Hunter, Graves re-sign

[nyy26wc]

1) The Twins re-signed CF Torii Hunter to a 4 year, $32 million contract.

Hunter hit .524 SLG, .334 OBA, .859 OPS, 16 RCAA in 148 games in 2002. But, he still has to prove that wasn't a career year. In his 3 previous years in the majors (throwing out 7 combined games in 1997-99), Hunter never had a positive RCAA, never had an .800+ OPS and never had an OBA better than .028 worse than the league average. Hunter has a .775 career OPS, compared to his league average of .772, but a bad .317 career OBA, compared to his league average of .339, and -29 RCAA in 537 games.

2) The Reds re-signed P Danny Graves to a 3 year, $17.25 million contract, with a mutual option for 2006.

Graves's 3.19 ERA/14 RSAA in 68 games (4 starts) was the 3rd time in the past 4 years that he had a double digit RSAA. He has a 3.42 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.43, and 67 RSAA in 367 games.

Graves's 4 starts in 2002 were the first 4 of his career. The Reds intend to move him into the rotation in 2003.

Will Carroll, who is now writing for Baseball Prospectus, has a discussion rebutting the idea that Graves is the next Derek Lowe, at http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ne...30117utk.shtml

3) The Redsox re-signed OFs Trot Nixon (1 year, $4 million) and Benny Agbayani (1 year, $610,000) and claimed 1B Earl Snyder off waivers from the Indians.

After a career best 28 RCAA/.881 OPS season, Nixon dropped to a still productive .470 SLG, .338 OBA, .808 OPS, 13 RCAA in 152 games in 2002. He has a .836 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and 54 RCAA in 562 games.

After 16 RCAA/.871 OPS and -2 RCAA/.763 OPS seasons with the Mets, Agbayani fell to .344 SLG, .298 OBA, .642 OPS, -12 RCAA in 61 games (first 48 with the Rockies, last 13 with the Redsox). He has a .807 career OPS, compared to his league average
of .786, and 8 RCAA in 383 games.

Snyder hit .291 SLG, .279 OBA, .570 OPS, -4 RCAA in his first 18 major league games.

4) The Marlins re-signed 1B Derrek Lee ($4.25 million) and Ps Brad Penny ($1.875 million) and Armando Almanza ($775,000) to 1 year contracts.

After 14 RCAA/.875 OPS and 8 RCAA/.820 OPS seasons, Lee had his best season in 2002, hitting .494 SLG, .378 OBA, .872 OPS, 29 RCAA in 162 games. He has a .804 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and 28 RCAA in 711 games.

Penny, who has been involved in plenty of trade rumors, started his career with 4.81 ERA/-5 RSAA and 3.69 ERA/11 RSAA seasons, before having a 4.66 ERA/-10 RSAA year in 2002. He has a 4.26 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.36, and -4 RSAA in 78 games.

After 4.86 ERA/-2 RSAA and 4.83 ERA/-3 RSAA seasons, Almanza had a 4.34 ERA/-2 RSAA in 51 games. He has a 4.36 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.39, and -2 RSAA in 184 games.

5) The Phillies re-signed P Kevin Millwood to a 1 year, $9.9 million contract.

After 4.66 ERA/0 RSAA and 4.31 ERA/1 RSAA seasons, Millwood had a 3.24 ERA/22 RSAA in 34 starts (plus 1 relief appearance) with the Braves. He has a 3.73 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.39, and 66 RSAA in 168 games.

6) According to AP, the Chunichi Dragons turned down the Redsox offer of paying repaid the $1.2 million they paid the Marlins for the rights for Kevin Millar and several players, including Benny Agbayani, in exchange for the Redsox obtaining the rights to Millar. Redsox GM Theo Epstein is denying that report and says talks are ongoing.

7) The Braves re-signed C Henry Blanco to a 1 year, $1.3 million contract.

Blanco is now 4 for 4 in having double digit negative RCAAs (excluding a 3 game cup of coffee season in 1997), after hitting .335 SLG, .267 OBA, .602 OPS, -16 RCAA in 81 games. He has a .665 career OPS, compared to his league average of .784, and -75 RCAA in 369 games.

