This one is very much through the grapevine, but I thought I’d pass it along. You can definitely trust this rumor if it truly comes from the Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss, though right now it’s a message board report. (Thanks to Viva El Birdos for the tip.) I’ll post more when I get it.
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But this isn’t a crazy one; David Dellucci is just the type of underrated, underpriced pickup that Walt Jocketty should make. We know the Phillies will see fit to send off the impending free agent; the only question is where.
I’m a huge fan of the 32 year-old outfielder. He’s typically been used against righties only, and that worked quite well in his last full season with Texas. In 2005 Dellucci hit .251/.369/.525 against righthanded pitching. You’ll just have to get past Dellucci’s typically low batting average; he doesn’t make contact frequently. However, he did show an excellent ability to draw walks when he led off last year. He walked in almost 15% of his plate appearances, which is Brian Giles territory.
This season he’s drawn just seven walks in 115 plate appearances, but he hasn’t been a regular so I’d like to think he’s retained the ability. Dellucci would fit nicely in left field with the Cardinals and would add less than $450,000 to the payroll. Plus, the Cards could acquire him with players other than Reyes and Wainwright.
