Offseason Rumors

[SouthSideRyan]

Damn, Ryan Roberts on a minor league deal? Good job, fellas.

 

Seems like he makes the team if Olt doesn't win the starting job no?

Probably but hopefully Barney isn't locked in at 2B either and hopefully he will be in contention to take the job from him.

 

I think Barney's probably a better bet to produce full-time than Roberts

[davell]

Valbuena/Roberts as a platoon would be cool at 3B, if Olt struggles. Spring Training will be interesting at least. I fully expect Kalish to take Brett's 40 man spot and Roberts to make the team in some role.

[SouthSideRyan]

Valbuena/Roberts as a platoon would be cool at 3B, if Olt struggles. Spring Training will be interesting at least. I fully expect Kalish to take Brett's 40 man spot and Roberts to make the team in some role.

 

Fujikawa to the 60 day will open up a spot for some NRI.

[Rob]

For his career, Roberts has hit .266/.341/.444 versus lefties and just .233/.310/.362 versus righties. That's not a huge sample size for either so both should be pretty heavily regressed, but he definitely looks like at least like a good platoon option for 3B (especially since UZR likes him). And he could be a fit at 2B if Barney is injured, traded, or just terrible.

 

I have no idea what to make of Kalish's numbers due to all the injuries, but the old scouting reports suggest he could be a starting caliber player if he's actually healthy.

 

Wada is probably a nice upgrade over Rusin as the 6th starter.

 

As for Baker, somebody needs to play C in Iowa.

[neely crenshaw]

I think the team is better if Olt can play a solid 3b and we can platoon Barney/Valbuena at 2nd.

Even in a terrible overall year Barney posted .284- .337ob with an .805 ops vs lefties, and Valbuena was .217 -.333ob with a .715 ops vs righties.

Valbuena really fell off but he and Barney could be very valuable as a combo.

 

On a side note word is that Boston will resign Drew for a 3 year deal and Bogarts will be moved to third. Middlebrooks will be moved.

Thoughts on his value to us as a 3b, obviously the FO knows all about him.

Pros: He is 25. He had a pretty solid year in 2012..battled injuries last year. He was ok defensively..between +.2 and -.2 dwar, and was 1.2 war(Valbuena was 1.6 last year) for his career. His Minor league stats were similar to his 2012 stats. He is under control until 2019 and not eligible for arbitration until 2016. There are no true options for quick help at 3b

Cons: Boston is said to want young pitching in return, He's been injured and is not a completely proven commodity. Olt and Bryant may have more upside in the near future. Would it be worth using any assets simply to be slightly better next year, if he isn't a long term piece?

[Sammy Sofa]

I think the team is better if Olt can play a solid 3b and we can platoon Barney/Valbuena at 2nd.

Even in a terrible overall year Barney posted .284- .337ob with an .805 ops vs lefties, and Valbuena was .217 -.333ob with a .715 ops vs righties.

Valbuena really fell off but he and Barney could be very valuable as a combo.

 

Valbuena still managed to swing a 1 oWAR, while Barney was -1.7. There's not much reason to make room for Barney if there are other options.

[Deeg]

I think the team is better if Olt can play a solid 3b and we can platoon Barney/Valbuena at 2nd.

Even in a terrible overall year Barney posted .284- .337ob with an .805 ops vs lefties, and Valbuena was .217 -.333ob with a .715 ops vs righties.

 

Barney was 246-310-415 vs. LHP last season.

[neely crenshaw]

He's a year out from being our top war guy but we know he is unlikely to post that ever again. However, how can you argue with his splits vs lefties? Even in his terrible offensive year his splits were better than Valbuena's were- which I was very surprised about.

I think if anyone can play third, these two scream for a platoon at 2b.

[Sammy Sofa]

Over his career Barney has 429 PA against lefties vs. 1370 against righties, yet you know want him to be the part of a platoon that hits against LH pitchers.

 

A platoon with Valbuena: good idea. Barney being the other half of that platoon: hopefully there's a better option soon.

[neely crenshaw]

I think the team is better if Olt can play a solid 3b and we can platoon Barney/Valbuena at 2nd.

Even in a terrible overall year Barney posted .284- .337ob with an .805 ops vs lefties, and Valbuena was .217 -.333ob with a .715 ops vs righties.

 

Barney was 246-310-415 vs. LHP last season.

 

Sorry , that was barney's stat line vs LH starters. That would still be a nice split for a 2b. In a bad season, Barney still lead Valbuena's spilts in average, OB% and OPS.

With their defense, and Valbuena getting majority of at bats we could see a 330 ob% and 720-ish ops

 

I don't think either one has huge value if they have to be a full time player. You are also banking on Valbuena, who hit right at his career average but was 30 points above his career average for ob% and slugging producing at that same level. Factor in he hit .165 with a .619 ops the 2nd half of the season and possibly the only thing that kept his stats where they were is that he missed a month of at bats. You should question his value as much as Barney's

[Sammy Sofa]

Barney is already basically a platoon player, and he's one that generally doesn't hit against lefties, but you want to put him in that position because of 2013's sample size?

 

And hey, you know what Barney didn't lead Valbuena in last year? Which was the 1.6 WAR player and which was was the -0.5 WAR player?

 

Barney's insane value in 2012 was based mostly on his defense; his bat is not difficult to replace.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Sammy Sofa

[SouthSideRyan]

Could always go with the often discussed, never implemented ground ball/fly ball platoon

[Rob]

Could always go with the often discussed, never implemented ground ball/fly ball platoon

 

Never implemented? Don't you remember Kevin Mitchell at SS?

[Sammys Boombox]

I think it is a good thing for the Royals that Glass is allowing Moore to sign 4/30 contracts to fill positions of need. However, Moore clearly does not think that walks are a valuable asset to have.

 

Last year they finished 27th in MLB at 6.9%. It's been over 20 years since they have finished in the top half of the AL in walks.

 

This is what they will field this year:

 

Perez 4.0%

Escobar 4.3%

Infante 5.4%

Moustakas 6.2%

*Cain 6.7%

Hosmer 7.7%

*Aoki 7.8%

Butler 9.2%

*Dyson 9.3%

Gordon 9.4%

*Maxwell 10.6%

 

*2 of these 4 will be starting with some platooning going on in RF and CF. Question, why would you ever walk Jarrod Dyson?

[UMFan83]

Sorry if posted elsewhere already but the Yankees are supposedly interested in Barney.

[Infrequent Poster]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

[Hairyducked Idiot]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

 

Honestly? I'd rather just keep Barney. There's got to be a limit to how many of these AAA fringey pitchers we can make adequate use of.

 

Given the choice, Ramirez seems like he has a bit more upside.

[Backtobanks]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

 

Honestly? I'd rather just keep Barney. There's got to be a limit to how many of these AAA fringey pitchers we can make adequate use of.

 

Given the choice, Ramirez seems like he has a bit more upside.

 

How about expanding the deal to get Gardner:

Russell + Barney + ???? for Gardner + ????

[davell]

Gardner is pretty damn valuable, I don't want to give up the Alcantara type I figure it'd take to get him honestly. If he's available as a FA next year, I do hope we're in on him. Personally, I think the Yanks will keep him this year and dump Ichiro, possibly back to Seattle.

[Post Count Padder]

Yankees are insistent they will not trade Gardner; said the point is to have him and Ellsbury man 2/3 of the outfield and bat next to each other. I'd love to grab him in FA, though.

 

And with Valbuena, Lake, Watkins, etc on the roster and Alcantara and Baez coming up soon, I don't think a Barney trade hurts us. He is going to make more than he is worth very soon. I know he is coming off a down season but if the Yankees are as smitten as it sounds like and we can get a decent arm out of it, I don't see why we would say no.

[Infrequent Poster]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

 

Honestly? I'd rather just keep Barney. There's got to be a limit to how many of these AAA fringey pitchers we can make adequate use of.

 

Given the choice, Ramirez seems like he has a bit more upside.

Both of those guys are already on the Yankees 40 man roster. I'd prefer someone who the Cubs didn't have to instantly put on the 40. With upside of course.

[CubsWin]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

 

Honestly? I'd rather just keep Barney. There's got to be a limit to how many of these AAA fringey pitchers we can make adequate use of.

 

Given the choice, Ramirez seems like he has a bit more upside.

Ramirez reminds me a lot of Alberto Cabrera. He's a year younger, but their repertoire is very similar. At this point, given the Cubs other options, I would trade Barney for him. But I also think there's no pressing need to trade him now.

[CubsWin]

ABTY -

The Yankees/Barney stuff as I'm sure everyone has figured out, has serious legs. He'd compete for the 2B job but hearing the Yanks love him as a utility MI helping spell Jeter and also facing tough lefties instead of Johnson. The names I've heard the most are Nik Turley and Jose Ramirez, not likely to land both...

 

Honestly? I'd rather just keep Barney. There's got to be a limit to how many of these AAA fringey pitchers we can make adequate use of.

 

Given the choice, Ramirez seems like he has a bit more upside.

Both of those guys are already on the Yankees 40 man roster. I'd prefer someone who the Cubs didn't have to instantly put on the 40. With upside of course.

Perhaps like the Campana trade. Are the Yankees hungry enough to win now that they would give up P Luis Severino for Barney? SS Abiatal Avelino? 3B Miguel Andujar? C Luis Torrens?

[CubsWin]

The Cubs are reportedly interested in signing Jonathan Sanchez and would use him as a reliever.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-cubs-jonathan-sanchez-20131215,0,2678965.story

 

If they succeed in getting him, or even the mere fact that they are going after another lefty, could mean there is serious interest in James Russell. Perhaps a package of Barney and Russell to the Yankees?

[Guest]

Yeah it seems pretty likely that Russell is somewhere else on opening day, and Sanchez seems like an interesting gamble to add depth for replacing him.

 

Speaking of the Yankees, have they soured on Austin Romine? He seems a bit of the odd man out with their glut of catching prospects and now McCann. Would love to snag him and give him the AAA at bats he needs.