RH OF Search Continues: Brent Clevlen

by Vlad on Apr 1, 2009 3:17 PM EDT Comment 18 comments

Another day, another rumor connecting the Pirates and a right-handed outfielder:

The Pittsburgh Pirates have shown interest in acquiring Tigers outfielder Brent Clevlen, one industry official told the Free Press today.

Clevlen, 25, is out of minor league options, and he’s not expected to make Detroit’s Opening Day roster. (Jeff Larish is likely to win the final job on the bench.) So the Tigers have incentive to trade Clevlen by the end of this weekend. -Jon Paul Morosi, Detroit Free Press

Clevlen , 25 this year, should be somewhat familiar to Pirate fans, as he was reportedly one of the names offered to the Pirates in the first round of Jack Wilson negotiations with Detroit. A second-round pick in 2002, he's had an up-and-down career, struggling to capitalize on what scouts regard as good raw tools (above-average power, arm, and speed). He is a good corner defender who can at least fake CF, but sometimes gets pull-happy and has significant issues with contact, and as a result will probably struggle to hit for average in the majors.

Our scouting director, Greg Smith, held the same role with Detroit when they drafted Clevlen, possibly explaining some of our interest in him. It's also worth noting that while the Tigers are engaging in their Clevlen dealings with us, they are also talking with the Cardinals about Ryan Raburn , another right-handed outfielder.

If a move is going to happen, it's apparently going to happen fairly soon. Per Dejan:

Neal Huntington said Monroe's situation will be resolved after the game this afternoon. That likely means he is waiting for the outcome of a pending external move, though he added that no external moves are "imminent." -PBC Blog

One way or the other, we'll know soon enough.

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Clevlen

Saw him play in the AZ Fall League in 2006 or 2007.

Not impressed.

by thegunner on Apr 1, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Honestly, I'm not either.

But he’d be very cheap, most likely, and probably a slight upgrade on Monroe.

Since we rostered Monroe, though, I’m guessing this deal is dead.

by Vlad on Apr 1, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Coonington Psychology ....

Find an outfielder (Monroe, who is worse than Morgan) to absorb the bashing you guys would otherwise direct at Morgan. LOL

by Pirate in Ole VA on Apr 1, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gunner has a long-lost twin!!

by WTM on Apr 1, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you don't think we've been bashing Morgan, too...

…you obviously don’t spend much time here.

by Vlad on Apr 2, 2009 8:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Clearly a joke

You 2 are way to defensive or paranoid.

by buccoben on Apr 2, 2009 9:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or maybe that's...

…just what you want us to think. Hmm?

by Vlad on Apr 2, 2009 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just wanted a chance to use exclamation points!!

by WTM on Apr 2, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Monroe Versus Clelen

We’re going to get a lot more production out of Monroe. We need a RH bat in the OF, and he fits the Pirate budget for a one year player.

by thegunner on Apr 2, 2009 12:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The only reason we'll get more out of Monroe...

…is that we aren’t trading for Clevlen. Monroe is bad, and steadily becoming more so. Neither would hit much, save the occasional HR, but at least clevlen can play defense.

by Vlad on Apr 2, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Defense IS NOT the problem!

by thegunner on Apr 2, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If not THE problem, it's A problem, for sure.

We’ve been in the bottom half of the league as far as team defense for at least the last three years (not sure before that, off the top of my head, but it wouldn’t surprise me).

And at the end of the day, runs are runs. A glove run is worth exactly the same as a bat run or an arm run or a running run: One run. And Monroe is a bad defender, trending down, while Clevlen is good enough in a corner that he can see time in center.

by Vlad on Apr 2, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree With You, Vlad

Good defense is extremely important.

And left field at PNC is cavernous.

Nevertheless, the Pirates are going to struggle offensively and we need production in left field.

The obvious answer is McLouth in LF and McCutchen in CF.

But the Pirates have their sights set on 2014 and 2015, so we won’t be seeing McCutchen for awhile.

I’ll take Monroe (with an occasional Morgan) over Clevelen.

by thegunner on Apr 2, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they promoted McCutchen right now...

…he probably wouldn’t deliver much more offensive value in 2009 than Clevlen would. He’s going to be a very, very good player some day – but right now, he’s just a guy who’s good for his age, not one who’s actually all that good.

by Vlad on Apr 2, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't a Glove Run

actually worth more than a bat run? To use an exaggerated example suppose you have an average team that gives up 3 runs per game and scores 3 and you have the choice of adding a guy who will save you a run per game with his D or one who will add a run with his O. I am pretty sure that a team that scores 3 runs per game and gives up 2, on average, will win a lot more games than one that scores 4 while giving up 3.

by WestCoastBuc on Apr 5, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs