Gregg Zaun Signs with Brewers; What's Next for the Rays?
by R.J. Anderson on Dec 4, 2009 2:44 PM EST
61 comments
Darn.
A sandwich pick, which the Rays received due to the Type-B designation, is worth about $0.8M. Last year, the Brewers received pick number 47 after the Rays signed Brian Shouse. Barring the Rays signing a Type-A free agent, the team will have five draft picks in the top 75 and have the potential to add one more through Shouse. We talk a lot about the importance of draft picks - and signing them - so goa head and take next draft day off, it'll be a fun one.
Gregg Zaun gave us some fun memories. The day the Rays acquired him was pretty special after what felt like an eternity of begging. The book isn't yet closed on the trade, but consider this: the team is essentially trading Rhyne Hughes for a top 50 draft pick. I don't know about you, but I consider that a win. Factor in what Zaun did for the Rays in his short time here, and Hughes has his hands full if he wants to make this an even deal.
As for the catching situation, this isn't fun. The two main internal options at this point are Jose Lobaton - a waiver claim from the Padres last July 30th - and John Jaso. Lobaton is easily the better defender of the pair - i.e. he doesn't field with the equivalent of an oven mitt while sitting on a stool - but is a lesser batter. Against righties, the switch-hitting Lobaton has a minor league OPS of roughly .780 while Jaso is at .847. If you assume those numbers translate 1:1 (they won't) then over 300 plate appearances Jaso is a superior hitter by eight runs. Is Jaso a worse defender by eight runs? I don't know.
Looking at the free agents list didn't reveal anyone who could be a fit, although, as you should expect, the trade market could provide the answer. We'll see.
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Looking at Zaun's terms
1/1.9 + 250k buyout, I would’ve had no problem giving him that or just picking up his option. Given the lack of alternatives, I hope the team has something else planned.
Out of Lobaton or Jaso, it looks like offense vs. defense. However, I’m not sure if either is ready for 200+ PAs as a backup.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 4, 2009 2:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Agreed
Very cheap terms IMO. I don’t like going with either internal option as a backup and I sure as hell don’t want Navarro back.
by Jason Collette on Dec 4, 2009 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Meh, I see the Rays keeping Navarro
if they do, he better learn to hit righties
now please, some dumb team sign Shouse or please retire
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Keeping Navarro would be a complete waste
Shoppach hits lefties a lot better and righties a little better.
I’d just say bring Jaso up and let him be Jeff Niemann’s personal catcher and accept that teams are going to run wild every 5th day.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 4, 2009 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah
Why do you kill threads????
by Some other guy who does not care on Dec 4, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Keeping Navarro at a higher salary and letting Zaun walk makes little sense.
Maybe they are content with playing Shoppach 120 times and collecting ~450 PA. If that’s the case Lobaton or Jaso would be ok.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 4, 2009 2:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
My Jaso enthusiasm was really tempered in 2009.
Still rather see him than Lobaton or Riggans though.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 4, 2009 3:52 PM EST up reply actions
How is a guy like Towles vs righties?
Astros waste him and Castro is real close to the big leagues
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
He's as unproven as Jaso or Lobaton at the majors
Unless the Astros give him away, we’re probaby better giving our own guys a look.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 4, 2009 3:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He's better than either, though.
His defense gets very good reviews, and he’s hit better in the minors too.
Towles in the minors
.301/.401/.493 vs RHP in 807 ABs
by Jason Collette on Dec 4, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
I miss you Z man
I feel like we did not appreciate Zaun enough while he was with the Rays. how often do you get a player that has 5 letters in his first name and 3 of them are Gs?
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
by joeybw on Dec 4, 2009 3:02 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Ending it all tonight.
The RAYS DO NOT CARE ABOUT WINNING.
Zaunie…:(
/RIZ
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
Figgins is close to signing with the M's for 4/36
smart move by them if they do it
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Heh remember how shitty there D was?
I mean Beltre was always awesome but damn
C Rob Johnson
1B Not known yet, maybe Nick Johnson
2B Jose Lopez – ok can improve here
SS Jack Wilson
3B Chone Figgans
LF Michael Saunders?
CF Franklin Guitterez
RF Ichiro
Maybe they can resign Beltre and put Figgins at 2B/LF
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Their 1B will be Russell The Muscle
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 4, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
i see them as the favorites for that division next year
they also are interested in Lackey and Harden, i think signing Figgins eliminates them from Bay
Vikings 4 the superbowl
if they sign Lackey and pair him with Felix
well i dont wanna play them and yeah a Sheets/Harden signing would be smart
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
a postseason rotation of Felix,Lackey and Harden would be hard to beat
Vikings 4 the superbowl
and the chance Morrow finally does well and one of RRS/Snell has a good year
if they can get Lackey instead of the Angels, they are def the West favorites to me.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
forgot about Snell
wow that starting 5 is pretty solid
Vikings 4 the superbowl
Rays can really clean up in the draft
Round 1 protected: Best-player available, highest ceiling, go for the gold
Round 1 unprotected: Best “very likely to sign” available
Round 2 protected: Best-player available, highest ceiling, go for the gold
Round 2 unprotected: Sure-fire sign
Supplemental Round 2 protected: They could take another risk here, but this would be a good spot for a player who is likely to sign but for over-slot money(so like a Todd Glaesmann as opposed to a Kenny Diekroeger or Derek Dennis)
Then just hope they land one of the BPAs in round 1/2, let the other roll over to 2011. The key is the draft budget.
