Every year players are non-tendered for many reasons; perhaps they’re injured, have grown too expensive, or just simply aren’t performing well. Whatever the case, these players add sometimes unexpected options to the free agent market and often yield bargain results.
Kelly Johnson has to be figured as the prize of last offseason’s non-tender crop. The Braves decided to cut the then 27-year-old loose, and he rewarded the Diamondbacks with a .284/.370/.486 line. Johnson belted 26 home runs, swiped 13 bags, played nearly 1300 innings of strong defense, and totaled 6 WAR according to Fangraphs — all for $2.35MM.
Let’s not forget Mike Rizzo’s dealings either. The Nats’ GM signed Matt Capps for just $3.5MM and flipped him to the Twins at the deadline to receive Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa. Ramos was ranked as the Twins’ #4 prospect and the game’s #58 prospect entering the 2010 season. Not a bad ROI for a low-risk move on Rizzo’s part.
According to MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker, 52 players were non-tendered this year. Some of the more interesting cases include Bobby Jenks (now in Boston), Russell Martin (now a Yankee), Joel Peralta (now a Ray), Jack Cust (now a Mariner), Dustin Moseley (now a Padre), and George Sherrill (now a Brave). All six of these players saw either strong 2010 seasons or have experienced success at the Major League level. Looking at this season and beyond, let’s pose the question:
Russell Branyan
I didn’t vote Peralta, but I think he’s a really underrated player and I never understood why the Royals let him go.
I voted Cust. He should mash and be a legit bat in their lineup.
Cust might do alright, just as long as he never touches the grass. If he is a full time DH I could see him being a 3+WAR player easily. But given that Martin was one of the best catchers in the league a couple years ago, injuries slowed him down the last couple of years, while still being worth over 2WAR each of the last two years, im gonna put my money on him
looks like montero’s planning to steal a good number of at-bats from russel, but he’s still a decent bet
I’m going to trust the Yankees brass is smart enough to let him get consistent at bats in the minors, rather than bring Montero up pre-maturely to be a backup catcher or platoon with Martin.
does not look that way at the moment. cervelli’s injury gives them the excuse they needed
but for nyy’s sake i hope you’re right. i think the best thing for montero is to get consistent play behind the plate at AAA. if martin drags his feet, maybe you bring him up in the summer
Im sure the Yankees will find a way to get a backup catcher rather than ruin the development of one of the top prospects in the game. Bengie Molina doesn’t wanna backup but if they offer him 3mill to do so, he will realize he can buy that many more cheeseburgers from McDonalds
well if they can give him consistent at-bats at catcher and DH i’m not convinced it would ruin his development; it’s just an unnecessary risk imo
if he’s actually showing signs that he might figure out how to catch — which is the main reason they’ve talked so much about keeping him up to start the season — he should be sent to go catch every damn day in AAA so he can get it figured it out and double his value. the big league lineup is lacking
That would be the problem, they have a very old lineup. Posada can’t really catch anymore, Jeter cant really field anymore, same with A-rod. Texeira is above average defensively so it would not benefit there. The Yankees need the DH rest some guys, at this point, unless Montero can catch full time its really not worth it to have him on the big club. Let him sit in AAA and refine his catching
wait when could jeter field
/cheap shot
i think it’ll be cust with regular playing time but being in the m’s lineup makes me think he’ll be pitched around. of course all the NY and BOS fans show up and vote up their choices
i voted jenks though
I’m a Yankees fan and voted Mosely. I’m thinking he can make a bigger impact for the Padres than any of the other players for their prospective teams.
What on earth leads you to believe that Moseley will make the biggest impact? He’s mediocre at best when relieving, and even worse when starting. He doesn’t strike anyone out and he’s been one of the most hittable pitchers in the game over the past four or so years. The only respectable aspect of his game is his low BB total, that’s it.
All the other signings are pretty much depth moves. Non of those players are going to alter the teams they’ve joined.
Mosely has come to the Padres where he can fit in as a long relief or a spot starter or a back of the rotation pitcher. Granted San Diego’s starters are better than he is but an injury or a poor start by any one in the rotation could give him a chance to help. Pitching outside the AL east won’t hurt either.
There really isn’t anyone on this list that jumps out and screams comeback at you other than Jenks and yes.. Am a Red Sox fan, but Cust.. the guy hits a “few” HR, strikes out A LOT plays a horrible at best corner out field, still has not learned how to get on bas eany other way rather than walk or HR and has been allowed to walk via non tender how many years in a row now?? 2? 3? Without looking it up?
I think Alfredo Aceves with the Red Sox should at least be an option up there.
Was thinking the same, especially over Moseley.
Matt Diaz is another one. Had a rough year last season with injury, but he kills lefties and is an ideal platoon candidate at either corner outfield spot. Hell, he may even be a solid starting option. A career .301, .350, .456 line is pretty good….
And the last time he was coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued season he responded with a .878 OPS across 125 games.
Agreed. I wouldn’t put Jenks as the top guy on the Sox as far as non-tenders go. I’d put Aceves up above him, easily.
Bobby Jenks. His peripherals last year were the best they’ve been since 2007, and he posted his highest K rate since his rookie 2005 season. Seems like the reason the ChiSox non-tendered him was because of his likely salary, and Boston getting him for 2/12 was a great bargain considering Jenks is closer material. Signing Jenks means the Red Sox have an argument, albeit a bad one, when someone asks who the best 8th and 9th guys in the AL East are, and considering the Yankees had to pay Soriano and Rivera as much as they did, that’s impressive.
I guess that’s in how you look at it, ig you only take BB’s and K’s into account, then yeah, you’re right. However, his H/9 were the worst of his career. His xFIP suggest he has never been better, its hard to tell, but given his 2/12 dollar contract i’d push him back a bit given him bein a setup man, at best
if you only take BB’s, Ks, and HRs into account, then yeah*
BABIP fluctuation explains H/9; his contact % wasn’t worrisome
I gotta wonder if Jenks just really needs to get away from Ozzie Guillen. I know they’ve been having a flame war and the roots have been there for more than a year.
Well, you could also make that argument for Martin. I mean c’mon, who wants to be in LA? Joking… sort of… not really.
Flame war.. I’m picturing Ozzie Guillen writing “omg u sux LOLOLOLOL” over Jenks’ locker. hahaaha
that’s pretty much exactly what his son writes on twitter on his behalf, actually. with maybe a few more misspelled slurs and LOLs
Well it didn’t help that Guillen’s son started threatening Jenks with bodily harm.
c-u-s-t cust cust cust
i predict he will provide the most value and also get the least recognition for it. on the other side of that spectrum, jenks is a good candidate for moderate-to-high value with tons of recognition either way
Won’t be Peralta. .200 BABIP, 84.9 LOB%, 5.5 H/9 are all huge statistical anomalies for him. He has a good chance of being a solid middle reliever, but he won’t be the 2.02 ERA Peralta from last year.
I think Manny Delcarmen and Chris Ray will be a bargain together. Those two signings will really help Seattle.