Undervalued Players

[Mephistopheles]

Well he was in the first year of an 7 year 126 million dollar back loaded contract - only 9 of which was made this year.

 

2009 - $11,000,000

2010 - $21,000,000

2011 - $23,000,000

2012 - $21,000,000

2013 - $21,000,000

2014 - $21,000,000

 

He also has a full NTC. That's a bad contract.

[Cubzfan64]

How bout the Cubs pick up Baldelli and then fund a bunch of research on curing Mitochondrial Disease! It was nice to see him come back and play late this year - I was a fan of his when he came up - darn shame he may never be healthy enough to be a full time player again :(

[DiamondMind]

Mike Fontenot

 

Seriously

 

dude's a stud

 

any talk of acquiring another second baseman is ludicrous as far as I'm concerned.

 

/total agreement

[Clem Fandango]

How much value are people putting into Jayson Werth right now? The dude crushed lefties, played in a hitters park, and is in a contract year, so how much of that production is legit or "contract year" production?

 

RHP: 263AB 8HR 31RBI .255/.360/.407/.767

LHP: 155AB 16HR 36RBI .303/.368/.652/1.020

[beowulf28]

Mike Fontenot

 

Obviously assuming sarcasm here, but what do your (or PECOTA's) statistical projections have as his ceiling?

 

Why do you assume sarcasm? I think Fontenot could be an everyday starter at second for us. He's got just as much pop (if not more) than DeRosa, is better at OBP, and is better defensively. Let Fontenot start at second and put DeRo back in his uber-sub roll.

 

Okay, this is twice I've seen Fontenot described as something better than below average at 2B. He is not a good defender. Where is this coming from?

 

Thank you!!

[third eye]

Mike Fontenot

 

Obviously assuming sarcasm here, but what do your (or PECOTA's) statistical projections have as his ceiling?

 

Why do you assume sarcasm? I think Fontenot could be an everyday starter at second for us. He's got just as much pop (if not more) than DeRosa, is better at OBP, and is better defensively. Let Fontenot start at second and put DeRo back in his uber-sub roll.

 

In limited at bats against RHP, yeah, I can see how he could be called undervalued. But with a 66 OPS+ against LHP, I don't see him being an everyday player (and that may not have been what Meph meant). Granted, he hasn't been given much of a chance against lefties, so maybe there is more to it than I am seeing. I am a big fan of his in the role he played this year. The Marcels projections that TT posted have him at just over an .800 OPS in a fairly significant number of plate appearances, so maybe he will have a meaningful role next year. I'm just not seeing it as an everyday player.

[third eye]

Mike Fontenot

 

Obviously assuming sarcasm here, but what do your (or PECOTA's) statistical projections have as his ceiling?

 

Why do you assume sarcasm? I think Fontenot could be an everyday starter at second for us. He's got just as much pop (if not more) than DeRosa, is better at OBP, and is better defensively. Let Fontenot start at second and put DeRo back in his uber-sub roll.

 

In limited at bats against RHP, yeah, I can see how he could be called undervalued. But with a 66 OPS+ against LHP, I don't see him being an everyday player (and that may not have been what Meph meant). Granted, he hasn't been given much of a chance against lefties, so maybe there is more to it than I am seeing. I am a big fan of his in the role he played this year. The Marcels projections that TT posted have him at just over an .800 OPS in a fairly significant number of plate appearances, so maybe he will have a meaningful role next year. I'm just not seeing it as an everyday player.

[Yanksfan1523]

Well he was in the first year of an 7 year 126 million dollar back loaded contract - only 9 of which was made this year.

 

2009 - $11,000,000

2010 - $21,000,000

2011 - $23,000,000

2012 - $21,000,000

2013 - $21,000,000

2014 - $21,000,000

 

He also has a full NTC. That's a bad contract.

 

 

But he can always opt out after 2011.

 

:lol:

[mcgoobs]

Jim Edmonds should be mentioned. He's not a 150 game option but deserves to start the majority of games aainst RHP, which he's continued to hit well even in his advancing age:

 

Agst RHP

2005: .251/.385/.515/.900

2006: .295/.404/.543/.947

2007: .268/.336/.419/.755

2008: .250/.362/.521/.883

 

If he can be had for a low base (<$2MM) with incentives, it's not a bad deal for someone who will start 2/3 of our games in center.

