Adam Kennedy Released

by Matthew on Feb 17, 2009 6:12 PM PST in Seattle Mariners Regular News

UPDATE: Kennedy signs a minor league deal with the Rays

I'm not sure how he's going to get playing time with super sub Willy Aybar already on board.

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So, Adam Kennedy was just released by the Cardinals today so that they can play Skip Schumaker at second base instead while eating Kennedy's $4M salary.

Kennedy hasn't been much with the bat lately, but he's still slick with the glove, clocking in around a +10 (correction: +5 is a better estimate). His projected wOBA is about in the .300 to .305 range, which is about 15 points below Jose Lopez's projection. That translates to 7-10 runs over the course of a full season. Jose Lopez's glove is rated as nearly exactly average according to UZR (+/- backs up both of these ratings).

Adam Kennedy looks to be just a touch less valuable than Jose Lopez for 2009 and he's now out of a job and doesn't come with the Type A penalty that Orlando Hudson does. I'm not saying signing Kennedy should be a priority for the Mariners right now, just that it will be interesting to see what kind of market develops for his services given that he's already being paid for this season by the Cardinals.

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Comments

So much for not vomiting

by JI on Feb 9, 2009 11:48 AM PST reply actions

If Schumaker doesn't work out, the next in line is Joe Mather

Maybe one of our 14 thridbasemen will be playing second

by JI on Feb 9, 2009 11:49 AM PST up reply actions

+10?

He was ridiculous with the glove last year (but in half a season), but was below average in 07 (another half season), and very slightly above average in 06 (his last full year). He’s four years removed from the last season you could reasonably claim he was a legit elite defender, and at 33 I don’t see that coming back.

I don’t love Lopez, and there’s nothing wrong with taking a look at Kennedy, but I think going from Lopez to Kennedy is a downgrade. It might be worth it if you get something nice back for Lopez, but by itself I don’t see it.

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 11:49 AM PST reply actions

Should have said last FULL season

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

He was +10 in half a season last year

and his 2002-8 ranking is +10 per 150 games.

by Matthew on Feb 9, 2009 11:58 AM PST up reply actions

But everything I've read says defense ages first

And if you’re gonna give his 08 half season, you haven’t explained the previous 1.5 years where he ranks as average.

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

In other words, I'd be disinclined to give him full credit for that +10

Because a fair amount of that value was built in 03-05, at ages 27-29.

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

Try not to look at individual defensive seasons

Since 2006, he comes in at a little over +5 per 150 games. I wouldn’t call him a +10 – he is an aging second baseman, after all – but he has an excellent track record of good defense, and I don’t think that’s all gone away.

I’m not seeing much of a fit here, though. I doubt Lopez would fetch high enough a price to justify moving him at the moment.

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 9, 2009 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

The Cardinals need a new second baseman.

And they have a ton of outfielders.

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on Feb 9, 2009 12:04 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

None that would justify trading Lopez

by JI on Feb 9, 2009 12:47 PM PST up reply actions

I dream of Colby

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 9, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

Seems realistic

by JI on Feb 9, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions

Dream being the operative word there.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 9, 2009 3:03 PM PST up reply actions

It is better to call him +5 than +10.

But he’s clearly a 0 < X < +10 range against Lopez’s -5 < X < +5

by Matthew on Feb 9, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

Correct

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 9, 2009 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

Yes

+10 seemed extreme to me, and I just don’t see how he fits as a replacement, especially when it isn’t as if the M’s have a lot of nearly ML-ready middle infield types (besides Cedeno, though I wager he ends up replacing Yuni). I’d rather take my chances with Lopez this year.

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

I wouldn't want him as a replacement per se.

But it is worth thinking about.

Personally, I would like it more if he came in on a minimum deal and just played some backup 2B/SS for us with Cedeno, allowing us to trade away Yuni (perhaps in a package to “sweeten” a Washburn deal)

by Matthew on Feb 9, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

This I like

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 12:22 PM PST up reply actions

It is patently uncool to tease me on a Monday.

I would love this so much. If I never had to see Yuni in a Mariner uniform again it would make my year.

by Sec 108 on Feb 9, 2009 12:24 PM PST up reply actions

That's kind of like sweetening coffee with salt.

by Vatinius on Feb 9, 2009 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

hahaha

by JI on Feb 9, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions

Best. Analogy. Ever.

Griffey come home

by .Taylor on Feb 14, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

He will come for super cheap.

Any team that signs him will only offer a minimum salary. That’s because any amount he receives will offset dollar-for-dollar against the money due him from the Cardinals. IOW – to receive an increase in pay someone would have to sign him for more than the Cardinals owe him, and that ain’t gonna happen.

by Steve Nelson on Feb 9, 2009 12:05 PM PST reply actions

Hey cool, now we can move Lopez to 1st!

I was at Shea for the Felix-Slam!
Personal M's record: 5-4.

by EnglishMariner on Feb 9, 2009 12:13 PM PST reply actions

I would miss Loafie if he were to be traded

by seattlebruin on Feb 9, 2009 12:14 PM PST reply actions

Agreed

Though part of this probably bitterness about Carlos Guillen

I'd rather know a little about a lot than a lot about a little

by Sportszilla on Feb 9, 2009 12:23 PM PST up reply actions

With the acquisition of Ronny Cedeno, I just don't see GMZ going after Kennedy.

But you never know. The middle infield defense can use a lot of help.

by Wilder. on Feb 9, 2009 12:24 PM PST reply actions

You had me at "a lot..."

This signature space for rent.

by PositivePaul on Feb 9, 2009 12:53 PM PST up reply actions

Ronny Cedeno question

is it pronounced Ron-e or Rone-e, like Ronny Turiaf?

by seattlebruin on Feb 9, 2009 1:14 PM PST up reply actions

It's Ron-e

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 9, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions

So... is Kennedy at this point Willie Bloomquist with more bat and less versatility?

I don’t know if it’s what we need here – we’ve got Tug and Cedeno to breathe down Lopez’ neck. What does Kennedy have that those two don’t? Nevertheless it’s nice to know he’s out there in case he’s needed.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 9, 2009 1:21 PM PST reply actions

He's much better defensively at the positions he can play.

by Aaron Campeau on Feb 9, 2009 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

He's not MUCH better

Bloomquist has a +3 UZR at second in ~600 innings, which is not much, and the same at short. If he’s competent at short he should be pretty good at second. Or were you talking about tug and Cedeno? Cause I’m pretty sure Cedeno would be better while Tug I hope never sees regular playing time on the Mariners.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 9, 2009 1:44 PM PST up reply actions

~600 innings isn't much, and having seen both of them play more than a few times I think Kennedy is clearly better.

There’s plenty of value is being able to play 7 positions passably though, which would give Bloomquist a definite edge.

by Aaron Campeau on Feb 9, 2009 1:48 PM PST up reply actions

Tug's been released.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 18, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

He hadn't been when this comment was posted

by Jeff Sullivan on Feb 18, 2009 11:37 AM PST up reply actions

The few runs Kennedy might give us over Lopez on average

isn’t worth it in my mind. I want to give Lopez another full season to see what he can do. I think giving Lopez another shot has a bigger payoff than what Kennedy would bring to the team this year.

by Edgar for Pres on Feb 9, 2009 1:56 PM PST reply actions