Free Agent Left Handed Relief Pitchers

Here is the final segment of “Free-Agent Scouting Reports”—“Left Handed Relief Pitchers.”

As always, players are ranked by whom I believe is the best available.

For anybody that reads this list and wonders why Chris Hammond is so low when in his last three seasons his ERA read as follows:

2002-0.95
2003-2.86
2004-2.68;

Well the answer, in short, is that even though he has been great recently, his career numbers do not stack up well against the other free agents on the list, and, his translated ERA is actually, believe it or not, in a downward trend (see numbers below).

Also, the reason Gabe White is ranked so high, after a miserable season in 2004, is because his career number are great when compared to the other free agents.


1. Steve Kline (32): Signed with Orioles, 2 years ($5.5 million) 2004 Statistics: 1.79 ERA, 50.3 IP, 37 Hits, 3 HR, 17 BB, 35 K, 19.9 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 2.18 ERA, 7.0 H/9—0.5 HR/9—2.8 BB/9—5.3 K/9--////Career Statistics: 3.30 ERA, 523.7 IP, 479 Hits, 44 HR, 221 BB, 407 K////Translated career statistics: 2.94 ERA, 7.7 H/9—0.7 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—6.1 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.84/1--////In each of the past three season’s Kline’s translated H/9 (02’-8.7, 03’-7.6, 04’-7.0) has gotten better////Only counting seasons in which Kline has pitched at least 50 innings, 2004 represented a career-best ERA (1.79), Hits allowed (37), BB (17), and a tie for career-best HR allowed (3) for Kline, while representing NO career-worst////Spent last four seasons in St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park)////

2. Eddie Guardado (34): Option picked-up by Mariners 2004 Statistics: 2.78 ERA, 45.3 IP, 31 Hits, 8 HR, 14 BB, 45 K, 17.6 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 2.48 ERA, 5.1 H/9—1.2 HR/9—2.7 BB/9—7.8 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.40 ERA, 743.0 IP, 693 Hits, 107 HR, 282 BB, 650 K////Translated career statistics: 3.36 ERA, 6.9 H/9—1.0 HR/9—2.8 BB/9—7.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.30/1--////Missed part of 2004 season because of injury////In each of the past three seasons, Gaurdado’s IP (02’-67.7, 03’-65.3, 04’-45.3) has decreased; since the decline between 02’ and 03’ isn’t that great, I will use Gaurdado’s “counting” stats for figuring out any trends his statistics have followed in the last three years////In each of the past three seasons, Guardado’s ERA (02’-2.93, 03’-2.89, 04’-2.78), Hits allowed (02’-53, 03’-50, 04’-31) and translated H/9 (02’-6.4, 03’-6.2, 04’-5.1) have gotten better, while his translated K/9 (02’-9.1, 03’-8.0, 04’-7.8), and K totals (02’-70, 03’-60, 04’-45) have gotten worse////With Gaurdado’s significant decrease in IP due to injury, his “counting” stats in 2004 will not be considered for career-bests and worst, his translated statistics will be used for this though////2004 represented a career-best translated H/9 (5.1) for Gaurdado, while also representing a career-worst translated HR/9 (1.2) for him////Spent last four seasons in Minnesota (neutral park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)/////

3. Wilson Alvarez (35): Signed with Dodgers, 2 years ($4 million) 2004 Statistics: 4.03 ERA, 120.7 IP, 109 Hits, 12 HR, 31 BB, 102 K, 21.0 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 3.71 ERA, 7.9 H/9—0.8 HR/9—1.9 BB/9—6.9 K/9--////Career Statistics: 3.94 ERA, 1723.7 IP, 1593 Hits, 183 HR, 798 BB, 1314 K////Translated career statistics: 3.50 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.5 BB/9—6.9 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.65/1--////Was out of baseball in 2000, and 2001//// In each of the last three season’s Alvarez’s IP has increased (02’-75.0, 03’-95.0, 04’-120.7). Due to this, any of Alvarez’s “counting” stats that have risen on the same parallel as the IP (as they are supposed to do) will be discounted when figuring out recent trends for Alvarez; translated stats will be used for this though—of which there are none////2004 represented NO career bests, or worst for Alvarez////Spent last three seasons (not 4 since he was out of baseball in 2001) in Los Angeles (severe pitcher’s park), and Tampa Bay (neutral park)////

4. Kent Mercker (37): Signed with Reds, 2 years ($2.6 million) 2004 Statistics: 2.55 ERA, 53.0 IP, 39 Hits, 4 HR, 27 BB, 51 K, 18.6 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 2.08 ERA, 6.2 H/9—0.6 HR/9—4.2 BB/9—7.7 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.19 ERA, 1221.7 IP, 1202 Hits, 139 HR, 569 BB, 849 K////Translated career statistics: 3.94 ERA, 8.0 H/9—0.9 HR/9—3.8 BB/9—6.0 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.49/1--////In each of the last three seasons, Mercker’s Hits allowed totals (02’-55, 03’-46, 04’-39), HR allowed (02’-12, 03’-6, 04’-4), K totals (02’-37, 03’-48, 04’-51), and translated H/9 (02’-8.3, 03’-6.6, 04’-6.2) have all gotten better////2004 represented a career-best translated H/9 for Mercker (6.2)////Spent last three (not 4 because Mercker was out of baseball in 2000) seasons in Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher’s park), Atlanta (slight pitcher’s park), and Colorado (severe hitter’s park)////

5. Jason Christianson (35): Signed with Giants, 1 yr/$1.15 million 2004 Statistics: 4.50 ERA, 36.0 IP, 34 Hits, 3 HR, 26 BB, 22 K, 2.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 3.92 ERA, 7.4 H/9—0.7 HR/9—6.1 BB/9—4.8 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.20 ERA, 388.0 IP, 354 Hits, 33 HR, 200 BB, 363 K////Translated career statistics: 3.71 ERA, 7.6 H/9—0.7 HR/9—4.3 BB/9—7.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.81/1--////Since, in 2002, Christianson essentially did not pitch (only 5.0 IP), there are no recent trends of his to identify////2004 represented a career-worst translated BB/9 (6.1), and translated K/9 (4.8) for Christianson—excluding 2002////Spent last four seasons in St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park), and San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park)////

6. Gabe White (33): Signed with Braves, 1 yr/$600,000 2004 Statistics: 6.94 ERA, 59.2 IP, 72 Hits, 14 HR, 12 BB, 41 K, (-6.9) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 5.45 ERA, 8.7 H/9—1.4 HR/9—1.4 BB/9—5.6 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.55 ERA, 562.1 IP, 542 Hits, 95 HR, 140 BB, 453 K////Translated career statistics: 3.72 ERA, 7.3 H/9—1.1 HR/9—1.8 BB/9—6.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 3.24/1--////In each of the past three seasons, White’s translated ERA (02’-2.47, 03’-3.38, 04’-5.45), ERA (02’-2.98, 03’-4.05, 04’-6.94), HR allowed (02’-3, 03’-7, 04’-14), translated HR/9 (02’-0.4, 03’-1.1, 04’-1.4), and translated BB/9 (02’-1.2, 03’-1.3, 04’-1.4) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst translated ERA (5.45), and ERA (6.94) for White////Spent last four seasons in Cincinnati (moderate hitter’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Colorado (severe hitter’s park)

7. Buddy Groom (39): Signed minor league contract with Yankees 2004 Statistics: 4.78 ERA, 52.7 IP, 67 Hits, 6 HR, 16 BB, 32 K, 6.8 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 3.98 ERA, 10.2 H/9—0.9 HR/9—2.4 BB/9—5.0 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.63 ERA, 693.7 IP, 774 Hits, 68 HR, 248 BB, 474 K////Translated career statistics: 3.71 ERA, 8.9 H/9—0.8 HR/9—2.7 BB/9—5.9 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.91/1--////In each of the past three seasons, Groom’s total Hits allowed (02’-44, 03’-58, 04’-67), BB allowed (02’-12, 03’-14, 04’-16), K totals (02’-48, 03’-34, 04’-32), translated H/9 (02’-6.6, 03’-9.9, 04’-10.2), and translated K/9 (02’-6.5, 03’-6.3, 04’-5.0) have all gotten worse////2004 represented NO career-bests or worst for Groom////Spent last four seasons in Baltimore (severe pitcher’s park until last season when it became a severe hitter’s park)////

8. Chris Hammond (39): Signed with Padres, 1 yr/$750,000 2004 Statistics: 2.68 ERA, 53.7 IP, 56 Hits, 4 HR, 13 BB, 34 K, 16.2 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 2.94 ERA, 9.2 H/9—0.6 HR/9—1.8 BB/9—5.2 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.08 ERA, 1036.3 IP, 1076 Hits, 91 HR, 361 BB, 655 K////Translated career statistics: 4.08 ERA, 8.9 H/9—0.8 HR/9—2.9 BB/9—5.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.81/1--////Was out of baseball in 1999, 2000, and 2001//// In each of the last three season’s Hammond’s IP has decreased (02’-76.0, 03’-63.0, 04’-53.7). Due to this, any of Hammond’s “counting” stats that have dropped on the same parallel as IP IP (as they are supposed to do) will be discounted when figuring out recent trends for Hammond; translated stats will be used for this though////In each of the last three seasons Hammond’s translated K/9 (02’-6.6, 03’-6.0, 04’-5.2), and translated ERA (02’-1.77, 03’-2.51, 04’-2.94) have gotten worse////2004 represented no career-bests or worst for Hammond////Spent last thee seasons (not 4 since he was out of baseball in 2001) in Oakland (neutral park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Atlanta (slight pitcher’s park)////

9. Jeff Fassero (42): Signed minor league contract with Giants 2004 Statistics (1.0 IP with Arizona is not counted): 5.51 ERA, 111.0 IP, 136 Hits, 9 HR, 44 BB, 59 K, (-2.2) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 4.17 ERA, 9.5 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.0 BB/9—4.5 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.09 ERA, 1927.7 IP, 1968 Hits, 203 HR, 685 BB, 1576 K////Translated career statistics: 3.75 ERA, 8.4 H/9—0.8 HR/9—2.8 BB/9—7.0 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.30/1--////In each of the last three season’s Fassero’s IP has increased (02’-69.0, 03’-77.2, 04’-111.0). Due to this, any of Fassero’s “counting” stats that have risen on the same parallel as the IP (as they are supposed to do) will be discounted when figuring out recent trends for Fassero; translated stats will be used for this though////In each of the past three seasons, Fassero’s translated K/9 has gotten worse (02’-6.9, 03’-6.0, 04’-4.5)////2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 (4.5) for Fassero////Spent last four seasons (excluding his 1 IP in Arizona last seasons) in Colorado (severe hitter’s park), St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park), and Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher’s park)////

10. Rheal Cormier (38): Signed with Phillies, 2 years ($5.25 million) 2004 Statistics: 3.56 ERA, 81.0 IP, 70 Hits, 7 HR, 26 BB, 46 K, 19.3 VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 3.00 ERA, 7.3 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.5 BB/9—4.5 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.01 ERA, 1123.3 IP, 1140 Hits, 106 HR, 283 BB, 706 K////Translated career statistics: 3.94 ERA, 8.7 H/9—0.9 HR/9—1.8 BB/9—5.3 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.49/1--////In each of the last three seasons Cormier’s translated K/9 (02’-6.6, 03’-6.3, 04’-4.5) has gotten worse////Excluding 1997 (only 1.3 IP), 2004 represented a tie for Cormier’s career worst K/9 (4.5) ////Spent last four seasons in Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park)////

11. Wayne Franklin (31): Signed with Giants, 1 yr/$380,000 2004 Statistics: 6.39 ERA, 50.7 IP, 55 Hits, 11 HR, 22 BB, 40 K, (-4.9) VORP////2004 Translated Statistics: 5.43 ERA, 7.9 H/9—1.4 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—6.4 K/9--////Career Statistics: 5.47 ERA, 302.7 IP, 313 Hits, 54 HR, 154 BB, 203 K////Translated career statistics: 4.60 ERA, 7.5 H/9—1.1 HR/9—4.1 BB/9—5.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.32/1--////Since Franklin was a starter in 2003 (for the only time in his career), he has no trends involving counting stats but, in each of the past three seasons, Franklin’s ERA (02’-2.62, 03’-5.50, 04’-6.39), translated ERA (02’-2.30, 03’-4.74, 04’-5.43), translated H/9 (02’-5.6, 03’-7.4, 04’-7.9), and translated HR/9 (02’-0.3, 03’-1.2, 04’-1.4) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst ERA (6.39), translated ERA (5.43), and translated HR/9 (1.4) for Franklin, while also representing a career-best BB/9 (3.6) for him////Spent last four seasons in San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), Milwaukee (neutral park), and Houston (moderate hitter’s park)////

12. Valerio De Los Santos (33): Was injured for much of 2004, so 2003 statistics are presented: 4.50 ERA, 52.0 IP, 45 Hits, 8 HR, 25 BB, 39 K, 1.4 VORP////2003 Translated Statistics: 4.38 ERA, 6.4 H/9—1.0 HR/9—4.0 BB/9—5.9 K/9--////Career Statistics: 4.38 ERA, 226.0 IP, 194 Hits, 32 HR, 104 BB, 181 K////Translated career statistics: 3.77 ERA, 6.5 H/9—0.9 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—6.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.74/1--////Since De Los Santos only pitched 11.7 innings in 2004 because of injury, there are no recent trends of his to identify////Any of the statistics put up by De Los Santos in 2004 will not count toward a possible career-best or worst////Spent last four seasons in Milwaukee (neutral park), Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park), and Toronto (moderate hitter's park)////

With this list, I end my two month-long research project on free agents. I learned a lot from making the reports, and I hope you learned a lot from reading them, or using them however you chose too.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Red Sox/Padres Trade

In my efforts to report on as many trades as possible throughout this hectic baseball off season, while at the same time trying to finish my scouting reports on free agents, some reviews of trades are being written late.

When I do have the time to review the trades though, and subsequently give my opinions, I have to try and rank each trade in my mind as to which is the most significant, and review them first.

While this Red Sox/Padres trade is, in fact, a significant trade, I had it ranked below other trades that happened in approximately the same time period; such as all of the Oakland A's trades.

This "lower" ranking led to the review of this trade getting pushed back behind the reviews of trades that I deemed "more significant."

Now though, the Red Sox/Padres trade, which occurred on December 21, 2004, is up for my review.

In the trade the Boston Red Sox acquired 31 year-old RH OF Jay Payton, 27 year-old LH utility IF Ramon Vazquez, 21 year-old minor league RHP Dave Pauley, and $2.65 million from the San Diego Padres in exchange for 32-year-old LH OF Dave Roberts.

Here is a look at each of the involved players 2004, and career translated statistics:

***For minor-leaguer Dave Pauley, un-translated statistics will be presented because translated statistics for him were unavailable***

Red Sox receive:

Jay Payton:

2004: .265/.332/.378, .251 EqA (Un-translated statistics of 8 HR, 56/43 (1.30/1) K/BB)

Career: .282/.331/.439, .262 EqA {Career K/BB of 305/164 (1.86/1)}

Ramon Vazquez:

2004: Only 52 Games .245/.308/.327, .222 EqA (Un-translated Statistics of 1 HR, 24/11 (2.18/1) K/BB)

Career: .276/.347/.359, .254 EqA, {Career K/BB of 194/108 (1.80/1)}

Dave Pauley:

2004 (Single A): 4.17 ERA, 9.1 H/9—0.5 HR/9—3.9 BB/9—7.5 K/9

Minor-League Career: 3.97 ERA, 9.3 H/9—0.5 HR/9—3.0 BB/9—7.7 K/9


Padres receive:

Dave Roberts:

2004: .245/.329/.366, .271 EqA—reason for high EqA is tremendous SB/CS of 38/3 (93%), {Un-translated statistics of 4 HR, 31/28 (1.10/1) K/BB}

Career: .263/.338/.349, .260 EqA—again, reason for league-average EqA is career SB/CS of 135/32 (81%)—{Career K/BB of 158/141 (1.12/1)}

The best player involved in this deal is Payton, by a slim margin over Roberts. Looking at this trade from this perspective, it would be obvious that the Red Sox got the better end of this trade. While receiving the best player in the deal, they are also receiving two other players, and $2.65 million dollars.

If you’re like me, you’re saying to yourself, “the Padres must have done this deal to save money….right?”

To see if this is true, here is a look at the financial side of this deal.

Jay Payton is signed through 2005 with an option for 2006. In 2005 Payton is due to make $3.5 million. In 2006 he is guaranteed $500,000, with a $4 million option to make a total salary of $4.5 million 2006, if his option were picked up.

Now, I must take the $2.65 million that the Padres are giving the Red Sox next season and use that towards the payment of Payton’s 2005 salary. After the subtraction, the Red Sox end up paying Payton $850,000 in 2005 ($3.5 million 2005 salary minus $2.65 million paid by Padres).

As for Ramon Vazquez, he is arbitration-eligible for 2005. With his 2004 salary being $340,000, I don’t see him getting that much of a raise for 2005 with the numbers he put up in 2004.

For the sake of figuring out how each team made out financially in this deal, I’ll say Vazquez will make $500,000 in 2005.

For Pauley, I will not even add him onto the Red Sox payroll since he will stay in the minor leagues, for now. He will be making a minor-league salary anyways, and not count against the Red Sox’s Major League payroll.

On the Padres end, Roberts, like Vazquez, is also arbitration-eligible for 2005. He has recently been signed to a 1 year, $1.35 million deal by the Padres.

Using the numbers specified we see that the Red Sox are paying a total of $1.35 million for the services of Payton and Vazquez in 2005 ($850,000 that the Red Sox will pay Payton, plus estimated figure of $500,000 due to Vazquez in 2005).

Coincidentally, that is the exact amount of money that the Padres are paying Robert’s in 2005.

In the end, the money breaks down as even.

I do not think I have to break this trade down any further to show that the Red Sox ripped the Padres off in this deal.

The Red Sox got the best player in the deal in Payton, and on top of that, received the 27 year-old Vazquez, who carries a good career OBP, and a young pitching prospect in Pauley.

All this, while breaking out even in the money aspect of the trade!

Even if Pauley is a bust, the Red Sox still robbed the Padres in this deal.

I am forced to believe, after the breakdown of this trade, that the Padres were so distraught after Payton’s sub-par 2004 (see numbers above), and wanted a stolen-base threat so bad, that they were willing to get ripped off.

The Padres will begin 2005 with Robert’s as their leadoff man, and their starting CF.

As for the Red Sox, they will use Payton in a “fourth outfielder” role, filling in for any starting outfielder when they need a rest. Vazquez, essentially, will be backup at 2B and SS for the Red Sox, and possibly at the infield corners.

This Red Sox ripped the Padres off in this deal. I think the Padres put too way much emphasis on stolen bases, and took Payton’s sub-par 2004 too seriously. Due to these misjudgments, the Padres got the very, very short end of this deal.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Free Agent Right-handed Relief Pitchers #13-24

After the long wait, here are the scouting reports for free-agent right-handed relief pitchers, numbers 13-24.

As I posted earlier, the reason for the long period of time between scouting reports was the flurry of trading activity that had taken place in Major League Baseball during the past few weeks that I absolutely had to report on.

Anyway, without further ado, here they are:

13. Esteban Yan (30): Signed with Angels, 2 years ($2.25 million) 2004 statistics- 3.83 ERA, 87.0 IP, 92 Hits, 8 HR, 32 BB, 69 K, 17.7 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.54 ERA, 8.7 H/9--0.7 HR/9--3.0 BB/9--6.6 K/9--////Career statistics- 5.17 ERA, 591.3 IP, 656 Hits, 89 HR, 220 BB, 484 K////Translated Career statistics- 4.24 ERA, 8.4 H/9--1.0 HR/9--2.8 BB/9--7.0 K/9////Career K/BB of 2.2/1--////In each of the past three seasons, Yan’s Hits allowed totals (02’-70, 03’-84, 04’-92) have gotten worse////2004 represented a career best translated HR/9 (0.7), and ERA (3.83) for Yan, while representing NO career worsts////Spent last four seasons in Tampa Bay (neutral), St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park), Detroit (moderate pitcher’s park), and Texas (severe hitter’s park)////

14. Cal Eldred (37): Signed with Cardinals, 2 years ($600,000) 2004 statistics- 3.76 ERA, 67.0 IP, 71 Hits, 11 HR, 17 BB, 54 K, 11.4 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.76 ERA, 8.8 H/9--1.2 HR/9--1.9 BB/9--6.5 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.48 ERA, 1331.0 IP, 1305 Hits, 170 HR, 558 BB, 910 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.80 ERA, 7.7 H/9--1.0 HR/9--3.1 BB/9--6.1 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.63/1--////Since Eldred was out of baseball in 2002, there are no trends of his to identify////2004 represented a career best BB total (17) for Eldred for years in which he pitched 60+ innings////Spent last four seasons in Chicago White Sox (moderate hitter’s park), and St. Louis (moderate pitchers park)

15. Jose Mesa (39): Option picked up by Pirates 2004 statistics- 3.25 ERA, 69.3 IP, 78 Hits, 6 HR, 20 BB, 37 K, 17.9 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 2.72 ERA, 9.6 H/9--0.7 HR/9--2.3 BB/9--4.1 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.27 ERA, 1369.0 IP, 1442 Hits, 126 HR, 564 BB, 933 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.68 ERA, 8.6 H/9--0.7 HR/9--3.2 BB/9--6.1 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.65/1--////In each of the last three seasons, Mesa’s translated K/9 (02’-6.6, 03’-6.0, 04’-4.1), Hits allowed (02’-65, 03’-71, 04’-78), and K totals (02’-64, 03’-45, 04’-37) have gotten worse, while in the same period, his BB totals have gotten better (02’-39, 03’-31, 04’-20)////2004 represented NO career bests or worsts for Mesa////Spent last four seasons in Pittsburgh (neutral park), and Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park)////

16. Dave Burba (39): Signed Minor League Contract with Astros 2004 statistics- 4.21 ERA, 77.0 IP, 70 Hits, 7 HR, 26 BB, 50 K, 8.8 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.67 ERA, 7.1 H/9--0.7 HR/9--2.7 BB/9--5.0 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.49 ERA, 1777.7 IP, 1777 Hits, 201 HR, 762 BB, 1398 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.97 ERA, 7.8 H/9--0.9 HR/9--3.7 BB/9--6.5 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.83/1--////Missed part of 2004 seasons due to injury////Spent last four seasons in Milwaukee (neutral park), San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), Texas (severe hitter’s park), and Cleveland (neutral park)////

17. Elmer Dessens (33): Signed with Dodgers, 1 year ($1.3 million) 2004 statistics- 4.46 ERA, 105.0 IP, 123 Hits, 12 HR, 31 BB, 73 K, 5.8 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.81 ERA, 8.7 H/9--1.0 HR/9--2.2 BB/9--5.6 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.46 ERA, 914.0 IP, 1031 Hits, 115 HR, 265 BB, 550 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.72 ERA, 9.0 H/9--0.9 HR/9--2.1 BB/9--4.8 K/9////Career K/BB of 2.07/1--////In each of the past three seasons, Dessen’s translated K/9 (02’-4.2, 03’-5.2, 04’-5.6), and HR allowed (02’-24, 03’-22, 04’-15) have gotten better, while his IP has decreased in each of those same seasons (02’-178.0, 03’-175.2, 04’-105.0)////2004 represented a career best for Dessens in translated K/9 (5.6)////Spent last four seasons in Arizona (severe hitter’s park), Los Angeles (severe pitcher’s park), and Cincinnati (moderate hitter’s park)////

18. Dustin Hermanson (32): Signed with White Sox, 2 years ($5.5 million) 2004 statistics- 4.53 ERA, 131.0 IP, 132 Hits, 15 HR, 46 BB, 102 K, 12.7 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.89 ERA, 7.9 H/9--0.8 HR/9--2.9 BB/9--5.9 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.31 ERA, 1219.0 IP, 1233 Hits, 154 HR, 442 BB, 836 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.85 ERA, 7.9 H/9--1.0 HR/9--3.0 BB/9--5.1 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.89/1--////Due to a dramatic increase in IP in each of the past three seasons for Hermanson (02’-22.0, 03’-68.2, 04’-131.0), almost all of his “counting” statistics (HR, BB, K, Hits) have improved, those trends will be disregarded….but translated trends will be counted////In each of the past three seasons, Hermanson’s translated H/9 (02’-13.0, 03’-8.5, 04’-7.9) have gotten better////2004 represented NO career-bests or worsts for Hermanson////Spent last four seasons San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), Boston (slight hitter’s park), and St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park)////

19. Al Levine (37): 2004 statistics- 4.58 ERA, 70.7 IP, 83 Hits, 10 HR, 24 BB, 32 K, 12.3 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.72 ERA, 9.4 H/9—1.0 HR/9—2.6 BB/9—4.0 K/9--////Career statistics- 3.85 ERA, 565.0 IP, 581 Hits, 68 HR, 232 BB, 274 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.43 ERA, 4.5 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.1 BB/9—4.3 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.18/1--////In each of past three seasons, Levine’s Hits allowed totals (02’-61, 03’-67, 04’-83), and HR allowed totals (02’-8, 03’-9, 04’-10) have gotten worse, while in that same period, his BB totals (02’-34, 03’-29, 04’-24), and translated BB/9 (02’-4.6, 03’-3.5, 04’-2.6) have gotten better////For seasons where Levine has accumulated 50+ IP, 2004 represented a career-worst ERA (4.58), translated H/9 (9.4), and tied a career-worst translated BB/9 (1.0) for Levine////Spent last four seasons in Detroit (moderate pitcher’s park), Tampa Bay (neutral park), Kansas City (severe hitter’s park when he pitched there), and Anaheim (slight hitter’s park)////

20. Terry Adams (32): Signed with Phillies, 1 yr/$500,000 2004 statistics- 4.76 ERA, 70.0 IP, 84 Hits, 10 HR, 28 BB, 56 K, 8.8 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.75 ERA, 9.0 H/9—1.1 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—6.2 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.04 ERA, 856.0 IP, 865 Hits, 60 HR, 370 BB, 687 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.75 ERA, 8.7 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—6.2 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.87/1--////In each of the past three seasons, Adam’s K/9 (02’-5.3, 03’-5.7, 04’-6.2) has gotten better////Excluding Adam’s rookie season (1995, 18.0 IP), 2004 represented a career-worst (4.76), HR allowed (10), and translated HR/9 (1.1) for Adams, while representing no career-bests////Spent last four seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), Toronto (moderate hitter’s park), Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park), and Los Angeles (severe pitcher’s park)////

21. Roberto Hernandez (40): Signed Minor League contract with Mets 2004 statistics- 4.76 ERA, 56.7 IP, 66 Hits, 9 HR, 29 BB, 44 K, (-3.1) VORP////2004 translated statistics- 5.12 ERA, 9.0 H/9—1.1 HR/9—4.2 BB/9—6.2 K/9--////Career statistics- 3.39 ERA, 891.7 IP, 825 Hits, 81 HR, 377 BB, 805 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.05 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.7 HR/9—3.2 BB/9—7.9 K/9////Career K/BB of 2.13/1--////In each of the past three seasons, Hernandez’s ERA (02’-4.33, 03’-4.35, 04’-4.76), and translated ERA (02’-3.56, 03’-4.54, 04’-5.12) have gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst translated ERA (5.12) for Hernandez////Spent last four seasons in Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park), Atlanta (slight pitcher’s park), and Kansas City (severe hitter’s park when he pitched there)////

22. Brian Boehringer (35): 2004 statistics- 4.62 ERA, 25.3 IP, 27 Hits, 2 HR, 17 BB, 20 K, 2.0 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 4.03 ERA, 8.4 H/9—0.6 HR/9—6.2 BB/9—5.9 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.36 ERA, 534.7 IP, 522 Hits, 64 HR, 274 BB, 632 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.86 ERA, 7.6 H/9—0.9 HR/9—4.4 BB/9—6.2 K/9////Career K/BB of 2.31/1--////Since injuries forced Boehringer to miss parts of the 2004 season, almost all of his “counting” statistics have gotten better because of the lack of IP. His 2004 “counting statistic” totals will be disregarded when it comes to identifying any recent trends that may have happened during the last three seasons; and identifying career-bests and worsts….No trends have occurred within Levine’s translated statistics during that same period////2004 represented a career-best translated BB/9 (0.6) for Boehringer////Spent last four seasons in Pittsburgh (neutral park), San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), and New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park)////

23. David Weathers (35): Signed with Reds, ($1.25 million) 2004 statistics- 4.15 ERA, 82.1 IP, 85 Hits, 12 HR, 35 BB, 61 K, 8.2 VORP////2004 translated statistics- 3.81 ERA, 8.1 H/9—1.0 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—3.1 K/9--////Career statistics- 4.47 ERA, 1016.0 IP, 1104 Hits, 94 HR, 456 BB, 734 K////Translated Career statistics- 4.15 ERA, 9.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—5.8 K/9////Career K/BB of 1.61/1--////In each of the past three season’s, Weather’s ERA (02’-2.91, 03’-3.08, 04’-4.15) has gotten worse////Excluding 1992 (only 3.3 IP), 2004 represented a tie for Weather’s career-worst translated HR/9 (1.0)////Spent last four season in New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), Milwaukee (neutral park), Houston (moderate Hitter’s park), and Florida (severe pitcher’s park)////

24. Paul Shuey (35): Out of baseball in 2004, 2003 statistics- 3.00 ERA, 69.0 IP, 50 Hits, 6 HR, 33 BB, 60 K, 19.0 VORP////2003 translated statistics- 3.00 ERA, 6.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—4.2 BB/9—6.5 K/9--////Career statistics- 3.57 ERA, 504.3 IP, 438 Hits, 40 HR, 256 BB, 534 K////Translated Career statistics- 3.10 ERA, 7.0 H/9—0.6 HR/9—4.0 BB/9—9.3 K/9////Career K/BB of 2.09/1--////Before an injury kept Shuey out of baseball in 2004, in each of his last three seasons before the injury, his translated H/9 (01’-8.2, 02’-7.1 03’-6.2), translated HR/9 (01’-0.3, 02’-0.5 03’-0.8), translated K/9 (01’-11.0, 02’-7.7 03’-6.5), HR allowed (01’-1, 02’-3, 03’-6), BB allowed (01’-26, 02’-31 03’-33), and K totals (01’-70, 02’-63 03’-60) had all gotten worse////2003 represented a career worst translated K/9 (6.5), and a tie for career-worst translated HR/9 (0.8) for Shuey////Spent last four seasons in Cleveland (neutral park), and Los Angeles (severe pitcher’s park)////

Next up will be the final installment of this series of scouting reports on free agents; “Left Handed Relief Pitchers.”

There are some trades that have happened that I have yet to report on, so I hope to get these "southpaw" reports out in about 1-2 weeks maximum.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Happy Holidays

I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all, and wish everyone "Happy Holidays."

To everybody who has, will, and is visiting the site:

Thank you, you are greatly appreciated.

Frank Bundy III

Update on Free Agent Scouting Reports

For those of you who visit the site regularly and are wondering why I have stopped putting out my free-agent scouting reports, there is an answer:

There have been so many trades and such in the past few weeks that I absolutely had to report on, consequently pushing the scouting reports back.

I did not give up on the scouting reports though, I believe they are a great tool to evaluate who your favorite team signs, and for that matter, anybody that any other team signs.

If you've been following the reports, you know that my last entry was "Right Handed Relief Pitchers #1-12." Well, #'s 13-24 will be put out soon, hopefully within the week. I can only guarentee that it WILL be put out though, not the time frame. Hopefully they will be put out sooner than later.

Thank you for reading any or all of the scouting reports that you have read. I hope they have been a useful tool in helping you follow all the action that is the baseball offseason.

I Know It's A Week Late But....."A's Acquire Ginter"

I know this review is a week late, but with the flurry of trading activities--mostly involving the A's--I decided this trade would come after the deals for Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson.....

On December 15, 2004 the Oakland A’s, unsure about the return of Mark Ellis after missing the entire 2004 season due to injury, acquired 28 year-old Keith Ginter from the Milwaukee Brewers to play Ellis’s old position, second base.

In exchange for Ginter, the A’s gave the Brewers mid-season call-up RHP Justin Lehr (27 years old), and minor league OF Nelson Cruz (24 years old).

Here is a look at each of the involved player’s statistics.

For Lehr, and Cruz statistics presented will be un-traslated as translated statistics were unavailable. For Ginter, translated statistics will be presented.

A’s receive:

Keith Ginter

2004: .257/.330/.472, .274 EqA (un-translated statistics of 19 HR, 100/37 K/BB)

Career: .256/.344/.447, .273 EqA (career K/BB of 205/92=2.23/1)

Brewers receive:

Justin Lehr

2004 (AAA Sacramento): 37.1 IP, 2.65 ERA, 8.9 H/9—0.2 HR/9—2.4 BB/9—9.6 K/9

2004 (Oakland A’s): 32.2 IP, 5.23 ERA, 9.6 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.9 BB/9—4.4 K/9

Minor League Career (568.0 IP): 4.23 ERA, 10.1 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.8 BB/9—7.1 K/9

Nelson Cruz

2004 (A Modesto, AA Midland, AAA Sacramento): .326/.389/.562, 25 HR, 149/51 (2.92/1)

K/BB, 16/7 (69%) SB/CS

Minor League Career: .310/.373/.502, 340/120 ( 2.84/1) K/BB, 71/8 (90%) SB/CS

Before making the final judgment as to who got the better end of the deal, here is a look at the financial side of the trade:

Ginter is signed through 2006. In 2005 he will make only $450,000, in 06’ he will make $1.03 million. His total salary for those two seasons is $1.47 million. There are many incentives in his contract though, that could make it worth around $2.875 million.

Both Lehr and Cruz will both be making their minor-league salaries with the Brewers until seven years pass from the date they were first called up.

Since Lehr was called up last season, he is guaranteed his minor-league salary until at least 2010. Cruz has yet to be called up.

While saving a negligible amount of money, the Brewers received help, albeit unproven and unsteady help in Lehr, for their diminished bullpen which lost set-up man Luis Vizcaino, and All-Star closer Dan Kolb through trades earlier in the off-season.

Lehr had a great 2004 in AAA Sacramento, but faltered in his stint with the A’s, all while putting up mediocre numbers throughout his minor league career.

The Brewers also received a great prospect in Cruz, who can steal bases and has put up great numbers throughout his minor league career. He is expected to start the season in the Brewers AA club, the Huntsville Stars.

The A’s, who essentially just tack Ginter’s salary onto their payroll since they only gave up minor league players in the deal, receive a player who has shown the ability to be a very good infielder. Throughout Ginter’s past two seasons’ with the Brewers, he was a backup at 2B, SS, and 3B, and as one can see, put up very good numbers when he played. Ginter totaled 386 and 358 AB’s in 2003, and 2004 respectively.

As a matter of a fact, Ginter’s career numbers are better than both Marco Scutaro, and Mark Ellis’s career numbers—the players Ginter will be vying with for a starting second base position.

**Ellis, and Scutaro’s translated career statistics:

Ellis: .263/.342/.390, .259 EqA

Scutaro: .263/.302/.393, .241 EqA

I believe the A’s got the better end of this trade.

Even though the A’s gave up a great prospect in Cruz, Lehr has not had a very good minor-league career and faltered in his only stint in the major leagues thus far.

In Ginter, the A’s receive a player who is still young, will cost little money, and has put up very good numbers when he has played in the Major leagues.

I believe the Brewers made this trade out of necessity, since they needed an arm for their depleted bullpen.

They didn’t get robbed by the A’s, they just didn’t get the better end of the deal.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Cardinals acquire Mark Mulder

On December 19, 2004, Oakland A’s 26 year-old RHP Mark Mulder was acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals to fulfill the role of pitching staff "Ace"--a position that St. Louis Cardinals General Manager Walt Jocketty believed needed to be filled after the St. Louis Cardinals were swept by the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 World Series.

In exchange for Mulder, the Cardinals gave the A’s 29 year-old RHP Kiko Calero, 24 year-old RHP Dan Haren, and 19 year-old minor league catcher Daric Barton.

Here is a look at each of the involved players 2004, and career translated numbers.

***For Daric Barton only 2004 un-translated statistics will be presented, as translated statistics were unavailable. For Dan Haren, both 2004 and career un-translated statistics will be presented for the same reason.***

Cardinals receive:

Mark Mulder:

2004: 3.85 ERA, 8.0 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.0 BB/9—5.1 K/9

Career: 3.45 ERA, 8.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—2.3 BB/9—5.5 K/9

A’s receive:

Kiko Calero

2004: 2.60 ERA, 4.8 H/9—0.9 HR/9—1.6 BB/9—8.1 K/9

Career: 2.65 ERA, 5.5 H/9—0.9 HR/9—2.9 BB/9—9.2 K/9

Dan Haren (Haren was a mid-season call-up for the Cardinals in 03’ and 04’):

2004: 4.50 ERA, 8.8 H/9—0.9 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—6.3 K/9

Career: 4.85 ERA, 9.8 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.0 BB/9—5.7 K/9

Daric Barton (A-ball, Peoria Chiefs)

2004: 313 AB, .313/.445/.511, 13 HR, 69/44 K/BB

The Cardinals are, without a doubt, receiving an All-Star caliber pitcher in Mulder, who has shown throughout his career that he can, indeed, fill the role of "Ace," that he was brought in to do.

The A’s on the other hand are receiving hope for the future with this trade. With the 19 year-old Barton not yet called up to the majors, and Haren only being 25 years old, great potential for the future still lies within these two young players.

In Calero, the A’s receive a proven relief pitcher, who has done nothing but put up phenomenal numbers for the Cardinals in the past two seasons.

A quick look at the money side of this deal will show the A’s are saving a nice amount of cash.

Both Haren and Barton are still making the league-minimum minor league salary, while Calero’s salary in 2005 will be determined through arbitration; and assuming it won’t be too much higher than 2004 salary of $310,000, these three players are sure to make much less money, combined, than the $6 million Mulder will make in 2005.

As for the Cardinals, they now have to pick up Mulder’s contract which runs through 2005, with a club option for 2006 at $7.25 million. Obviously, with this trade, the A’s have rid themselves of having to worry about picking up this option.

The role that Mulder is expected to fill with the Cardinals is very clear, and has been specified. While the Cardinals did pick up a great pitcher, it has to be in the back of their minds how Mulder struggled badly down the stretch in 2004. Mulder’s untranslated ERA by month:

April: 3.00

May: 3.00

June: 2.74

July: 5.11

August: 5.14

September:8.10

October (one start): 18.00

Besides that tough stretch, Mulder has been nothing short of dominant throughout his entire career.

The role that Haren is expected to fill for the A’s has been rumored to be starting pitcher. If this rumor is true, the A’s must believe he can pitch more like he has throughout his minor-league career (473.0 IP, 1.22 ERA, 8.5 H/9—0.8 HR/9—1.6 BB/9—8.8 K/9), because in Haren’s brief time in the big leagues, he has not shown the ability to be a quality pitcher (see numbers above).
With the acquisition of Barton, the A’s put themselves in position to trade away newly acquired, highly-paid, catcher Jason Kendall when they believe Barton is ready to be called up to the major leagues.

Calero’s role with the A’s will be the same as it was with the Cardinals—dominant reliever.

In the end, the Cardinals got the better end of this trade. The amount of money they are paying Mulder next season is a bargain--only $6 million is paltry compared to what the top-tier 2004 free-agent starting pitcher’s are getting paid, as a matter of fact, so is the $7.5 million that the Cardinals will have to pay Mulder if they pick up his option in 2006. On top of Mulder’s dominance, it must be remembered that he is only going to be 27 years-old in 2005 to boot.

While I think the A’s got the better end of their deal with the Braves for Tim Hudson, I do not think the same case holds true for this trade. The player the A’s received from the Braves who did have major league experience (Juan Cruz, Charles Thomas), had shown great success in their time in the majors. In this deal, only one of the two players with major league experience--Calero--has had success. Haren has been a bust throughout his two stints in the major leagues.

I cannot believe I am saying it, but I think Billy Beane was outdone in this deal. Even though he saved a large amount of money, and picked up some good prospects.

Obviously, if Haren turns things around and becomes another Mark Mulder, and Barton responds to his call-up by becoming the next Ivan Rodriguez, then the A’s would end up with the better end of this deal. For now though, the Cardinals stole one from the A’s.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestion, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Braves/A's trade

On December 16, 2004 the Atlanta Braves acquired Tim Hudson from the Oakland A’s in exchange for OF Charles Thomas, minor league RHP Dan Meyer, and RHP Juan Cruz.

Here is a look at each involved players 2004, and career translated statistics.

For Dan Meyer, and Charles Thomas, I will present their 2004 un-translated statistics because translated statistics for them were unavailable.

Braves receive:
Player (Player’s age in 2005)

Tim Hudson (29)

2004: 3.26 ERA, 9.4 H/9--0.4 HR/9--1.7 BB/9--4.6 K/9

Career: 3.03 ERA, 7.9 H/9--0.6 HR/9--2.4 BB/9--6.1 K/9

A’s Receive:

Dan Meyer (24- combined 2004 at AAA Richmond, and AA Greenville)

2004: 2.50 ERA, 8.0 H/9--.5 HR/9--2.6 BB/9--10.4 K/9

Charles Thomas (26--was called up from AAA Richmond halfway through season, statistics accumulated with Braves are presente here)

2004: .288/.367/.445 in 267 Plate Appearances

Career: SAME AS 2004

Juan Cruz (24):

2004: 2.61 ERA, 7.1 H/9--0.8 HR/9--3.4 BB/9--7.7 K/9

Career: 3.72 ERA, 7.2 H/9--0.8 HR/9--4.0 BB/9--7.3 K/9

Even though the Braves filled a huge hole by acquiring Hudson, a hole left open because of the departures of starting pitchers Jaret Wright, Paul Byrd, and Russ Ortiz via free agency, I believe the A’s got the better end of this deal, even before looking at each player’s contracts.

Even though Hudson is one of the best pitchers in baseball; if one were to take a look at the ages and statistics of the players the A’s are receiving, they would find that the average age of the A’s newest players is 24.67. One would also find that two of the A's three new players have already played in the big leagues, AND have shown success.

Just based on talent, I think the A’s, just barely, got the better end of this deal.

Now I must take a look at the money situation.

Tim Hudson is signed through 2005, when he will make $6.75 million. The Braves now own this contract.

I do not know the contracts of the players the A’s are receiving, but what I do know is that they are still under their minor league contract structures. Therefore, I’m fairly sure that all three of the players combined salaries in 2005 will come out to be less than the $6.75 million that Hudson will make.

I also know that once minor league players are called up to the majors, their major league team has rights to him for, I believe, 7 years.

***Again, note, that I am not completely aware of the minor-league baseball salary and contract provisions (I looked all over to get specifics), but what I do know is not so inaccurate that it couldn‘t be used for this analysis.***

Thomas was called up to the Braves for the first time last season, which would mean that his major league contract--now owned by the A‘s--will run through at least 2010, at a minor league salary!

With Meyer being called up toward the end of last season for the first time, he is also under contract--now for the A’s--through at least 2010.

As for Juan Cruz, his first call up to the major leagues came in 2001, so his contract--now owned by the A’s--will run through at least 2007.

Each of the A's new players will be making minor league salaries throughout their contracts, which will save the A's a lot of money next season.

Not to mention, now they A's do not have to worry about trying to resign perennial All-Star Hudson after the 2005 season, who is sure to ask for more than $10 million per year next season.

While I cannot make an estimate as to how much money will be saved by Oakland, I know that they WILL, in fact, save money, and that they acquired two great prospects in Thomas and Meyer, and a youngster who has already shown a good amount of success at the major league level in Juan Cruz.

Taking a look at how the Braves will use Hudson, one would find that he is there to replace Jaret Wright (29 in 2005), the Braves best pitcher in 2004, whom they lost via free agency. With Hudson being the Braves new best pitcher, let's take a look at Wright’s 2004, and career translated statistics to see how they stack up against eachother (Hudson‘s statistics can be found earlier in article):

2004- 3.84 ERA, 8.3 H/9--.5 HR/9--3.0 BB/9--6.8 K/9

Career- 4.76 ERA, 9.0 H/9--.8 HR/9--3.8 BB/9--6.5 K/9

Hudson had a slightly better season in 2004, but throughout their careers, Hudson is clearly the better pitcher. Both players will be 29 years old in 2005.

While the Braves made a clear upgrade to their pitching rotation, at a bargain price--only $6.75 million for Hudson is a steal compared to the salaries that the current free agent starting pitchers are making--they gave up too much.

***One last piece of information to translate however you want:

Hudson missed part of 2004 due to an oblique muscle injury. I chose not to use this information in the analysis because Hudson still accumulated 188.7 IP in 2004. The injury was a minor one, at most.***

I give the edge, slightly, to Oakland in this deal.

Thank You for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com

Richie Sexson Signs with Mariners

Steven Hanson reports on the Seattle Mariners big signing.

On December 15, 2004 the Seattle Mariners signed free-agent first baseman Richie Sexson. Seattle will be Sexson’s third team in two years, after being traded prior to last season from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Sexson, a Portland native, signed a four year deal worth approximately $48 million. He was injured for most of last year, so the big question is whether he can stay healthy and bring the Mariners back into the playoffs.

In 1997, Sexson belted 31 homers and drove in 88 runs for the AAA Buffalo Bisons (farm club of Cleveland Indians), and provided a final footnote for the American Association that year when he hit a three-run homer to give the Bisons a 5-4 win in the clinching game of the AAA Championship Series. That moment led to Sexson's first Major League call-up on September 14th, 1997 when he immediately contributed to the Cleveland Indians offense with a pinch-hit single in an 8-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

Sexson hit 31 homeruns in 1999, 30 in 2000, 45 in 2001, 29 in 2002, and another 45 in 2003. Not only was his homerun total intriguing to Seattle, his .270/.346/.540 translated lifetime batting line was a contribution also.

Sexson hit 9 homeruns in 29 games in 2004, before missing the remainder of the season due to injury.

The right-hander should add some pop at the beginning of Seattle's lineup, most likely hitting third in the order unless third baseman Adrian Beltre is signed.

A side-issue of this story is Sexson’s number. He's been wearing number 11 since his pro debut, but so has Edgar Martinez. Martinez played his entire 18-year career in Seattle wearing that same number, which surely will be retired. Whether Sexson will ask Martinez to use his number or find another is up to him, only time can answer that.

Steven Hanson

If you have any question, comments, concerns, or suggestions specific to this article please do not hesitate to email Steven at bravest2@yahoo.com.

If you have any question, comments, concerns, or suggestions please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Brewers/White Sox Trade

On December 12, 2004 the Chicago White Sox agreed to send 29 year-old* OF Carlos Lee to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for 29 year-old* OF Scott Podsednik, 30 year-old* RP Luis Vizcaino, and a player to be named later.

*Age is presented as player's age in 2005.

As always, when trades happen throughout baseball, I like to write an article with a complete breakdown of all the involved players, and money aspect. And of course, I give my opinion as to whom got the better end of the deal. With this deal though, I cannot prepare a full breakdown, or give a completely informed opinion because of the "player to be named later."

Without knowing this "player to be named later" I cannot fully assess what each team is giving and receiving.

So while not being able to give a completely informed breakdown and opinion of this trade, I can give a breakdown and opinion of the deal only using the known players (Lee, Podsednik, Vizcaino).

