The Braves, Rays, and Mets are among the teams looking at Ryan Theriot, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Reds and Rockies are also said to have interest in the infielder, who was non-tendered earlier this month.
Theriot, 32, hit .271/.321/.342 in 483 plate appearances for the World Champion Cardinals last season. He only stole four bases (in ten chances) though, ending his streak of three consecutive seasons with 20+ steals. Theriot had been in line for a $3.9MM salary his third time though arbitration according to our projections.
Would love him at SS in Tampa, almost anybody is better than S-Rod and brignac
By SS, you mean “guy that stands between second and third to look intimidating and take up space,” right? Please tell me you saw the ESPN segment devoted to Theriot’s terrible defense, though I do like his bat.
I like Theriot in Tampa Bay, but not at SS. Ryan has declined at SS, but he is still solid at 2B. As a right-handed batter against LHP, his BA and OBP are very good. The questions for the Rays are, (1) how much would it take to get him? and (2) is he THAT much more valuable than Elliot Johnson? If the price is right, I would like to see TB make that move and implement a rotating platoon. If there is a LHP on the mound, Theriot could start at 2B, S-Rod can start at SS, and Zobrist can play RF or DH (giving Damon(?) or Joyce a rest). Against RHPs, Zobrist could play 2B and Brignac could play SS.
Hm? Brignac is well above average at SS. S-Rod is a 2nd baseman.
no
Think he would be a good get for the Braves… While he’s not a great defender, he makes up for it with his plate coverage, his speed, and his gritty play…Would be a definite upgrade over Conrad and Lugo from last yr
And Wilson.
The Riot Sweepstakes
For once the Jays aren’t involved.
I think that means they are going to sign this one.
Here’s a line I never thought I would type: He may not even be better than the backup infielder, Elliot Johnson.
I mean, sure he K’s less but when you include defense, if anything, it’s even. I mean if he comes for next to nothing, I guess let him compete with Elliot in ST, although with S-Rod and Brignac already for SS, I would be giving that last spot to a Guyer type….
Ya, the riot has more BB’s than K’s vs. LHP and nearly an .800 ops, but S-Rod has basically the same output, actual upside, makes a pittance, and can’t be projected to play any worse than Theriot at SS. I don’t know if he’s better than a guy who shouldn’t make the roster (EJ), but at best, he would be a slight upgrade in case our two near replacement level shortstops go down. Replacement level (had to say it again).
As a backup? Love it. As insurance in case Pastornicky pulls a Jordan Schafer? Love it. As our opening day starting shortstop? Meh…
This dude shouldn’t even be a backup SS, I say backup 2B and break incase of emergency SS. He is no gold glover.
Back up shortstops are supposed to be gold glovers?
With Tampa, they are! If only there was a designated fielder for Reid Brignac…..
Agree. Everyone loved Omar Infante. Theriot is an Infante with speed.
well the Braves need a backup who can play 2B, SS, and maybe 3B and I’m pretty sure Theriot can do that effectively
Drew Sutton is not a bad backup either . But his defense at SS isn’t great . Theriot could backup SS while Sutton backsup 3rd and 2nd .
having both of those guys presents a big problem when you draw up what the rest of the roster would look like. No room for a backup CFer
Heyward would be backup CF in an emergency.
You keep Constanza and Hicks at AAA if Bourn goes down.
This is also why I’d want to sign Andruw. Not really a CF anyone, but he can pretend in a pinch, and Heyward and Prado have plus range at the corners to help out.
LMFAO, good thing Jeff isn’t a GM. Good god man. Prado has plus range, Heyward back up CF, The braves need a “Lefty Masher”…What game are you watching?
Prado does have plus range for a LF
So let me get this straight. You don’t want him as your everyday SS, but if Pastornicky flops, you’d be fine with him as your every ss? That doesn’t really make sense? If you don’t think he’s good enough to handle the job, why would you want him to potentially end up with the job?
By the way, Pastornicky is nothing more than the next Tommy Manzella was in Hou…so you might want to hope that whoever they bring in as insurance is capable of doing the job. Personally I think Theriot would be fine. Not spectacular defensively but a solid bottom of the order bat with experience as an everyday guy, whose spent time batting in the 1 and 2 hole.
The downside is he’s not really capable of playing 3b for any extended period of time..and with Chipper still on the roster, they’ll need someone who can cover for him frequently. If you move Prado to 3b, then you need a decent 4th OF (Hinske is not that guy). So signing Theriot wouldn’t make sense for the Braves. They’d be better of with a more versatile player.
I meant that if we’re forced to use him in case pastornicky goes down i’d be fine with it but i’d rather pasto didn’t go down
No team should be interested in him as a short stop. Now if he officially cones out an says ” look everyone I’m officially making the move to 2nd I’ll only play short in a pinch” then his value skyrockets. A 6.5 career uzr at second plus his bat. That’s a solid player right there.
You’re right about him defensively, but his bat doesn’t have much to offer besides relatively decent splits against LHP (.775 career OPS). He’s been a below-league-average hitter for five seasons running and that includes his one good year (2008) with the Cubs.
That’s actually quite useful for the Braves, who need some lefty-mashing.
In a platoon at second base, he might not be so terrible.
there is no way the braves platoon second base they gave a ton of money for ugla there is no way they platoon him unless they are considering moving him to 1st and trading freeman or maybe moving him to left field or trading him along with one of their pitchers
Shows how much you know about baseball negotiations! That’s exactly what he told the Cardinals, and as a result they non-tendered him and signed Furcal.
