Sluggerrr Snacks: Josh Anderson, Shoppach, Dayton and More
By Wally Fish
Sluggerrr needed a late night snack. This box of Sluggerrr Snacks contrains; Josh Anderson, Kelly Shoppach, performances of the GMs of the AL Central, Jim Callis’ prospect and draft busts of the decade, Zack Greinke’s first two starts in 2009, Alberto Callaspo, and two more links from Baseball Beginnings.
This afternoon, I came across the news on hotstove.com that OF-Josh Anderson signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds today. Really I can’t fathom why either side would have interest. The Reds already have Chris Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, Wladimir Balentien, Chris Heisey, and Jay Bruce in addition to Willy on the 40-man roster. It doesn’t seem like Anderson will have a chance at major league playing time, or even regular at bats in Triple-A. I am assuming his representation knows this which may speak volumes about Josh’s lack of opportunities elsewhere. I’m not an expert on the Reds so maybe I’m way off base. NL was the right league. Cincinnati was probably the wrong team, unless it was the only option he had.
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More on the catching front and relative value. Today the Rays signed C-Kelly Shoppach to a 2-year $5.5 million contract and in doing so avoided arbitration with him. With an average yearly salary of $2.75 million, Shoppach’s deal increases the probability that Buck’s salary through arbitration would have been in the low $3 million range.
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MLB Trade Rumors posted the links to the trade histories of the AL Central GMs. According to the spreadsheet, Dayton has made 34 trades since becoming the Royals GM during the summer of 2006, and the results have been mixed.
His free agent signings have been less than stellar. Below is a brief recap of those signings (using the spreadsheet from MLB Trade Rumors as a guide).
In Dayton’s first offseason on the job he signed Octavio Dotel (1-year $5 million) and also Gil Meche (5-years $55 million). Octavio gave the Royals 23.0 innings, an ERA+ of 117, and brought Kyle Davies back in a trade. Despite a disappointing 2009, Meche has paid dividends. As a result, both signings have been successful and Meche still has 2 years left to go.
Assessment: Good
The following offseason, Jose Guillen signed for 3-years $36 million. As a member of the Royals, Jose has played in 234 games and hit 0.257/.305/.415 with 29 HR, 45 BB, and 156 SO. After 2 seasons and 879 AB, he has been below average with an OPS+ of 90.
Assessment: Bad
Continuing the downward spiral, last offseason Moore handed out three 2-year contracts. Willie Bloomquist got $3.1 million, Kyle Farnsworth got $9.25 million, and Juan Cruz got $6 million. Moore also added Ryan Freel on July 6th before cutting him on August 13th. Only the Juan Cruz signing looked good at the time, but even that one failed to pan out.
Assessment: Awful
Ths offseason we have been treated to a signing that is so bad, it’s awesome. Welcome Jason Kendall! We also can’t forget the $700,000 contract, instead of a more reasonable minor league deal, given to Brian N. Anderson.
Assessment: Awesomely Awful
Am I being to hard on Dayton Moore? Matt Klaassen of FanGraphs doesn’t think so. Worst American League GM?
Yet again, awesome.
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Of course, the failures of the Royals, aren’t isolated to just Dayton Moore’s regime. At the end of the most recent edition of Ask BA, Jim Callis listed his Top-100 Prospect All-Bust Team of the decade, and his Draft Slot All-Bust Team of the decade. Twenty players were listed between the two lists and three of them represent the Allard Baird era. Dee Brown made the top-100 team. On the draft slot team, Chris Lubanski took the honor for worst 5th overall pick of the decade and Colt Griffin has the distinction of the worth 9th overall pick.
Go Team!
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Now it’s time to focus on something more positive. To do so, I turn to Lee Warren’s series recapping the 2009 starts of Zack Greinke.
Start 1 of 33
Start 2 of 33
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Alberto Callaspo came up in David Pinto’s Players A to Z series.
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More great stuff from Baseball Beginnings on 2010 draft prospects:
Report: OF-Drew Vettleson, Central Kitsap (WA) HS
Video: INF-Christian Summers, Central (TX) HS
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The box is empty, Sluggerrr is full, and it is time for bed.
(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director. Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)