Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Explaining Jeremy Lin's Early, Surprising Success

Rule 5 Pick'em: Derek Rodriguez or Eduardo Morlan?

We learned yesterday that the Milwaukee Brewers had seen enough of Rule 5 pick Eduardo Morlan and promply DFA'd him in favor of Wes Littleton.

"We didn't think he'd make our big-league club," said Melvin. "We like his arm but that's not our call right now," said Melvin.  --Journal Sentinel

The Brewers have already offered Morlan back to the Rays, who have a Thursday deadline to accept him back. If they choose to take him back, they would pay the Brewers $25,000 and probably assign him to a minor league camp immediately. If not the Brewers could try clear him on waivers and keep Morlan in their system. Or they could simply try and work out a trade like the Pirates did with Evan Meek in 2008.

Star-divide

According to a Rays source close to the situation, there was no "imminent" decision, but as we all know the Rays like to move in silence and who knows what is actually happening. One thing I do know is the Morlan decision will probably come down to a simple one for the Rays; do they want to take him back? Or do they want to take a chance and workout a deal with the White Sox to keep their own Rule 5 pick, Derek Rodriguez.

In theory they could actually have both, but I'm not sure there is a need for that. Morlan is three year younger than Rodriguez and up until 2008 he was a highly touted relief prospect. Even after a disappointing and injury shortened season, his numbers were on par with that of older Rodriguez.

 2008

Rodriguez

Morlan

IP

42.2

47

ERA

3.38

3.64

FIP

3.5

3.82

K/9

9.28

8.62

BB/9

3.8

2.87

K/BB

2.44

3

HR/9

0.42

0.96

*Note* for comparison's sake Rodriguez numbers are from AA.

As you can see, a down season for Morlan was still pretty close Rodriguez's AA production. Rodriguez would receive a promotion after his 42 innings and watched his FIP rise to 4.13 and his HR/9 jumped to 1.23 in AAA. The one thing I liked about Rodriguez was his ground ball percentage which is around 50% for his minor league career. However, that number was lowered to 43% in 2008. Morlan is a flyball pitcher who is at 46.4 FB% for his career. He used to sit comfortable around 92-93 MPH, but was down to 88-91 in 2008 and there were concerns with his conditioning and his elbow.

When selected in the Rule 5 draft, both players seemed to have decent shots at making their respective clubs, however, neither pitcher has impressed in spring. Morlan has given up five runs on 10 hits including two home runs in seven innings. He does have six strikeouts and two walks. I talked to a person close to the Brewers, and they said that Morlan was hit around quite a bit and he "certainly wasn't overpowering anybody." Rodriguez has shown even less. In four innings of work, he's given up three runs on five hits and three walks. He has zero strikeouts and has hit two batters. 

Even though Morlan may never turn into the pitcher we imagined he would be after the Matt Garza/Delmon Young trade, when it comes to Morlan or Rodriguez, I'm taking the younger pitcher with the higher upside. We'll see if the Rays make the same decision.

Comment 7 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

There's little chance Morlan would clear waivers.

Pittsburgh, Florida, and probably Seattle would jump on him, even with velocity being down.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 18, 2009 2:01 AM EDT reply actions  

Frankly this isn't remotely an either or.

With the shallow pool of decent relief prospects in Tampa’s system they should be happy to be in a position to keep both, though I doubt Chicago will pass on taking Rodriguez back – it’s not like their system is loaded. We’re talking about $25K here people, with the money washing out in Tampa.

Of course, a trade for a guy further from Rule 5 eligiblity is always a possibility.

by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 18, 2009 2:52 AM EDT reply actions  

I could see a scenario where they keep both

but I’m not sure there is a reason to keep Rodriguez unless the Rays really really really like him.I was interested in him as a project when we selected him, but this was before Joe Nelson, Brian Shouse, Lance Cormier and Jason Isringhausen were signed. Now he’s Triple-A filler and we have a lot of that.

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 18, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

It's more than $25k

it’s also a roster spot in the minors and quite possibly paying for significant surgery and rehab if an injury led to his drop in velocity. Either way, I don’t care too much if they take him back. At this point he’s a fringe prospect, and barring some kind of miraculous comeback where he starts to throw hard again, he probably doesn’t have much of a future in the majors. I haven’t been a fan of Rodriguez from the beginning and I think there are better options to round out the bullpen in Durham.

Also keep in mind that either of these guys will be a minor league free agent at the end of the year if they don’t make the 40-man roster by then.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Mar 18, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

My biggest concern is his weight

Anyone know if he has lost any fat?

I say we pay 25K for Morlan and get 25K back for Rodriguez.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 18, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions  

I dont know about his conditioning, but

I was told “he certainly wasn’t overpowering anybody” in regards to his velocity.

by Tommy Rancel on Mar 18, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Founded in 2005, DRaysBay is home to, "Progressive statistical analysis and reasoned argument."

Please read our Community Guidelines.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #31 Runoff
127992041_extra_large_small
Fantasy Baseball 2012

Recent FanPosts

Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #33
Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #32
Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #31
Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #30 (Again)
Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #30 Runoff
Small
Take A Moment To Rosterbate
Scaled_php_small
Rays Community Prospect #30
Cloudtree_small
Statistics Manager at ESPN (Job Opening)

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

ESPN Chat with Matt Moore
Danny Clyburn: 1974-2012
Joe Maddon Town Hall Contest
Hickey said as of now all of the starters -- Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann,...
White Sox sign Dan Johnson
Indians acquire Canzler
Justin Ruggiano to Elect Free Agency
Dougdirt over at MinorLeagueBall compiled John Sickels' rankings with WAR values from Victor Wang's research.

Thread here.
The increasingly desperate search for offense has caused some teams to...
Zobrist wallpaper I made :]
Actual Link: http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb472/lewiedesigns/Wallpapers/Zobristwallpaper.jpg

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

DRB Fantasy Baseball

Friends of the Site

DRB Suggestion Box

Drb4_medium


Managers

Slowsky__1__small Steve Slowinski

Dad_small Jason Collette

Brad_small BWoodrum

Price_small Erik Hahmann

Analysts

Lob-city_design_small rglass44

Untitled_small EminenceFront

Small Mulva

Rutg_uakjmedjwh9ndzd4lkll_small Imperialism32

100_1952_small MrNegative1

Steak-with-crown_small CBJones

Whelk_small Whelk

Small PGP

Scaled_php_small mr. maniac

Tampa_theatre_small jcmitchell

Me_small John Gregg