Report: Rays Interested In Brian Fuentes

 I don’t see us signing Fuentes he is a bit rich for us.

We would be far better signing another undervalued reliever which would save us a boatload and perhaps give us slightly worse performance. Well worth the savings. Then we can take the savings and sign Manny or something similar. The net value would be far greater than just Fuentes.

1 year 5 mil do the trick with enough left over for Manny, Damon or Thome?

  Maybe the Rays FO leaked that they are after Fuentes to get a certain Aussies attention. Last week 11 teams were in on Fuentes. How are we gonna win a bidding war with the high rollers? Lets wrap up Balfour we know what we have with him. He is AL east tested. 2 yrs 7 mil? Then go get the Manny Child.

and it would be nice to have a lefty for late innings against Boston, but I think that the Rays would be better off by keeping Balfour, and signing Rauch and Manny or Thome.

And just curious, I wonder if Damon could make the transition to 1B? But I still also like the idea of bringing Jim Edmonds.

Fuentes for 6-7 million? Are you high, DRB user “budman3”?

I think that’s a terrible idea. Maybe if he’d take a 1 year deal for 2-3MM, but that’s probably not happening and it still seems like a slight overpay.

From Fangraphs in August:

After a down season in 2009, Fuentes has not rebounded meaningfully. His fastball speed is still down and the ground balls are even more infrequent in nature. Fuentes has regained some of his lost strikeout rate, but not a lot and he’s been treading water thanks in part to his .250 BABIP. Fuentes’ tenure with Anaheim paints him as being close to a replacement-level reliever.

by ChiBurbRaysFan on Dec 19, 2010 8:46 AM PST up reply actions

I still feel the same way.

While I thought Fuentes would cost more a few weeks ago, the current market is bringing his value down. The Rays may be the only legitimate chance for him to close and he may be willing to accept much less(and drop his multi years wish) to be given that chance. And that is where the Rays have an advantage. He fits the type of move that not only Friedman likes to make(and may be able to sign at now 3-4 million for one year) but a guy that Maddon, IMO would have confidence to give the ball to in the 9th inning as well as finding other roles for with his usage of the pen. He hasn’t had a history of arm problems and could also serve as a set-up man if McGee or Howell or someone else shows they can close. And while many are expecting a McGee or Ramos to be effective they are still question big question marks, as is Howell who is not likely to be fully recovered until May or June. A guy who is used to closing out games may be more valuable to Maddon than some think. He may very well be Percival 2(and that worked out pretty well in 2008 for AF), but a healthier version may work out even better.

but I don’t get the antipathy to him. Here is Aaron Gleeman at Hardball Talk:

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/12/30/rays-interested-in-brian-fuentes-as-their-new-closer/

The saves issue does not mean much to me, but Maddon seems to like having an official closer so that he can set up his bullpen usage behind that 9th inning man. I don’t care for that model, but if that is the preference it seems to me that Fuentes is as useful in that role as anyone else available. My guess is that the issue is not the money so much as the years, and if Fuentes is willing to take a 1 year contract while Balfour, whom I do like better, is still looking for a multi-year, it makes sense for the Rays to limit the risk.

As for the money, $5 million is a lot, but that is why Friedman has been collecting inexpensive arms-so that he can spend more on someone they like while having enough to fill other needs with good players. As far as I can tell, the cost of Fuentes would not inhibit the Rays from acquiring another couple of good bats at this point. If it would, I do not think Friedman would spend on him.

As for Fuentes performance, he has been a relatively consistent performer for a number of years. In fact, except for IP and saves total, most of his numbers improved in 2010 over 2009. Also, historically his splits are not dramatic, or at least he has not been particularly bad vs. RH batters. And again, while he did not do well vs. RHs in 2009, his line in 2010 was .202/.293/.403. The power number is not promising, and the K/BB ratio is not particularly good, but overall it does not suggest that he cannot deal with righties. And his fly ball tendencies may be neutralized a bit in Tropicana Field.

I don’t think the comparison to Percival is at all apt. That sounds like emotion speaking. If the Rays do sign him, I would not jump for joy, but it would make sense to me. And since I think the closer role is vastly overrated, I see no reason he cannot be as effective as any other official closer. Most, including Rivera, blow 4-6 saves a year anyway. If he can manage just that, and it allows Maddon the comfort of juggling the rest of his bullpen to maximize each pitcher’s value, who cares if it’s not pretty when he comes in.

But I wouldn’t go any higher then like 2 years, 8 mil

If you believe that the Rays can still contend next season(because of their starting rotation), that AF has 15-20 million to spend(within his stated reduction of payroll), and that Soriano will not be offered a multi year deal by another team, the Rays may very well be willing to offer Soriano 8 million to re-sign(and he may accept coming back to a team he felt comfortable with and was hugely effective for. Especially if he sees it as the only option to again look for a bigger payday in 2012. I think it has a better than 50% chance of happening, the longer he remains unsigned, IMO.