 

Also Vance, great message in your sponsorship of the Edmonds BR page.

[mdwilla]

This offseason I think Juan Cruz and Jeremy Alfredt will be undervauled and would make nice additions to the Cubs bullpen.

[AlwaysaCub]

Nick Swisher, mentioned above, is a great buy-low candidate. He seemed to be in ozzie's doghouse late in the year and did not start any of the Chisox games with the season on the line.

 

I would also consider buying low on Jeremy Bonderman or Justin Verlander. Both guys had down years (Bonderman was hurt and Verlander lost 17 games with a 4.84), but they're both only 25, have good arms, and have already some good years. Moving them out of the DH league could really help.

[KingCubsFan]

Philip Hughes

Jon Rauch (as a starter)

[fromthestretch]

Philip Hughes

Jon Rauch (as a starter)

 

I used to be a fan of Rauch as a starter, but I believe he now prefers to come out of the bullpen. I think he had some shoulder issues that would flare up if he pitched more than just a couple innings.

[B]

So Taguchi

He's a winner.

[mhuber92211]

Mike Jacobs can be had. If Lee is dealt He is a viable candidate. He is not as good as others but he still has more positives then negatives and would fit well in the Cubs Righthanded lineup

[RedFlash]

Mike Jacobs can be had. If Lee is dealt He is a viable candidate. He is not as good as others but he still has more positives then negatives and would fit well in the Cubs Righthanded lineup

 

No. The guy had a .299 OBP at first base last yr. He is a career .262/.318/.498/.816 as a major leaguer. If you are talking about a backup 1st baseman, then yes Jacobs could be a solid addition, but if you honestly think he should replace Lee as starter, then I don't know what to say. I much rather move DeRosa to first base, then try to acquire Jacobs, not to mentioned why do you think Jacobs is available in the first place---other then money. Jacobs sucks.

[SouthSideRyan]

I wanna say Jacobs is a pretty bad defender as well

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mike Jacobs can be had. If Lee is dealt He is a viable candidate. He is not as good as others but he still has more positives then negatives and would fit well in the Cubs Righthanded lineup

 

Jacobs has been dealt...so he could have been had, but not any more.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I like the Hermida idea the most. He's a perfect fit, and is going to be a really good hitter.

 

Swisher is also a guy who fits pretty nicely.

 

If the Angels are making Brandon Wood or Aybar available...of course that should be paid attention to.

 

I don't think theres a chance at Verlander, but I think Bonderman could be had for a bat. I don't think we have one to give though.

 

The A's might dangle Street, but I wouldn't call him undervalued.

 

With the Marlins surplus of young SP someones going to be available...Olsen? Miller? Can I keep dreaming?

 

Kubel would be cool, but I think the Twins hang onto him.

 

Brent Lillibridge from ATL would be interesting, but I have no idea whether he'd actually be available. He was a pretty interesting prospect.

 

Milton Bradley, Ben Sheets, and AJ Burnett are 3 FA's that everyone will be looking at...but each should take alot of heat for injuries.

 

So yea...should be a fun offseason.

[Jehrico]

To tag along with the buy low theme of this thread, what about selling high? Theriot is the obvious choice, followed by Fontenot. What about Marmol, could his value be peaking right now? What could we get for him? Not that I want to trade him, but I do think it would be prudent to explore it, as I don't think anyone is untradeable if the return is worth it.

[Backtobanks]

To tag along with the buy low theme of this thread, what about selling high? Theriot is the obvious choice, followed by Fontenot. What about Marmol, could his value be peaking right now? What could we get for him? Not that I want to trade him, but I do think it would be prudent to explore it, as I don't think anyone is untradeable if the return is worth it.

 

Fontenot is the perfect example of an undervaled player. As for selling high, he would be a throw-in in a package deal.

[Guest]

With the Marlins surplus of young SP someones going to be available...Olsen? Miller? Can I keep dreaming?

 

Olsen seems more likely since his price tag is going to increase before next season.

[Colin Wyers]

Mike Fontenot has looked good in every defensive metric I've seen this year, and was the only Cub to show up on the plus side in Dewan's Fielding Bible leaderboard. Rally's defensive projections (which include Fan Scouting Report data) have him as essentially average at second. He's younger than DeRosa, so it wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world to expect him to be at least equal to him defensively.