8) The Cardinals re-signed RF J.D. Drew to a 1 year, $3.7 million contract.

After 20 RCAA/.880 OPS and 47 RCAA/1.027 OPS seasons, Drew hit .429 SLG, .349 OBA, .778 OPS, -10 RCAA in 135 games. He has a .873 career OPS, compared to his league average of .783, and 82 RCAA in 497 games.

9) The Dodgers re-signed 3B Adrian Beltre to a 1 year, $3.7 million contract.

After 12 RCAA/.835 OPS and -5 RCAA/.720 OPS seasons, Beltre hit .426 SLG, .303 OBA, .729 OPS, -8 RCAA in 159 games. He has a .756 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -6 RCAA in 652 games.

10) The Cubs re-signed P Kyle Farnsworth to a 1 year, $600,000 contract.

After 6.43 ERA/-19 RSAA and 2.74 ERA/13 RSAA seasons, Farnsworth had a 7.33 ERA/-17 RSAA in 45 games. He has a 5.12 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.47, and -26 RSAA in 194 games.

In 2002, Farnsworth had the 6th worst ERA, vs. the league average, for any NL pitcher with 40+ games in a season--

ERA                           YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE  
1    Bryan Hickerson          1995    -4.38     8.57     4.18  
2    Vic Darensbourg          1999    -4.25     8.83     4.58  
3    Mike DeJean              1999    -3.83     8.41     4.58  
4    Scott Forster            2000    -3.24     7.88     4.64  
5    Mike Munoz               1995    -3.24     7.42     4.18  
6    Kyle Farnsworth          2002    -3.21     7.33     4.11  
7    Al Jackson               1969    -3.21     6.81     3.60  
8    Stan Belinda             2000    -3.08     7.71     4.64  
9    Ray Burris               1974    -2.97     6.60     3.63  
10   Steve Peters             1988    -2.95     6.40     3.45  

11) The Mets outrighted P Peter Zamora to the minors, after he cleared waivers. This move removes him from the 40 man roster.

12) The A's signed Ps John Halama and Ed Yarnall to 1 year contracts and designated 1B-3B Luis Lopez for assignment.

After 5.08 ERA/-11 RSAA and 4.73 ERA/-7 RSAA seasons, Halama had a 3.56 ERA/6 RSAA in 31 games (10 starts) with the Mariners. He has a 4.54 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.71, and -2 RSAA in 136 games.

Yarnall, who's pitched in Japan the past 2 years, had a 5.40 ERA/-2 RSAA in 7 games with the 1999-2000 Yankees.

13) The Rockies re-signed CF Jay Payton (1 year, $1.85 million) and P Justin Speier ($850,000) to 1 year contracts.

After -4 RCAA/.778 OPS and -15 RCAA/.669 OPS seasons, Payton hit .488 SLG, .351 OBA, .838 OPS, 10 RCAA in 134 games (first 87 with the Mets) in 2002. He has a .767 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -11 RCAA in 415 games.

After 3.29 ERA/13 RSAA and 4.58 ERA/4 RSAA seasons, Speier had a 4.33 ERA/5 RSAA in 63 games. He has a 4.63 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.47, and 8 RSAA in 202 games.

14) The Mariners re-signed LF Randy Winn to a 1 year, $3.3 million contract.

Winn still has to prove his 2002 season, in which he hit .461 SLG, .360 OBA, .821 OPS, 22 RCAA in 152 games with the Devil Rays wasn't a career year. In his 4 previous years in the majors, Winn never had a positive RCAA or an OPS greater than .740. He has a .743 career OPS, compared to his league average of .770, and -19 RCAA in 519 games.

15) The Astros re-signed 3B Geoff Blum to a 1 year, $1.5 million contract and signed free agent P Brian Moehler to a 1 year, $500,000 contract.

After -3 RCAA/.784 OPS and -28 RCAA/.664 OPS seasons in his first 2 years as a starter, Blum hit .440 SLG, .367 OBA, .807 OPS, 7 RCAA in 130 games. He has a .754 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -25 RCAA in 447 games.

After pitching in just 1 game in 2001, Moehler had a 4.86 ERA/-4 RSAA in 13 games (first 3 G/3 GS with the Tigers, last 10 G/9 GS with the Reds) in 2002. He has a 4.52 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.72, and 18 RSAA in 141 games.

16) The Pirates re-signed P Matt Herges to a 1 year, $825,000 contract and signed free agent P Jeff D'Amico and INF Jose Fernandez to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

After 3.17 ERA/13 RSAA and 3.44 ERA/5 RSAA seasons with the Dodgers, Herges had a 4.04 ERA/1 RSAA in 62 games with the Expos. He has a 3.52 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.43, and 20 RSAA in 213 games.

After 2.66 ERA/32 RSAA and 6.08 ERA/-9 RSAA seasons with the Brewers, D'Amico had a 4.94 ERA/-17 RSAA in 29 games (22 starts) with the Mets. He has a 4.41 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.52, and 1 RSAA in 103 games.

Fernandez had a .396 OPS/-8 RCAA in 21 games with the 1999 Expos and 2001 Angels.

17) The BlueJays re-signed Ps Roy Halladay (1 year, $3.825 million) and Cliff Politte (1 year, $845,000).

After a terrible 10.64 ERA/-42 RSAA season in 2000, Halladay had a 3.16 ERA/20 RSAA in 2001 and an excellent 2.93 ERA/40 RSAA in 34 starts in 2002. He has a 4.11 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.63, and 39 RSAA in 108 games.

After 3.66 ERA/7 RSAA and 2.42 ERA/5 RSAA seasons, Politte had a 3.67 ERA/5 RSAA in 68 games (first 13 with the Phillies, last 55 with the BlueJays). He has a 4.26 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.44, and 4 RSAA in 124 games.

18) The Tigers signed 1B Kevin Barker and 3B Tom Evans.

Barker had a .674 OPS/-6 RCAA in 85 games with the 1999-2000 Brewers and 2002 Padres, playing in just 7 games last season.

Evans had a .691 OPS/-5 RCAA in 42 games with the 1997-98 BlueJays and 2000 Rangers.

19) The Diamondbacks re-signed OF David Dellucci to a 1 year, $900,000 contract.

After -2 RCAA/.712 OPS and 3 RCAA/.828 OPS seasons, Dellucci hit .402 SLG, .326 OBA, .727 OPS, -10 RCAA in 97 games. He has a .768 career OPS, compared to his league average of .771, and -8 RCAA in 450 games.

[nyy26wc]

20) The Phillies signed C Marcus Jensen to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

After -9 RCAA/663 OPS (career high 52 games) and -4 RCAA/.379 OPS (12 games) seasons, Jensen hit .200 SLG, .200 OBA, .400 OPS, -5 RCAA in 16 games with the Brewers. He has a .575 career OPS, compared to his league average of .779, and -28 RCAA in 145 games.

21) The Dodgers signed utilityman Terry Shumpert to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

After -15 RCAA/.796 OPS and -7 RCAA/.775 OPS seasons, Shumpert hit .372 SLG, .304 OBA, .676 OPS, -19 RCAA in 106 games with the Rockies. He has a .727 career OPS, compared to his league average of .762, and -70 RCAA in 795 games.

22) The Braves nonroster invitees to spring training--INFs Jesse Garcia and Ramon Castro, OFs Jeff Francoeur and Bo Porter, Cs Jean Boscan and Bryce Terveen and Ps Derrick Lewis, Kenny Nelson and Adam Wainwright.

23) The Diamondbacks say Craig Counsell might need more time to rebuild his shoulder strength and might not be ready for Opening Day.

The highly overrated Counsell had double digit negative RCAA's 3 times in the past 4 years, including when he was comically referred to as the Diamondbacks's MVP in 2002. Counsell hit .351 SLG, .348 OBA, .699 OPS, -15 RCAA in 112 games last season and has a .712 career OPS, compared to his league average of .774, and -41 RCAA in 569 games.

24) According to the NY Daily News, the Mets are trying to trade Jeromy Burnitz to the Orioles for Tony Batista.

[LisaG]

lee, all your posts here are really great. it's cool to see these stats presented with signings and trade talk. thank you

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by LisaG
lee, all your posts here are really great. it's cool to see these stats presented with signings and trade talk. thank you

I'm very glad you enjoy the reports.