January 13, 2009

As I was going through my calendar at work, I realized that there is one more month until pitchers and catchers report for spring training (I need to start coming up with these years new excuses to leave work at noon).

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as the baseball season starts up with high expectations for every team (but the Pirates and Royals). New faces in new places create a stir in the clubhouse and energize the fans. Soon, fans start to receive their fantasy baseball magazines and prospect books.

As I go through my notes getting ready for early drafts and auctions, I am surprised about how many impact, former All-Star, free agents are still on the market. Nobody can deny that the economy isn’t hurting Major League Baseball. Here are some current free-agents with the places where I (selfishly) hope they end up.

Orlando Hudson, 2B  -  REALLY!

Even though they say they do not have any money due to several players getting raises in arbitration, the Cardinals have to be considering signing O-Dawg to a one year deal. Hudson is the type of player the Cardinal Nation would fall in love with – hard working, fan friendly, superior defender, and a decent offensive player an OPS over 800 the past three seasons. Hudson takes a lot of walks which should be nice as a #2 hitter in front of Pujols, Ludwick, Ankiel, and Glaus.

Ben Sheets, SP  – SERIOUSLY!!

The last of the first tier free agent starters have finally signed, so now it’s time to speculate about that second tier, and Sheets is at the top of the list. The former four-time All-Star finds himself without a team. Not for long though – I think Sheets will sign with Texas to become their ace (and rejoin his old Brewer pitching coach Mike Maddux). Sheets has always shown great control with a greater than 3:1 K:BB ratio the past two seasons, so moving the AL shouldn’t have as big of an impact as other starters switching leagues.

Adam Dunn, OF  – C’MON!!

Dunn says he wants a 5 year deal with a team that will let him play the OF. Some AL teams, most recently the Orioles, have inquired about him to be their full-time DH, but those talks didn’t progress.

Selfishly, I would absolutely love to see Dunn in Colorado launching moon shots. Their OF right now is Hawpe, Spilborghs, and C-Gonzalez. I am not a big fan of Spilborghs, so Dunn fits in nicely this season, but next season would be extremely crowded because super prospect Dexter Fowler should be ready by next year. I am imagining that every Dunn homer in Colorado would be like the Pujols playoff shot off of Lidge. That’s clouding my judgment, so moving on . . . . Washington is throwing money around in offers without a bite, but they have youngsters Willingham, Milledge, and Elijah Dukes in their OF . . . . The Mets don’t really have a LF right now . . . . I think the intriguing teams would be Seattle and Texas – both could add Dunn to their OF/DH rotations. Gutierrez, Balentien, Ichiro in Seattle and Murphy, Hamilton, Cruz in Texas. If Dunn gets a longer deal, I am going to say Texas again as they have fewer higher rated OF prospects coming up than Seattle.

And I won’t even go into the enigma that is called Manny . . . .

Who knows what happens, but where do you think these guys will end up?
Are there any other impact, lineup or rotation changing, players out there?

**as posted at Baseball.RotoChamps.com**

January 4, 2009

At the beginning of last season, did anybody think that 30 year-old Ryan Ludwick would have 40 2Bs, 37 HRs, 113 RBIs, a 965 OPS, and 17 votes for NL MVP? Probably not.

Ludwick was seen as organizational depth in the outfield, spending parts of 8 seasons in AAA. He was traded from Oakland to Texas to Cleveland before he signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals.

Ludwick was considered a AAAA hitter – a hitter who could perform in AAA, but never put it together in the majors. Then he got his chance with the Cards at the end of 2007, and Ludwick blew up in 2008.

So are there guys out there who could be 2009’s Ryan Ludwick?? Here are some guys who could.

Nelson Cruz, OF (Texas Rangers), 28 Years Old – REALLY!

AAA – 383 AB, 18 2B, 37 HR, 99 RBI, 24 SB, .342 AVG, .429 OBP, 1123 OPS
MLB – 115 AB, 9 2B, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 3 SB, .330 AVG, .421 OBP, 1030 OPS

Amazing 2008 season – crushed the minors and continued to perform in the majors. In Texas, Cruz could go 30/20 playing everyday (minor league career 75% SB%). However, Cruz struggled in 330 PA during the 2007 season where his lack of consistent contact skills were exploited (26.2% K%). One note to the amazing 2008 season, Cruz had a .377 BABIP which is well above the league average.

With Milton Bradley’s departure in free agency, Cruz seems to have a starting position as the team’s right fielder or designated hitter.

Dallas McPherson, 3B (Florida Marlins), 28 Years Old – SERIOUSLY!!

AAA – 448 AB, 22 2B, 42 HR, 98 RBI, .275 AVG, .381 OBP, 999 OPS

Peaked as Baseball America’s #2 prospect in the Angels organization in 2005, Dallas McPherson has always been about power. The 2nd Round draft pick in 2001 out of The Citadel played his first full season since 2004 and led the minor leagues in HRs.

The Marlins, in a cost-cutting move, traded Mike Jacobs to Florida which opens up an infield spot. Florida has several options, and they will probably see what happens in the spring:
McPherson can slide over from 3B to 1B in the majors.
Some reports think Cantu slides to 1B with McPherson stepping in at 3B.
There is a chance that Florida uses recently acquired Emilio Bonifacio at 2B and slides Dan Uggla over to 3B squeezing McPherson out.

Josh Phelps, 1B (San Francisco Giants), 30 Years Old  – C’MON!!!

AAA – 461 AB, 31 2B, 31 HR, 96 RBI, .291 AVG, .373 OBP, 941 OPS

Phelps hasn’t had a full-time gig since 2003 with Toronto. He has been with seven organizations since 2004 (TOR, CLE, TB, NYY, PIT, STL, now SF). Late-season success in 2007 with the Pirates continued in 2008 with the Cardinal’s AAA team. Unfortunately, Phelps was stuck behind the NL MVP Albert Pujols. Most of his time in the majors, Phelps has been used as a platoon player against lefties.

Phelps signed with the Giants this off-season, and he will have to attempt to beat out youngsters Pablo Sandoval, John Bowker and Travis Ishikawa for the 1B job.

**as posted on Baseball.RotoChamps.com**