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Odds And Ends: Quintero, Rios, Pierre

By Cork Gaines [March 30, 2008 at 3:27pm CST]

A few random notes from around the MLBiverse...

Henry Schulman says the Giants are in need of a backup catcher and a logical choice may be Astros backup Humberto Quintero, whom Bruce Bochy is familiar with from his days with the Padres. He also notes that the Rays have two experienced catchers that were just reassigned to the minor leagues in Josh Paul and Mike DiFelice.
The Jays and Alex Rios are closer today to an agreement on a long-term extension than they were yesterday. That according to Rios' agent, Paul Kinzer. Yesterday it was reported that the Jays had offered a six-year, $65MM deal. No word yet on what any new offers might look like. Kinzer reasserted that a deal needs to be done by tonight or negotiations will be put off until after the season.
Bobby Kielty initially accepted his demotion to Pawtucket, but he is now having second-thoughts and will wait a few days to see if any other teams are interested in a switch-hitting outfielder. With all the rumors swirling recently about teams in need of outfield help, I have to believe that Kielty will land a major league gig. PECOTA projects a line of .253/.331/.418 based on 159 plate appearances and Kielty can play all three outfield spots.
The Dodgers made it official today, giving Andre Ethier the left field job. This puts one more nail in the coffin of one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory. The move means that Juan Pierre will be a reserve, one year after signing a five-year, $44MM deal. The Dodgers will certainly look to trade Pierre, but will have to swallow a good portion of the $36.5MM remaining on the deal.
A couple of big names have made major league rosters after only earning non-roster spring training invites prior to spring training. The Rockies have given a job to Scott Podsednik, while the Rays did the same with former Rookie-of-the-Year Eric Hinske. In fact, Hinske will start on Opening Day and will be the Rays' right fielder against right handers to begin the season.
Phil Sheriden notes that Adam Eaton was named the Phillies' fifth starter, but that may not last long as Pat Gillick will certainly be looking for a better option. Sheriden feels that Gillick is much better at making moves in-season than during the offseason.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

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Comments

I could see Kielty end up on the rays.

Posted by: Manimal529 | March 30, 2008 at 03:46 PM

FYI ~ Rangers just designated OF Nelson Cruz for assignment.

Posted by: darkstar1661 | March 30, 2008 at 04:14 PM

Big names? At 1st I thought it was a pun with Podsednik... cause you know. He has a long name. But Hinske doesn't. So I am guessing some people don't get the idea of 'Big Names'.

I was thinking Sosa or Bonds or something like that.

Posted by: XD23 | March 30, 2008 at 04:17 PM

Hey, i know this isn't a Braves post, so i apologize.

But,

Who closes for the Braves if Soriano goes down ?

Posted by: BaseBallz | March 30, 2008 at 04:40 PM

Don't forget Jody Gerut, who hasn't played since '05 but won an OF job with the Padres. Depending on the whims of Blackie, he could be the OD starter in left.

Posted by: 322feet | March 30, 2008 at 05:35 PM

Bobby Kielty can NOT play all 3 outfield positions.

He can play a decent LF and RF, and he can play a horrible 1st Base in a pinch, but he can't play CF.

Posted by: Zonis | March 30, 2008 at 06:04 PM

Kielty has played 486 games in his career. 49 of those games he has played center field (a full 10%). He may not be able to play a good center field, but he CAN play center if needed.

Many teams when looking for a 4th or 5th outfielder want a guy that at least has the ability to play all three spots in case of emergency.

Posted by: Cork Gaines | March 30, 2008 at 06:08 PM

I should point out that the 486 number if the number of games in which he played in the field. it does not include DH or PH duty.

and he has only played 8 career games at first base.

Posted by: Cork Gaines | March 30, 2008 at 06:11 PM

I just like to know why I haven't heard a damned official word about the Phillies going after Vargas yet.

Posted by: no funny hats | March 30, 2008 at 06:21 PM

I might add that one big name that did not quite make the Opening Day roster was Trot Nixon with the D-backs...it was down to the wire with Nixon and Alex Romero, but Romero had the better spring, so Nixon accepted a AAA assignment.

Posted by: dbacksbuzz | March 30, 2008 at 06:54 PM

If those are the guys they are looking at for back up catcher, Giants are better off just keeping what they got...unless they could trade for Salty.

Posted by: zito4cyyoung | March 30, 2008 at 07:39 PM

Since 2004, Kielty has played 1 game in Centerfield, a total of 2 innings, coming last year when the A's used about anyone who was able to stand in the outfield in Centerfeild due to injuries).

So no, I would not say he is able to play Centerfield. 2 Innings in 4 years does not really indicate an affinity for that position.

Hell, Jermaine Dye has played just one and two thirds innings less than Kielty has in Center, at Shortstop the last 4 years! Jermaine Dye obviously can play Shortstop!

Posted by: Zonis | March 30, 2008 at 08:54 PM

i would take jermaine dye as the csrdinals shortstop. seriously the dodgers r boneheads. why did they sign andruw jones with kemp/pierre/ethier. i know pierre sucks but they signed him just last year so they must have liked something about him. the dodgers have some of the worst contracts in all of baseball. they do keep the years low but they overpay almost everybody. they have a farm system to die for and always develop their players well. if they werent idiots they would have a great team. take the cardinals decision making in free agency and the player development of the dodgers with the dodgers money and u would have a championship club every year. i guess nobody can have everything.

Posted by: Joelcards | March 30, 2008 at 11:26 PM

Pierre was a knee-jerk reaction to J.D. Drew's a-hole move in canceling his contract. Then again, I would argue that even that move was a blessing in disguise. Hindsight being 20/20, the Dodgers probably should have just re-signed Lofton on the cheap, even if it meant giving him 2 years, since he is a much better defensive player than Pierre, hits for more power and can still run. Most people think that the Dodgers didn't have faith that Kemp was ready, which we all know was completely wrong now.

Posted by: AA | March 31, 2008 at 11:23 AM

Odds And Ends: Quintero, Rios, Pierre

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