWP, 2.62 RC/G, 33 RC in 134 games in 2001. He has a .604 career OPS, compared to his league average of .787 and SS average of .701, -51 RCAA and -24 RCAP in 283 games. Cora is in danger of losing his starting job to either Cesar Izturis, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the BlueJays, or Pokey Reese, with the Dodgers being among the teams rumored to be interested in him.

17) The Mariners re-signed Ps Freddy Garcia (1 year, $3.8 million) and John Halama (1 year, $1.4 million) and utilityman Charles Gipson (1 year, $450,000).

Garcia had a 3.05 ERA and 29 RSAA in 34 starts in 2001. It was the 2nd time in his 3 year career that he's had 20+ RSAA, with his 29 RSAA ranking 4th in the league and his 3.05 ERA leading the league. Garcia has a 3.60 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.72, and 58 RSAA in 87 starts.

Halama had a 4.73 ERA and -7 RSAA in 31 games (17 starts) in 2001. It was the 3rd time in his 4 year career that he's had a negative RSAA. Halama has a 4.74 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.76, and -8 RSAA in 105 games.

Gipson hit .313 SLG, .282 OBA, .594 OPS, -5 RCAA, .231 OWP, 2.45 RC/G, 5 RC in 94 games (but just 72 PA) in 2001. He has a .628 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778 and positional average of .772, -17 RCAA and -17 RCAP in 251 PA over the past 4 years.

18) The Braves re-signed P Kevin Millwood to a 1 year, $3.9 million contract.

Millwood had a 4.31 ERA and 1 RSAA in 21 starts in 2001. He's doing a real good job making his 2.68 ERA/40 RSAA season of 1999 look like a fluke, as his RSAA in his other 4 years are between 0 and 2 and his ERA was between 4.03 and 4.66. Millwood has a 3.86 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.46, and 44 RSAA in 126 starts.

19) The Braves traded minor league P Elvis Perez to the Mariners for minor league P Kevin Gryboski.

20) The Cubs re-signed P Kerry Wood to a 1 year, $3.695 million contract.

Wood had a 3.36 ERA and 16 RSAA in 28 starts in 2001. He has a 3.78 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.40, and 22 RSAA in 77 starts.

21) The Rangers signed P Hector Carrasco to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Carrasco had a 4.64 ERA and -1 RSAA in 56 games with the Twins in 2001. He has a 4.16 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.47, and 27 RSAA in 458 games.

22) The Mets signed INF Hanley Frias to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Frias has a .651 career OPS, compared to his league average of .791 and positional average of .708, -16 RCAA and -9 RCAP in 173 games with the 1997 Rangers and 1998-2000 Diamondbacks.

23) Angels P Alan Levine's contract is worth $1.325 million.

24) The Rockies signed INF Tim Bogar to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Bogar played in 12 games with the Dodgers in 2001 and has a .631 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776 and positional average of .709, -91 RCAA and -47 RCAP in 701 games.

25) Tigers P Brian Moehler says he doesn't know when he'll be ready to pitch again, but thinks it will be some time this year.

Moehler make just 1 start before missing the rest of the season with shoulder problems and had surgery for tears in his rotator cuff and labrum on July 4.

26) According to the New York Times, "The Mets, the Colorado Rockies and the Milwaukee Brewers have agreed on the players in a three- team trade that would send outfielder Jeromy Burnitz from the Brewers to the Mets, two baseball officials said yesterday. The unresolved issue is whether the Brewers will send $750,000 to the Rockies to help offset Todd Zeile's contract.

"The Mets would send Zeile and outfielder Benny Agbayani to Colorado and pitcher Glendon Rusch and infielder Lenny Harris to Milwaukee. The Mets would receive Burnitz, pitcher Jeff D'Amico, infielder Lou Collier and outfielder Mark Sweeney from the Brewers. In addition to Rusch and Harris, the Brewers would receive outfielder Alex Ochoa from the Rockies."

27) According to the Arizona Republic, free agent P Rick Helling has chosen the Diamondbacks, but a deal hasn't been completed yet.

28) The Yankees's list of non roster invitees to spring training includes SS Kevin Elster and Ps Eric Gunderson and Jay Tessmer.

Elster has a .677 career OPS, compared to his league average of .742 and SS average of .679, -79 RCAA and -4 RCAP in 940 games from 1986-2000.

Gunderson had a 4.95 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and -8 RSAA in 254 games from 1990-2000.

Tessmer had a 7.77 ERA and -8 RSAA in 20 games with the 1998-2000 Yankees.

29) According to the NY Post, the Rockies think the Mariners are going to trade 3B David Bell to the Giants.

30) Free agent OF Bernard Gilkey was sentenced to 4 months in jail, 5 years probation, 500 hours of community service, drug and alcohol treatment and was ordered to refrain from driving for the next 5 years, due to DWI. This was at least Gilkey's 4th DWI arrest, at least his third conviction and he also has a parole violation.

31) The Indians originally believed Jolbert Cabrera's gunshot injury would be healed in time for him to be ready for spring training. But, doctors have discovered Cabrera suffered nerve damage and they are hoping the nerve is merely bruised, and not torn, which could keep him out indefinitely.

The team is still hoping he could be ready for Opening Day.

[Xanadu Dragon]

The Yankees's list of non roster invitees to spring training includes SS Kevin Elster

Rumor has it this was to counter the Red Sox invitation to Carlos Baerga to come to Spring Training.

It seems the GMs in the AL have their own version of the "who can date the ugliest girl" contest - - - with their twist being "who can invite the most non-productive player who has basically been out of the game for years" (instead of the ugly girl).

Related, the Orioles are reportedly courting Pat Kelly to come to their camp via invite and the Tigers are chasing Rafael Bournigal as well.

[sweaver]

Free Hosken Powell!

[nyy26wc]

Bring back the great Biff Pocoroba

[sweaver]

Always loved that name: Po-co-ro-ba.

He could have had a stage act with Bombo Rivera.