Transaction Roundup: 3/31

by
April 1, 2009

Detroit Tigers
Released DH Gary Sheffield.

Sheff cooked up some sour numbers in 2008, posting a mild .323 wOBA with a .225/.326/.400 line in 482 PA. His BABIP was a low .237, but the 40 year-old has been plagued by shoulder maladies and could be destined to join Fred McGriff in the “can someone pleeease sign me so I can get to 500 homers?” club. His inability to play the field limits his utility to potential employers. Sheffield may latch on somewhere else, but it’s been one heck of a career for the quick-wristed nomad. Sheff has a career .393 wOBA; he was highly productive everywhere he played, save for an unpleasant tenure in Milwaukee. Yet, he’s played for seven different teams, and could be on the verge of number eight. Abrasive? seemingly. Highly skilled? Undoubtedly.

Florida Marlins
Released 1B Dallas McPherson.

Following McPherson’s release, the Marlins lean further to the right than Fox News: bench bats Paulino, Helms, Andino and Carroll all bat from the right.

A Three True Outcomes hitter, McPherson was once a mammoth prospect with the Angels. Alas, back issues and serious qualms about contact ability have sufficiently road blocked his major league aspirations. A 6-4, 230 pound lefty, McPherson has a career .296/.380/.586 line in the minors. He was positively radioactive as an Isotope last season, batting .275/.379/.618 with 42 bombs. Don’t get too excited, though: he’s 28 and whiffed nearly 38% of the time with Albuquerque. His home park inflated runs by 18% over the 2006-2008 seasons, boosting tater production by 17 percent. As a result, Dallas’ Major League Equivalent line (MLE) was a far less tasty .201/.288/.410.

Houston Astros
Acquired INF Jeff Keppinger from the Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

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With Aaron Boone out of commission and Geoff Blum…being Geoff Blum, the ‘Stros wanted an extra infielder to help out on the left side of the infield. Keppinger essentially never whiffs (career 5.6 %), but that’s about the extent of his offensive virtues: he’s a career .287/.338/.390 hitter. The former Pirate, Met, Royal and Red will likely take on the responsibilities that were supposed to go to Boone, facing southpaws as part of a hot corner platoon with Blum. In 300 career major league PA versus lefties, Keppinger has managed a .351/.403/.515 line. I suppose it’s possible that Houston could shift Tejada to third and install Kep as short. However, both UZR (-19.3 runs/150 games) and Plus/Minus (-20 over the past 2 seasons) would kindly suggest that they don’t, thanks.





 

A recent graduate of Duquesne University, David Golebiewski is a contributing writer for Fangraphs, The Pittsburgh Sports Report and Baseball Analytics. His work for Inside Edge Scouting Services has appeared on ESPN.com and Yahoo.com, and he was a fantasy baseball columnist for Rotoworld from 2009-2010. He recently contributed an article on Mike Stanton's slugging to The Hardball Times Annual 2012. Contact David at david.golebiewski@gmail.com and check out his work at Journalist For Hire.

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Matt B.
16 years ago

Last reports say Dallas McPherson was dining with Ben Grieve when he learned of his release…

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