Wilson Valdez & Another Big Contract

by Jeff Sullivan on Apr 1, 2005 2:03 PM PST in Seattle Mariners Regular News

Important news first: the Mariners have signed Dodge to be the team's official automobile for the next three years. Let the string of HEMI jokes begin.

In other news, the Mariners claimed Wilson Valdez from the Mets and have...wait for it...added him to the 40-man roster, bumping Soriano to the 60-day DL to make room.

Valdez is a 27 year old shortstop with a career .289/.333/.359 line in the minors. He made his ML debut with the White Sox last summer, and didn't do particularly well for himself. He doesn't draw walks, nor does he hit for a lick of power, but he can run a little bit and handle himself with the glove, which makes him redundant with the 23485769824736234985 other AAA infielders floating around. The only time his bat has ever looked even close to palatable came in the first half of last season, when he was playing in the same place that made Abraham Nunez look good. Albuquerque's as high above sea level as Coors Field, and the fact that Valdez couldn't put up better numbers at that kind of elevation is a pretty good indication of his abilities.

PECOTA projects a .216 EqA in the Majors next year, and a .222 peak in 2007. A baffling and utterly worthless transaction.

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These moves are insignificant

While it appears that the team may have been grasping at straws the past few days while scouring the waiver wire, the team is obviously preparing for a couple of different possible moves. The first major indicator that they are planning something is that they filled the roster spots that are to eventually be filled by Nelson and Sele with Nunez and Valdez.

It leads me to believe that they picked up Nunez and Valdez as extra bodies for this weekend and will pass them through waivers prior to April 4th. The team is probably hoping that my snagging them now releasing them over the next couple days, that their names get lost in the shuffle and the team can retain them for additional depth in the high minors.

The second possibility is that the team may be planning on making a trade or two prior to April 4th that will open up a couple of spots on the 40 man roster. I think this is extremely unlikely and we will probably see Valdez and Nunez placed back on waivers this weekend.

It's not a horrible idea to take a flier on some guys off the waiver wire, especially if it might add some cheap depth in the minor leagues.

by Trent on Apr 1, 2005 2:58 PM PST reply actions

insignificant moves

I didn't know we needed more toolsy, no hit infielders to fill out rosters in the high minors. I thought all of the available places were filled!!

Seriously, where would you put them in the minors?

by Steve Nelson on Apr 1, 2005 4:13 PM PST reply actions

Re: insignificant moves

While I'm not going to argue with the fact that we don't need another toolsy no hit infielder (or outfielder), these moves are pretty meaningless and shouldn't have any impact on the Opening Day roster structure and I would be shocked if either player was on the 25 man roster when the season began.

I think the team picking up Valdez probably indicates that they are leaning on keeping Santiago on the ML roster, (at least initiailly), and are going to try and pass him through again in the next day or so and have him back-up the middle infielders in Tacoma.

Hell, the team may have snagged Valdez just for the weekend series in Vegas while Reese heals.

No matter how you look at it, two players are going to have to be moved off the roster by April 4th to clear room for Sele and Nelson. My best guess is that it will be the two new additions, unless they are released outright.

by Trent on Apr 1, 2005 5:06 PM PST up reply actions

Re: insignificant moves

why would you say this indicates Santiago would be kept on the ML Roster... he's currently not on it, he's an NRI to camp. To use him to start the season if Pokey isn't ready to go would mean having to make a third roster move outside of adding Sele and Nelson.

by MfaninAlaska on Apr 1, 2005 5:52 PM PST up reply actions

Re: insignificant moves

I said it probably indicates they may be leaning towards keeping Santiago around because I believe the team is going to need a back-up middle infielder who is good with the glove for Tacoma. If they were leaning towards choosing to keep Santiago, they will not have a back-up on the Tacoma roster (and with Morse and Lopez it's important).

Probably indicates was probably a bad choice of words, its more like one possibility. They will more than likely just try to pass Valdez through waivers in the hope that he passes.

by Trent on Apr 2, 2005 1:03 AM PST up reply actions

Valdez

My thoughts are pretty simple on him.... with reports of Lopez having jammed his wrist and unable to go right now... My guess is Pokey is a bigger question mark to start the season than maybe some people thought, so the question is... who is the better option to start with the club as either the starting or backup to Bloomquist. Santiago or Valdez.... either one would've had to been added to the 40-man roster to be on the club to open the season.

With what Santiago did last year both in Tacoma and with Seattle its not a surprise that the M's pick up a waiver wire guy to probably temporarily fill a slot.

by MfaninAlaska on Apr 1, 2005 4:37 PM PST reply actions

well...

...if he is okay with the glove, he could spell Michael Morse in Tacoma if the latter struggles in the field. I know Morse wants to play there, but a lot of folks think he'll have to move. Obviously, there's Ramon Santiago, but Santiago and valdez could each play 2nd and SS as need be. Honestly, I think Santiago's your back-up plan in case Morse seriously cannot hack it at short. But with Pokey hurt, Bloomquist well, Bloomquist, Santiago might need to be on the 25 man team more than we'd like. If that's the point, then fine. I don't get why they wouldn't push a Betancourt or Cabrera to Tacoma instead of getting more SS depth, but hey, I'm just trying to understand the move myself.

by marc w on Apr 1, 2005 4:41 PM PST reply actions