Hot Stove
Do you smell what the Hot Stove is cooking? Plenty of action lately, it's getting hard to keep up with it all trading, signings and "heard this" tweets while working on 2011 projections, mock drafting and bossing around Virgil. Let's tackle six moves in one post before getting into more Hot Stove action with Starbonell tomorrow. Make the jump my little pretties.
Shaun Marcum was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for their top prospect Brett Lawrie. This was a great move for the Blue Jays, as Lawrie stole 30 bases last season in AA Huntsville and is projected to hit 20-30 HR in his prime. We'll discuss him more when the time is right, Marcum is the one we're interested in right here and right now. Moving from the AL East to the NL Central is about as good as it gets, just ask Ted Lilly. Marcum was already putting up more than solid numbers in the league's toughest division, the imagination runs wild with the possibilities of what he can do while pitching against the likes of the Pirates, Astros and Chubbies. I'm getting a chubby just thinking about the value to be had here. No projection for now, but we can safely assume he'll outperform his line from 2010: 195 IP, 13 Wins, 3.64 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 165 K.
Paul Konerko re-signed with the Chicago White Sox. The Sox lineup is really shaping up, they're likely the favorites to win the division after signing Adam Dunn and bringing back Konerko. As a Twins fan, I take solace in the fact that the Nationals screwed over Kenny Williams by making him trade Daniel Hudson for Edwin Jackson. Konerko will be 35-years old for the start of next season and I have factored in a little regression (HR/FB%, BABIP) for his 2011 projection .276 AVG, 35 HR, 87 Runs, 103 RBI, 0 SB
Mark Reynolds was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Kam Mickolio and David Hernandez, who will pitch out of the bullpen for the DBacks. Reynolds will man the hot corner in Baltimore and Josh Bell will be sent to AAA Norfolk. I haven't updated my projection for Marky Mark, but Charlie at FB365 has a nice write up about how Camden Yards will affect the strikeout prone slugger.
Speaking of strikeout prone sluggers, Carlos Pena signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs. Pena will take his lofty swing to the windy city. We'll see what the wind at Wrigley Field can do for Pena's Fly Balls. A few questions pop up here: Will Pena's Fly Ball Percentage creep back up to the 45%-50% range and what kind of HR/FB% will he have in the new stadium. I projected a 50% FB% and 22.5% FB/HR% (480 AB) which would result in 36 HR. Pena has had larger HR/FB percentages, so I won't be surprised when he hits 40 Homers. I may update this in the future. 2011 Projection .242 AVG, 36 HR, 79 Runs, 91 RBI, 2 SB
Jason Bartlett was traded to the San Diego Padres for a couple bullpen pitchers. Tampa's pen was decimated by free agency this Winter and they're ready for the Reid Brignac era to begin at Shortstop. No updated projections for these two at this point in time. Rest assured, Jason Bartlett's HR total will be destroyed. He'll go from 4 HR to 2 HR, oh the horror! Sean Rodriguez may see more At Bats unless they continue to platoon him when Right Handed Pitchers are on the mound.
J.J. Putz was signed by the Arizona Diamonbacks to shore up their Closer role. The DBacks are definitely making an effort to improve their bullpen after what happened last year. I don't even want to talk about Chad Qualls, Aaron Heilman or Juan Gutierrez. Now I'm angry! Look at what you did to me. [30 minutes later] Putz rebounded from a poor season in Seattle and an injury marred season in New York. Putz's 10.83 K/9 and 2.50 BB/9 will serve him well as he returns to being a dominant Closer. There is some general risk with the elbow, buyer beware.
