Let Me Upgrade You

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 3:32 PM EST Comment 33 comments

Finding value is something Andrew Friedman does extremely well. In the Money in the Bank series I did last week, I showed how good Friedman was at getting value for a low price. This off-season, Andrew Friedman has shown us another one of his skills, relocation of assets or simply upgrading....

Upgrade-to improve the quality, value, effectiveness, or performance of something.

Status quo is not something Andrew Friedman does well. While some teams are loyal to a fault, Andrew Friedman is not. He could have brought back 2008 contributors, Eric Hinske and Cliff Floyd. He could have resigned fan favorites Jonny Gomes and Rocco Baldelli (he still could, but at his price). He could have kept the same rotation and bullpen that won him a pennant in 2008, but instead of doing that, he got creative.

He traded Edwin Jackson for Matt Joyce, effectively upgrading two spots with one move. He drafted Derek Rodriguez in the Rule 5 draft and signed Joe Nelson to a below market deal. Both Rodriguez and Nelson have solid track records vs. left-handed batters, making the need for a LOOGY insignificant. In this latest move he brings Pat "The Impact Bat" Burrell to replace Cliff Floyd, Eric Hinske, Rocco Baldelli and Jonny Gomes all in one.The best part? He did it without overpaying.

Estimating raises for Hinske($2 mil) and Jackson($2.5 mil) and picking up the options on Floyd and Miller would've cost about $9 million for 2009. Those players combined for about three wins last year. If we replace those four with Burrell, Price, Joyce and Nelson, we're looking at about seven wins for around 11 million. Would you rather have the old four back and save the $2 million? And even if you add in buyouts to Baldelli, Floyd and Miller and push that total to around $15 million dollars you are still banking.

The going rate on a win is around $5 million dollars($4.84). The new crop of Rays are worth about four more wins. That's roughly $19 million dollars in upgrades, but will only cost $7 million more over the 2008 group including the buyouts. Many people thought the Rays would just let other teams set the market for them and sign whoever was left. Andrew Friedman basically just told the world if they call shots, I call audibles.

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The only move I disagree(d) with is exposing Morlan

Other than that Friedman’s done great.

www.raysprospects.com
Trade for Billy Butler!

by Imperialism32 on Jan 5, 2009 3:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Me too especially with RYUUUU still on the 40 man

hopefully Rodriguez works out and we forget Morlan.

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 3:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know where his golf locker is. It's go time...

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jan 5, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 5, 2009 3:46 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Thanks now that commercial is in my head.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jan 5, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

this?

by rglass44 on Jan 5, 2009 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

Am I the only one freaked out when she talks, keeping her head perfectly still while dancing? That’s just creepy.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jan 5, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Power at a huge discount

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So, where do we go from here?

RF is addressed, DH is addressed, and the #5 starter was addressed, those were the three biggest weaknesses in my eyes. I like how the signing of Joe Nelson as an attempt to curb bullpen regression as well.

What I’d like to see:

IF there is a more sure-thing available through trade or FA for the RF spot, AND they come on the cheap, I say go get it.

I’d also like to see the Rays add one more reliable bullpen arm to replace either Hammel, Wheeler, or Percival (Hammel is the most likely and most deserving candidate in my eyes, but my dislike for him is well-known).

Pat Burrell fully clothed at all times.

by kericr on Jan 5, 2009 4:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

cues R.J. for a RHEINO + a crappy infielder who he loves

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CANNIZARO.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 5, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rheino?

You mean we’re going to re-sign Jared Sandberg!?!?!?

by kericr on Jan 5, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

.

by R.J. Anderson on Jan 5, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think at this point you play with mostly what you have, and plan ahead a few years.

How do you replace Aki? What does SS look like long term? How about the rotation once salaries start escalation.

All those things are related, too. For example, when Kazmir starts making money, he could be traded for the next 2B. Etc. Friedman knows when contracts are up and where the farm system will provide support. Now he can take advantage of opportunities as they arise. 2009 is pretty set. Maintaining the dynasty takes foresight.

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on Jan 5, 2009 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's pretty sound reasoning.

In my dream world, this team manages to afford a payroll around the $80M range. The Rays wouldn’t be able to afford to sign everyone, but I’d like to see them be able to handle the important players.

by kericr on Jan 5, 2009 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think that dream is too far-fetched (80M payroll)

we have a great owner,players who want to stay here and a genius GM. they are going to keep to the plan and try and sign their major players when they are young and affordable and be willing to pay down the road, but those contracts(the option years mostly) are going to bump up payroll to the 70-80M dollar range if most are exercised.

MLB-Rays,Marlins,Twins, and Reds
NFL-Vikings,Lions(i know Shut up),texans, and Bills
NBA-Timberwolves(also shut up),Cavilers(bye bye LeBron in '10)
NHL- Wild and Penguins
College-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns and Irish.
all of the above mentioned teams are in order by my favorites

by RaysOfHope on Jan 5, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Chips are falling quick

Bradley

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with free-agent outfielder Milton Bradley, sources told ESPN on Monday.

MLB.com

An industry source told MLB.com on Monday afternoon that Oakland could sign Giambi this week, likely to a one-year deal with a possible second-year option.

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 4:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So Ibanez got the biggest FA deal of the DH/LF types? That's absurd.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Jan 5, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Burrell becomes their full-time DH, providing power as well as needed plate discipline; with Matt Joyce platooning with someone like Fernando Perez (a switch-hitter who can also back up center) or Willy Aybar (another switch-hitter who can fake a few infield positions). The Rays received next to nothing last year from their DHs — a motley crew headed by Cliff Floyd. If avoiding the field keeps Burrell from wearing down over the course of 2009, this could be a two-win upgrade for Tampa Bay. It also increases their chances to boost their runs scored enough to make up for some likely regression in their runs allowed total.

Between this acquisition and the trade for Joyce, Gabe Gross appears to be out of a roster spot, and Tampa’s lineup is complete, with no obvious weakness anywhere on the diamond.

Compare this to the deal the Phillies, who let Burrell walk without offering him arbitration, gave Raul Ibañez: one extra year at a marginal cost of $14 million as well as the loss of their first-round draft pick, for a player four years older and worse defensively.

by Tommy Rancel on Jan 5, 2009 4:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs