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Matt Capps Released, Signs With Nationals

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Electron Blue First Round Pick

Electron Blue

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Curious move. I assume Neal Huntington had another motive besides screwing me over in my keeper league:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09347/1020667-63.stm

 

Not sure of the Pirates' financial situation, but it was clearly related to that:

 

Capps made $2.4 million in 2009, and the Pirates did not want to go to arbitration, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, since he'd receive a significant raise based on his past success.

 

He'd be quite a solid pickup. He's a legit unrestricted FA now, right? Nothing weird rule-wise with him being non-tendered, correct?

Electron Blue First Round Pick

Electron Blue

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Posted
We should definitely keep spending what little money we have this offseason on more bullpen help.

 

well, can't disagree with that :). I guess I was just looking at him as a solid signing, in general, not necessarily for us.

Post Count Padder Chicago Cubs

Post Count Padder

Old-Timey Member
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Posted
We should definitely keep spending what little money we have this offseason on more bullpen help.

 

well, can't disagree with that :). I guess I was just looking at him as a solid signing, in general, not necessarily for us.

Yeah, I think he'd be a good pickup but we have other needs.

Shilzzz Knoxville Smokies

Shilzzz

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Fangraphs Non-Tender Analysis:

 

Matt Capps (56 IP, 6.91 K/9, 2.41 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9)

 

Capps was something of a surprise non-tender, but his reputation might surpass his actual contribution at this point. To be sure, he’s nowhere near as bad as his 5.80 ERA in 2009 would suggest: his BABIP was a stunning .370. Capps has excellent control (career 1.66 BB/9), but he doesn’t whiff many batters for a late-game reliever (6.89 K/9). An extreme fly ball pitcher (career 36 GB%), Capps benefitted from abnormally low home run/fly ball rates in 2007 (4.4%) and 2008 (6.8%). In ‘09, that figure regressed to 13.5%. Check out Capps’ ERA and xFIP numbers from 2007 to 2009:

 

2007: 2.28 ERA, 4.31 xFIP

2008: 3.02 ERA, 3.95 xFIP

2009: 5.80 ERA, 4.37 xFIP

 

Add in Capps’ recent health problems (DL stints for a shoulder injury in ‘08 and an elbow malady in ‘09), and the non-tender begins to make more sense.

 

Few other pitchers noted there include Anthony Reyes and Scott Olsen.

davell Chicago Cubs

davell

Old-Timey Member
Posted
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I'd love to get Capps, but I think that there will be some teams out there wanting him as a closer, which will price him out of our very limited range......
Cubbie Swagger Draft Eligible

Cubbie Swagger

Old-Timey Member
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If Capps was willing to sign cheap just for the sake of playing for the Cubs, I'd take a chance. But, I wouldn't spend a large chunk of cash on him. In 2009 we assembled a HORRIBLE bullpen, though, and I'm afraid to see that happen again. You can never have too many good relievers.
17 Seconds Chicago Cubs

17 Seconds

Old-Timey Member
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Capps has some good qualities, but ultimately he's an extreme fly ball pitcher who allows a ton of balls put into play. In short relief that's a recipe for a lot of up and down years.

 

i don't know.... his track record doesn't really show that so far. his first 3 years were very good, and last season he was hurt. in 271 career innings so far he has really nice numbers (1.18 whip, a k:bb of over 4). that's a pretty big sample size. even if those things you say about him are true, he's shown he can be well above average consistently.... assuming he's healthy.

Transmogrified Tiger All-Star

Transmogrified Tiger

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted
Capps has some good qualities, but ultimately he's an extreme fly ball pitcher who allows a ton of balls put into play. In short relief that's a recipe for a lot of up and down years.

 

i don't know.... his track record doesn't really show that so far. his first 3 years were very good, and last season he was hurt. in 271 career innings so far he has really nice numbers (1.18 whip, a k:bb of over 4). that's a pretty big sample size. even if those things you say about him are true, he's shown he can be well above average consistently.... assuming he's healthy.

 

I'm not trying to say that his true talent level isn't good. I guess my point is that despite having a pitch to contact game, he's not likely to be any more consistent than a power reliever who has the potential to be more dominant. I wouldn't be terribly upset with him on the Cubs, but considering all that and his injury history, I'm not going to lead a campaign to add him to the pen.

