Updates on a couple of players who were recently designated for assignment…
- Right-hander Jacob Barnes has cleared waivers and elected free agency, per his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He was designated for assignment by the Mariners last week. The 32-year-old is in his seventh season of MLB action, having signed a minor league deal with the Tigers and then cracking their Opening Day roster. Despite striking out over 25% of batters faced in both 2020 and 2021, his rate plummeted to 11.2% this year. Although his ground ball rate jumped a few ticks to 51.5%, he still registered an ERA of 6.10 on the year before getting designated for assignment in June. After reaching free agency, he landed with the Mariners on a minor league deal and eventually got selected to the big league club. However, he was designated assignment again the next day, without getting into a game for the M’s. He will now return to the open market and look for his next opportunity.
- Outfielder Ender Inciarte, designated for assignment by the Mets last week, has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse, per his transactions tracker at MLB.com. Inciarte, 31, signed a minor league deal with the Yankees in the offseason but was released in mid-June. He latched on with the Mets on another minors deal, eventually making the big league club but lasting just over two weeks on the roster. He filled a bench/defensive substitute role for the team, getting into 11 games but making only eight plate appearances. Despite strong defense, his offensive output at the MLB level has declined in recent years. He hit at a decent clip in his time in the Yankees’ system this year, slashing .252/.336/.408, wRC+ of 101. As a veteran with more than five years of MLB experience, he has the ability to reject an outright assignment without forfeiting any salary, though it’s unclear whether he’s done so or not.
Inciarte is perfect example of the folly of WAR. It is a subjective stat. Yes, good glove, but no offense (one season w league-average ops+, all others below average; low ops and slug). Yet somehow, 7 more war than Kyle Schwarber? Lol sure. I know who I’d rather have.
Depends on what your team needs. Do I need a 5th OF/defensive sub kinda guy? Or do I need a guy who can mash? But I agree with your broader point, WAR isn’t the end all be all.
Inciarte certain would be an improvement over Mr. Davis on the Brewers with his stick!
Davis actually puts the ball in play. If it weren’t for his dribbler Thursday night they would’ve gotten swept. Back to my comment the other night about getting Benintendi. Gotta get somebody that can hit. Tyrone Taylor is only good when he’s in a hot streak which isn’t often enough. If they miss the postseason this year they have trade pitching for offense. Too lopsided.
The difference since 2015 on Fangraphs was about 2 WAR in favor of Inciarte with both of them just under 3000 PAs and Ender having about 600 more innings in the field. The difference between their stats on offense (including baserunning) and defense was about one win in favor of Schwarber. The advantage for Inciarte was that he got extra credit for playing centerfield while Schwarber was in leftfield (often removed for a defensive replacement).
I’m no believer in WAR myself but it is not subjective how its calculated. Ender Inciarte was very good, especially 2017 when he had 93 R, 201 H, 271 TB and 410 CF PO. If any statistic makes light of those numbers, it is a questionable statistic.
2017 was a baseball player generation ago.
Maybe Inciarte will head to korea? A spot just opened up with Lotte
Hope big papi Ender will get traded to a team that needs him in the majors maybe the brewers or guardians need him
Enciarte elected free agency, as per MILB.com’s transaction page, so he’s gone.