Ensberg Deal Official

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 9, 2009 1:59 PM EST

Former All-Star third baseman Morgan Ensberg has reached agreement on a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ensberg will earn a base salary of $650,000 if he makes the major league club out of spring training.

As Crasnick notes, we actually had the story last week.

Ensberg may or may not be done, but this is a nice low-risk signing.

Ensberg said he’ll have an opportunity to back up Evan Longoria at third base and Carlos Pena at first for the defending AL champion Rays, and that he’s also willing to fill in at second base and left field. If he doesn’t make the major league roster, he will begin the season with Triple-A Durham.

Ensberg has been a slightly below average fielder at the corners the past few years. Here are his +/- and UZR ratings:

3B	PlusMinus	UZR	INN
2006	7.2	5.1	975
2007	-6.4	-6.5	585
2008	-4	-2	133

For whatever reason Ensberg has been poor defensively as of late, part of that is the amount of plays he's made -- or not made rather -- to his left:

Plays	Right	On	Left
2006	-2	3	11
2007	-6	-2	-1
2008	-1	-5	0

Unfortunately we don't have +/- data available pre-2006, so how good he was in 2005 or 2004 or whenever is unknown. Moving forward I would assume he's slightly below average at third and average at first. He'd likely be fine in left unless the problem is purely foot speed, as for second base, well, it depends on his skillset. Tango's Fan Scouting Report painted this picture of Ensberg during his time in Houston:

Year	Instincts	First Step	Speed	Hands	Release	Strength	Accuracy
2006	70	64	51	63	63	66	62
2007	61	63	53	60	66	63	53

What does that mean? Well, Ensberg's arm accuracy was rated lower, but otherwise the fans thought he was still decent defensively. I'm not going to write him off as a potential second baseman -- what does this mean for Ben Zobrist's future with the team anyways? -- but for now I'm going to put him around -5 < x > -10 runs there.

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Comments

I already like his attitude

Ensberg said he’ll have an opportunity to back up Evan Longoria at third base and Carlos Pena at first for the defending AL champion Rays, and that he’s also willing to fill in at second base and left field. If he doesn’t make the major league roster, he will begin the season with Triple-A Durham.

“I haven’t had a lot of success lately, so I’m really excited about this,” Ensberg said. “There’s no pride issue here. I have to go in and play well. This isn’t rocket science.”

One question 2nd base?

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 9, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions

It's not ideal, he's just marketing himself as willing to do anything to help the team.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Feb 9, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions

Are we so quick to forget Ty Wigginton played there?

by Raymondo on Feb 9, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

.Which again, wasn't ideal.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Feb 9, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

That Jerry Crasnick is a class act.

I enjoy reading him throughout the season

Anyway, as I was lying in the puddle, I think I may have found a way for us to get Bonds and Griffey, and we wouldn't have to give up that much.

~George Costanza~

by Sandy Kazmir on Feb 9, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions

So if he proves himself to be useful in ST.

Give him some AB’s at first base against left handed pitching?

Probably wont happen but thats seems like the only place he could fit in, and even then I kinda figured Aybar would give Pena a few days off at first when we were up against lefties as a way to get him some AB’s.

by twenty5psi on Feb 9, 2009 2:16 PM EST reply actions

Ensberg will most likely start in Durham even if he hits 1.000 in spring.

With nobody really behind Aybar as the primary backup at 1B/3B, he’s an injury away from being called up.

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 9, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

and that might be 1-1

by Raymondo on Feb 9, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions

He'll probably get a fair amount of time in ST

I’m guessing Aybar will get most of Aki’s 2B reps while he’s at the WBC. This means Ensberg will be filling in for Pena/Longoria on most days. If Pena needs time to rest, Ensberg seems like the most likely candidate to get his PT.

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 9, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Plus/Minus from 2003-2005

You said that pre-2006 plus/minus isn’t available but 2003-2005 is actually available for free. They’re right on dewan’s site.

sorry it’s not pretty like yours but

overall
2003: +19
2004: -8
2005: +15

Right
2003: +10
2004: -3
2005: +3

Strait
2003: +9
2004: -7
2005: +6

Left
2003: +0
2004: +4
2005: +7

GB
2003: +19
2004: -6
2005: +16

FB
2003: -1
2004: 0
2005: -1

www.marlinsbaseball.com

by nny on Feb 9, 2009 7:54 PM EST reply actions

Huh, I had no idea.

Thanks!

by R.J. Anderson on Feb 9, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Waste of money.

by Sylar on Feb 9, 2009 8:55 PM EST reply actions

Why's that?

He only gets paid if he makes the team out of spring training, and he probably only makes the team if one of Longoria or Aybar is hurt.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 10, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions

Because Reply isn't working:

Because even wasting resources on Ensberg is stupid.

by Sylar on Feb 10, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions

It is not stupid.

The chances that Ensberg helps the major league club is remote, but he serves as insurance at Durham and is not blocking anyone. And given that he has been successful in the majors, the gamble is worth it. The fact that you may not think much of him is irrelevant. Every team signs players like Ensberg to fill up minor league rosters.

It is a minor league deal which only provides more salary if he makes the majors which means if he does not contribute he cost no more than an equally poor replacement player and if he does, he still earns a small salary, but obviously he has done something to suggest he can help.

by bobr on Feb 10, 2009 6:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs