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« Gregg Expects A Trade | Main | Odds and Ends: Lee, Rogers, Beltre, Darvish »
Blake Leads Third Base Market
Here's a look at the free agent market for third basemen:
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (38)
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Mark Loretta (37)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Jones won't hit the market. Blalock and Crede have health issues, while the others would be stretched as starters. Except for Casey Blake. He's the best free agent option at third base.
Blake, 35, is hitting .282/.351/.480 in 560 plate appearances this year. He's not much defensively, making eight fewer plays than the average third baseman this year. He's about average at fielding bunts.
Blake is earning $6.1MM this year. Perhaps he will receive a two-year deal in the $15MM range. The Indians told Blake to keep them in mind, but he hasn't made any decisions yet. He should have plenty of suitors, possibly including the Twins, A's, Brewers, Dodgers, and Giants. Blake can also play first base and right field, expanding his options.
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Could Atlanta show interest in Blake to play first? Surely they can't be sold on Casey Kotchman...
Posted by: bamabosoxfan | September 17, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I disagree about the defense. Having seen him for 6 weeks playing for the Dodgers, he seems solid.
Posted by: richie | September 17, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Blake has the range of a woolly mammoth.
That's not a particularly enticing list of free agents. If I were a team needing a third basemen, I think there are some younger, better options on the trade market - Adrian Beltre, Edwin Encarnacion, possibly Bill Hall, Kevin Kouzmanoff.
But if you only want to give up money, I think Crede makes the most sense. Plus fielder, low OBA, but he'll give you 20 homers when healthy.
Posted by: RoyalsRetro | September 17, 2008 at 01:48 PM
I was citing Blake's plus/minus stats from Baseball Info Solutions.
Posted by: Tim Dierkes | September 17, 2008 at 01:54 PM
He's not leaving either way, but I believe Jones' option for 2009 already vested with 450 PAs
Posted by: wayne gomes | September 17, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Blake in a twins uniform would look very nice.
VERY nice...
Posted by: twinsfan | September 17, 2008 at 02:42 PM
"Could Atlanta show interest in Blake to play first? Surely they can't be sold on Casey Kotchman"
- Kotch deserves a break, he hasn't had a good sample size of at bats in the NL and he went on leave for an issue with his mom's health. Since coming back he's been coming back to form and I'm sure the Braves would rather develop a 1st baseman coming into his prime rather than trying to convert an old 3rd baseman far from his prime.
Posted by: LetsGoHalos | September 17, 2008 at 03:05 PM
I believe Geoff Blum's option vested after he reached a set number of plate appearances this season, so I don't think he's a free agent this offseason.
Posted by: DavidKaye | September 17, 2008 at 03:12 PM
"Kotch deserves a break, he hasn't had a good sample size of at bats in the NL and he went on leave for an issue with his mom's health. Since coming back he's been coming back to form and I'm sure the Braves would rather develop a 1st baseman coming into his prime rather than trying to convert an old 3rd baseman far from his prime."
Good call LetsGoHalos. I hadn't dove into his stats since the deal, but I knew the few games I had seen he wasn't all that hot.
And don't the Braves still have Scott Thorman somewhere?? Once upon a time he was the Braves top hitting prospect.
Atlanta needs starting pitchers. Actually, we need pitchers of any variety.
Posted by: bamabosoxfan | September 17, 2008 at 03:27 PM
Blum's option has indeed vested. Also, you might want to add Loretta to the list.
Posted by: Dmok | September 17, 2008 at 03:52 PM
What about Dallas McPherson? Won't he be a free agent?
Posted by: R.Munkee | September 17, 2008 at 05:29 PM
This is a thin market. I think the Os might try to take advantage of it and try to trade Mora who had a solid season. Because of his age, I can't imagine him costing THAT much. Maybe a couple of good lower A ball prospects. Considering his superb SO-BB ratio, decent OBP, and very good conditioning, he may be one of those hitters who can remain productive past 35.
Posted by: basemonkey | September 17, 2008 at 06:00 PM
About Crede's D, it was just HORRIFIC this year, watching him as a Sox fan. If u guys want sign him, you better have excellent backup plans.
Posted by: ballerwhiteboy | September 17, 2008 at 06:16 PM
"Could Atlanta show interest in Blake to play first? Surely they can't be sold on Casey Kotchman..."
This is simply mad. The Braves are going to give Kotchman every chance to succeed. He's all they have left from a trade that could possibly end up looking like one of the worst ever if Salty, Andrus and Feliz pan out. That'd be an elite hitting catcher, a very good shortstop, and a potential ace. For one year of Tex and Casey Kotchman. Damn.
The Braves will give Kotchman essentially every chance they can until either he completely fails, pans out, or Freddie Freeman is ready to replace him. Freeman looks like a possibly elite power bat. A scary one.
"But if you only want to give up money, I think Crede makes the most sense. Plus fielder, low OBA, but he'll give you 20 homers when healthy."
No way you pick Crede over Blake. I'm from Chicago, I've seen Crede play, and when he's healthy he's great with the glove. But the back injuries appear to be taking a toll. He's not terribly consistent, doesn't take walks, has back issues and his agent is Scott Boras. All those things push Blake, a solid all around player who will likely not take as many years because of his age, past Crede. I would say Crede is probably the best bet behind Blake, because its questionable that Blalock can even play a solid 3B anymore.
Posted by: scribbletone | September 17, 2008 at 06:43 PM
"But if you only want to give up money, I think Crede makes the most sense. Plus fielder, low OBA, but he'll give you 20 homers when healthy."
Crede isn't a plus fielder anymore because he makes too many errors and Blake is much better overall with the bat. Just as much power with a higher BA and OBP. Additionally, Blake can play the corners of the outfield, 1B and fill in at 2B.
I do think Blake has played a bit over his head with the Dodgers defensively, but he isn't going to hurt the team by playing 3B, especially when you consider his bat.
"I was citing Blake's plus/minus stats from Baseball Info Solutions."
The plus/minus formula is just as flawed as any other. Suggesting that Nook Logan or Jacque Jones are better defensive players than Ichiro shows that.
Posted by: AA | September 17, 2008 at 07:36 PM
Casey Blake is the best FA option at third base this offseason. He will consistantly hit 15-20 HR's, drive in runs, play solid defense at either position, RF/LF, 3B or 1B and most importantly, play hard. He's even appeared at SS with the Indians and could play 2B if needed. The guy is a pure athlete and would be a solid pick up for most teams. I've watched him play ever since Cleveland signed him to a minor league contract six years ago and he's become a really solid veteran. I'd love to see Blake back in a Tribe uniform.
Posted by: ilulic | September 17, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Bill Hall available for cash please...or a bag of dirty laundry...
Posted by: keehno | September 17, 2008 at 10:52 PM