Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 16, 2004
Cabrera vs. Renteria

In choosing between the two shortstops, I have no doubt the Red Sox made the right choice. Renteria is a year younger than Cabrera, and has a much better track record. Cabrera having one good year at age 28 doesn't impress me. Given that Cabrera is now looking for $7 million a year, it seems much saner to spend the money on Renteria. Someone is going to get stuck with paying a lot of money to Orlando, and they won't get much in return.


Posted by David Pinto at 10:12 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I think it's a horrible deal for the Sox. This from Lee Sinins' Baseball Immortals mailing list:

After 13 RCAA/.803 OPS and 33 RCAA/.874 OPS seasons, Renteria had a .401 SLG, .327 OBA, .728 OPS, -12 RCAA in 149 games with the Cardinals. It was his 6th double digit negative RCAA in the past 8 years. Renteria has a .746 career OPS, compared to his league average of .776, and -50 RCAA in 1296 games.

Sorry, but those numbers do NOT justify $10M/yr. I think they could have filled their SS position with someone MUCH cheaper who could do a passable job, and use the money elsewhere (like pitching).

Posted by: sabernar at December 16, 2004 11:25 AM

Sabenar,

It's easy to say they should have spent their money on pitching, but what pitching would you like to see them spend it on? They were already weary about spending $40m over three years on Pedro, so using the Renteria money to sign Pedro was not going to happen. They weren't going higher on Pedro, no matter what.

If the Red Sox don't land one of the better Free Agent starters remaining, it won't be because they couldn't afford them in light of the Renteria deal; it will be because they didn't value them as highly as other suitors.

Posted by: Derek at December 16, 2004 01:17 PM

But that doesn't mean you should overspend on a SS. If there is no one worth signing, then don't sign anyone. Make trades if you can't, and if you can't make a trade, then go into the season with the team that you have. Just because you didn't overpay for mediorce talent doesn't mean you failed. Sometime the no signing is the best signing.

Posted by: sabernar at December 16, 2004 01:32 PM

Most people consider it a good deal because Epstein was behind it. If Baird or Bonifay did the deal, this blog (along with several others) would crucify that team and their respective GMs. Epstein and his 'Beane-following' philosophies are inconsistent with one another. I guess when one has several million dollars to spend, philosophies go out the window. But, of course, Epstein gets a free pass because he is a 'Beane follower'. Sad, very sad.

Posted by: Peppersniffer at December 16, 2004 01:35 PM

Epstein gets no free pass from this reader, regardless of his philosophical lineage. I'm just surprised that Bill James didn't make more of a stink...about this signing, and that of Wells.
With Renteria, 4yrs/$40 million is a pile of dough for a guy coming off a .728 OPS season when he racked up the 2nd fewest walks of his career. This guy, this is not my kind of guy. All this, when you have a certain-to-be-MUCH-cheaper Placido Polanco, a player who has enjoyed success as SS when he's played it, and whose offensive stats are at least comparable to Renteria's, and are certainly more consistent. This guy's going to be a 3yrs/$18 million kind of guy. That's my kind of guy.

Then with Wells...I mean, wha? I love him, but in Fenway (not even considering his very mediocre career record there), the last guy you want of the mound is a lefty contact pitcher. Um, Green Monster, anyone? The guy never walks anyone, and he only strikes out a hitter every other inning...so, who wants to play pinball? Oh yeah, he weighs 300 pounds and is 42 years old. Huh?

I've been very surprised by the Sox with these two choices

Posted by: Dave S. at December 16, 2004 02:01 PM
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