Diamondbacks-Cubs trade; Alou hired; Rockies-Marlins trade update

[nyy26wc]

1) The Diamondbacks traded C Damian Miller to the Cubs for minor leaguers P David Noyce and OF Gary Johnson.

After -3 RCAA/.788 OPS and -9 RCAA/.761 OPS seasons, Miller hit .434 SLG, .340 OBA, .775 OPS, -8 RCAA in 101 games. He has a .768 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -27 RCAA in 492 games.

This is a good trade for the Cubs, but it comes with both pluses and minuses for the Cubs. Miller's had a negative RCAA for 4 consecutive years and 5 times in his 6 year career. But, he's still around the NL catcher's average. In 2002, his -8 RCAA ranked 8th among the 14 NL catchers with 300+ PA. But, when you're just in the middle of the pack of a lackluster group, that disqualifies you from being a good player. Miller's .775 OPS ranked 3rd among the same group, but he achieved that feat in a very favorable hitters park (Arizona's 117 park factor ranked 2nd in the league behind Coors and the park also ranked 3rd in the league in 2001).

But, the biggest plus for the Cubs is he's an upgrade over Todd Hundley (.421 SLG, .301 OBA, .722 OPS, -7 RCAA in just 303 PA; 3 double digit negative RCAAs in the past 5 years) and he didn't cost much to acquire. Also, the Cubs were wise in not allowing his status as someone who played in the some star game (with players of his caliber the reason for that name) to fool them into thinking he was someone they needed to give up much to get.

Noyce, a 25 year old lefty reliever, had a 2.72 ERA in AA. Johnson, 26, had a .708 OPS (.352 SLG, .356 OBA) in AA.

2) The Giants hired Felipe Alou as manager. Meanwhile, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs are shopping Moises Alou and Felipe says he'd like to have him.

3) The Rockies and Marlins have completed the 6 player trade featuring Mike Hampton, Preston Wilson and Charles Johnson. Hampton and Johnson still have to waive their no trade clauses and the teams have been given a 72 hour window, which expires either tomorrow night or Saturday, depending on which article is correct.

According to the reports from Colorado, Hampton's not interested in going to Florida. The Miami Herald reports that if Hampton won't be in the deal, the Marlins are willing to take Denny Neagle. According to the West Palm Beach Post, Johnson says he's not interested in going to Colorado.

4) The Phillies signed INF Mike Coolbaugh to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Coolbaugh had a .644 OPS/-6 RCAA in 39 games with the 2001 Brewers and a .237 OPS/-2 RCAA in 5 games with the 2002 Cardinals.

5) The Whitesox re-signed C Mark Johnson to a 1 year, $500,000 contract.

After -16 RCAA/.635 OPS and -6 RCAA/.720 OPS seasons, Johnson hit .293 SLG, .297 OBA, .590 OPS, -17 RCAA in 86 games. He has a .644 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -47 RCAA in 302 games.

6) The Indians sold P Roy Smith to the A's.

Smith had a 6.06 ERA/-3 RSAA in 9 games in 2001 and 3.00 ERA/1 RSAA in 4 games (1 start) in 2002.

7) Not only is Rusty Greer expected to miss the entire 2003 season, but his career could be over. Greer is going to have rotator cuff surgery next Wednesday, then knee surgery, hip surgery and Tommy John surgery.

8) Indians DH Ellis Burks had arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

After 48 RCAA/1.025 OPS and 23 RCAA/.911 OPS and 27 RCAA/.903 OPS seasons, Burks hit .541 SLG, .362 OBA, .903 OPS, 27 RCAA in 138 games. He has a .878 career OPS, compared to his league average of .750, and 278 RCAA in 1934 games.

9) Whitesox OF Aaron Rowand broke two ribs and his left shoulder blade in a bike accident. He had surgery yesterday and it's uncertain whether he'll be ready for spring training.

After a .816 OPS/4 RCAA in 63 games as a 23 year old rookie in 2001, Rowand hit .394 SLG, .298 OBA, .692 OPS, -13 RCAA in 126 games.

10) The A's signed Cs Adam Melhuse and Mike Rose, 1B Graham Koonce, OFs Mike Edwards, Chris Prieto and Brian Sellier and Ps Heath Bost and David Hooten to minor league contracts.

Melhuse had a .498 OPS/-15 RCAA in 64 games in 2000-01: 63 of them with the Rockies and 1 with the Dodgers.

11) The Rangers released P Hideki Irabu.

After 7.24 ERA/-16 RSAA and 4.86 ERA/0 RSAA (just 3 G) seasons, Irabu had a 5.74 ERA/-4 RSAA in 38 games (2 starts). He has a 5.15 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.69, and -36 RSAA in 126 games.

12) The Rangers signed utilityman Donnie Sadler, Cs Danny Ardoin and Fernando Lunar, OF Rontrez Johnson and Ps Brian Shouse, Ron Mahay, Victor Santos and Robert Ellis to minor league contracts.

