The Best of the Rest

jimmcg · 02-08-2010, 11:09 AM

Tim Dierks identifies his best unsigned free agents by position--he calls it the All-Star lineup.

Quote:

Here on February 8th, over 90 free agents remain unsigned. It's time to determine the best available at each position.

Starting lineup:
•Catcher: Rod Barajas
•First base: Russell Branyan
•Second base: Felipe Lopez
•Shortstop: Nomar Garciaparra
•Third base: Joe Crede
•Left field: Johnny Damon
•Center field: Endy Chavez
•Right field: Jermaine Dye
•Designated hitter: Carlos Delgado

Rotation:
•Pedro Martinez
•Chien-Ming Wang
•Jarrod Washburn
•John Smoltz
•Braden Looper

Bullpen:
•Closer: Kiko Calero
•Right-handed relief: Chan Ho Park
•Left-handed relief: Will Ohman

Honorable mentions: Jose Molina, Hank Blalock, Mike Jacobs, Jonny Gomes, Gary Sheffield, Rocco Baldelli, Todd Wellemeyer, Mike MacDougal, Russ Springer, Joe Beimel

Dwain · 02-08-2010, 11:52 AM

There have been years when some of those guys could have made a big difference for the Cardinals. Still some talent left there.

Swampturkey · 02-08-2010, 03:10 PM

I still wish Smoltz would sign for cheap with us. I'd love to see him be used out of the pen.

jimmcg · 02-08-2010, 06:50 PM

I think there are two issues that make signing Smoltz unlikely. One is that he wants to start. The other is the amount of $$ he wants.

Jmodene · 02-08-2010, 09:56 PM

Exactly right, Jimm - and teams are skeptical that, as a full-time starter, he could make it through a whole season without breaking down.

It reminds me of Rick Aguilera, who even when he was young would break down at the 140-150 IP mark as a starter with the Mets. When he was traded to the Twins, it was more of the same - until Jeff Reardon left the team and the Twins moved Aguilera to the closer role. He wound up one of the better closers in the game for several years, but when he re-signed with the Twins after one of his FA years, he insisted he would only re-sign if they put him back in the rotation.

They agreed, and - as I predicted at the time - he broke down at the 120 IP mark (or maybe even sooner; I'd have to look it up).

Now, why would a pitcher make a career decision that so flies in the face of logic? Two reasons - one: starters make more money than relievers. Two: starters only have to play every fifth day. More money, less work (at least on a day-to-day basis) - I'm surprised more veteran pitchers don't insist on being starters instead of relievers. Of course, if a guy like Chan Ho Park said, "If I'm not starting, I ain't departing," his career would be over.

Migratory Redbird · 02-10-2010, 08:41 AM

Endy Chavez would make a nice backup outfielder for somebody, but we've already got too many left handed hitting outfielders in our system.

He was part of a monster trade back in December 2008.

December 11, 2008: Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the New York Mets with Ezequiel Carrera (minors), Maikel Cleto (minors), Mike Carp, Aaron Heilman and Jason Vargas to the Seattle Mariners. The Seattle Mariners sent Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Jeremy Reed to the New York Mets. The Seattle Mariners sent Luis Valbuena to the Cleveland Indians. The New York Mets sent Joe Smith to the Cleveland Indians. The Cleveland Indians sent Franklin Gutierrez to the Seattle Mariners.

He made $2.05M in 2009 and only got 182 PAs with the Mariners. I don't know if that was because of injuries or because the Mariners just didn't like him.

Jmodene · 02-10-2010, 09:21 AM

Agree with you on Chavez. However, he'll probably wind up in Cincinnati, with his locker right next to Scott Rolen's.

02-08-2010, 11:52 AM	#2
Dwain Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 8,880	There have been years when some of those guys could have made a big difference for the Cardinals. Still some talent left there. __________________ Baseball is a game to be played hard and enjoyed fully! Sometimes it's better to be lucky than to be good. Proud sponsor of my two favorite Cardinal 2Bs of all time Albert "Red" Schoendienst and Julian Javier.

02-08-2010, 03:10 PM	#3
Swampturkey 2006 WS Champs! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Glen Carbon, IL Posts: 6,948	I still wish Smoltz would sign for cheap with us. I'd love to see him be used out of the pen. __________________ . Proud SLSF sponsor of Adam Wainwright and Brendan Ryan, and co-sponsor of Jim Edmonds! Born after 82', 2006 was my dream come true!

02-08-2010, 06:50 PM	#4
jimmcg Administrator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Springdale, AR Posts: 10,876	I think there are two issues that make signing Smoltz unlikely. One is that he wants to start. The other is the amount of $$ he wants. __________________ GO CARDS!!! Proud sponsor of MVP Albert Pujols, sharing him with all of Cardinal Nation. Also sponsor of No. 1 Pick Shelby Miller

02-08-2010, 09:56 PM	#5
Jmodene Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4,410	Exactly right, Jimm - and teams are skeptical that, as a full-time starter, he could make it through a whole season without breaking down. It reminds me of Rick Aguilera, who even when he was young would break down at the 140-150 IP mark as a starter with the Mets. When he was traded to the Twins, it was more of the same - until Jeff Reardon left the team and the Twins moved Aguilera to the closer role. He wound up one of the better closers in the game for several years, but when he re-signed with the Twins after one of his FA years, he insisted he would only re-sign if they put him back in the rotation. They agreed, and - as I predicted at the time - he broke down at the 120 IP mark (or maybe even sooner; I'd have to look it up). Now, why would a pitcher make a career decision that so flies in the face of logic? Two reasons - one: starters make more money than relievers. Two: starters only have to play every fifth day. More money, less work (at least on a day-to-day basis) - I'm surprised more veteran pitchers don't insist on being starters instead of relievers. Of course, if a guy like Chan Ho Park said, "If I'm not starting, I ain't departing," his career would be over. __________________ Proud sponsor of Bob Gibson, the greatest pitcher in World Series history - and not a bad pitcher in the regular season, either - and Chris Carpenter, the only other Cardinal other than Gibby to win a Cy Young Award.

02-10-2010, 08:41 AM	#6
Migratory Redbird Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,090	Endy Chavez would make a nice backup outfielder for somebody, but we've already got too many left handed hitting outfielders in our system. He was part of a monster trade back in December 2008. December 11, 2008: Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the New York Mets with Ezequiel Carrera (minors), Maikel Cleto (minors), Mike Carp, Aaron Heilman and Jason Vargas to the Seattle Mariners. The Seattle Mariners sent Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Jeremy Reed to the New York Mets. The Seattle Mariners sent Luis Valbuena to the Cleveland Indians. The New York Mets sent Joe Smith to the Cleveland Indians. The Cleveland Indians sent Franklin Gutierrez to the Seattle Mariners. He made $2.05M in 2009 and only got 182 PAs with the Mariners. I don't know if that was because of injuries or because the Mariners just didn't like him. __________________ Harry, ITF In Memoriam, Denny Palamarchuck and Tim Davis Two devout Cardinals fans with Major League Hearts Official SLSF Sponsor of Joe Mather and Nicholas Additon

02-10-2010, 09:21 AM	#7
Jmodene Hall of Fame Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 4,410	Agree with you on Chavez. However, he'll probably wind up in Cincinnati, with his locker right next to Scott Rolen's. __________________ Proud sponsor of Bob Gibson, the greatest pitcher in World Series history - and not a bad pitcher in the regular season, either - and Chris Carpenter, the only other Cardinal other than Gibby to win a Cy Young Award.

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