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The Giants officially signed Edgar Renteria today, pulling them out of the hot Rafael Furcal sweepstakes. Renteria is an established hitter. In the NL, he will probably give the Giants a .290/.340/.420 line - not nearly worth 9 million dollars a year, but solid, especially for a team that needed any sort of hitter. Plus, it is only 2 years, so he won't be blocking any prospect. Renteria is only a year off of hitting .330 for the Braves in '07, and has hit over .300 multiple times while in the NL.
Yesterday afternoon, the Braves strengthened a depleted rotation by acquiring 32-year old pitcher Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox.
The Braves get ::: Javier Vazquez (RHP) - Boone Logan (LHP)
The Marlins get ::: Brent Lillibridge (SS) - Tyler Flowers (C) - Jon Gilmore (3B) - Santos Rodriguez (LHP)
My thoughts: The Braves win this trade. Why? Javier Vazquez is certainly not an AL pitcher - but just a year ago, in a pitchers park, in the AL, he posted a 3.74 ERA and struck out over 200 in over 200 IP (He has actually thrown over 198 IP over the last 9 seasons). In his four seasons in the NL from 2000-2003, Vazquez had an ERA under four in three of those seasons, and a 4.05 ERA was the other one, which was his first 200 IP season. Vazquez will probably give the Braves a line of 200 IP / 3.70 ERA / 200 Ks. Boone Logan, the lefty, allows the Braves to let go of Will Ohman via free agency. He is only 24 years old and has very good stuff for a lefty, he could put it all together with the Braves excellent coaching staff.
It is definitely not a bad return by Kenny Williams, at least this time around. Brent Lillibridge, is a 25 year old shortstop who was once higly touted and has fallen off the Braves future plans. In 80 ABs, he only hit .200 with a 50 OPS+ - why does Kenny want this guy with Gordon Beckham and Alexi Ramirez rising? Tyler Flowers, the 23 year old catcher, is the best prospect in the deal. His catching abilities are questionable, but he could be MLB ready this season. He is hitting .387 in the AFL so far, and posted a .422 OBP in AAA last year. Santos Rodriguez is only 20 years old, and posted a 1.00 WHIP with a 2.79 ERA in 29 IP (45 K's) in rookie ball this year. Jon Gilmore is another raw prospect who hit .337 in rookie ball this season in over 258 ABs, with a .838 OPS.
It is a nice return for the White Sox, but I think Vazquez will make a big difference for the Braves this season, and could return to a number two starter in the NL this season.
Just as many thought it would, the offseason has heated up since the arbitration deadline. Trever Miller, the 36 year old lefty, signed with the Cardinals on a one year deal. While at the same time, Bob Howry was inked in as a Giant, also for a one year deal.
Both deals are pretty good. Millers' usual 4.00 ERA should drop going to the NL, especially if used effectively. His stats have always been misleading, as he usually keeps his hits under his innings pitched, and walks far less than most other relievers. He held lefties to a .209 OAV this season.
I love the Bob Howry deal for the Giants. They really could make a run this season in a bad division. This guy posted a .89 WHIP just a few years ago, and is consistent in his 70 IP with a mid-3 ERA, despite having an off year this season.
A few weeks after signing LaTroy Hawkins , the Astros have signed both injury plagued pitcher Mike Hampton and old veteran Doug Brocail.The Hampton deal is only paying him 2 mil. So the Astros really can't go wrong there. Remember, this is a guy who posted consecutive 175 IP seasons from 1997-2003. Hampton has been an Astro before, where he posted back to back career seasons in both 1999 and 2000.
Doug Brocail has only been with the club for one season, but recieved 2.5 million to post a 3.93 ERA? Eh, when you just signed LaTroy Hawkins, maybe it is time to let a 41 year old reliever with a mediocre history walk. Brocail had a 3.93 ERA in 68 IP last season, but did have an attractive 1.22 WHIP.
