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.
0 recs | 57 comments
So much for not vomiting
JI - February 9, 2009
If Schumaker doesn't work out, the next in line is Joe Mather
Maybe one of our 14 thridbasemen will be playing second
JI - February 9, 2009
+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.
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
Should have said last FULL season
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
He was +10 in half a season last year
and his 2002-8 ranking is +10 per 150 games.
Matthew - February 9, 2009
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.
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
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.
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
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.
Jeff Sullivan - February 9, 2009
The Cardinals need a new second baseman.
And they have a ton of outfielders.
Eyebrows - February 9, 2009
None that would justify trading Lopez
JI - February 9, 2009
I dream of Colby
abender20 - February 9, 2009
Seems realistic
JI - February 9, 2009
Dream being the operative word there.
abender20 - February 9, 2009
It is better to call him +5 than +10.
But he’s clearly a 0 < X < +10 range against Lopez’s -5 < X < +5
Matthew - February 9, 2009
Correct
Jeff Sullivan - February 9, 2009
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.
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
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)
Matthew - February 9, 2009
This I like
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
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.
Sec 108 - February 9, 2009
That's kind of like sweetening coffee with salt.
Vatinius - February 9, 2009
hahaha
JI - February 9, 2009
Best. Analogy. Ever.
.Taylor - February 14, 2009
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.
Steve Nelson - February 9, 2009
Hey cool, now we can move Lopez to 1st!
EnglishMariner - February 9, 2009
I would miss Loafie if he were to be traded
seattlebruin - February 9, 2009
Agreed
Though part of this probably bitterness about Carlos Guillen
Sportszilla - February 9, 2009
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.
Wilder. - February 9, 2009
You had me at "a lot..."
PositivePaul - February 9, 2009
Ronny Cedeno question
is it pronounced Ron-e or Rone-e, like Ronny Turiaf?
seattlebruin - February 9, 2009
Somewhat confusingly it is pronounced Thaddeus.
Aaron Campeau - February 9, 2009
So how does Thaddeus Young pronounce his name then?!
seattlebruin - February 9, 2009
John Halama
JI - February 9, 2009
It's Ron-e
abender20 - February 9, 2009
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.
Bearskin Rugburn - February 9, 2009
He's much better defensively at the positions he can play.
Aaron Campeau - February 9, 2009
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.
Bearskin Rugburn - February 9, 2009
~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.
Aaron Campeau - February 9, 2009
Tug's been released.
Thingray - February 18, 2009
He hadn't been when this comment was posted
Jeff Sullivan - February 18, 2009
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.
Edgar for Pres - February 9, 2009
I don't think the argument is to bring in Kennedy to replace Lopez (or even Yuni for that matter)
I think it’s that he would be a decent replacement if the team had the opportunity to move him in an unrelated deal.
Aaron Campeau - February 9, 2009
Yes, let's add more scruffy defensive replacements.
We don’t need no stinkin’ offense.
IcebreakerX - February 9, 2009
Runs are runs.
Aaron Campeau - February 9, 2009
Runs are pineapples
JI - February 9, 2009
No,
they are clearly gobstoppers
Matthew - February 9, 2009
I'd like to see someone suck on a pineapple
JI - February 9, 2009
I think a Kiwi would be more painful
IcebreakerX - February 9, 2009
Could you quit with the Rays crap?
We get it – you like the way their team is put together, and they have some great young talent.
This is a Mariners blog though and I don’t see many other SBN editors posting praise for other clubs. It’s not funny or anything eithe
R.J. Anderson - February 17, 2009
Is this a joke?
katal - February 17, 2009
R.J. runs DRaysBay.
ThundaPC - February 17, 2009
Ahhh
katal - February 17, 2009
Yes
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2008/4/27/461839/you-were-warned
Matthew - February 17, 2009
Thanks for that.
I was pretty sure it was a joke, but didn’t comment for fear that RJ really had gone over the edge.
Also, ASUBoyd really was a douche. It’s amazing how time makes you forget that sort of thing and miss the trolls for their color.
Eyebrows - February 17, 2009
I miss spittle
Mariner John - February 17, 2009
BUMP!
The Typical Idiot Fan - February 17, 2009
gay
JI - February 17, 2009
The Rays picked up Kennedy to flip him for Griffey.
“Finally I will be able to play for my true baseball home: a domed stadium!”
mark sobba - February 17, 2009
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