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Cesar Izturis

Bucs To Let Chacon, Armas, Izturis Go

By Tim Dierkes | September 20, 2007 at 11:46pm CDT

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are likely to cut ties with three of their veteran players this winter: Shawn Chacon, Tony Armas Jr., and Cesar Izturis.  As it should be.

Chacon, 29, has been decent in relief (3.52 ERA in 76.2 innings).  His 1.7 K/BB is worrisome, but Chacon has always been prone to the free pass.  One change is that Chacon is back to getting groundballs near a league average rate, as he did when he succeeded with the Yankees in ’05.  While Chacon wanted to stay, a contract of at least two years, $8MM would be required.  Such a deal just doesn’t make sense for Pittsburgh.  $3.8MM off the books when Chacon leaves.

Armas was a bad move by Dave Littlefield in the first place.  He was predictably bad this year.  Then again, I didn’t think much of Steve Trachsel in the AL East and the O’s spun him into two useful players (Scott Moore and Rocky Cherry).  Anyway, the Pirates will give those 93 innings Armas ate up to a younger player in 2008.  That’s $3.5MM off the books.

Izturis was an odd acquisition.  I think Littlefield expected to move Jack Wilson when he acquired Izturis.  When that fell through the Pirates just looked silly.  The Cubs paid the Pirates an undisclosed amount of cash to take Izturis so I can’t say how much is off the books here.

The result of dumping this trio is $8MM to play with for the next Pirates’ GM.  Let’s hope he or she uses it wisely for once.

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Pittsburgh Pirates Cesar Izturis Shawn Chacon Tony Armas Jr.

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Pirates Acquire Cesar Izturis

By Tim Dierkes | July 19, 2007 at 11:43am CDT

The Cubs have traded shortstop Cesar Izturis and cash to the Pirates for a player to be named later.  I suppose the move is meant to push Jack Wilson, but I don’t really see the point as they’re similar players. 

Addition by subtraction for the Cubs, who might want to call up Ronny Cedeno soon.  Instead they brought up Jake Fox, who was moved off the catcher position earlier this year.  He’s hitting .284/.327/.504 in 91 games at Double A.  Fox has been playing first base and outfield for the Smokies lately, so he can help fill in for Derrek Lee.  Fox could become a Ryan Doumit type one day, catching on occasion.  He was college guy, and has been old for his levels.  This could possibly be a trade showcase, though Fox doesn’t have a ton of value.

A fellow had emailed me about the Bucs’ interest in Izturis a few days ago, but I couldn’t confirm it and didn’t print it.  The reason I mention it is that he also said the Cubs have interest in Xavier Nady.

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Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates Cesar Izturis

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Slick-Fielding Shortstops Available

By Tim Dierkes | July 16, 2007 at 2:35pm CDT

If you’re looking for an all-glove type shortstop this summer, you have plenty of options.

  • The Giants could move Omar Vizquel, but only if they feel that he can’t help them in ’08.  According to Tim Brown, he loves the city and would stay if they made an offer.  The Giants talked extension with him in March but his offensive performance this year may have changed their mind.  He has $1.8MM in salary left.
  • With Ryan Theriot performing OK this year and Ronny Cedeno tearing up Triple A, the Cubs may deem Cesar Izturis expendable.  Giving Cedeno the starting shortstop job to begin last year was questionable, but it might make some sense now.  Izturis makes another $1.8MM this year, plus probably another $300K to buy out his ’08 option.
  • Juan Uribe may no longer deserve the slick-fielding tag, but he’s been an awful hitter so I have to call him something.  Even his customary low OBP/decent SLG is slipping.  His salary situation is pretty much the same as crosstown counterpart Izturis.
  • Jack Wilson makes another $2.3MM this year, $6.5MM in ’08, $7.25MM in ’09, and a $600K buyout for ’10.  He has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to six clubs each year.  About a month ago, Tim Brown spoke to a baseball source who thought he’d draw interest.  Wilson is back to playing every day currently.

What team would want any of these guys?  The Red Sox would probably be the only contender in need of a shortstop, and they’re probably stuck with Julio Lugo.

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Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Pittsburgh Pirates San Francisco Giants Cesar Izturis Jack Wilson Juan Uribe Omar Vizquel

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Jacque Jones Trade Near?

By Tim Dierkes | June 24, 2007 at 11:40am CDT

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday, the Cubs are trying to trade another position player by Monday so they can add a 12th pitcher.

That position player probably is our good friend Jacque Jones.  Wittenmyer named the Padres, Rangers, and White Sox as interested parties.  Bruce Miles adds the Mets to the mix.  The Cubs would have to eat some of the $7.2MM or so remaining on Jones’ contract, which runs through 2008.  Another option would be to move shortstop Cesar Izturis, who has about $2.6MM left on his deal (assuming his ’08 option is bought out).

