Rays Acquire Virgil Vasquez for PTBNL
by FreeZorilla on Apr 2, 2010 9:09 AM EDT
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PrintAccording to Rob Biertempfel's twitter feed (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review), the Rays have acquired 27-year old right-hander Virgil Vasquez from the Pirates for a player to be named later. Vasquez was drafted by the Tigers in the 7th round of the 2003 amateur draft out of University of California-Santa-Barbara. He has been a waiver claim of the Red Sox, Padres, and Pirates before coming to the Rays organization.
Vasquez has appeared in 19 major league games including 10 starts, the bulk of which occurred in 2009. In 421 AAA innings he achieved a K/9 of 6.7 and a BB/9 of 1.8. He doesn't stand out as a ground ball pitcher and seems to have a knack for allowing home runs.
His pitch makeup consists of a 89 MPH fastball, slider, curve, and change all of which generate below league average whiff amounts. Vasquez was removed from the Pirates 40-man roster in November, so he is on a minor league deal. He may provide starting pitching depth to the thin group (not a Heath Phillips pun) in Durham. If he does make a major league appearance, it appears he will be out of options. There is some speculation that the PTBNL may be Elliot Johnson who was waived yesterday due to having no remaining options available.
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Yes trading cheap, proven useful players for replacement level relievers is the Rays way
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
perhaps i should explain my fantasy world
the one where we cut Kapler b/c they decide to keep Rodrguez, Briggy & Blalock. In which case, trading a superfluous player to the Pirates for peanuts, then trading the peanuts for walnuts and the walnuts for pecan, until you finally end up with a closer, is most definitely the Rays way.
:)
Indeed they would
But it would be a walnut we were planning to toss out (like Aki was). So it’s a net win.
Sorry, know what the numbers are on Kapler, but I don’t know how anybody can look at that swing and want him on the team. He seems to define “luck.” And while his signing was reasonable in one sense, given the Rays minor league depth, it was a waste of a million dollars on a backup OF in another.
.291/350/494 in 1053 plate appearances against LHP isnt luck
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:45 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I can see both sides of this argument
I definitely don’t think the Kapler signing was necessary or that it really improves this team greatly. I think guys like Srod and Zobrist could easily play the 2B, RF combo versus lefties maybe more effectively too.
I also think Kapler was pretty cheap and if you use him right he can be a really useful. He does hit lefties very well. I agree with Tommy below. I would much rather see Blalock gone then Kapler
To be fair, the guy the Rays originally got for Aki was roster fodder and was pretty much a net loss.
Circumstances and timing allowed the Rays to be able to flip that player for Soriano, not shrewd negotation or planning.
I wouldn’t be too concerned about Briggy anyway, one of the three of Kapler, Burrell and Blalock is likely going to have to go to make room for Joyce, and the decision was going to come down to him or S-Rod. Rodriguez took his roster spot, not one of the project guys.
Cut Kapler in your perfect world?
My perfect world would be to trade Kapler for something of value rather than cutting him.
Except Kapler is better than Blalock
And might even be better than Burrell at this point. Given his defensive ability, his hitting against lhp, and his contract, he is definitely more valuable to the team.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm pretty sure Vasquez has a minor lg option
If the PTBNL is something like Elliot Johnson then the deal makes sense.
At minimum t just adds another arm to the system. Vasquez is pretty much replacement level across the board. Interesting to see if Rays use him as a starter or reliever.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
That seems like the most likely outcome by far (EJ)
by benderbrodriguez on Apr 2, 2010 9:28 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Only if he clears waivers first
I doubt the Pirates would want to give him a spot on the 25-man, and frankly, he should have little problem clearing waivers.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Does this mean he has to be added to the 40 man?
Hopefully the scouts see something because his numbers are garbage
Unless the Rays send him through waivers and he passes then he'll be on the 40 man
Currently the Rays have enough open spots to accommodate Vasquez and a few others.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
maybe not since he was on a minor lg deal.
Maybe he doesn’t need to be added right now and only would need to be if the Rays wanted him in the Majors.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 9:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
More to come--that bullpen needs help
If indeed it is for EJ, another brilliant move by AF
Scouting Report: Vasquez is able to paint corners with his 4-pitch arsenal, including an 87-89 mph fastball, a curve, a changeup, and a slider. His slider is above average, likely his best pitch. Impeccable control. Fastball has good movement. Prone to giving up a ton of home runs.
Neal Huntingon, on Vasquez: Could provide depth for starting or relief. … Pirates’ scouts liked him in 2006, 2007, as having weapons to be major league starter. “Solid mix of pitches, solid command and control.”
Rays just punched their ticket to the World Series with this move
and David Price can now stay in the rotation instead of being put in the 8th inning to fill in during J.P.’s absence.
I hope you're not serious
Clearly Vasquez is going to be the 5th starter so we can move Price to the 8th inning…duh
Strange to see a 22 yr old retire.
Best of luck to him.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 10:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Actually, i dont think he even reached A ball yet.
