Rays Target: Casey Blake?
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 6:20 PM EDT
30 comments
A league source has informed me that the Rays attention is now on Cleveland Indians cornerman Casey Blake due in part to the high price for Xavier Nady. I'm not sure if a deal is close or even imminent between the Rays and Indians, but Blake is a 34 -- soon to be 35 -- year old free agent following this season with a .279 GPA and an OPS+ of 118 that would place him behind only Eric Hinske and Evan Longoria. In some ways Blake is essentially a right-handed Hinske, although he's likely a slightly better fielder.
Here's what I had to say about Blake last week:
Casey Blake Corner Fielder Cleveland: signed through 2008 at 6.1 million.
What would a trade post be without a little speculation? Try this for instance, why did Andrew Friedman pick the Cleveland series to watch the team live for a few games? Maybe it's a pure coincidence, but with some murmurs last weekend about the Rays being interested in Blake the Indians definitely obliged by placing him in the middle of the order and at first three of the games with a cameo at third. Blake isn't really what the Rays are looking for - considering he's essentially a right handed Eric Hinske - but if he's used as purely as Jonny Gomes replacement he's not bad; he sees over four pitches per plate appearance and has a decent grasp on the zone. He's only worth a win a season, which is reasonable considering his price shouldn't be too great, and he's a type B free agent, meaning the Rays would get a first round supplemental pick if they decide to let him walk which they probably should, considering Blake turns 35 in late August.
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Type B FA, meaning we'd get a supplemental pick for him.
Not bad at all…
"I'm like a retarded Adam Dunn mixed with Jason Bartlett" - R.J. Anderson
by P Brady on Jul 22, 2008 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Won't happen.
"I'm like a retarded Adam Dunn mixed with Jason Bartlett" - R.J. Anderson
by P Brady on Jul 22, 2008 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
A "league source," R.J.?
What, you mean the guy who temps at the Rays FO? Or do you actually get these sorts of insider connections?
I root for the two worst teams in baseball, non-ironically.
by esoteric on Jul 22, 2008 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Blake's Marcel projection for the second half is...
.262/.334/.434—That seems really low. Must be because of his age. If i call him a 27 year old, he projects at .271/.345/.449.
I love Sal’s toy.
by Sky Kalkman on Jul 22, 2008 6:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I haven't had a chance to play around with it much yet.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no need to play. just copy-paste.
it’d be great to have an AVG/OBP/SLG projection for all the Rays hitters and ERA projection for the pitchers if someone wants to waste an hour or two… like this: http://www.brewcrewball.com/2008/7/17/573722/projecting-the-second-half
by Sky Kalkman on Jul 22, 2008 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please No.
Justin Ruggiano + whoever we give up for Blake > than Blake – whoever we have to give up for him.
by Dbullsfan on Jul 22, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't get the hate for Blake
Sure, he’s nothing special, but he’s OPSing .900 or so against lefties, he comes cheap and can play multiple positions, including well in RF. I’d be willing to bet that he would hit just as well as a Ray than Nady would.
by raysrule07 on Jul 22, 2008 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I asked about Blake on Let's Go Tribe
Seems like it would only take a mid-level prospect like Houser to get him, and Shapiro could even pick up the tab.
The other thing is that Blake has an outside chance at Type A status. If Mark Ellis or Carlos Guillen were to suddenly start sucking or miss significant time with injury, or if there were 5 more 2B, 3B, and SS this year in the AL than last, he would be Type A.
by raysrule07 on Jul 22, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Things got crazy for me this spring with school and everything. I didn’t even read this site or raysbb.com for almost 3 months, and I’ve been trying to post as little as possible, because I know I’ll have to do the same again in the fall. Fortunately, the winter meetings are during my break :)
by raysrule07 on Jul 22, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm glad to see you're okay though.