After -10 RCAA/.565 OPS and -23 RCAA/.454 OPS seasons, Sadler hit .204 SLG, .231 OBA, .436 OPS, -13 RCAA in 73 games (109 PA). He has a .548 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -57 RCAA in 322 games (686 games).

Ardoin had a .550 OPS/-3 RCAA in 15 games with the 2000 Twins.

Lunar has a .532 OPS/-23 RCAA in 97 games, over the past 3 years, and played in 2 games with the 2002 Orioles, without getting a plate appearance.

Shouse had a 6.14 ERA/-1 RSAA in 23 games with the Royals. He's also pitched for the 1993 Pirates and 1998 Redsox and has a 6.41 ERA career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.46, and -4 RSAA in 36 games.

After 7.19 ERA/-12 RSAA and 2.61 ERA/4 RSAA seasons, Mahay had a 8.59 ERA/-7 RSAA in 11 games with the Cubs. He has a 4.54 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.60, and 1 RSAA in 114 games.

After a 3.30 ERA/10 RSAA in 33 games as a 24 year old rookie with the Tigers, Santos had a 10.38 ERA/-16 RSAA in 24 games (2 starts) with the Rockies.

Ellis had a 10.12 ERA/-2 RSAA in 3 games with the Dodgers. He's also pitched for the 1996 Angels and 2001 Diamondbacks and has a 5.60 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.39, and -11 RSAA in 25 games.

13) The Padres signed P Kris Keller.

Keller missed most of the 2002 season, due to triceps tendinitis, and pitched in his only major league game, giving up 3 runs in 1 inning for the Tigers.

14) According to NY Newsday, the Rangers are shopping Juan Gonzalez, Carl Everett, Todd Van Poppel and Jay Powell.

15) According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Mets and Rockies are working on a Jeromy Burnitz and Rey Ordonez for Denny Neagle deal, with the Rockies then being interested in retrading Ordonez. The paper also reports the Rockies would also acquire Erubiel Durazo, David Dellucci and Bret Prinz in a Larry Walker for Matt Williams deal, with the Rockies then interested in retrading Durazo to an AL team

16) According to the Kansas City Star, the Royals payroll will be around $37 million, which would be a $10 million drop from the 2002 opening day figure. The paper also says there's no truth to an ESPN rumor that the Royals are interested in Ugueth Urbina.

17) According to the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs have contacted free agent P Mike Remlinger's agent and are also interested in free agent Mike Stanton.

18) According to the Baltimore Sun, Frank Thomas is interested in the Orioles.

19) According to the New York Post, the Reds say both Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn are available.

Griffey available, I can see that. But, Dunn? Yeah, right.

The paper also reports that Mike Cameron is on the trading block.

[moose]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
1) The Diamondbacks traded C Damian Miller to the Cubs for minor leaguers P David Noyce and OF Gary Johnson.

nothing like those "all star" catchers. (giggle)

[gyb13]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
7) Not only is Rusty Greer expected to miss the entire 2003 season, but his career could be over. Greer is going to have rotator cuff surgery next Wednesday, then knee surgery, hip surgery and Tommy John surgery.

bad karma?

19) According to the New York Post, the Reds say both Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn are available.

Griffey available, I can see that. But, Dunn? Yeah, right.

maybe they meant sean casey

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by gyb13
bad karma?
maybe they meant sean casey

Casey's probably available, but the full context shows they definitely meant Dunn--

"Not long ago, the Reds trumpeted the idea they would enter their new stadium in 2003 with a dynamic outfield of Ken Griffey flanked by young stars on the rise, Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. But at these GM Meetings, Cincinnati has told teams both Griffey and Dunn are available."

[Max Power]

CAREER
1973-2002
AGE <= 22
PLATE APPEARANCES >= 950
OPS >= .100 vs. the league average

RCAA                           RCAA      PA       OPS    
1    Ken Griffey Jr.             125     2422     .144   
2    Alex Rodriguez              120     2271     .128   
3    Albert Pujols               105     1351     .213   
4    Vladimir Guerrero            51     1058     .140   
5    Darryl Strawberry            39     1075     .111   
6    Adam Dunn                    37      962     .116   
7    Bob Horner                   36     1369     .141   

Maybe the Reds think Dunn is the next Bob Horner and want to trade him now?

[Duque]

Maybe they think Kearns will end up just as good as Dunn, and want to get a really good SP back?

It's odd - Dunn can't be making much money at all.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
Casey's probably available, but the full context shows they definitely meant Dunn--

"Not long ago, the Reds trumpeted the idea they would enter their new stadium in 2003 with a dynamic outfield of Ken Griffey flanked by young stars on the rise, Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns. But at these GM Meetings, Cincinnati has told teams both Griffey and Dunn are available."

guess it's one of those 'if you come to us and sweep us off our feet, we'd consider it' kinda deals