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« Odds & Ends: Sano, Jones, Draft, Fukumori | Main | Yankees In On Sano? »
Discussion: Veterans In Triple-A
One year ago today, the Mets swung a deal for veteran outfielder Trot Nixon, who at the time was hitting .309-.437-.558 for Triple-A Tuscon. While Nixon wasn't much of a boost to the Mets' offense, teams could still look to patch up holes without breaking the bank by acquiring veterans stuck in the minors. Let's take at some guys who have been performing well down in Triple-A and could possibly offer a big league team help off the bench or out of the bullpen. First, the position players:
- Andy Marte: .321-.351-.530 in 171 PA while playing first and third for Cleveland's AAA affiliate.
- Shelley Duncan: .310-.379-.670 in 227 PA, leading the International League in homers and RBI, and not by a small margin either. He's played the corner outfield spots and first base for the AAA Scranton Yankees.
- Hector Luna: .351-.413-.655 in 218 PA, playing first, second and third base for the Dodgers' top minor league club.
Marte has certainly gotten his fair share of big league opportunities, as has Luna. Both could possibly offer infield depth to a team beset by injuries. Duncan has had a tremendous offensive season (not quite a Jake Fox season, though), but swings from the right side, so he's not an ideal pinch hitter for an NL club. Here's some pitchers:
- Lenny DiNardo: 3.48 ERA, 52-13 K/BB in 64.2 IP, mostly out of the rotation in the Royals' organization.
- Elmer Dessens: 1.15 ERA, 26-7 K/BB in 31.1 IP, working exclusively out of the bullpen for the Mets' AAA affiliate.
- Brendan Donnelly: 2.04 ERA, 16-5 K/BB in 17.2 IP, all as a reliever with Houston's top minor league team.
None of these three are strangers to the big leagues. DiNardo could be particularly attractive to a team looking to add another lefty to their relief corps, especially since he could spot start as well. Donnelly has playoff and World Series experience, which has value to some.
Do you see any teams that could be possible fits for these guys? Are there any other veteran players down in Triple-A that could help someone?
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Mike,
You may have missed the Red Sox AAA team Pawtucket and the veteran arms that they have converted to relief work, of which all have several years of MLB experience and all are dominating AAA hitters:
Fernando Cabrera:
0-1 1.33 27IP 30K 10BB
Marcus McBeth:
2-0 1.88 28IP 27K 9BB
Rocky Cherry:
2-0 1.23 29 22K 14BB
The way so many teams are desperate for BP help and the Sox are flush with it already, imagine these 27-29 year olds could be of use, especially the 28 year old Cabrera who also is the closer now since Bard was called up to Boston and has 11 Saves.
Posted by: johns | June 13, 2009 at 11:52 AM
Johns, everyone has players like that, Mike can't name them all. It looks like he just went with the players that have had big league experience, but limited success despite playing time.
Posted by: B3NG4L | June 13, 2009 at 11:54 AM
B3ng4l, I wasn't trying to insult Mike or anything, just add some more names to the list and Fernando Cabrera has parts of 6 years MLB experience, more than Dessens, Marte and Luna so would not call him especially limited playing time. Not to mention an upper 90's FB. Just extremely wild in the past.
Posted by: johns | June 13, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Either Shelley Duncan or Jason Dubois (.314/.389/.538 for the AAA Iowa Cubs) might be good low-cost options for the Phillies, who are said to be in search of a RH OF bat.
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 13, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Shelley Duncan's Stats:
AVG: .310
G: 51
AB: 200
R: 45
H: 62
2B: 12
3B: 0
HR: 20
RBI: 59
BB: 23
SB: 2
OPS: 1.049
OBP: .379
SLG: .670
Why do they keep Berroa on the 40 man roster with the way this guy is tearing the cover off of the ball?
Posted by: FreeSide | June 13, 2009 at 12:01 PM
Round Rock Express' Chad Paronto has a 2.05 ERA and 14 Saves with a WHIP slightly over 1 this season. Could be a nice pickup for a team looking for a ground ball specialist.
Posted by: jmc1988 | June 13, 2009 at 12:04 PM
A team like the Pirates or the Padres should take a flier on Duncan.
He should get 300-400 Abs and see if he is more than a 4A player.
Because that guy has got monster power.
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | June 13, 2009 at 12:13 PM
"B3ng4l, I wasn't trying to insult Mike or anything, just add some more names to the list and Fernando Cabrera has parts of 6 years MLB experience, more than Dessens, Marte and Luna so would not call him especially limited playing time. Not to mention an upper 90's FB. Just extremely wild in the past.
Posted by: johns | June 13, 2009 at 11:59 AM"
Fernando Cabrera has pitched 168 innings in the bigs.
Dessens has 1000+ innings pitched.
Dessens is a "Vet"
Your trolling the board with Red Sox matter.
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | June 13, 2009 at 12:17 PM
A couple more young hitters with some big league experience (though no success yet).
OF Alex Romero is killing AAA pitching for the fourth year in a row for the D-Backs. I know that's a hitter's park, but a .415 OBP with 28 walks is nothing to sneeze at.
CF/2B Eric Patterson is getting on base at a .373 clip and has stolen 23 bags (against only 4 caught) for AAA Sacramento. He'd sure look good playing for the White Sox.
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
A couple more young hitters with some big league experience (though no success yet).
OF Alex Romero is killing AAA pitching for the fourth year in a row for the D-Backs. I know that's a hitter's park, but a .415 OBP with 28 walks is nothing to sneeze at.
CF/2B Eric Patterson is getting on base at a .373 clip and has stolen 23 bags (against only 4 caught) for AAA Sacramento. He'd sure look good playing for the White Sox.
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 13, 2009 at 12:25 PM
How about Winsten Abreu? Okay, he had just 38.1 major league innings, but he is really dominating the International League. Hope the Rays find a place for him in their BP!?
Stat Line:
32IP, 14H, 5ER, 49/10 SO/BB --> 1.41 ERA, 0.75 WHIP!
Posted by: Burgi_14 | June 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I hate to repeat my self but Matt F-ing Murton!
.411/.491/.632
This guy needs to play.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | June 13, 2009 at 12:31 PM
"How about Winsten Abreu? Okay, he had just 38.1 major league innings, but he is really dominating the International League. Hope the Rays find a place for him in their BP!?
Stat Line:
32IP, 14H, 5ER, 49/10 SO/BB --> 1.41 ERA, 0.75 WHIP!
Posted by: Burgi_14 | June 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM"
Yeah thats insane. The Rays need another arm no?
"I hate to repeat my self but Matt F-ing Murton!
.411/.491/.632
This guy needs to play.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | June 13, 2009 at 12:31 PM"
Agreed he should of been playing fulltime 3 years ago.
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | June 13, 2009 at 12:34 PM
"Why do they keep Berroa on the 40 man roster with the way this guy is tearing the cover off of the ball?"
Duncan can only play 1B or a corner OF. They already have too many OFs and they don't need anyone to play 1B. Plus, he's a Quad-A hitter.
Posted by: icedrake523 | June 13, 2009 at 12:44 PM
"myself"
Some more.
Mark Bellhorn .281/.402/.573
Todd Linden before he wen to Japan .312/.381/.515
John Rodriguez .286/.373/.503
Chris Shelton .306/.366/.488
There are so many to name.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | June 13, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Andy Marte could probably be had for peanuts. Yeah, I know he has been a flop in the big leagues so far and success at the AAA level doesn't necessarily translate to the bigs but it wouldn't be the first time that the light came on late for a talented you player. Brandon Phillips stunk it up in his MLB try-outs with the Indians too and we see how that story ended.
Posted by: MickS | June 13, 2009 at 12:57 PM
"Your trolling the board with Red Sox matter."
Posting legitimate information regarding successful relievers at the AAA level is not trolling.
Thank you for correcting the error on Dressen.
Posted by: johns | June 13, 2009 at 12:58 PM
brad eldred .289/.367/.523
carlos hernandez
3.15/ 52k in 68 in
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | June 13, 2009 at 01:00 PM
The Braves can use anyone with a pulse who can also swing a bat. I'd be shocked if they brought back Marte, but how 'bout Shelley Duncan? Could he be worse defensively than either Barbaro Canizares or Garret Anderson?
Posted by: ink-stained scribe | June 13, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Geoff Geary
AAA ROund Rock, Astros
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/stats/individual_stats_player.jsp?c_id=hou&playerID=407783
Just sent down.
Posted by: joel | June 13, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Mets fan here... I would gladly trade a RP like stokes, green, dessens, redding, etc... for Shelly Duncan. The Yanks need a RP and the Mets need a 1B. The Mets actually need to move a RH BP guy soon. I would love to see Duncan, who would likely bat in the middle of the order and start almost everyday.
I would also inquire about Marte.
Heck, both Marte[1b] + Duncan[lf] could play significant roles on the Mets right now given the state of the team.
Its a shame trades like these never happens
Posted by: whatdatmean | June 13, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Shelley Duncan will never hit for the average he does in the minors but the power is there and it's real. If he got a full season of ABs he'd hit 35+ HRs. Chris Davis is striking out like crazy and has an extremely low average. Shelley could provide the same power with a better average and less K's. The Mets should go after him. Daniel Murphy isn't cutting it.
If/When Delgado goes back, the Mets would have Shelley Duncan on the bench or to play the OF.
Posted by: KingBen | June 13, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Braves should go after Murton for right and dump francouer. Duncan would be a great fit with the mets. Guy has big time power.
Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | June 13, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Rocky Cherry:
2-0 1.23 29 22K 14BB
Darren O'Day:
2-0 0.92 19.2 17K 7BB
Two Rule 5 pickups by the Mets THIS YEAR who were subsequently released. OUTSTANDING roster management Omar. Brava!
Maybe Cashman will throw us Duncan for cash thanks to the game Castillo handed them last night...
Posted by: OhHeySlim | June 13, 2009 at 02:30 PM
with reds being as cheap as they are. we could use luna our gm had him with the cards.i always liked him
Posted by: 1stbaseman44 | June 13, 2009 at 02:55 PM
Posted by: johns: "Fernando Cabrera has parts of 6 years MLB experience, more than Dessens"
SAY WHAAAAT???
Dessens has more than 12 seasons in the majors, with varying success. You are a baseball fan, right?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/desseel01.shtml?redir
Posted by: XCal1bur | June 13, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Great post BTW. I always love these topics that leave the speculation open to the fans.
Cheers.
Posted by: XCal1bur | June 13, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Duncan can only play 1B or a corner OF. They already have too many OFs and they don't need anyone to play 1B. Plus, he's a Quad-A hitter.
Posted by: icedrake523 | June 13, 2009 at 12:44 PM
You mean like Russell Branyan? That guy was dubbed a AAAA hitter as often as anyone over the last ten years, and he's turned out to be a monster in the bigs. Jack Cust and Micah Hoffpauir have worn that tag, too, and they both haqve had some real moments.
I think part of the new economic order in baseball is looking carefully at these so-called AAAA types and seeing if maybe they just deserve another chance.
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 13, 2009 at 03:51 PM
I think Duncan has the ability to be a Richie Sexson type hitter. Furthermore he seems to be a really good guy who doesn't do too much complaining. I'm surprised he hasn't been traded to St. Louis so he could be close to his brother and pops.
I could really see him mashing in a HR friendly park in the AL as a DH/1b/LF/RF type. His fielding isn't pretty but he can play the field a little.
As for Berroa, I was told before that they were keeping him up so that on days that Pena replaced someone, they would have another utility type on the bench. Now that Arod seems healthy I think we should replace Berroa with either Duncan or Miranda now that Linden is gone.
Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | June 13, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Casey Fossum sure stunk it up in limited use for the Mets earlier this year, but his AAA numbers for the Phils look pretty good, so maybe he's due for another shot.
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 13, 2009 at 04:12 PM
"Casey Fossum sure stunk it up in limited use for the Mets earlier this year, but his AAA numbers for the Phils look pretty good, so maybe he's due for another shot."
I thought Fossum was pitching for the yankees AAA? And trust me, every AL East hitter will be sending a gift to Cashman if he promotes Fossum.
Posted by: start_wearing_purple | June 14, 2009 at 01:05 AM
YFS78, please don't try to send another Duncan to St. Louis. I think most fans here would be happy to get rid of the one we've got.
Posted by: The Stone Cop | June 14, 2009 at 05:40 AM
Nice handle, start_wearing_purple!
I guess my sanity and wits, they have all vanished because I thought Scranton was the Phil's AAA club. Did it used to be or did I just get confused?
Posted by: Sour Bob | June 14, 2009 at 10:34 AM