Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2008 2:52 PM EDT
24 comments
Per an ESPN Insider report from Jayson Stark the Rays are apparently very much interested in 40 year old outfielder Kenny Lofton. With Ben Zobrist going down the team doesn't have a player who can play center field, at least not in the regard that you would want them playing there.
As I documented in LaMar-itis the Rays had interest in him prior the 2003 season. He would sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates instead who would deal him along with Aramis Ramirez to the playoff charging Chicago Cubs for Jose Hernandez and Bobby Hill. If nothing else Lofton would be a cheap option capable of being spun at the deadline for potentially a lower level prospect. Heck the Rangers got Max Ramirez last year for him, and he's electric.
As for the roster spot he would take, assuming that Eric Hinske sends Joel Guzman back to Durham, I would Rocco Baldelli and Ben Zobrist could land on the disabled list (60-day for Rocco, 15-day for Zobrist) upon Zobrist's return the team could be ready to ship Willy Aybar off if Evan Longoria is deemed "ready", or if Cliff Floyd hasn't broken down by then.
Lofton's career is an odyssey of sorts, usual when a player switches teams a lot it means one of three things:
A) He's a clubhouse cancer.
B) He sucks
C) His personal life is the inspiration for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
D) All of the above
However there's never been a noted instance that I'm aware of were people have been negative about Lofton's presence, and he's been an above average player throughout his career.
Personally I'd play Lofton in right with Gomes and Floyd rotating as planned at designated hitter, I know his arm isn't the best - or good - but do we really want to see Gomes out there everyday? Plus imagine our lineup (2007 OBP):
2B Iwamura (.359)
LF Crawford (.355)
1B Pena (.411)
CF Upton (.386)
DH Floyd (.373) / Gomes (.322)
3B Aybar / Hinske (.317)
RF Lofton (.367)
SS Bartlett (.339)
C Navarro (.286)
Certainly we could do a lot worse, and have, plus with the possibility of Lofton possessing trade value to a contender he has the ability to make up for half a year's worth of salary with reasonable production at a reasonable cost.
0 recs |
24 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by J.D. on Mar 11, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Lofton as a team cancer, etc.
I wouldn't mind seein it happen.
I would bat him in the 9 hole though...
by rglass44 on Mar 11, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
He still has value on offense, and can play center field even if no longer at all-star standards. That arm is more a problem in right field, but we have to consider alternatives not absolutes. Who offers more value right now?
Incidentally, he had 5 assists in 80 games for Texas last year. And he continues to steal bases at a very good rate, 23/30 last year (21/25 with Texas) and 32/37 & 22/25 the previous 2 years.
by bobr on Mar 11, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
That's curious to me, maybe he just doesn't like the big city.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2008 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by bobr on Mar 11, 2008 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
Can't CC fill in in CF in an emergency if necessary, then call up Perez if the situation is more prolonged. I know CC is a bit particular at times, but a leaders got to step up. Nothing against Lofton, but I see a lot of 1st to 3rd's with him in right.
But if he was there, I'd consider leading him off - more speed, better OBP than Aki. And Aki seems to fit better in the lower half, where Lofton would almost have to bat 9th. There's no decent opportunity for a more conventional or platoon RF, either now or at spring's end? Or just go with Ruggiano? I guess if we're talking contention Lofton makes some sense, but I still don't see this as that year. Would reinforce the "in to win" message though. And no real harm.
Then there's Rocco's option pickup issue. Interesting one there - seems obvious not to on the surface for $6 mil, but since he has a $4 mil buyout, you're really only talking about $2 million. Sad thing for him, and so mysterious.
by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 11, 2008 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2008 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
So why not see if Perez has value, at least as a bench guy (or trade chip) for down the road. If Rocco's done, this same issue recurs in '09, when you'd hope Perez would be ready. I don't think he's ready now either, but if Lofton has to be shifted to CF, the RF problem is right back too. Isn't the basic plan to hang with the kids?
by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 11, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by gavind on Mar 11, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by ttnorm on Mar 12, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
I think promoting him now to take on a reserve role after only getting to AA would be to halt any possible development in a player who could become more than a reserve. And I don't think they the Rays should risk wasting him that way. If he hits a wall at AAA, it might be time to consider it, but as the chances of contending in 2008 are still remote, the gamble with Perez is not worth the reward of another win or two.