To start my breakdown of this trade, here is a look at the 2004 and career translated statistics of each player involved:

Brewers receive:

Carlos Lee-

2004: .303/.370/.331, .299 EqA{(Un-translated statistics: 31 HR, 86/54 (1.59) K/BB, 11/3 (79%) SB/CS}

Career: .285/.341/.494, .281 EqA {Un-translated statistics: 301/255 (1.18/1) K/BB, 64/26 (71%) SB/CS}


White Sox receive:

Scott Podsednik-

2004: .233/.301/.352, .249 EqA {Un-translated statistics: 12 HR, 105/58 (1.81/1), 70/13 (84%) SB/CS}

Career: .269/.337/.394, .268 EqA {203/118 (1.72/1) K/BB, 113/23 (83%) SB/CS}

Luis Vizcaino-

2004: 3.38 ERA, 6.1 H/9--1.1 HR/9--2.6 BB/9--6.9 K/9

Career: 3.75 ERA, 6.6 H/9--1.1 HR/9--3.1 BB/9--7.4 K/9

Saying Lee is better than Podsednik at this point in each players respective careers is a fact.

If it weren't for stolen bases, Podsednik would have very little value.

Obviously in replacing Lee with Podsednik the White Sox are hoping to get the 2003 version of Podsednik, who looked like so:(translated statistics) .314/.378/.441, .290 EqA--un-translated stats of 9 HR, 43/10 (81%) SB/CS.

If Podsednik does put up those numbers, the White Sox still fall short in replacing Lee with Podsednik. When Vizcaino is added though, combined with a 2003 version of Podsednik, then this trade doesn't end up so bad.

Vizcaino is not a great reliever by any means. He is a reliever who has a tendency to give up HR's, and walk batters, but strikes out a good amount of them also. Combine Vizcaino with a 2003 version of Podsednik, then, this would be a good trade for the White Sox.

But the fact is, one shouldn't count on a return to form by Podsednik. He should be expected to probably "split the difference" between 2004 and 2003. After crunching the numbers, this "split the difference" season for Podsednik would look like so:

.270/.336/.394, .250 EqA (57/12 SB/CS)

It is not that hard to see that this predicted "split the difference" season by Podesednik wouldn't even match Lee's worst season of 1999 (.289/.308/.470, .262 EqA).

Combining a predicted "split the difference" season by Podsednik, with Luis Vizcaino to replace Lee is a horrible deal for the White Sox, while being a great deal for the Brewers.


Taking a look at the money aspect of this trade will tell us why the White Sox made this deal.

Carlos Lee is signed through 2006, and is due to make $8 million in 2005, while being guaranteed $500,000 in 2006 with an $8.5 million option.

Podsednik is due to make, and this is not a joke, $550,000 in 2005, and $1.9 million in 2006.

Vizcaino is arbitration-eligible in 2005. To make an estimate on Vizcaino's arbitration-based salary, I will take Vizcaino's 2004 salary of $550,000 into account, and factor in a raise based on the current state of the market, and his 2004 performance. The figure I will use for Vizcaino's 2005 salary is $700,000.

Now, in the next two years, assuming the White Sox would pick-up Lee's 2006 option, the White Sox would have had to pay Lee $17 million. With Lee gone now, and Podsednik and Vizcaino on the team, the White Sox only have to pay those two players a combined $3.15 million through 2006 (Vizcaino through 2005, Podesednik through 2006).

In the next two years, again assuming the White Sox would have picked up Lee's 2006 option, the White Sox saved $13.85 million ($17 million minus $3.15 million).

If the White Sox declined Lee's 2006 option, they would only have to pay him $500,000 in 2006, ending up paying him a total of $8.5 million after 2006. In this scenario the White Sox would save only $5.35 ($8.5 million minus $3.15 million). Still great savings.

On the other end, with the Brewers picking up Lee and his hefty contract, they add, assuming they do pick-up Lee's 2006 option, $13.85 million ($17 million minus $3.15 million) to their payroll for the next two seasons.

The Brewers do not have to pick up that option though, and if they don't, they will only be due to pay Lee $8 million in 2005 and only $550,000 in 06.

Using this scenario, the Brewers would only be adding $5.35 million ($8.5 million minus $3.15 million) to their payroll for the next two seasons. This would be only a $2.2 million ($5.35 million minus $3.15 million) increase from what they would have owed Podsednik and Vizcaino in 05' and 06'.

After looking at both the talent of the players, and the money aspects of this trade, I believe the Brewers get the better end of this deal.

While the White Sox save a huge amount of money, they are losing a great player in Lee who is only going to be 29 next season. Even though they are getting another 28 year-old OF in Podsednik, he is clearly not on the same level as Lee.

Even with the possibility of Podsednik repeating his 2003 performance, and combining that with the addition of Luis Vizcaino--in my opinion "evening" up the deal--losing Carlos Lee to take this chance was not a chance worth taking for the White Sox.

As for the Brewers, they are adding a great player in the prime of his career, to their lineup in 2004, for only $2.2 million. This is a great deal.

As for all the extra money saved by the White Sox, they may use that money to make a great signing of a top free-agent, and therefore, giving this trade some credibility. If they do not make a great signing though, then it is clear that the White Sox dropped the ball in this deal.

As a baseball fan, and a human being, I have to believe that White Sox GM Ken Williams does, indeed, have a plan for the money his team saved in this deal. We are yet to see what he plans to do with it.


Remember, there is a player to be named left in this deal, and for all I and anybody else knows, this player could be the next Barry Bonds.

So, as I said in the beginning of this article, this is an incomplete analysis of this trade. The analysis in this article is strictly based on the exchange of Carlos Lee for Scott Podsednik and Luis Vizcaino.

I ask that you take this analysis for what it is worth; incomplete.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Off Season Focus: Seattle Mariners

Steven Hanson puts his “Off-season Focus” on the Seattle Mariners.

One year after losing 99 games, the Seattle Mariners look to revamp their struggling offense and starting rotation. Upcoming stars like Jeremy Reed, acquired from the Chicago White Sox last year in a trade for Freddy Garcia, provide the future for the Mariners.

Last season the Mariners released shortstop Rich Aurilia in the middle of the season and brought up 20-year-old Jose Lopez from AAA Tacoma to replace him. Since then, the new signings from last off season proved to be busts; with Scott Spiezio sitting on the bench, and Rich Aurilia on a different team.

This off-season, outfielder Randy Winn may be traded for some needed depth in the bullpen. A name being thrown around for a possible deal to Seattle in exchange for Winn has been Baltimore's Jorge Julio.


Needs: 1B, 3B, OF, SP, RP

Along with Aurilia, first baseman John Olerud was released and was later signed with the New York Yankees, leaving Seattle with a gaping whole at first base. Along with the retirement of Edgar Martinez who could have been a possible (although slight) first-basemen in 2005, the Mariners will be shopping for a first baseman to fill that hole. A possible scenario for the Mariners, however, would be to sign an outfielder instead of a first baseman, and move Raul Ibanez to first.

Names that have popped up this season for the Mariners include Matt Clement, Carl Pavano, Adrian Beltre, Corey Koskie, Richie Sexson, and Carlos Delgado. Seattle has made offers to most of those players, including an offer reaching five years worth more than $10 million per season for the 25-year-old Beltre.

Predicted Signings: 1B Richie Sexson, 3B Adrian Beltre, SP Matt Clement

Although the market this year has obviously evolved from years past, the Mariners could get by with signing Beltre, since barely any other teams will be able to match Seattle's offer thus far.
Clement, whom last year played for the Chicago Cubs, will most likely sign towards the middle of January for around 3 years, at $8 million per year.

Although he was injured for most of last season, Richie Sexson will attract offers from across the league, but will, towards the beginning of spring training, sign with the Mariners.
Probably the most surprising team last year, with more than 30 losses than their total in 2002, the Mariners could be in the hunt for the playoffs once again with the signing of these three players.

If healthy, these new pickups could lift the Mariners into at least third place in the AL West, easily the best division in baseball.

2005 Season Prediction: 86-76, 3rd in AL West

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions specific to this article, please do not hesitate to email Steven Hanson at bravest2@yahoo.com.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Pirates/Indians Trade

It wasn’t that long ago when I was writing about the Oakland A’s trading relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now, two weeks later, here I am writing about how the Pirates already have traded the 35 year-old Rhodes away—before the season even started.

On December 11, 2004, Pittsburgh agreed to trade Rhodes to the Cleveland Indians for 33 year-old OF Matt Lawton.

Now before answering the question, “Who will benefit more from this trade?” Here is a look at each player's 2004 and career translated statistics.


Lawton:

2004: .283/.377/.434--.284 EqA
{Un-translated stats- Career-high 20 HR in 591 AB, 84/74 (1.13/1), 23/9 SB/CS (72 %)}

Career: .269/.372/.429--.281 EqA
{Un-translated Stats- 534/610 (.875/1) K/BB, 147/57 (72%) SB/CS}


Rhodes:

2004: 4.85 ERA, 10.1 H/9, 1.9 HR/9, 4.9 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

Career- 4.16 ERA, 7.9 H/9, 1.0 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9, 8.7 K/9

I’m not going to lie, all I did was copy Rhodes statistics from my “A/Pirates Trade” article and pasted them here.

And, as I stated in that prior article, I will still have the same opinion about Rhodes:

Again, partly copied and pasted--Throughout his career Rhodes has been very inconsistent. With Rhodes turning 35 in 2005, I wouldn't expect any repeat performances of his 2001 (1.72 ERA in 68.0 IP) or 2002 (2.33 ERA in 69.7 IP) seasons.

As for my opinion on Lawton, I think he is a very good player. His career statistics support this claim.

Remember, .260 EqA is average for a Major League Baseball player, and Lawton’s career EqA is .281. Lawton IS a very good player.

Why did the Indians trade a very good younger player for and inconsistent older one?

Was it money?

Well here is a look at the financial figures for each player.

Lawton:

Signed through 2005. He will make $7.25 million in 2005.

Rhodes:

Signed through 2006. He will make $3.07 million in both 2005 and 2006. His combined salary for 2005-06’ is $6.14 million.

As one could easily figure out, the Indians saved $1.11 million in total salary (Lawton’s $7.25 million minus Rhodes combined salary of $6.14 million) with this trade. In 2005 alone though, they save $4.18 million (Lawton’s 2005 salary minus Rhode’s 2005 salary). They also get Rhodes services for two years, as opposed to only getting one year of service if they had kept Lawton.

It is obvious that part of the motivation behind this trade for Cleveland was, in fact, money.

Cleveland also made this trade though, because they had one of the worst bullpens in the American League in 2004 (4.88 ERA in 2004, ranked 12th out of 14 AL teams). They must believe that Rhodes can solidify their bullpen, and can push them over the top as a whole.

Also, the Indians must believe that they could afford to lose Lawton’s offense because, besides having one of the worst bullpens in the AL last year, they had one of the league’s top offenses (.795 team OPS, ranked 3rd in AL; 858 runs scored, ranked 5th in AL).

I do not agree with either of these stated beliefs. I do not believe Rhodes is the answer. It is highly unlikely that he is ever going to pitch like he did in 2001-02’ again (see numbers above). Is it a possibility? Yes. Is it likely? No.

I DO believe he will pitch better in 2005 than he did in 2004 though, but he still is NOT the answer.

I also do not think that the Indians could afford to lose Lawton. Even though Cleveland had one of the best offenses in the AL, many of their players had “career-years” in 2004, and numbers like that should not be expected out of those players again.

Here is a list of the top 8 offensive players on the Indians in 2004, by Plate Appearances, and their 2004 EqA vs. their career EqA (List excludes Omar Vizquel because he will not be on the Indians in 2005):

Player----------2004 EqA---------Career EqA
M. Lawton----------.281-----------------.284
Casey Blake--------.288-----------------.269
Ron Belliard--------.274------------------.258
Victor Martinez----.295-------.284 (Only 191 AB before 2004)
Travis Hafner------.334-------.309 (Only 353 AB before 2004)
Jody Gerut--------.265-------.274 (only 480 AB before 2004)
Coco Crisp---------.276-------.258 (only 541AB before 2004)
Ben Broussard-----.298--------.277 (only 498 AB before 2004)

Matt Lawton is the only player on the list that had more prior experience than 600 AB’s and that had a year on par with his career numbers.