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
Pitchers and catchers please
SP’s can turn into great RP arms and right now, all we are depending on is Luke Bailey being awesome years from now.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Bryce Harper or bust
Vroom vroom party starter
www.raysprospects.com
by Imperialism32 on Dec 4, 2009 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
Heard he's been struggling some since gettting the Good Enough Diploma.
I'm a Brett Favre honk so FUCK YOU!
by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Dec 4, 2009 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
He get a hangover this morning?
the ghost of stokes, camp, lugo strikes TB-sept 2009
by CubFanRaysaddict on Dec 4, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions
So about that 40 man spot
Please, please don’t be for Shouse. How sick it would be if that old, fat turd got us another pick. Maybe the Mets or Royals can overpay him.
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
Crawford for Posey. Do it Andy or lose me forever!
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
I love CC so much
but that is a happy thought
C Buster Posey
1B Carlos Pena
2B Ben Zobrist
SS Jason Bartlett
3B Evan Longoria…..dude 7 more years
LF Desmond Jennings
CF B.J Upton
RF Matt Joyce
DH Milton Bradley/Pat Burrell/injury which puts Aybar here
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
I imagine your mom's basement (WOOP WOOP WOOP) is just littered with lineups scrawled on napkins, receipts, the backs of DVD inserts.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
Why? It isn't happening.
My lineup I want:
Jennings
Zob
Longo
J. Upton
Heyward
Smoak
Posey
Sandoval
Andrus
We’d be awesome in 2011-20??!
CAN I PLAY TOO?!
Rickey Henderson
Zobrist
Zobrist
Longoria
Zobrist
Zobrist
Zobrist
Zobrist
Andre the Giant
HAHA
I knew you’d skitter along.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
More I think about it
The less I think the Rays acquired Shoppach and his ~3 million tag simply to get 200 at-bats vs. LHP . I think the idea is to get him 450 PA (including as many as possible vs LHP) and go with a cheaper back up for the other 150 or so PAs. And I’m content with that if that’s what happens. Just hope he doesn’t get injured.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 4, 2009 3:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions
He'd be a direct replacement for Navarro, and at least a moderate upgrade, at the same exact price.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
I think a guy to at least call about is Mathis
his hitting improves each season and his defense is the best non Molina in baseball. I would love him just backing up Shoppach and maybe coming in late with JP as the closers
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
They'd trade Napoli first.
The Other Genuis loves Mathis. He’s going nowhere. He’s also probably too good to trade for to back Shoppach up.
Brewers and Rays have the same taste
Just think about the names over the past few seasons
Gross, Kapler, Shouse, Choate, Swindle, Zaun
didnt we get Aussie from them too?
Give me a CC long term deal, please!
and they also took Morlan in the rule V draft last year
Vikings 4 the superbowl
AF isn't dumb. He knew this was a possibility
You have to believe he’s got something/someone up his sleeves. With AF think outside the box
Yep. It's probably something nobody has thought of yet.
www.draysbay.com
by Tommy Rancel on Dec 4, 2009 6:00 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Supplemental pick is worth $2.6M
For what it’s worth, according to Victor Wang’s research, he put the value of a supplemental pick(31-45) at $2.63 million. If we are planning on playing Shoppach in about 120 games this year, which I think we are, then I feel we made out better without resigning Zaun and getting the pick. It will bring more value then Zaun would over 150-200 PA.
Here is the link for Victor Wang’s work: http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/valuing-the-draft-part-one/
Lets trade Nowak for Zaun at the deadline
Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla
by FreeZorilla on Dec 4, 2009 6:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Ugh
I was hoping never to see Navarro again, but that pudgy bastard just won’t go away. I do like getting a pick though.
Fine
Still think Navi will play way better than this year. Maybe not his All Star season, but close. Shoppach and Navi will do for me. Still wondering who we have to give for Shoppach..
Navi may (probably will) improve over last year; he was probably the worst player last year in baseball.
At the same time, we addressed earlier that Shoppach is probably a better version of Navi, with better splits vs. pitching from both sides of the rubber and a clear favor towards LHP, and roughly equal defense. I don’t see how Shoppach is anything other then a direct replacement for Navi.
I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.
The worst player who played everyday, for sure.
Shop really is just Navi + walks. I can’t see them platooning together.
Navi + Walks + better Slg
He’s an all-around upgrade. We just need a defensive-savvy backup that preferably can hit righties decent enough to make it more obvious when Shopp will be getting days off.
I'm a writer.
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Dec 6, 2009 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
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