Zaun signs with Milwaukee
More than we would or should have paid for him
about 2 years ago
Flamefox111
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Zaun has averaged 1.7 WAR over the past 4 years
despite being, more or less, a backup catcher, and all of that value comes by virtue of his hitting and positional adjustment only. At ~2 million for one year, the Brewers got a great deal. They’re essentially paying Zaun like he’s .5 wins above replacement, when he’s more like 3-4 times as valuable.
Meanwhile, the Mariners will be paying more money in 2010 to a 40 year old, whose job is to tickle Ichiro and DH once a week. I think the Mariners would’ve been happy to have Zaun at that price unless they’re extremely high on Adam Moore.
They're really high on Adam Moore.
I don’t that precludes them from bringing in a veteran catcher, but that the organization loves Moore is no secret.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/
by JY on Dec 6, 2009 11:46 AM PST up reply actions
And in the long term, that's perfectly understandable.
However, I’d like to think that the Mariners are hesitant to start two rookies, or possibility three (Saunders, Moore and Tuiasosopo) next season and still expect to win the division. The beauty of the Zaun contract is that it allows the Brewers to start an above-average catcher in 2010, and in 2011, should their catching prospects develop further, they can simply decline Zaun’s option.
by JLC on Dec 6, 2009 5:58 PM PST up reply actions
I fear Figgins may have forced Tui out of a job.
We’ll have to see. But that would be only two rookies of Saunders and Moore.
I like how consensus has developed that there’s no chance that Carp will begin the year with the M’s either.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/
by JY on Dec 6, 2009 6:12 PM PST up reply actions
I also feel Tui's out of a job now, but I don't have a problem with that.
Put him in AAA, hope for a healthy year and increase his positional flexibility by moving him around a bit. A really good year in AAA makes him a potential mid-2010 trade piece and he adds depth should Lopez or Figgins miss significant time. Plus, he’s still relatively young.
I’m really liking the idea of trading for Doumit now.
by JLC on Dec 6, 2009 6:28 PM PST up reply actions
I don't have that much of a problem with it either.
Marc and I have been discussing this throughout the offseason, but Tui’s huge increase in power numbers this year (in relative terms, because he was injured) was accompanied by a dangerous spike in Ks, once every three at-bats or so, and that trend has thus far continued on into the winter league season.
Last year, with a healthy Tui, I might have been willing to gamble it and see if he could learn to hit for power as he goes, which is what they seem to be trying to do with Saunders to a lesser extent. This year, his approach seems to have changed to the point where I have trouble thinking that he could adjust easily.
"Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." - Samuel Beckett http://mvn.com/marinersminors/
by JY on Dec 6, 2009 6:38 PM PST up reply actions
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