by bobr on Mar 12, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
The fact that he might bring 1-2 more wins now makes him a solid bench player with a future in MLB. The kid's only value is in CF due to his plus range. This situation is made to order for him.
by ttnorm on Mar 12, 2008 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
Now he may not have the ability to become a major league regular, but I do not think the time to decide that is now. Giving him 200-250 ABs as a part timer is in essence deciding that. Let's give him a chance at Durham before consigning him to that role. If he doesn't pan out, there is plenty of time to allow him to become a solid bench player in the majors. If he does develop, the Rays have a terrific "problem" on their hands.
by bobr on Mar 12, 2008 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
If everything goes right for Perez he still probably will never be a league average CF with the bat. And let's forget the notion right now that he has the bat for COF. (If he wants to give 2B a try, I'd consider him there down the road.)
Why overvalue a guy like this when he can do tangible good right now given the CF choices?
by ttnorm on Mar 12, 2008 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
Our disagreement comes down to when a determination can be made about his future. In my view, a player who has improved at every step of the minors, whose OBP last year was .423 and who slugged .481 in a pitchers league and pitchers park, and who has excellent tools as well as baseball skills including apparently a solid work ethic and baseball intelligence has not demonstrated that he will not be a regular in the majors.
It is not a question of overvaluing. It is a question of not wasting a talent that might be nurtured. I do not know what there is in his resume that makes it so certain he will not become a quality major league center fielder. I saw him play in Montgomery and saw nothing to suggest he cannot develop as such or that his numbers were misleading. He took pitches and hit hard line drives into the gaps.
On the other hand, there is plenty of reason to be skeptical that he can contribute in the major leagues right now. The Rays have made it clear that he has to work on his routes in the outfield and on his base running. He also has to make more consistent contact. His K rate is not atrocious (like Ruggiano's) but it is high and might prevent him from progressing at higher levels. While it is not so dramatic as to be an absolute impediment, at this point it would certainly be exploited in the majors so that he would probably fail.
Promoting him from AA to the major leagues as a reserve is more than sub-optimal. It is asking for failure and cutting off the likelihood of developing his talent.
I do not think he is a corner outfielder. (Of course, I don't think Crawford is best utilized there either, but circumstances make that necessary.) But he may become a useful, even good center fielder, and I would like him to have the chance to try.
by bobr on Mar 13, 2008 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
There are not too many scenarios that will develop Perez and he will have no value whatsoever until that happens. Most likely he repeats at AAA indefinitely after this year because there will not be ABs in St. Pete for the foreseeable future. There is a good chance that Jennings advances by him to MLB further impede his development. He is going to look and fell like he is standing still starting in 2009 just as Ruggiano is now.
More importantly, you are ignoring the concensus of the industry that his bat is a major ? in MLB. The flairs that he turns into 2Bs and 3Bs in MilB will be 1Bs and outs in MLB. If he is going to develop better bat speed and wrist snap, he is almost as likely to do it in St. Pete.
In the mean time he can help this team now.
by ttnorm on Mar 13, 2008 7:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
Last year his ZR was bottom third of all qualified CFers. That's why he played so much LF. Now the Rays want him to to be a year older and back up CF. And contribute with the bat!
Call up Perez! Much better option.
by ttnorm on Mar 11, 2008 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
I wouldn't be opposed to that at all.
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 11, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
I don't think he has shown any real decline in his offense over the past few years, so his bat would be a plus. As a backup and possibly platoon player, he might serve well enough. As for Perez, I don't think anyone in the organization considers him major league ready. I doubt he is an option.
Hinske might be, or Rodriguez or even Ruggiano I suppose. And I am not enthusiastic about picking up Lofton, but can see some reason to do so. In decline, he is still almost certainly a better CF backup than any of them. At the very least he knows how to play the position and will likely take good routes to balls.
by bobr on Mar 11, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by ttnorm on Mar 12, 2008 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by R.J. Anderson on Mar 12, 2008 9:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Rays Showing Lofton Interest
by Rayon on Mar 11, 2008 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Longoria variant
I get the financial issues, but he looks pretty ready. Plus that's the patient approach, until Rocco's situation is clear. If Rocco becomes useful, Lofton really isn't. I guess if he's really cheap, no biggie.
by nyyfaninlaaland on Mar 11, 2008 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
