Comments on: Tigers target Putz, Wood for closer vacancy

By: philosofool

philosofool — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:43:01 +0000

Matt Joyce? Is a *good* deal for JJ? There have to be better fitsâ€¦canâ€™t you drag someone like a Gamel away from the Brewers – I mean, Iâ€™m as up on the misuse of the save stat as the next guy, but Putz, provided a return to reasonable health, is a very good bullpen piece. Is Joyce projecting that far above fourth outfielder?

Baseball America named Joyce the 7th best prospect in the (depleted) Tigers system, and named him their best defensive OF. Joyce has a career of hitting well in the minors and did very well (wOBA .355) in 277 PA last season in the majors. 277 is too few to draw any bold conclusions, but there are no red flags pointing to luck.

I think Joyce will hit like an average to above average LF and defend much better than average at his position, making him a 3-4 wins above replacement, with five or six years of control.

Gamel’s fielding is appalling. He committed 53 errors at 3B in 2007 and 32 in 2008. The team that puts him in the infield is going to cost itself more runs than Prince Fielder will produce.

By: joker

joker — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:24:47 +0000

What would it take for the Cardinals to get Putz?

PS, no one mention Rasmus.

By: metz123

metz123 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:14:09 +0000

I worry about the comments that this may mean sending Morrow back into the bullpen as the “closer”. That would retard any progress he made last year in becoming a starter. IMO 175+ innings as a even a #5 starter has more value than 50 innings as a closer. Hopefully the authors are right and Z understands that you assemble your bullpen for cheap. Closers are easy to both find and create. Starting pitchers with Morrow’s potential are not.

By: bakomariner

bakomariner — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:04:18 +0000

I am eagerly awaiting Z’s first trade…I’d rather them keep JJ, but if he gets good value in return, then I say go ahead…

And can anyone tell me why it seems that every reporter wants Morrow to become the closer if JJ is traded? Are they that stupid?

By: The Ancient Mariner

The Ancient Mariner — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:01:15 +0000

Way cool. I’d noticed his comment, but not that he posted this. Yay!

By: msb

msb — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:28:40 +0000

oh, I noticed

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:58:21 +0000

You guys have all missed the biggest news in this post – the return of JMB!

By: jro

jro — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:45:55 +0000

While I’m not eager to see JJ depart so soon, this is also one of the first times where we can see Z (potentially) evaluate a trade, talent for talent.

I have high hopes that we won’t see anymore Soriano-for-Ramirez kind of swaps. Nonetheless, I’ll be interested to see if we can come out with the better of the deal for once.

By: Breadbaker

Breadbaker — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:20:40 +0000

I’d be telling the Tigers to go pull a Theo Epstein and find a third team that has interest in some of the Tigers spare parts and a young mashing corner outfielder in their system to send to Seattle for Putz.

By: banestar

banestar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:13:17 +0000

Matt Joyce? Is a *good* deal for JJ? There have to be better fits…can’t you drag someone like a Gamel away from the Brewers – I mean, I’m as up on the misuse of the save stat as the next guy, but Putz, provided a return to reasonable health, is a very good bullpen piece. Is Joyce projecting that far above fourth outfielder?

I’d try to work out something like Nick Evans/Bobby Parnell before a Matt Joyce package. Tell me the Mets wouldn’t be motivated to make that move.