Basically, he is the only player on the 2004 team that a general manager could put a fair amount of trust in to have a similar year to the one he had in 2004. Every other player on the roster is a “question mark” for 2005.

This is why getting rid of Lawton was a mistake. I know the Indians saved money, and gained an extra year of service out of Rhodes; but their only steady offensive player is now gone.

If even half of the players on the Indians revert back to their career numbers in 2005, or have a “sophomore slump” (based on AB’s—not actually years of service—using 500 AB’s as on full year of service), the Indians are going to be facing a significantly worse offense than the one they fielded in 2004.

One way for the Indians to at least give themselves a better chance to keep up with the 2004 version of themselves was to keep Lawton—and they didn’t.

They got rid of him for a 35 year-old inconsistent reliever coming off of a bad year, an extra year of service, and $1.11 million dollars.

It wasn’t worth it.

As for the Pirates, I believe it is fairly obvious that they are getting the better end of this deal.

For them to lose one year of service, and only add $1.11 million dollars to their payroll through 2006 (using the immediate addition of $4.18 million in 2005—Lawton’s 2005 salary minus Rhode’s 2005 salary, then subtracting the $3.07 million they will NOT have to pay Rhodes next season) in exchange for a player like Lawton is a great deal.

After saving $17 million by trading former catcher Jason Kendall to the A’s (fully saved after 2007--read prior article “A/Pirates Trade”), the Pirates have spent part of that money very wisely in acquiring Matt Lawton.

Good job Pittsburgh.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Free Agent Right-Handed Relief Pitchers #1-12

Now, after doing a lot of work to determine a qualifying standard for relief pitchers to get a scouting report, here are the free agent right-handed relief pitchers for 2004, numbers 1 – 12.

After looking at every reliever’s recent statistics, and using the averages—and going a little worse than them—the qualifying standard I came up with for a reliever to get a scouting report on “Serious Baseball” was an average of at least 40.0 IP in the last three seasons, while maintaining a 4.75 ERA or better.

After filtering out some relievers with this standard I was left with 34 total relievers, 24 right-handers and 10 left-handers.

Here, I present you with scouting reports on #1-12 of the right-handed relief pitchers, based on my ranking as to whom I believe is the best available.

The next segment—which should take less time to compute—will deal with right-handed relief pitchers #13-24.

1. Armando Benitez (32): Signed with San Francisco, 3 years ($22.5 million) 2004 Statistics- 1.29 ERA, 69.7 IP, 36 Hits, 6 HR, 21 BB, 62 K, 33.1 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 1.35 ERA, 4.3 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.5 BB/9—6.9 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.85 ERA, 654.0 IP, 428 Hits, 73 HR, 335 BB, 826 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.53 ERA, 5.1 H/9—0.8 HR/9—4.2 BB/9—10.1 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.47/1--////In each of the last three seasons Benitez’s translated K/9 (02’-9.2, 03’-8.1, 04’-6.9), and total K’s (02’-79, 03’-75, 04’-62) have gotten worse////Excluding 1994 and 1996 (only 10.0, and 16.0 IP respectively), 2004 represented a career-best ERA (1.29), translated ERA (1.35), BB (21), Hits allowed (36), and translated BB/9 (2.5) for Benitez, while also representing a career-worst translated K/9 (6.9)////Spent last four season in Florida (severe pitcher’s park), New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)—and he’s moving to San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park), this guy’s luckier than Kevin Federline and Ringo Starr combined.


2. Scott Williamson (29): Signed Minor League deal with Cubs 2004 Statistics- 1.21 ERA, 28.7 IP, 11 Hits, 0 HR, 18 BB, 28 K, 14.0 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 1.31 ERA, 3.7 H/9—0.0 HR/9—5.2 BB/9—8.7 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 371.3 IP, 258 Hits, 27 HR, 208 BB, 429 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.64 ERA, 5.8 H/9—0.5 HR/9—4.3 BB/9—9.7 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.06/1--////In each of the last three seasons Williamson’s translated BB/9 (02’-3.6, 03’-4.5, 04’-5.2), and total K’s (02’-84, 03’-74, 04’-28) have gotten worse, while his total BB totals (02’-36, 03’-34, 04’-18) have gotten better ////Missed about half of 2004 due to injury////Since Williamson was injured for much of 2004, I will not use any of his total counting stats (K’s, BB’s, Hits, etc…) in consideration for career-bests and worst. I will use his translated per-nine-innings stats for consideration though////Excluding 2001(only .2 IP), 2004 represented a career-best translated H/9 (3.7), and translated HR/9 (0) for Williamson, while also represented a career-worst translated BB/9 (5.2)////Has spent last for seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), and Cincinnati (moderate hitter’s park)////

3. Antonio Osuna (32): Signed with Nationals, 1 yr/$800,000 2004 Statistics- 2.45 ERA, 36.7 IP, 32 Hits, 3 HR, 11 BB, 36 K, 12.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.36 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.6 HR/9—2.6 BB/9—7.3 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.50 ERA, 486.3 IP, 423 Hits, 42 HR, 202 BB, 501 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.39ERA, 7.3 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.7 BB/9—7.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.48/1--////In each of the last three seasons Osuna’s translated ERA (02’-3.42, 03’-3.12, 04’-2.36), ERA (02’-3.86, 03’-3.73, 04’-2.45), Hits allowed (02’-64, 03’-58, 04’-32), BB (02’-28, 03’-20, 04’-11), and translated BB/9 (02’-3.9, 03’-3.7, 04’-2.6) have all gotten better {04’ totals mostly are low due to Osuna being injured for part of season—but NOT as long as Williamson}, while in the same period Osuna’s translated HR/9 (02’-.2, 03’-.5, 04’-.6), and translated K/9 (02’-7.9, 03’-7.5, 04’-7.3) have gotten worse////Like Williamson, since Osuna was injured for part of 2004, his 04’ counting stats will not be in consideration for career-bests and worst////Spent last four seasons in San Diego (severe pitcher’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Chicago White Sox (slight hitter’s park)////

4. Ugueth Urbina (31): Option picked-up by Tigers 2004 Statistics- 4.50 ERA, 54.0 IP, 38 Hits, 7 HR, 32 BB, 56 K, 9.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.62 ERA, 5.1 H/9—0.8 HR/9—5.0 BB/9—8.6 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.42 ERA, 617.7 IP, 483 Hits, 74 HR, 268 BB, 717 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 6.1 H/9—0.9 HR/9—3.6 BB/9—9.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.67/1--////In each of the last three seasons Urbina’s translated BB/9 (02’-2.8, 03’-3.4, 04’-5.0), and BB totals (02’-24, 03’-31, 04’-32) have gotten worse////Has spent last four seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), Detroit (moderate hitter’s park), Florida (severe pitcher’s park), Montreal (severe hitter’s park), and Texas (severe hitter’s park)////

5. Troy Percival (35): Signed with Tigers, 2 years ($12 million) 2004 Statistics- 2.90 ERA, 49.7 IP, 43 Hits, 7 HR, 19 BB, 33 K, 15.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.87 ERA, 6.8 H/9—1.1 HR/9—3.2 BB/9—5.6 K/9--////Career Statistics- 2.99 ERA, 586.7 IP, 393 Hits, 63 HR, 253 BB, 680 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.56 ERA, 5.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—10.1 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.69/1--////In each of the last three seasons Percival’s BB totals (02’-25, 03’-23, 04’-19) have gotten better while his translated HR/9 (02’-.8, 03’-1.0, 04’-1.1), translated K/9 (02’-10.5, 03’-8.4, 04’-5.6), and total K’s (02’-68, 03’-48, 04’-43) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst K total (33), translated K/9 (5.6), translated HR/9 (1.1), and translated H/9 (6.8) for Percival////Has spent entire career in California/Anaheim (slight hitter’s park)////

6. Jim Mecir (35): Signed with Marlins, 1 year/$1.1 million 2004 Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 47.7 IP, 45 Hits, 5 HR, 19 BB, 49 K, 12.3 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.30 ERA, 8.0 H/9—0.8 HR/9—3.3 BB/9—8.5 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.83 ERA, 483.7 IP, 443 Hits, 39 HR, 208 BB, 416 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.28 ERA, 7.7 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—7.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.00/1--////Mecir is building on NO recent trends, and 2004 did not represent any career-bests or worst for him////Has spent last four seasons in Oakland (neutral park)////

7. Ramiro Mendoza (33): 2004 Statistics- 3.52 ERA, 30.7 IP, 25 Hits, 3 HR, 7 BB, 13 K, 9.4 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.70 ERA, 6.6 H/9—0.7 HR/9—1.7 BB/9—3.4 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.29 ERA, 796.0 IP, 889 Hits, 81 HR, 181 BB, 462 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 9.2 H/9—0.8 HR/9—1.5 BB/9—4.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.55/1--////Since Mendoza’s IP has decreased each of the last three seasons (02’-91.7, 03’-66.7, 04’-30.7), two of his “counting” statistics have changed on the same curve: Hits allowed (02’-102, 03’-98, 04’-25) gets better, while total K’s (02’-61, 03’-36, 04’-13) gets worse////Because of his injury, resulting in less IP, I will disregard any of Mendoza’s counting stats in reference to his career-bests and worst//// Using translated per-nine-inning stats, 2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 (3.4) for Mendoza, while also representing a career-best translated H/9 (6.6), and translated ERA (2.70)////In each of the last three seasons, Mendoza’s translated K/9 (02’-5.6, 03’-4.6, 04’-3.4) has gotten worse//// ////Spent last four seasons in Boston (slight hitter’s park), and New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park)////

8. Jeff Nelson (38): Signed minor league deal with Mariners 2004 Statistics- 5.32 ERA, 23.7 IP, 17 Hits, 3 HR, 19 BB, 22 K, 0.5 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 4.13 ERA, 4.8 H/9—0.6 HR/9—7.0 BB/9—7.9 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.38 ERA, 745.3 IP, 598 Hits, 51 HR, 401 BB, 793 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.00 ERA, 6.6 H/9—0.5 HR/9—4.3 BB/9—9.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.98/1--////In each of the last three seasons Nelson’s translated ERA (02’-3.54, 03’-3.59, 04’-4.13), and total BB (02’-27, 03’-24, 04’-19) have gotten better—lower total in 04’ can be attributed to less pitching (23.7 IP) because of injury////Due to injury, Nelson only pitched 23.7 innings in 2004////As with Mendoza, Osuna, and Williamson, I will disregard Nelson’s counting stats as factors in his career-bests and worst////Using Nelson’s translated per-nine-inning statistics, 2004 represented a career-worst translated BB/9 (7.0), and translated ERA (4.13)////Has spent last four seasons in Texas (severe hitter’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)////

9. Antonio Alfonseca (33): Signed with Florida, 2 years ($4.75 million) 2004 Statistics- 2.57 ERA, 73.7 IP, 71 Hits, 5 HR, 28 BB, 45 K, 22.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.56 ERA, 8.5 H/9—0.5 HR/9—3.2 BB/9—4.7 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.89 ERA, 520.0 IP, 560 Hits, 47 HR, 202 BB, 355 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.37 ERA, 9.0 H/9—0.7 HR/9—3.1 BB/9—5.2 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.76/1--////In each of the last three seasons, Alfonseca’s total K’s (02’-61, 03’-51, 04’-45), and translated K/9 (02’-6.4, 03’-6.0, 04’-4.7) have gotten worse, while his translated BB/9 (02’-4.0, 03’-3.3, 04’-3.2) has gotten better////2004 represented a career-best translated ERA (2.56) and ERA (2.57) for Alfonseca, while also representing a career-worst K total (45) for him////Spent last four seasons in Florida (severe pithcer’s park), Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher’s park), and Atlanta (slight pitcher’s park)////

10. Steve Reed (39): Signed with Orioles, 1 year/$1.05 million 2004 Statistics- 3.68 ERA, 66.0 IP, 72 Hits, 7 HR, 17 BB, 38 K, 12.8 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 2.85 ERA, 8.3 H/9—0.7 HR/9—2.0 BB/9—4.4 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.51 ERA, 838.0 IP, 770 Hits, 102 HR, 274 BB, 615 K////Translated Career Statistics- 2.98 ERA, 7.0 H/9—1.0 HR/9—2.7 BB/9—5.8 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.24/1--////In each of the last three seasons Reed’s ERA (02’-2.02, 03’-3.27, 04’-3.68), translated ERA (02’-1.65, 03’-2.56, 04’-2.85), total K’s (02’-50, 03’-39, 04’-38), and translated K/9 (02’-5.9, 03’-4.8, 04’-4.4) have all gotten worse////2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 (4.4) for Reed////Spent last four seasons in Colorado (severe hitter’s park), New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), and San Diego (severe pitcher’s park)////

11. Dan Miceli (34): Signed contract to play in Japan 2004 Statistics- 3.59 ERA, 77.7 IP, 74 Hits, 10 HR, 27 BB, 83 K, 15.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.03 ERA, 7.5 H/9—0.9 HR/9—2.6 BB/9—8.8 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.47 ERA, 650.3 IP, 640 Hits, 88 HR, 277 BB, 595 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.01 ERA, 7.8 H/9—1.0 HR/9—3.4 BB/9—7.6 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.15/1--////With Miceli only pitching 8.1 innings in 2002 due to injury, there are no recent trends of his to identify////2004 represented a career-best K total (83), and translated K/9 (8.8) for Miceli////Has spent last four seasons in Houston (moderate hitter’s park), Cleveland (neutral park), Colorado (severe hitter’s park), New York Yankees (slight pitcher’s park), Texas (severe hitter’s park), and Florida (severe pitcher’s park)////


12. Mike DeJean (4): Signed with Mets, 1 year ($1.15 million) 2004 Statistics- 4.57 ERA, 61.0 IP, 70 Hits, 2 HR, 33 BB, 60 K, 7.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.75 ERA, 9.4 H/9—0.3 HR/9—4.8 BB/9—8.0 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.30 ERA, 559.3 IP, 589 Hits, 56 HR, 260 BB, 394 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.45 ERA, 8.3 H/9—0.6 HR/9—3.5 BB/9—6.0 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.51/1--////In each of the last three seasons DeJean’s translated H/9 (02’-7.3, 03’-8.0, 04’-9.4) has gotten worse////DeJean missed part of 2004 due to injury////Since DeJean was injured for part of 2004, I will disregard his 2004 counting stats for consideration in his career-bests and worst, but like the other injured pitchers, I will use his translated per-nine-inning statistics////2004 represented a career-worst translated H/9 (9.4), and translated BB/9 (4.8) for DeJean, while also representing a career-best translated K/9 (8.0), and a tie for his career-best HR/9 (0.3-1998)////Spent last four seasons in New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), Baltimore (severe hitter’s park when he pitched there), St. Louis (moderate pitcher’s park), and Milwaukee (neutral park)////

Next up, right-handed relief pitchers #13-24.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Steroids: The Beginning of the End

Steven Hanson writes a brief article explaining his feeling on the use of steroids by baseball players, and it’s effects on the game.

The purest of all sports has just made a tiny hiccup that could have massive effects on the game. Steroids, and other illegal enhancers, have served as some sort of a road block for the game, with rumors swirling at their peak as early as last year.

New York Yankee's first baseman Jason Giambi, after repeatedly telling reporters that he never took such steroids, has been heard confessing that he DID, in fact, take those substances earlier in his career.

It was reported that he received the substances from the same company that supplies them to Barry Bond's trainer-Greg Anderson. This same scenario could be linked to former Los Angeles Dodger, and current New York Yankee pitcher Kevin Brown, who was just recently found to be on steroids.

The biggest reason that a black cloud has seemed to form over the game is because of rumors that the single-season Home Run King, Barry Bonds could be taking the same performance enhancing drugs. This, all at a time when baseball was the cleanest it had been since the Pete Rose scandal.

Of course, we all have our assumptions as to who might be on such steroids. For me though, the dead giveaways are the all-so-sudden growth in players.

For example, if a player--Bret Boone for example--had gained 10 pounds of muscle in less than two years, I would be convinced.

The main problem this is causing is that it, in a sense, makes the game “fake.” Players are playing as someone they're not.

If you have been a fan of baseball for as long as you can remember, chances are that you feel the same way about this issue.

Steven Hanson

If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions, specific to this article, please do not hesitate to email Steven Hanson at bravest2@yahoo.com.

If you have any questions, concerns, comments, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Free Agent Left-Handed Starting Pitchers

Here is a look at the free-agent left-handed starting pitchers for 2004. There are only ten of them, which is miniscule compared to the amount of right-handers available that I reported on.

The only big surprise about this list may be the positioning of David Wells. For those wondering why I rank him so low, it is simply because of his age. I couldn’t rate Wells, who will be 42 next year, higher than some pitchers who were 35 years of age and under.

Al Leiter is so good though, that he overcame his age to rank number three on this list of whom I believe is the best available.

To clarify some statistics, the translated statistics are NOT just a pitchers un-translated statistics in a “per nine innings” form. Translated statistics, are the translated statistics which are figure or at Baseball Prospectus (like those of a hitters) in a “per nine innings” form.

Further explanations of translated statistics are in my article entitled “Free-Agent Catchers.”

Now, to the list:


1. Odalis Perez (28): Signed with Dodgers, 3 yrs/$24 million 2004 Statistics- 3.25 ERA, 196.3 IP, 180 Hits, 26 HR, 44 BB, 128K, 49.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.64 ERA, 8.5 H/9--1.1 HR/9--1.7 BB/9--5.0 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.00 ERA, 803.0 IP, 771 Hits, 95 HR, 224 BB, 582 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.25 ERA, 8.8 H/9--1.1 HR/9--2.1 BB/9--5.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of2.60/1--////2004 represented a career-best Hits allowed (180) for seasons in which he accumulated 100+ IP, but also represented a career-worst K total (128), and translated K/9 (5.0) under the same circumstances for Perez////2004 represented a career-worst translated K/9 for Perez (5.0)////In each of the last three seasons Perez's K totals (02'-155, 03'-141, 04'-128) have gotten worse////Has spent last four seasons in Atlanta (slight pitcher's park), and Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park)////

2. Eric Milton (29): Signed with Reds, 3 yrs/$25.5 million 2004 Statistics: 4.75 ERA, 201.0 IP, 196 Hits, 43 HR, 75 BB, 161 K, 18.7 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 4.74 ERA, 8.8 H/9--1.7 HR/9--2.9 BB/9--6.5 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.76 ERA, 1188.3 IP, 1196 Hits, 192 HR, 344 BB, 876 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.38 ERA, 8.7 H/9--1.2 BB/9--2.0 BB/9--6.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 2.55/1--////Since Milton only pitched 17 innings in 2003 due to injury, there are no trends of his to identify////2004 represented a career-worst for Milton in HR allowed (43), BB (75), and translated HR/9////Spent last four seasons (excluding 2003 in Philadelphia (moderate hitter’s park), and Minnesota (neutral park)////

3. Al Leiter (39): Signed with Marlins, 1 year 2004 Statistics: 3.21 ERA, 173.7 IP, 138 Hits, 16 HR, 97 BB, 117 K, 46.2 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.26 ERA, 7.1 H/9--.7 HR/9--4.7 BB/9--5.4 K/9--////Career Statistics- 3.65 ERA, 2248.7 IP, 1198 Hits, 185 HR, 1065 BB, 1877 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.83 ERA, 8.0 H/9--0.7 BB/9--HR, 3.8 B/9--6.9 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.76/1--////Missed about a month of the 2004 season due to injury////2004 represented a tie for Leiter’s career-best in translated H/9 (7.1) in seasons which he accumulated 100+ IP////While in each of the last three seasons Leiter’s IP has decreased (02’-204.3, 03’-180.7, 04’-173.7), so have his Hits allowed totals (02’-194, 03’-176, 04’-138), and K’s (02’-172, 03’-139, 04’-117)////Also, in each of the last three seasons Leiter’s translated ERA (02’-4.31, 03’-4.05, 04’-3.26), and translated HR/9 (02’-1.0, 03’-.8, 04’-.7) have gotten better, while his translated BB/9 (02’-2.5, 03’-4.2, 04’-4.7), and translated K/9 (02’-6.8, 03’-6.3, 04’-5.4) have gotten worse////Spent last four seasons in New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park)////

4. Glendon Rusch (30): Signed with Cubs – 2 years/$4.0 million-- 2004 Statistics- 3.47 ERA, 129.7 IP, 127 Hits, 10 HR, 33 BB, 90 K, 27.8 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.69 ERA, 8.6 H/9--0.7 HR/9--2.0 BB/9--5.2 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.93 ERA, 1163.3 IP, 1342 Hits, 143 HR, 346 BB, 850 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.83 ERA, 10.0 H/9—1.0 HR/9—2.2 BB/9--5.7 K/9--////Career K/BB of2.46/1--////2004 represented a career-best ERA (3.47), Hits allowed (127 - excluding 1999 where Rusch only pitched 5 innings), HR allowed (10 - excluding 1999), BB (33 excluding 1999), translated H/9 (8.6), translated HR/9 (0.7 - excluding 1999), and translated ERA (3.69) for Rusch////In each of the last three seasons Rusch's Hit's allowed totals (02'-227, 03'-171, 04'-127), HR allowed totals (02'-30, 03'-11, 04'-10), BB (02'-76, 03'-45, 04'-33), and translated HR/9 (02'-1.3, 03'-.8, 04'-.7) have gotten better////Rusch's total K's (02'-140, 03'-93, 04'-90) has gotten worse each of the last three seasons////Spent last four seasons in Chicago (slight pitcher's park), Milwaukee (neutral park), and New York Mets (severe pitcher's park)////

5. Shawn Estes (32): Signed with Diamondbacks, 1 yr/$2.5 million 2004 Statistics: 5.84 ERA, 202.0 IP, 223 Hits, 30 HR, 105 BB, 117 K, (-3.6) VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 5.39 ERA, 9.1 H/9--1.2 HR/9--4.6 BB/9--4.3 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.71 ERA, 1505.0 IP, 1521 Hits, 137 HR, 792 BB, 1124 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.96 ERA, 8.8 H/9--0.8 BB/9--4.6 BB/9--5.5 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.42/1--////2004 represented a career worst for Estes in ERA (5.84), and translated HR/9 (1.2) in seasons where he accumulated 100+ IP////2004 also represented career-worst numbers for Estes in Hits allowed (223), HR allowed (30), and translated K/9 (4.3)////In each of the last three seasons Estes’s translated HR/9 (02’-0.7, 03’-1.1, 04’-1.2), BB (02’-66, 03’-83, 04’-105), HR allowed (02’-12, 03’-20, 04’-30), Hits allowed (02’-133, 03’-182, 04’-223) statistics have all gotten worse, but these declining numbers can partly be attributed to a rise in IP each of the last three seasons (02’-132.7, 03’-152.3, 04’-202.0)////Has spent last four seasons in Colorado (severe hitter’s park), Chicago Cubs (slight pitcher’s park), New York Mets (severe pitcher’s park), Cincinnati (moderate hitter’s park), and San Francisco (severe pitcher’s park)////