I think he was in Hudson Valley last year.
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by Tommy Rancel on Apr 2, 2010 11:14 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He wasn't doing particularly well
And he was a hell of an athlete in high school. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if this is a prelude to him enrolling in college and playing football. No point in wasting the athletic talent he has if baseball obviously wasn’t going to pan out for him.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
For some reason I thought he was working but not in a sports capacity.
I might still be right though since he never got out of the minor leagues.
first scott boras with pena
but if we want to sign this guy its going to be much more difficult.
after all, EVERYBODYS GOT A PRICE…
/tags in FreeZo
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
by PlayOnWords on Apr 2, 2010 10:44 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEY MONEYEEE
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by FreeZorilla on Apr 2, 2010 10:57 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
If the Pirates trade Virgil to the Rays for Elliot
That’s a good deal for them. He is a switch hitter, gap power, inf-of player. Basically, a poor-man’s Ben Zobrist. And they gave up? A roster filler. Not a bad idea for the Buc-os.
Blah!
by thebaddancingraysfan on Apr 2, 2010 11:02 AM EDT reply actions
They've been making deals like this non-stop basically
A good FO for sure
by benderbrodriguez on Apr 2, 2010 11:11 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Pirate and Rays enjoy trading the same position players (relievers and middle INF)
Aki for Chavez
Helliot for Vasquez (possibly)
What will it be next?!
"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey
Nando
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
I do not understand the Kapler hate.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
The problem isn't Kapler, it's the way Maddon uses him
He got 64 PAs against righties last year, which simply shouldn’t have happened. And despite all the versatility talk, he’s going to end up getting PAs against RHP again in 2010. So if we get rid of Kapler, that temptation is gone(note: I’m sort of guessing here. I like Kapler and think he should be on the team. I just wish Maddon wouldn’t let him face righties). The way Maddon used him last year made him an average player because he hit lefties really well but sucked against righties. I’d rather he be an average player because he hits lefties well and doesn’t face righties. Ever.
Vroom vroom party starter
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by Imperialism32 on Apr 2, 2010 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I believe someone actually looked it up
and almost all of his at bats vs. righties were in extremely low leverage situations or a situations where he had replaced Gross to face a tough lefty and ended up getting one more at bat during the game.
Tools Whore
This was my favorite part.
He had 26 PA v. RH in the last three innings:
Of those 26 plate appearances 15 came with a lead or deficit of 5 or more runs.
That leaves 11 PA where Kapler went to bat against righties in tight spots late. Which is what people probably remember more than anything.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2010 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
really?
So you don’t think utilizing someone poorly 42% of the time is significant?
Also, not all leads are created equal. Leading by a run or two late is still a tight game. And of course, there were the “maddon”-ing starts where the pitcher had those infamous reverse splits, except no one seemed to tell Gabe he was supposed to be able to hit this guy.
But I think I might be misrepresenting my opinion. I don’t hate Gabe Kapler. I think $1M is a fair salary for him. Most teams would be happy to pay that for the production he provides. I just don’t think the Rays are one of those teams, especially since there are other (cheaper) 4th/5th RH-hitting OF options in house.
Kapler's getting paid regardless and he's the safer bet between himself and Rodriguez.
Rodriguez has 50 career (minor + major) league games in the OF.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
This isn't Rodriguez or Kapler.
I don’t get why people are making it that. Both can and will be on the roster.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
In an ideal world, Kapler never plays versus righties.
In an ideal world, Wheeler never faces lefties, and Bartlett and Brignac platoon by hand.
This is not an ideal world.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
And here's the other thing.
Kapler is NOT as bad as he showed in 2009 against righties. He had something like a .205 BABIP against them last season. That’s not repeating. He’s bad, but Crawford is probably worse against lefties, and nobody has an issue with him playing everyday, nor should they.
by R.J. Anderson on Apr 2, 2010 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Briggy makes team
SPTimesRays
Reid Brignac makes #Rays team, Hank Blalock will assess other major-league options.
so we have a 24 man roster
Benoit vs Ekstrom for the final spot
Go Benoit!
Fire and Ice: Rafael Soriano and J.P Howell.......with their side kick Grant the aussie Balfour!
Really? I don't know where they will find him a decent amount of at bats
unless he splits time with srod,
Late inning defensive replacement on some occasions
Spelling Zo/Barty on others. That’s my guess.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
It's an idea, Joe has said multiple times about how we got burnt out catching up last year off the bad start
maybe he’s looking to get Briggy in somewhere in the 7th most games, if he doesn’t get the start. A few innings off of a non-close game is preferred to giving a guy the start off and use him if need be, but probably when it’s too late.
"It's good to have a little cushion. But it's not going to be easy."
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Apr 2, 2010 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Really doubt it.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
On the trade thing.
Mira Sorvino...Paul Walker...T-Pain...Fall 2010...HEADSTONE MAFIA, A LOVE STORY OF REVENGE. "5/5 stars!!!" - DRB User "Andy Hellicksonstine"
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