Sorting The Rays Infield
We talked a bit about Jason Bartlett yesterday, but in that, we glossed over the context of just how ridiculous the Rays infield depth is right now. Here’s a snapshot of their IF depth chart, as it stands currently.
1B: Carlos Pena, Willy Aybar
2B: Ben Zobrist, Akinori Iwamura
SS: Jason Bartlett, Reid Brignac
3B: Evan Longoria, Sean Rodriguez
Rodriguez could cover any of in the infield positions, and actually has experience at all three outfield spots as well, so he’s particularly well suited to a super utility role. That kind of jack-of-all-trades guy makes the two-deep-at-each-spot thing unnecessary.
Realistically, the Rays only need six of these guys. There just aren’t at-bats to go around for all of them, and while depth is nice, superfluous players could be better used to acquire others who fit the needs of the roster a bit more. So, of those eight, who should stay and who should go?
The obvious first candidate is Iwamura, who is only under contract for 2010 if the Rays want him to be, with a $4.5 million option for 2010. He’s been worth double that over the last couple of years, but as a 30-year-old coming off ACL surgery, he’s got some risks attached going forward. He’s not going to beat out Zobrist for a job, so his future would seem to lie in another city. The Rays could pick up his option and try to trade him, but I doubt he has enough surplus value above his $4.5 million salary that he’d command much in return. Either way, I’d expect to see Iwamura playing somewhere besides Tampa next year.
That’s one down, but still unnecessary depth up the middle. Aybar serves as a useful back-up to Longoria/Pena and wouldn’t carry enough trade value to command a lot in return, so he probably sticks around. Assuming the team won’t be moving Longoria, Zobrist, or Pena, they leaves the shortstops – Bartlett and Brignac.
We talked about Bartlett yesterday, so let’s focus on Brignac today.
At first glance, his numbers may not seem that exciting – .282/.327/.417 in Triple-A sounds rather weak. However, his .328 wOBA was actually above the International League average, and you don’t find many 23 year old shortstops who can hold their own with the bat. His overly aggressive approach and weakness against lefties limited his overall line, however, and proved to be problems in the big leagues as well.
There’s little chance that Brignac would match Bartlett’s 2009 production, but that statement is true of nearly every shortstop on earth. The question the Rays will have to ask is how much of a difference they expect between the two, and whether that performance difference is worth the cost difference. Given that they are running out of spots on the roster to upgrade, they might not be willing to take the drop-off at SS as they try to run down the Yankees and Red Sox, even if Brignac is the more cost effective solution.
Either way, it’s likely that one of them joins Iwamura in leaving Tampa this winter. They have two quality shortstops in a league lacking for guys who can play the position, and will have a strong bargaining chip to play with whichever way they decide to go.
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Could aki not play SS? He was an above average 3b and moved to 2b rather seamlessly. I’m obviously speaking from just random tidbits I can remember so don’t flame me for not backing this up but I recall that he has a strong arm as well.
I just dont see them holding onto bart b/c he’s going to command alot after next season
ya he’s going to his 2nd arb year i think and is a FA after that.
3rd* arb year i think
I’d have to say that Iwamura is a lock to be traded – maybe for an outfield prospect, or what about catching? I’m not too up to speed on their situation behind the dish, what with Navarro being himself and all. I can’t imagine they use Zaun next year too.
Dave, would you like to see Iwamura in an M’s uniform in 2010, or would you prefer they look elsewhere? Just curious.
I think Bartlett would get the most in a trade even at his age.
I suppose in particular for the Rays money comes into play so dealing Bartlett might be the way they ‘have’ to go – but in the perfect world I think the decision is based on whether or not the Rays think they can compete with NY/Bost next year. They can’t win with sub .300 OBP’s at both SS & C next year. If they trade Bartlett they better find a catcher that can get on base every now and again
Dave,
Can you give us a possible trade fit with the M’s getting Brignac?? Would the Rays consider a Michael Saunders for Reid Brignac trade? Carl Crawford may be too expensive and they could plug him into LF while Brignac is the M’s SS of the future. My other thought is for the M’s to include Adam Moore for Brignac because the Rays need a catcher. However, that is sort of like robbing Paul to pay Peter. The Ms catching depth after Moore is non-existent. What do you think would be reasonable for both teams?
If Zdurencik could’ve obtained Brignac for anything reasonable back in July, he would have. Clearly he couldn’t; he went and got Wilson from the Pirates instead. The M’s now appear to be happy with their shortstop situation, assuming they think Triunfel will step into Wilson’s shoes in a couple of years. Of course there’s a risk he won’t, and more infield depth is nice to have, and you could always upgrade from Jose Lopez (though if you’re going that route, why not get Iwamura?) So yeah, Brignac would be nice. But at what price? Given the looming holes at the corners and in the rotation, and Wilson solving the Yuni problem, I just don’t see Brignac being a priority.
Putting Rodriguez at 3B would be a waste of his defensive ability. He should play short, 2B or CF.
i would say more of 2B or CF, i don’t think he’ll be much more than a below-average SS while he could be a plus defender anywhere else practically.
Seems pretty obvious that the Rays need to trade their infield depth for bullpen help. If Dayton Moore wasn’t the GM, they could probably get Soria outta KC and give them a Bartlett/Brignac plus other prospects.
This has to be some kind of joke. Bartlett is worth far more the Soria. The Rays would trade a SS that has as much value as Bartlett for a reliever. Then you mention the Rays would have to add prospects to make this trade.
If Bartlett gets traded, there will have to be an elite prospect involved.
Makes it all the more puzzling that they took Rodriguez in the Kazmir trade. Where exactly is he supposed to be playing?
I think that makes the point. He can play any position they need him to, and play it well.
This is sort of like a first-year draft where you take the best talent, and not something of specific need. At this point, if Rodriguez can keep up 85% of his production from AAA, it might not be a bad idea to have him replace B.J. Upton in CF right now.
I think also that one way the Rays lengthen their bench is to have players like Zobrist and now Rodriguez who can play multiple positions. Aybar can fill 3 infield positions also, and Elliott Johnson is being groomed the same way in the minors. Even their reserve outfielders (Kapler) can play all 3 positions. That provides flexibility for late inning switches and pinch hitting opportunities not ordinarily available with 12 man pitching staffs.
Rays need relief pitchers. Or, find a way to promote their young pitchers so that they can pitch some bullpen innings.
For an organization that has as much talent as the Rays, they sure give a lot of playing time to inconsequential veterans.
will sean rodriguez ever play? he got moved from a crowded angels infield to an even more crowded tampa infield? i think if he ever got 150 games in a season that a .260/.360/.480 line could be possible with good defense at 2B, 3B, or OF or with slightly below average defense at SS.
anybody else?
There is no indication that he would be a below average defender at SS. He is apparently very good at the position, but was displaced by Wood.
Does anybody know what the Rays can fetch for Brignac??
I feel like since A ball he hasn’t achieved too much
Hit a ton of doubles and walks at a nice rate, and was named top defensive SS in International League. He certainly has value.