6. David Wells (42): Signed with Red Sox, 2 years ($8 million) 2004 Statistics- 3.73 ERA, 195.7 IP, 203 Hits, 23 HR, 20 BB, 101 K, 40.3 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 3.89 ERA, 9.5 H/9--1.0 HR/9--0.5 BB/9--4.2 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.03 ERA, 3022.3 IP, 3117 Hits, 353 HR, 644 BB, 1974 K////Translated Career Statistics- 3.94 ERA, 9.1 H/9--1.0 HR/9--1.3 BB/9--6.0 K/9--////Career K/BB of3.06/1--////2004 represented a tie for Well's career best BB total (20-2003 NYY) for seasons in which he has pitched 100+ innings////2004 also represented a tie for Well's career-worst translated K/9 (4.2-2003 NYY)////In each of the last three seasons Well's translated BB/9 (02'-1.6, 03'-.6, 04'-.5) has gotten better////Has spent last four seasons in New York Yankees (slight pitcher's park), San Diego (severe hitter's park), and Chicago White Sox (slight hitter's park)////

7. John Halama (33): Signed with Red Sox, 1 year ($1 million) 2004 Statistics: 4.70 ERA, 118.7 IP, 134 Hits, 17 HR, 27 BB, 59 K, 14.4 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 4.67 ERA, 9.5 H/9--1.2 HR/9--1.8 BB/9--4.0 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.52 ERA, 816.7 IP, 931 Hits, 101 HR, 247 BB, 443 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.76 ERA, 9.9 H/9--1.0 HR/9--2.3 BB/9--4.4 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.79/1--////In each of the last three season Halama’s IP has increased (02’-101.0, 03’-108.7, 04’-118.7), while his ERA (02’-3.56, 03’-4.22, 04’-4.70), and Hits allowed totals (02’-112, 03’-117, 04’-134) have gotten worse////2004 represented a tie for Halama’s career best translated BB/9 (1.8, 2001)////Has spent last four seasons in Tampa Bay (neutral park), Oakland (neutral park), and Seattle (severe pitcher’s park)////

8. Darren Oliver (34): 2004 Statistics- 5.94 ERA, 72.2 IP, 87 Hits, 14 HR, 21 BB, 46 K, (-3.7) VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 5.80 ERA, 10.8 H/9--1.5 HR/9--2.0 BB/9--5.3 K/9--////Career Statistics- 5.07 ERA, 1407.0 IP, 1591 Hits, 172 HR, 582 BB, 834 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.65 ERA, 9.6 H/9--0.9 HR/9--3.0 BB/9--5.3 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.43/1--////In each of the last three seasons Oliver's translated ERA (02'-4.35, 03'-4.65, 04'-5.80), ERA (02'-4.66, 03'-5.44, 04'-5.94) have gotten worse, while in that same period Oliver's translated BB/9 (02'-3.9, 03'-2.5, 04'-2.0) has gotten better////2004 represented a career-best translated BB/9 (2.0) for Oliver////Oliver missed parts of the 2004 season due to a shoulder injury////Has spent last four seasons in Houston (moderate hitter's park), Florida (severe pitcher's park), Boston (slight hitter's park), Colorado (severe hitter's park), and Texas (severe hitter's park)////

9. Terry Mulholland (42): Signed minor league contract with Twins 2004 Statistics- 5.18 ERA, 123.3 IP, 163 Hits, 17 HR, 33 BB, 60 K, 9.6 VORP////Translated 2004 Statistics- 4.89 ERA, 10.9 H/9--1.1 HR/9--2.1 BB/9--4.0 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.41 ERA, 2513.7 IP, 2765 Hits, 286 HR, 663 BB, 1306 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.82 ERA, 9.8 H/9--1.1 HR/9--2.0 BB/9--4.2 K/9--////Career K/BB of1.97/1--////As Mulholland's IP has risen each of the last three seasons (02'-79.0, 03'-99.0, 04'-123.0), his K totals (02'-38, 03'-42, 04'-60) and translated HR/9 (02'-1.6, 03'-1.5, 04'-1.1) have gotten better, while his Hits allowed (02'-101, 03'-117, 04'-163) have gotten worse////Spent last four seasons in Minnesota (neutral park), Cleveland (neutral park), Los Angeles (severe pitcher's park), and Pittsburgh (neutral park)////

10. Omar Daal (33): Out of baseball in 2004, 2003 Statistics: 6.34 ERA, 93.7 IP, 134 Hits, 11 HR, 30 BB, 53 K, (-5.6) VORP////Translated 2003 Statistics- 5.97 ERA, 11.9 H/9-- .9 HR/9--2.8 BB/9--4.9 K/9--////Career Statistics- 4.55 ERA, 1198.7 IP, 1250 Hits, 140 HR, 441 BB, 806 K////Translated Career Statistics- 4.66 ERA, 9.3 H/9--1.0 BB/9--2.9 BB/9--5.3 K/9--////Career K/BB of 1.83/1--////Since Daal was out of baseball in 2004, there are no trends of his to identify////Before leaving baseball after the 2003 season, Daal’s IP had decreased in each of the previous three years (01’-185.7, 02’-161.3, 03’-93.7) , resulting in an improvement in many of his counting statistics: Hits allowed (01’-199, 02’-142, 03’-134), HR allowed (01’-26, 02’-20, 03’-11), and BB (01’-56, 02’-54, 03’-30)////If you look at his translated per nine innings statistics in 01’, 02’, and ’03, you would see that Daal actually got worse in BB/9 (01’-2.3, 02’-2.5, 03’-2.8)////Spent last four seasons before 2004 in Baltimore (severe pitcher’s park when he pitched there), Los Angeles (severe pitcher’s park), and Philadelphia (moderate pitcher’s park)////

Next up, free agent relief pitchers.

There are many, many free agent relief pitchers. So, in order to cut down on unnecessary scouting reports being made for “ten IP per year pitchers, and the like,” I will make a qualifying standard for a relief pitcher to get a scouting report on the site.

I will let the qualifying standards be known when the first segments of the scouting reports are published.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.

Yankees Get Better

On Friday, December 3, 2004 the New York Yankees made two trades. In the two trades the Yankees acquired RP Mike Stanton and $975,000 from the Mets for RP Felix Heredia. In the other trade, the Yankees acquired RP Felix Rodriguez from the Phillies for CF Kenny Lofton and $1.525 million.

To break down this trade, the statistics of each of the players must be looked at first. So here are each of the player's career, and 2004 statistics--translated, and un-translated:

Yankees Receive:

Mike Stanton (38 in 2005):

2004: 3.16 ERA, 77.0 IP, 70 Hits (8.2 H/9), 6 HR (.7 HR/9), 33 BB (3.9 BB/9), 58 K (6.8 K/9)
Translated: 3.54 ERA, 8.2 H/9--.7 HR/9--3.4 BB/9--6.3 K/9

Career: 3.76 ERA, 946.0 IP, 892 Hits (8.5 H/9), 82 HR (.8), 360 BB (3.4 BB/9), 780 K (7.4 K/9) Translated: 3.79 ERA, 8.4 H/9--.8 HR/9--2.9 BB/9--7.5 K/9

Felix Rodriguez (32 in 2005):

2004: 3.29 ERA, 65.2 IP, 61 Hits (8.4 H/9), 8 HR (1.1 HR/9), 29 BB (4.0 BB/9), 59 K (8.0 K/9)
Translated: 3.63 ERA, 8.1 H/9--1.0 HR/9--3.9 BB/9--6.6 K/9

Career: 3.41 ERA, 524.7 IP, 461 Hits (7.9 H/9), 43 HR (.7), 247 BB (4.2 BB/9), 479 K (8.2 K/9) Translated: 3.74 ERA, 7.9 H/9--.8 HR/9--4.1 BB/9--6.6 K/9


Mets Receive:

Felix Heredia (30 in 2005):

2004: 6.28 ERA, 38.7 IP, 44 Hits (10.2 H/9), 5 HR (1.2 HR/9), 20 BB (4.6 BB/9), 25 K (5.8 K/9)
Translated: 5.91 ERA, 9.5 H/9--1.1 HR/9--4.5 BB/9--5.3 K/9

Career: 4.44 ERA, 455.7 IP, 447 Hits (8.8 H/9), 45 HR (.9), 231 BB (4.6 BB/9), 349 K (6.9 K/9) Translated: 4.85 ERA, 8.5 H/9--.8 HR/9--4.3 BB/9--5.8 K/9


Phillies receive:

Kenny Lofton (38 in 2005):

2004: .275/.346/.395, 3 HR, 27/31 (0.84/1) K/BB, 7/3 (70 %) SB/CS
Translated: .282/.360/.405, .270 EqA

Career: .297/.372/.425, 118 HR, 882/812 K/BB (1.09/1) , 545/145 (79 %) SB/CS
Translated: .304/.379/.444, .289 EqA

Just by looking at the numbers above, we can see that the Yankees are getting some quality bullpen arms--one being a southpaw (Stanton), the other being a right-hander (Rodriguez). Combine that with the fact that they rid themselves of Heredia, and the Yankees already have a better bullpen going into 2005.

Also, with the Yankees having Bernie Williams and the money to afford free-agent Carlos Beltran, they could easily afford to lose Lofton.

We can also see that the Phillies are getting a very good center fielder in Lofton, with the only question mark being his age.

Lastly, we see the Mets are, far and away, getting the worst end of the trades. Heredia had a horrible year last season, and does not have good career statistics either.

So after looking at the numbers, we see how each team fared in the trades. As we all know though, “quality of player” is not the only factor considered in trades; saving money is considered also. So, if you’re wondering why the Mets made this trade, or just wondering how each team's payroll is affected, we must look at the money side of the deal.

Here are the numbers:

As stated earlier, the Yankees received $975,000 from the Mets to help pay the $4 million Stanton is due next season--the final year of his contract.

With Heredia's contract paying him $1.8 million in 2005, with a $2.5 millon option for 2006, and him being due $200,000 in 06' (regardless if his option is picked up or not); the Yankees are shipping out a guarenteed $2 million combined salary in 05' and 06'. Then, including the $975,000 sent to them by the Mets--the Yankees end up adding $1.025 million to their payroll through 2005-06'.

In the other half of the deal Felix Rodriguez and Kenny Lofton are both signed through 2005, with both making similar amounts of money next season, with Lofton getting $3.1 million and Rodriguez getting $3.15 million.

With the Yankees getting the player being paid $50,000 more, why are they giving the Phillies $1.525 million next season? I guess that the benefits of having the largest payroll in baseball.

In this deal, with Rodriguez’s salary adding $50,000 to the Yankees payroll, combined with them sending $1.525 million over to the Phillies, the Yankees are adding $1.575 million to their payroll next season.

Combine the two deals, and the Yankees are adding ($1.575 + $1.025) $2.6 million to their payroll through 2006.

In a quick look at the Mets, they save themselves $1.025 million the next two seasons by ridding themselves of Stanton's $4 million salary next season, picking up Heredia’s $2 million salary in 05’ and 06’, and combining that with their sending of $975,000 to the Yankees. (Stanton's $4 million, minus Heredia's $2 million on 05', and 06’, minus $975,000 sent to Yankees)

Then, to finalize the analysis of the money side of the deal, the Phillies, by saving $50,000 because of the difference in Rodriguez's and Lofton's salary, and by receiving $1.525 million from the Yankees, have an addition $1.575 to spend in 2005.

After looking at the quality of players exchanged, and the money aspects, the Yankees are the winners of this trade.

Even though they added the most money to their payroll (which they can afford--but for this argument I will pretend they are a normal team), they are getting two high-quality bullpen pitchers, while subtracting a player who was very expendable (Lofton), and also subtracting the troubled Heredia.

The Phillies come in a close second to the Yankees. They receive a very good player in Lofton, and added $1.575 million to their payroll next season. Even with the added money though, I'd have to say that, with Lofton and Stanton both being 38 next season, age affects a hitter more than it affects a bullpen left-hander, so the Phillies are getting more of a "question mark" than the Yankees.

The only team left is the clear and concise loser of the trades, the New York Mets. The old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure," does not apply to the Mets picking up the Yankees trash (Heredia)--even though they saved $1.575 million. Heredia has shown no quality, or consistency throughout his career. If he were a right-hander, he might be out of baseball.

I guess the Mets are hoping that their pitcher-friendly ballpark, combined with the pitcher-friendly National League, will combine to make Heredia into a good situational left-hander. Good Luck.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.