It’s true he’s not very good defensively as a SS, but to be dumb enough to tell clubs you’re now just a 2b, and limited your versatility is stupid…and he realizes that now. Since losing out on the chance to stay in STL, his agent is now billing him as a Utility Inf…which is his best chance and role with any team.
i hope the mets sign him so i have even more of an excuse to laugh at how pathetic they are
Id like theriot on braves makes alot of sense backup ss/2b maybe 3b if he had to and has decent bat get wren make a splash haha
Do it up.
As long as the fact that’s he’s pretty good doesn’t take away too much playing time for Pastornicky… I’d like to see him up there and given a good, long shot at getting the starting job (as Freeman had)
It’s funny… Hendry was no great Cubs GM, but one of the things he took heat on locally was the players he dealt away or let go. But can any Cub fan honestly say they missed DeRosa or Theriot? Or Choi? Even Wood’s time away from Chicago was mostly middling-to-awful and wildly overcompensated.
I mean, seriously, Michael Barrett…
I agree to a point..(especially with Barrett and Choi). However, Theriot and Derosa’a gritty play and attitude is what made them loved, and so good in Chicago. That is what the Cubs are missing right now, someone who actually wants to play the game, and not just collect a paycheck!
Who didn’t see this one coming?
wouldn’t even say SS next to his name if not for the cards signing him last year. the same team that lured berkman and beltran by promising positions they have no worldly business at. 3 in 2 years. whatever this FO has against passable defense is beyond me.
Cards are taking a page out of the Davey Johnson Mets of the ’80s. Don’t worry about the defense so long as you can score runs by the bushel.
On top of terrible defense at SS, he’s also one of the worst baserunners I’ve ever had the displeasure to watch.
I love him, he’s my favorite player, but he’s not a shortstop. I think he’d be a really good second baseman, though. I hope someone picks him up. I need a team to root for next season!
He’s your favorite player? You are going to follow a team because they sign him? That is weird.
I follow whatever team my favorite player is on. He happens to be my favorite player. Ergo, I will follow the team that signs him. What makes that weird?
So your saying that you choose the team you root for after you see where a below average player is? At least follow a good player like Pujols, Votto, Bautista, Reyes….somebody.
As stated above, I root for the team my favorite player is on. I don’t choose a “favorite player” based on their skills. Obviously. Thank you.
Why is he your favorite player?
I just like the way he plays. He gives it his all. He’s not the best, but he’s always trying. Doesn’t seem to be cocky or arrogant. Seems to love the game.
Fair enough, though I’m guessing you haven’t heard or seen too many of Theriot’s radio/TV interviews. He can come across as pretty cocky.
+1
Are you the last of the displaced Expos fans?
Never been an Expos fan. Reds in the ’60’s and ’70’s (Johnny Bench), Yankees in the ’70’s (Bucky Dent), Cubs later (Sandberg). Like a player, like the team. That’s how I roll.
Do you expect me to believe that the Rays would be interested in him. Maddon already said its going to be either s-rod or can’t hit reid. You cant put him on second base because zobrist has that postition. I highly doubt he will be used as a dh
Wonder if the Braves could get Sean Rodriguez from the Rays
All we have to offer is pitching depth and the Rays are the only team that wouldn’t be interested I’m afraid.
Still holding out hope for Frazier from Cincy personally but Theriot definitely isn’t the worst option bad defense or not.
I wouldn’t mind seeing The Riot in a Met Uniform but the problem is they don’t have enough money to sign ANYONE good and this year is already gone to Miami. Hope he chokes on all that money……
Whoa, Nelson! You have only spelled two out of four names wrong. Congratulations on your personal best!
2/4, with an odd frequency of capitalization, and lacking a Serial/Oxford/Harvard comma. ‘Merica, ’nuff said.
cabera and viquel?
I can’t get too technical with Nelson’s grammar just yet. Nelson has come a long way just to get to this point. I’m very proud of Nelson.
Out of all the available shortstops, Theriot is the one I’d to see the most in a Braves uniform.
Slim pickings, though.
lol, I go to one of the schools trying to lay claim to the aforementioned comma, and my grammar only looks good next to his (grammar NAZIs use my writing as propaganda). However, there is no excuse for suggesting Jack Wilson start on my favorite team.
I agree. The Braves need to improve their depth on the bench. He is an ideal replacement for Brooks Conrad.
If Sutton were better at SS , I would almost rather just use him over Ryan . But SS is Sutton’s weakest position . But I do agree that Ryan is probably the best fit and option for the Braves without having to make a trade .
“I go to one of the schools trying to lay claim to the aforementioned comma . . . .”
NAME DROPZ
I’d rather save money, sign Jack Wilson back in case of emergency, and give Pastornicky a chance.
I’d rather have Yunel Escobar than any of them…
Pastornicky would still be the starter. Theriot would be the utility infielder.
My grandmother would be an ideal replacement for Brooks Conrad.
Whatever, Brooksy can hit anybody’s fastball. I hate people that make comments like that. STFU Kray
What do you mean? He obviously goes to serial university that’s hardly an impressive school.
He didn’t hit much of anything last year…and he can’t play defense.
It’s time to stop riding him, cowboy. You do know he strikes out in over a third of his plate appearances, right?