I was actually asking people if they knew what happened to you last week.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
tonight is just another example of why another platoon veteran would be a waste of time
we need an impact bat because we can’t keep hoping that BJ, CC, and Pena magically turn into all-star hitters and our offense isn’t that of a playoff team (I know we are in first but hoping our pitching continues to be amazing is a big limb to go on). I just don’t think adding a platoon players puts us over the top, so go big or just stay pat.
by Dbullsfan on Jul 22, 2008 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But if the price for a guy like Blake is only a B or C prospect why not add him?
A good platoon can be wildly effective and Blake’s GPA would be third on the team despite the fact he’s hitting against both hands.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My problem with adding a guy like Blake is that I don't think he puts us into the playoffs.
Boston is getting Ortiz back soon (tearing it up on rehab btw) and the Yankees are red hot. I don’t see us getting in by adding a platoon guy and what good is adding a guy in his mid 30’s if it just ensures us a better record while still finishing in 3rd place.
by Dbullsfan on Jul 22, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We'd get a draft pick in return for him walking.
Also, at least check we are in first, and we’re not playing too far over our own heads, three wins I think.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes we are in first but we aren't getting a guy like Papi soon (although it would be nice)
and the Yankees are playing very good baseball and us not so much.
by Dbullsfan on Jul 22, 2008 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We've won three of the past five...
Our starting pitching is doing great, we’ve had a few bullpen hiccups by the lesser pitchers. Yes they’re getting Ortiz back, and they’re getting Manny back in LF full time, meaning their defense will slip a bit. And Ortiz this year is hitting equal to Blake.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Olney just mentioned Meredith as on the block
Good GB%, prone to a few gopher balls, and bad increases/decreases in K/BB ratio, plus a slightly decreased velo. Too bad.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why did RJ drop off the Editors in Chief? If I’m not asking something inappropriate, if so, never mind.
by DAM on Jul 22, 2008 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did for a while earlier
but you’re now back.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
by Brickhaus on Jul 23, 2008 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, munus the double negatives. Are going somewhere? (Four year old yelling in my ear, sorry)
by DAM on Jul 22, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Furryland?
No, I just noticed the change, wondered why.
by DAM on Jul 22, 2008 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm on it on my computer.
Not sure what’s happening there, but no, I don’t plan on leaving yet.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 22, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
On the bottom of the page you don’t exist anymore, that’s all. Glad to hear all is well, but I did want to hear your updates from Furryland.
by DAM on Jul 22, 2008 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adding Blake may not put us over the top and into the playoffs
But neither would adding Nady. Bay and Teixeira are the only true impact bats that could be moved, but neither is actually on the block at the moment, so it would take an extravagant package to get either.
What will put this team into the playoffs is if the guys we have NOW start producing the way they should. Pena, Gomes, Upton, CC, and Bartlett are all underperforming, some horribly. If they even returned to anywhere near their career averages, this team wouldn’t need to add a big bat.
Basically, trading for Blake can’t hurt. He’s versatile, tends to hit average or above, will give us a compensation pick after the season, and would only cost a mid-level prospect (Houser would have been perfect had he not been injured).
by raysrule07 on Jul 23, 2008 12:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Blake would be a good fit in place of Gomes
Plus it would give us a reliable fill in to rest Longo down the stretch if he needs it. Also keep in mind that even though he’s 34 almost 35 that Blake didn’t become an everyday player till he was 29…so in “Running Back” type terms he’s a young 34 without all the wear and tear of 10-12 yrs. of playing full time like alot of other players his age.
by arkansasraysfan on Jul 23, 2008 1:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Except he played in the minors.
"I'm like a retarded Adam Dunn mixed with Jason Bartlett" - R.J. Anderson
by P Brady on Jul 23, 2008 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Shorter season
You both have valid points
by GomesSweetGomes on Jul 23, 2008 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Negativity on this board astounds me.
You know when the season started, I expected a ball club that was about .500 or slightly better. I did not expect a playoff team and I still don’t expect one. Yes missing the playoffs would be disappointing this year. But being in the playoff hunt let alone first place in the AL east at this point in the season is nothing short of remarkable. You have to remember this team is doing it on 1/6th of the payroll that the Yankees and Red Sox are doing it on. I get tired of listening to the doom and gloomers sometimes. So what if I decide to look at the glass half full instead ot pissing and moaning about it being half empty. I think Blake would be a good addition as anything is better than Gomes right now. Everyone is looking for a blockbuster deal at the deadline. I got news for you fellas it ain’t coming. This is the first real mention I have heard of Casey Blake and it fits the Rays plans more than any of the others mentioned previously. A platoon guy with decent to good fielding stats and a bat with some pop and a decent average. You are going to have to face it … if you think the Rays are going to go out and add $20 mil to the payroll at the deadline you need to put down the pipe. Lay off BJ, yes he frustrates the hell out of me too sometimes, but overall I think he helps this team more than hurts them. Lastly, I have attended about 15 games a year at the Trop since the Rays began play. I was there the night we all had visions of our first no hitter with Saunders on the mound, I was there when Boggs hit his 3000th, I was even there when Williams knocked Pedro on his ass. I guess what I am trying to say is there was plenty of room on the band wagon when you got on and there will be plenty of room for “REAL” fans when you get off.
If it is the Rays year great…. If it isn’t great… All I expected was progression and I have seen it.
by PewterPirate55 on Jul 23, 2008 7:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget..
We get bartlett back. He is a massive upgrade over Zobrist.
by matthan on Jul 23, 2008 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Also
Preseason expectations are meaningless. You should be adjusting your expectations costantly. Don’t live in the past. We are in first place right now. We have a shot THIS year. Of course we should not mortgage the future for this year. But we also cannot expect and rely on the “future”. We have no idea what the future will hold. This may be our best shot in years, or it may be our worst shot. The expectations are raised to a world series contender.
I expect the Rays to get Blake and Street. That would be ideal. Screw Murton. We don’t need a project. I’m also okay with teh Rays getting Nady or Bay (but then not Street). Again we do not want to trade the farm.
Also Blake should take Floyds spot, not Gomes. We would still need the extra right handed bat. Plus Gomes could PR if needed. Carrying Floyd, Hinske, and Gross is just highly redudant. Why would a team roster three decent players that do the exact same things?
And can we stop with the BJ bashing please? Lets just face it, he is sucking right now. Most on this board can hit a baseball further than he can right now. Its been beat to death so lets give it a rest. He either fixes the problem (injury or mechanical) or he stays what he is (above avg OBP with little pop). All we can do at this point is wait.
by matthan on Jul 23, 2008 9:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Surprised at all the bridge jumping on here
Man, I remember the days when this team literally carried 4 or 5 actual major league players on the 25-man, and now we measure disappointment by possibly missing the playoffs! This team has played 5 games since the break against the two of the best pitching staffs in baseball and have won 3 of ‘em. Now there are only 4 or 5 guys on the roster we’d like to replace, and the team is relevant. This is good stuff! Smile! Hug somebody!
by gatorman2k2 on Jul 23, 2008 9:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jeremy Beckham promoted to Hudson Valley....
I guess that answers the question of which league is more prestigious…
9 = 8
by websterjtc on Jul 23, 2008 9:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If BJ was leading off, we'd all be a little easier on him
He probably wouldn’t be so frustrating if he didn’t have middle of the order expectations. Maybe he’s just Juan Pierre with pop, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But if he takes another called third strike today I’ll vomit.
by gatorman2k2 on Jul 23, 2008 9:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Could the new attention on Blake
be the effort of the RFO to entice Pittsburgh to lower their price?
B Rad the Ray Fan
www.we-use-more-than-one-stat-here.com
by B Ray on Jul 23, 2008 9:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hm
Blake is not playing today, yet David Delluci, Ryan Garko, and Andy Marte are.
by R.J. Anderson on Jul 23, 2008 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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