High and Tight.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Girardi Starting to Sound a Bit Like Torre

Picking "his guys" based on what he's seen with his own eyes, and not statistical data.

From Pete Abe:

"Girardi said this morning that if the season started tomorrow, Xavier Nady would be his right fielder based on what he did last season."

From Ken Davidoff:

"Xavier Nady, the Yankees' rightfielder, may be the star-laden team's most under-the-radar regular player. But with A-Rod out until mid-May after hip surgery, Nady might just become front and center in the lineup - especially against lefthanders, whom he has hit to a .308 career clip."

Nick Swisher is better than Nady in every aspect of the game. Nady's not bad, and he's got a career OPS+ of 108 that says he's slightly above average, but he had a career year last year (for Pittsburgh - his Yankee stats were right along with his career line) while Swisher had the worst season of his career (thanks in no small part to Ozzie Guillen). Not only is Swisher better with the bat (career OPS+ 112 - qand if you compare with Nady if you throw out last season it's not even close) but he's better defensively (UZR) and has a much higher ceiling. Nady's career high in homers (25) would be an average year for Swisher.

Let's just hope Giradi gets Swisher into the mix - he's too good to be left rotting on the bench while inferior players start in his stead.

Labels: joe girardi, nick swisher, torre is dumb, x nady

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 10:18 AM 20 comments

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Offseason Target Idea #1: Jake Peavy

The Padres are for sale.

The Padres will be shopping everyone.

He's affordable now, but getting more expensive:
2009 opening day age: 27
2009 salary: $11 million
2010 salary: $15 million
2011 salary: $16 million
2012 salary: $17 million
Peavy signed a three-year, $52 million extension, which begins in 2010, on Dec. 12, 2007. The Padres have a team option for 2013 at $22 million, with a $4 million buyout.

Try signing Sabathia for that amount and you'll get laughed at, and Peavy's the better pitcher.

The problem? How much would it take to get one of the top three pitchers in the game?

I'm not one of the "trade Cano!" people, because I don't like trading young talent when it is at its lowpoint value-wise, but any package would have to start with the second baseman. The Padres do have a prospect (Matt Antonelli) they drafted first a couple of years ago who plays second, and he's one of the highest rated prospects in their system. That is, of course, because the Padres farm system is downright awful. Antonelli was scheduled prior to 2008 to begin 2009 as the starter on the big club. After a disastrous 2008 in AAA (.215/.335/.322, 7 HR) it's obvious he's not ready and possible he may never pan out. Cano would offer the Pads a significant upgrade.

Of course, they'd need a bit more. They'd be saving a chunk of change with dealing Peavy's salary, but he's their most marketable player now that Hoffman is in severe decline. To justify it, they would also have to get a number of those coveted arms from the Yankees system.

Hughes and Chamberlain are most likely off the table, so let's guess it would take Cano, Ian Kennedy, Austin Jackson, Xavier Nady and Alfredo Aceves. The Padres outfield was/is awful, and Jackson could be a good player for a long time. Nady came up as a Padre, and could fill in immediately. Kennedy could fit right into their rotation and could shine in that ballpark and in the National League.

Food for thought, Mr. Cashman. Throw some things against the wall and see what sticks.

Labels: alfredo aceves, austin jackson, ian kennedy, jake peavy, padres, robinson cano, trade proposals, trade rumors, x nady

posted by Mr. Faded Glory @ 3:29 PM 3 comments