Buster Olney yesterday mentioned that the Cubs were one of the teams in one Milton Bradley, in addition to the Yankees and Padres.  Bradley is still fair game, and the Cubs may be looking to replace Jones with him.

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Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics San Diego Padres Texas Rangers Cesar Izturis Jacque Jones Milton Bradley

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Chicago Tribune Takes Izturis Propaganda Too Far

By Tim Dierkes | August 1, 2006 at 8:04pm CDT

As you probably know, the Tribune Company owns both a Chicago newspaper and the Cubs.  Sometimes, this conflict of interest gets out of hand.  A perfect example would be today’s analysis of the Cubs’ acquisition of Cesar Izturis.  Let’s break down the work of the three guilty sportswriters (their writing in bold).

Phil Rogers: In Izturis, the Cubs have landed themselves an excellent all-around player.

Shouldn’t an all-around player not be among the worst hitters in baseball?

He won a Gold Glove in 2004 and began ’05 as one of baseball’s best hitters, collecting 75 hits through May—the first Dodger to do that in the era of divisional play.

This is the first of several times the sportswriters mention Izturis’s good two months among the 2364 at-bats of his career as a sign that he can hit.  How selective is that stat?  How about the rest of 2005, when Izturis hit .173/.218/.222?

Mike Downey: A year ago or so, Izturis looked like the best shortstop in the National League, period.

This is misleading, since the NL didn’t have much shortstop depth in 2005.  Still, what about Felipe Lopez, Rafael Furcal, and Jimmy Rollins?

Dave van Dyck: But all of them predict he will be a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Juan Pierre.

What makes a good No. 2 hitter?  Probably the ability to get on base in front of the big guys, right?  Izturis has a truly awful career OBP of .295.  That’s worse than Neifi Perez, for those scoring at home.  This guy is a professional outmaker.  But hey, at least he makes good contact.  Just like Neifi and Placido Polanco.  Truth is, the words "on-base percentage" are never uttered in today’s Tribune in reference to Izturis.  In fact, they left it out of his career stats.

Somebody needs to start a petition or something to get the Cubs to acknowledge on-base percentage.  This is no longer some stat-nerd movement.  This is a fairly obvious problem that even the casual fan understands.  The Cubs’ team OBP of .319 is by far the worst in the league.  The Cubs could actually field a lineup soon featuring Izturis (.302), Ronny Cedeno (.280), Jacque Jones (.315), Juan Pierre (.323), and Phil Nevin (.309).  That has to be some sort of record.  Maybe Neifi can get in the lineup at third base.  Somebody get Jeff Francoeur and Angel Berroa on the phone – history is being made!

CubDumb said it best:

"What the Sox and their fans can really enjoy is the greatest baseball con ever executed in this city:

THEY MADE THE CUBS BELIEVE THAT CRUSTY-OLD-SCHOOL-GRINDER-LIL’-BALL IS WHAT WINS YOU A WORLD SERIES.

What they saw was a justification to keep running the organization the way they always had: Collecting and developing speed, for instance. And ignoring, or quite possibly holding in contempt, the ability to get walked."

As a lifelong Cubs fan, I can honestly say that I hate this team. 

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Chicago Cubs Cesar Izturis

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Dodgers Acquire Greg Maddux

By Tim Dierkes | July 31, 2006 at 3:05pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal tells us that the Dodgers have acquired Greg Maddux.  Will be interesting to see who the Cubs end up with.

UPDATE: CBS Sportsline indicates that the Cubs received Cesar Izturis in return. The Chicago Tribune’s Dave van Dyck has a different take, but ESPN has confirmed the Izturis part. 

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Do The Red Sox Need Izturis?

By Tim Dierkes | May 3, 2006 at 12:08pm CDT

It is apparent that Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis is available, as the Dodgers don’t have an opening for him at shortstop.  I would think that the overall health/performance shakiness of the entire infield would be enough for L.A. to keep Izturis around as a backup all season.

But the rumors persist, the main one being that the Red Sox are interested.  I have to wonder why.  The team already has a slick-fielding, walk-allergic shortstop, and his name is Alex Gonzalez.  I admit, Gonzalez had a terrible April with the bat.  But he’s had similar months in his career, so why not see if he can shake it off and hit his usual .240 with decent pop?  That’s all that was expected in the first place.

Now, if the Red Sox were jonesing to acquire, say, Julio Lugo, I’d understand.  A healthy Lugo would be worth a good three wins in the standings compared to Gonzo.  But Cesar Izturis is a .261/.295/.338 career hitter, and he’s signed through 2007.  Even if Gonzalez tanks and Izturis is himself, the team’s gain is minimal.  The Dodgers are going to want something decent in return for Izturis, so why bother?  They already gave up something decent to reacquire Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher.   

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