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Jorge Cantu

Odds and Ends: Guillen, Crede, Hamilton, Boone

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Rounding up some of the day’s random rumors and tidbits…

  • Jose Guillen might get a light suspension for his exploits.
  • There was a report that the Brewers were close to obtaining Joe Crede, but it was published last night.
  • The BBWAA approved a new resolution for 2013.  Any player with a contract provision linked to a major award of theirs will not be considered for that award.  Makes sense – to repeat Curt Schilling’s situation.  Curt Schilling could get a million bucks by netting one Cy Young vote in 2008.  The BBWAA would rather preserve its right to have members make off-the-wall votes on occasion without bribery being accused.
  • The Reds traded Buck Coats to the Jays.  They also released Jorge Cantu.  They now have an open spot on the 40-man roster.
  • Could the Rays re-acquire Josh Hamilton?  There’s speculation on the topic in Nashville.
  • Buster Olney says Aaron Boone interests the Giants, Nationals, and Brewers.

Reds Acquire Jorge Cantu

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In a minor move, the Reds acquired infielder Jorge Cantu today along with outfielder Shaun Cumberland.  They shipped pitchers Calvin Medlock and Brian Shackelford to the Devil Rays in the deal.

The Reds are doing the right thing by sending the 24 year-old Cantu to Triple A to re-establish himself.  Yes, he once drove in 117 runs and blah blah blah.  The power potential is nice; he now needs to keep his head down, maybe learn a little plate discipline, and hit his way into the Reds’ lineup.  There’s no infield spot for him, unless Wayne Krivsky foolishly trades Edwin Encarnacion or just starts Cantu over EE.

Cumberland is a legitimate prospect, though the 23 year-old didn’t step up to the challenge of Double A.  He’s got the tools to succeed, and he was never going to crack the Devil Rays’ outfield.  There’s some upside here even if the numbers don’t show it.

I don’t know much about Medlock but the reliever posted sick numbers in his second crack at Double A this year – 11.1 K/9, 0.9 BB/9.  He hit a wall in Triple A though.  According to Baseball Prospectus, he’s a small flamethrower with a fine change-up.  I’m not sure why the Reds would be giving up an interesting guy like this for Cantu.

Shackelford is a 31 year-old southpaw who the Reds were probably happy to unload.  Shackelford is best known for this debacle, though ultimately charges weren’t pressed.  He’s not anything special on the mound.

I have to give this trade to the Devil Rays, because Medlock seems interesting and Cantu’s value was near rock bottom.  The Rays had no place for Cantu, though the Reds don’t appear to either.

Cantu On His Way Out Of Tampa Bay?

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Jorge Cantu seems to want out of Tampa Bay; he’s dissatisfied with his lack of playing time this year.  He was recently designated for assigment to Durham again.  Most likely, the only reason he’s still in the organization is that Andrew Friedman couldn’t get anything useful for him via trade.  117 RBIs just don’t have the pull they did in the past.

But even if he doesn’t really have a position and doesn’t draw walks, there should be at least a little interest in a 25 year-old with good power.  Cantu slugged .497 with 28 HR in 2005; he still owns those skills somewhere.  He’s never actually had a full season at the Triple A level.  Maybe it’s time to take a step back before his development moves forward.

I think almost any team would be well served to buy low on Cantu, figure out one position he can play tolerably, and get him back on track.

Rockies Inquire About Cantu

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A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the Rockies as a possible fit for Jorge Cantu in a Let’s Make A Deal post.  Turns out they really were interested, inquiring about him sometime before Sunday.

The question remains – would the Rox really pair rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki with Cantu?  Playing alongside one of the worst defensive second basemen in the game wouldn’t seem likely to help Tulo’s development.  Clint Hurdle is dedicated to Tulowitzki despite a slow start (.191/.296/.234 in 47 ABs).

Cantu is hitting .250/.302/.354 with zero home runs in 48 ABs in Triple A.  He’s batting cleanup and commiserating with teammate Seth McClung.  Besides hoping for Cantu’s bat to heat up, the D-Rays plan on using him at first, second, and third base to increase his value.  Of course, first and third are fully locked up on the Rockies. 

Let’s Make A Deal: Jorge Cantu

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Jorge Cantu DH’d for Triple A Durham last night, though his agent still refers to him as "an experienced second baseman with a power bat."  Cantu, of course, would prefer to be traded to a team that would let him start in the big leagues again.

Which teams could use a second baseman?  There’s the Braves, if you don’t believe in Kelly Johnson.  Personally, I do.  Ditto for the Mets and Jose Valentin, who I also think is at least as good as Cantu.  There really aren’t any perfect fits for the guy.  The Rockies seem reasonable, though they have guys they want to try first.  And would they really want to pair their rookie shortstop with a defender like Cantu?

Given that Valentin is on a one-year deal, I have to lean towards the Mets.  Minaya would only go for it if it was a bargain.  Just guessing, but maybe a Jason Vargas or a Joe Smith would be sufficient?

It looks like B.J. Upton might be here to stay, so Cantu is going to have to regain some of his value at Triple A.  The market for him should be fairly weak.

 

Cantu to Durham Confirmed

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Confirming what Buster Olney heard a few days ago, infielder Jorge Cantu will report to AAA Durham in time for Thursday’s season opener.

But that’s not to say he wouldn’t prefer to be traded.  "I’m not a minor league player," said Cantu.  That’s all well and good, but Cantu does not have enough service time or the type of contract that would force the Devil Rays to trade him.

Even in 2005, when Cantu was at the height of his powers, he did not get on base at a good rate, rarely taking walks.  With the young position player talent the Devil Rays have, Cantu has his work cut out for him to return to Tampa Bay.

Maybe that’s why he thinks a trade is a good idea.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric site, and maintains the Phloggers’ Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

Cantu Off To Durham

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According to Buster Olney in his blog today:

"Heard last night, by the way, that Jorge Cantu will swallow his frustration with being sent to Triple-A and head to Durham, rather than walk away, something he had initially talked about doing. He really doesn’t have a choice."

Cantu is just going to have to put his head down and put up some big numbers in Triple A to earn a trade back into a full-time job.  Last time he was in Triple A, he hit .302/.335/.576 with 22 HR in 368 ABs.  The 25 year-old might be able to help out in Oakland, Atlanta, Cincinnati, or Washington.  I know some people want him on the Mets, and I suppose that could happen.  But I’d rather have Jose Valentin right now.

Also an interesting D-Rays read – looks like Scott Boras’s camp never informed Seth McClung that he an option left.  Oops.

Cantu Asks For Trade

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Former 117 RBI man Jorge Cantu doesn’t view himself as a Triple A player, and has asked for a trade.  Unfortunately for him that request carries no weight.  The Devil Rays have decided to again sacrifice defense at second base, but this time at the hands of B.J. Upton.  At the least, this pleases fantasy baseball geeks.

Cantu, who I should mention once drove in 117 runs, saw his slugging slip from .497 to .404 last year.  He played in the WBC for Mexico and things went downhill from there.  He fouled a ball off his foot and broke a bone, then tried to play through it.  He returned in June, but his neck started bothering him in August after a collision. 

I think Cantu is proof that a lot of guys can drive in 100 runs, and that doesn’t mean much by itself.  If he’d driven in 87 that year we’d look at him differently as a player. Even 90 runs seems to add some sort of credibility.  The worst SLG for a 100 RBI season was when Bill Brubaker slugged .384 with 6 HR and 102 RBIs for the 1936 Pirates, by the way.  Joe Carter has two 100 RBI seasons where he slugged under .400, an exclusive honor.

As far as the market for Cantu…a corner guy with no plate discipline, no defensive abilities, and decent pop is not that rare.  Think Josh Phelps.      

Yankees Won’t Renegotiate With A-Rod

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In case you missed Jon Heyman’s scoop yesterday: Brian Cashman won’t renegotiate Alex Rodriguez’s contract after this season.  I imagine he went public with it in attempt to put the onus back on A-Rod when he leaves after the season.  For once, Rodriguez is not biting and won’t discuss it further with the media.  Heyman reiterates that Rodriguez will not consent to a trade if the Yankees are in contention.  Other notes from the column:

  • Out of all the relievers on the market, Jorge Julio seems the most likely to be dealt.
  • Heyman thinks John Smoltz is done with team-friendly contracts and will leave the Braves after 2007.  Could the Red Sox replace Curt Schilling with him?
  • Devil Rays "second baseman" Jorge Cantu is on the block.  I think he has been for some time.  I believe there is a federal law mandating mention of his 117 RBI season in any Cantu trade rumor.  Ooh boy, look at all those ribbies!  Perhaps the Rays would shift Akinori Iwamura or B.J. Upton to second base.  In any case, I don’t think Cantu is part of the long-term plan.

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