Clem Fandango All-Star

Clem Fandango

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Fangraphs Non-Tender Analysis:

 

Matt Capps (56 IP, 6.91 K/9, 2.41 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9)

 

Capps was something of a surprise non-tender, but his reputation might surpass his actual contribution at this point. To be sure, he’s nowhere near as bad as his 5.80 ERA in 2009 would suggest: his BABIP was a stunning .370. Capps has excellent control (career 1.66 BB/9), but he doesn’t whiff many batters for a late-game reliever (6.89 K/9). An extreme fly ball pitcher (career 36 GB%), Capps benefitted from abnormally low home run/fly ball rates in 2007 (4.4%) and 2008 (6.8%). In ‘09, that figure regressed to 13.5%. Check out Capps’ ERA and xFIP numbers from 2007 to 2009:

 

2007: 2.28 ERA, 4.31 xFIP

2008: 3.02 ERA, 3.95 xFIP

2009: 5.80 ERA, 4.37 xFIP

 

Add in Capps’ recent health problems (DL stints for a shoulder injury in ‘08 and an elbow malady in ‘09), and the non-tender begins to make more sense.

 

Few other pitchers noted there include Anthony Reyes and Scott Olsen.

 

Why are the two consecutive years of low HR/FB rates the year after his first full season the aberration and not the norm? Because this season when he was partially injured he regressed to his rookie year performance whgere he was merely mediocre as a reliever? Why wouldn't his following two seasons as a regular who had become adjusted to the MLB level who turned in great performances not be considered the norm? Just curious

CoolHandLuke First Round Pick

CoolHandLuke

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Fangraphs Non-Tender Analysis:

 

Matt Capps (56 IP, 6.91 K/9, 2.41 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9)

 

Capps was something of a surprise non-tender, but his reputation might surpass his actual contribution at this point. To be sure, he’s nowhere near as bad as his 5.80 ERA in 2009 would suggest: his BABIP was a stunning .370. Capps has excellent control (career 1.66 BB/9), but he doesn’t whiff many batters for a late-game reliever (6.89 K/9). An extreme fly ball pitcher (career 36 GB%), Capps benefitted from abnormally low home run/fly ball rates in 2007 (4.4%) and 2008 (6.8%). In ‘09, that figure regressed to 13.5%. Check out Capps’ ERA and xFIP numbers from 2007 to 2009:

 

2007: 2.28 ERA, 4.31 xFIP

2008: 3.02 ERA, 3.95 xFIP

2009: 5.80 ERA, 4.37 xFIP

 

Add in Capps’ recent health problems (DL stints for a shoulder injury in ‘08 and an elbow malady in ‘09), and the non-tender begins to make more sense.

 

Few other pitchers noted there include Anthony Reyes and Scott Olsen.

 

Why are the two consecutive years of low HR/FB rates the year after his first full season the aberration and not the norm? Because this season when he was partially injured he regressed to his rookie year performance whgere he was merely mediocre as a reliever? Why wouldn't his following two seasons as a regular who had become adjusted to the MLB level who turned in great performances not be considered the norm? Just curious

 

I'm a layman, to be sure, but I would guess that there are measures of a pitcher's performance (that aren't based on home runs allowed) that are indicative of how many home runs a pitcher should give up that were not in line with how many Capps gave up for those two years.

Wheelimus First Round Pick

Wheelimus

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

To be honest, without dumping salary we're really in dumpster diving mode. You can find trash a lot worse than Matt Capps.

 

It's all in the dollars. He was dumped to avoid being paid a raise on $2.45 million in arbitration. If he's deal minded for a one year deal with a team option, why not.

 

Then just find a GM stupid enough to trade for Grabow. Dreaaaaaaam. Dream Dream Dream. And so on.

Sever82 Draft Eligible

Sever82

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
Doesn't really sound like the Cubs will sign Capps, despite the fact the cubs and capps have interest in one another, Kinzer (Capps' agent) said the opportunity to close will be a major factor in his decision. I think the cubs need to let marmol close period because if they sign Capps i can see the same situation that happened last year with gregg, happen this year with capps.
davearm2 First Round Pick

davearm2

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Curious what all the folks applauding Neal Huntington in the Grabow thread think about this move.

 

Presumably they ought to like this decision by the Pirates, since the expected-production-per-dollar proposition is very similar for these two guys.

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