Jeff Salazar, Bryan Bullington Become Free Agents
by Charlie on Oct 12, 2009 10:16 PM EDT
36 comments
Since we're at the point in the year where there's nothing to care about except little things, here's some news: a bunch of guys just became minor league free agents. The only Pirate on the list is Jeff Salazar, who went 1-for-23 for the Bucs this year. Salazar probably needed to hit better this season to have much of a shot at a real major-league career, which is too bad; he has an .826 career minor league OPS (albeit in some pretty hospitable hitting environments, like Tucson and Colorado Springs), and it's a shame he never got more of a shot. Most guys who stick as fourth outfielders begin their careers as starters, like Brandon Moss this year; guys like Salazar who have the skillset but are never lucky enough to be confused for starters usually don't make it.
Also on the list of minor league free agents are former Pirate #1-overall picks Kris Benson and Bryan Bullington. Bullington actually pitched very well for the Jays' Class AAA affiliate in Las Vegas, but he didn't make an appearance there after June. The list also includes Chris Duffy, Chris Shelton, and Craig Stansberry.
Other vaguely interesting names on the list: Phil Humber (third overall pick by the Mets in 2004, acquired by Twins in the Johan Santana trade, stalled in the high minors), IF Wilson Betemit (former top Braves prospect, still not that old, bad season in the White Sox organization but versatile and potentially still useful), RP Javier Lopez (again, a terrible season, but he's one year removed from being one of the majors' more effective relievers), RP Greg Aquino (consistently good minor league numbers; certainly a better option than the Denny Bautistas of the world), RP Vinnie Chulk (ditto), RP Jon Switzer (same), RP Joe Nelson (actually a totally decent MLB pitcher for the Rays last year, and a terrific one for the Marlins in 2008), and lefty SP Travis Blackley (former top Mariners prospect finally seems to be pitching with better control in his late 20s and still hasn't been used exclusively as a reliever, where he might find his niche).
Nothing big here, but I'd be mildly psyched to see the Bucs sign Blackley, in particular.
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I’d take Aquino, Humber, and Blackley, please!
by wickethewok on Oct 12, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You’d think they’d have a shot at signing Blackley, seeing as how he’d only have to beat out . . . uh . . . nobody for a LH relief spot.
by WTM on Oct 12, 2009 11:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Plus the fact that they can lure him with awesome tales of signing amateurs in Australia for the first time since ever.
by Charlie on Oct 13, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The DFA of Chris Carter is interesting to me.
He’s got a lefty power stroke that might work well in our park, if we’ve given up on Pearce. Wouldn’t pay much to get him, but if he were cheap enough, he might be worth a look.
Useful: Chris Shelton (plus 1B defender, hitting machine, emergency catcher), Greg Aquino/Javier Lopez/Geoff Geary (solid pen depth). Fun: Mitch Jones (hella power), R. A. Dickey (knuckleballer), Chris Schroder (slow but highly active stuff that hitters can’t find and he can’t control).
The list of ex-Bucs getting their walking papers also includes Matt Kata (2007) , Brandon Duckworth (Indy, 2006), and Michel Hernandez (Indy, 2008). As an ex-Tiger from the Smith era, Shane Loux probably already got an embossed invitation to our camp in the mail.
I’m not crazy about Blackley, honestly. He doesn’t have great stuff, and there’s a serious shoulder injury between him and his salad days as a prospect (remember when he and Choo were getting mentioned in Giles-to-Seattle rumors)? If I had my pick of any guy in this batch, it’d be Lopez. If I had three, it’d probably be Lopez, Shelton, and Geary, in that order.
by Vlad on Oct 13, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought about putting Jones in there until I realized he hit something like .231 outside the Albuquerque launching pad this year.
by Charlie on Oct 13, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mitch Jones is 32 in a few days
and was a complete flop in Japan in 2007/8. He spent most of his time on the farm for a reason.
Maybe there’s a rec league team in Albuquerque he can join.
The Bucs would be better off giving Chris Shelton a chance for the reasons Vlad mentions.
by patthatt on Oct 13, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
PS Was Chris Snelling in those rumors too? That might have been a disaster.
by Charlie on Oct 13, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm thinking ....
Chris Carter is on his way to the Mets as part of the Billy Wagner deal and delayed due to a Yankee waiver claim.
by Pirate in Ole VA on Oct 13, 2009 4:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Looks like you're right.
In which case, I retract my interest.
by Vlad on Oct 13, 2009 8:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
My number one choice would be to pick up Chris Shelton, and have him compete with Pearce. At the very least, he should be able to hit lefties.
Look, I know epic disasters like Luis Cruz can play a bunch of defensive positions. But eventually, we should be pinch-hitting with hitters who can actually get on base.
Some of that bullpen help would be nice as well, and Pittsburgh should be attractive for that set because there is plenty of opportunity for major league relief.
by Adam Reynolds on Oct 13, 2009 6:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Different ways to say, “He’s a crappy player”:
“He can play a lot of positions.”
“He’s an innings-eater.”
“He provides veteran leadership.”
“He has good at-bats.”
“He’s scrappy.”
by WTM on Oct 13, 2009 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And...
“He’s a professional hitter.”
“He plays the game the right way.”
I always hated the proffesional hitter comment. I mean aren’t they all proffesional hitters?
by Slick1 on Oct 13, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even less informative and more bombastic is: “He is a BASEBALL PLAYER!”
This usually is said right after a player dives for a groundball and misses but gets dirt on his uniform.
by wickethewok on Oct 13, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that might be worse than professional hitter.
At least I can inerpret “professional” as “old school.”
by Slick1 on Oct 13, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To me “professional hitter” is either “spends winter alternating between looking out the window waiting for spring and looking at video of ABs” or “is unfamiliar with a baseball glove.”
by JRoth95 on Oct 13, 2009 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bring em back
I want Benson and Bullington!
by JRoth95 on Oct 13, 2009 2:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just want Benson!!
And I, of course, am referring to Anna Benson. :)
by WstCstBucco on Oct 13, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kris is OK by me.
After 9-11, he gave a whole friggin’ bunch of money to police and emergency rescue charities.
by Vlad on Oct 13, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
another former yankee in the mix?
would love to see the Bucs bring in Scott Proctor, just released by the Marlins. could fill Tyler Yates role. although he had a high ERA this year, his k numbers look very good which means the ball is still jumping!
by patientpirate on Oct 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Proctor didn’t pitch anywhere, majors or minors, in 2009.
by WTM on Oct 13, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me neither!
Also, my K numbers have historically been pretty strong. They’re my K numbers while batting, but still, it should count for something.
by JRoth95 on Oct 13, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Oct 13, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're STILL
prolly better than Bixie.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Oct 13, 2009 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was out with TJ.
Wouldn’t be a bad lottery ticket in ’10 – they do good work with elbows these days.
by Vlad on Oct 13, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some more FAs
Second installment from BA.
This list is pretty dismal. About the only interesting guys on it are Jorge Campillo and Buddy Carlyle. They both pitched pretty well for the Braves in 2008 but both seem to have been hurt for most of 2009.
by WTM on Oct 15, 2009 3:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chad Paronto, Dan Giese, and Kevin Cameron have had some ML success in the pen. Bobby Korecky’s got a pretty good track record in the minors and a solid three-pitch relief mix. Tony Pena (the former shortstop) might be worth a look, now that he’s converted to pitching. German Duran was a good 2B prospect as recently as 2007.
by Vlad on Oct 15, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that Duran would be interesting.
I’d rather see him on the roster over Cruz.
by Slick1 on Oct 15, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duran's video for "Rio"
was cool.
Free your ass and your mind will follow.
by cocktailsfor2 on Oct 16, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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