This guy got cut/pick him up (2010)

[hammondsnats]

I think the old former self of this thread is long gone, so I'm bringing it back to life.

The Marlins DFA'd young outfielder Jai Miller.  The 25 year old posted numbers of .288/.358/.512 with 16 homers and 52 RBI in 101 games last season at Triple-A New Orleans.  His career numbers in the minors haven't been that good, but last year he obviously had some success (the year before he was decent in AA).  Maybe worth a pick-up for depth?

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=LF&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=455687

[The Chief]

Here's the link to last year's thread:

http://www.wnff.net/index.php/topic,12413.0.html

[ronnynat]

Should probably make a new one. 9 or 10 pages of this thread are from last season.

[hammondsnats]

Here you go hammonds.  Check the ultimate sticky next time, I moved a lot of the stickies there (we had a few too many stickies)

sorry dude my bad.

[UMDNats]

Apparently the A's are going to DFA Jack Cust. I'm sure he sucks at D, but the guy hit like 25 home runs last year and has 84 in the last 3 years.

[The Chief]

Should probably make a new one. 9 or 10 pages of this thread are from last season.

On second thought you're probably right.  Done, locked the old one, put a 2009 label on it and linked it from my first post in this thread.  Also updated the ultimate sticky.

sorry dude my bad.

No worries.  I couldn't think of a nice-sounding way to say it, but I wasn't trying to bust your chops or anything

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Apparently the A's are going to DFA Jack Cust. I'm sure he sucks at D, but the guy hit like 25 home runs last year and has 84 in the last 3 years.

I saw that.  He's a lefty bat, and we have one "3 true outcomes" lefty bat already.  The D is a problem.  If there were no Dunn, and Cust could play first, then I'd be interested.  

I think we should be looking for a RH RF who is released.  

For a reliever, an interesting name in is Justin Speier.  He actually had a good spring but could not make the Rox, per our friend Tim Dierkes.

[hammondsnats]

So any takers on Jai Miller?!?!  I talked to a friend of mine who is a Marlins fan and he said they were expecting Miller to the team's fourth outfielder to start the season.  Seems like a decent depth pick up.

[Lintyfresh85]

Can he hit left handers? If so... we've got a spot for him!

[hammondsnats]

Can he hit left handers? If so... we've got a spot for him!

hahahaha

he bats right and throws right.  I'm assuming he is at least somewhat decent against lefties.  Again, he started his pro career struggling mightily, before showing signs of living up to his potential the last few seasons.

Who knows maybe stick him in AAA and if he tears it up, call him up and let him play RF.

[JMUalumni]

Can he hit left handers? If so... we've got a spot for him!

Career (minors) vs LHP:  .268/.357/.435
2009 (AAA) vs LHP:  .270/.362/.475

[Lintyfresh85]

Career (minors) vs LHP:  .268/.357/.435
2009 (AAA) vs LHP:  .270/.362/.475

Nice.

Give the kid a shot!

Btw, where'd you get the stats from?

[JMUalumni]

Btw, where'd you get the stats from?

the best place to look for minor league splits is a good little site by the same name:

http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/

Also, another really useful site I have used a lot recently for injury information is:

http://www.baseballinjurytool.com/

Chief, I would recommend adding both to the links page.

[Lintyfresh85]

How about Chad Huffman? 24 years old was DFA'd by the Padres today.

Right hander that had a .830 OPS in AAA last year.

Also won the AAA Home Run Derby last year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=huffma001cha

Although he had a really weird split last year in AAA

vs. LH   .191/.308/.331/.639   
vs. RH   .298/.380/.523/.903

[JCA-CrystalCity]

How about Chad Huffman? 24 years old was DFA'd by the Padres today.

Right hander that had a .830 OPS in AAA last year.

Also won the AAA Home Run Derby last year.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=huffma001cha

Although he had a really weird split last year in AAA

vs. LH   .191/.308/.331/.639   
vs. RH   .298/.380/.523/.903

Take Huffman's Cal league and Texas league stats with a grain of salt.  Miller had a very high BABIP (.365) v. LHP.  But the same could be said about Desmond.  Maybe he is worth a look.  Rather than claim him and give him a slot in the majors, maybe see if he gets waived through and refuses assignment. 

[hammondsnats]

Jai Miller got DFA'd from the Athletics AAA team ... bring him to the Nats organization?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

He has not been cut, but with gonzalez, smith, hawpe, and fowler, the guy I kind of covet is Ryan Spilborghs. He might be an ideal platoon with Willie.

Career v. LHP - 451 PAs .294/ .370 / .489; wOBA .371.  Even last year, his worst, he had a .751 OPS v. LHP.  Probably a bit above average as a corner OF.

[DPMOmaha]

Kiko Calero was cut by the Mets today.  There was a lot of talk about signing him before the season, now might be a good time to take a flier on the guy.

[PANatsFan]

Kiko Calero was cut by the Mets today.  There was a lot of talk about signing him before the season, now might be a good time to take a flier on the guy.

An unnamed scout said his shoulder's a mess . . .

For the minimum, go for it.

[DPMOmaha]

An unnamed scout said his shoulder's a mess . . .

So, pick him up, fix up the shoulder and you've got yourself a steal of a quality reliever...although that's probably there wasn't much interest in him in the first place.

[blue911]

So, pick him up, fix up the shoulder and you've got yourself a steal of a quality reliever...although that's probably there wasn't much interest in him in the first place.

I think he's had his shoulder reworked once already. Probably being held together with baling wire and duct tape.

[Spinman]

Pat Burrell was let go by the Rays.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Darnell McDonald was / will be DFA'd by the Red Sox to make rooom for Mike Cameron. He's played pretty well since Ellsbury went on the DL.  From today's Globe:

McDonald designated
With Mike Cameron set to be activated, the Sox designated outfielder Darnell McDonald for assignment. McDonald hit .263 with three homers and 11 RBIs over 31 games, starting 24. The Sox have 10 days in which to trade him, release him, or wait for him to pass through waivers.

Francona appeared upset about the move, though he said the organization had little choice.

“I hope for his sake, I hope somebody claims him,’’ Francona said. “I would be shocked if somebody doesn’t. I guess I hope for our sake they don’t. That’s what we told him. We had to do it. We were very appreciative of what he did for us. I hope his days in our uniform aren’t over. I have a feeling they will be.’’

The Sox were 4-9 when McDonald was called up from Pawtucket, and they are 25-21 now.

“Any time it’s hard, but I understand the situation,’’ McDonald said. “I’m appreciative to the opportunity I got here. I hope it has opened up some doors for me, maybe somewhere else. I had a good time here. Everybody treated me really well. It’s one of those things where I knew the guys were going to be coming back. I’m thankful for the opportunity.

“You never know. I could be back here. But obviously I want to be in the big leagues. Hopefully I showed some people that I can play in the big leagues, and get another chance to do that.’’

He's been used mostly in center but also in left a bit.  He's a righty and might be a good 4th OF to split time with Bernie.  I think we need the righty OF if both Willie and Bernie are up.  That's probably Morse, but McDonald would give you better defense.  worth a thought.

[CJames0569]

:hammonds batsignal:

As a Reds fan I probably wouldn't mind the move. Morse hasn't really shown me much and has suspect defense in RF. McDonald would probably be an upgrade.

[PANatsFan]

:hammonds batsignal:

As a Reds fan I probably wouldn't mind the move. Morse hasn't really shown me much and has suspect defense in RF. McDonald would probably be an upgrade.

Morse has options, but the team loves him.