It's O-fficial. FYI--the @jeffkeppinger account was a fake. RT @rayspressbox: RAYS SIGN JEFF KEPPINGER TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT— Jonathan Gantt (@Jonathan_Gantt) January 27, 2012
there’s nothing in Suarez’s numbers that would lead me to believe that another team would waste a 40-man roster spot on him at this point. He’s 4 years in to professional ball, hasn’t made it out of A-ball, doesn’t really strike people out, and is perpetually hurt. Literally the only thing he has going for him is that he’s 21.
Rays goal is clearly to avoid losing talent. To me, EJ has no options remaining and isn’t making the team anyway, so you might as well DFA him now and see if he clears waivers. But maybe the Rays are thinking there will be a better time to try and sneak him through. I don’t know. I wouldn’t have done it this way, obviously.
you clearly have me mixed up with someone else; see below.
I am arguing that EJ is redundant on the 2012 Rays, and I guess with that I’m arguing that I think it’s unlikely that the Rays trade either Brignac or S-Rod at a point where both have actual value well in excess of their perceived value.
Don’t get me wrong: I think Canzler is redundant on the 2012 Rays Opening Day roster, too. But Canzler had an option remaining and EJ didn’t, so EJ is going to have to clear waivers at some point anyway. That’s my point.
It may have less to do with sneaking him through waivers and more to do with his ability to elect free agency.
Like Ruggiano, Johnson was outrighted once before. That means if the Rays try it again, he can hit the market instead. If they wait until closer to the season, he may opt to stay with the org and ride out the year. Then he can become a free agent afterward if he hasn’t been added back to the 40-man.
I’d trade EJ for Iglesias in a heartbeat. I’m just saying that I would pencil him in for 500 AB at AAA and see if he actually gets better, rather than send him up to be completely obliterated by MLB pitching.
which is why the 2012 Red Sox would be better off with Elliot at SS
as opposed to a) screwing with Iglesias’s development; b) trying to get the first full-time season at short out of Nick Punto’s career; or c) watching everything hit up the middle go past Mike Aviles.
Your title was “Even though he is a left-handed hitter,” and on the top line I thought that was applicable to Canzler, not Vogt. I get it now. Sorry, I’m a little slow sometimes.
And Russ Canzler is the odd man out.
According to Topkin he was designated for assignment.
John Gregg - January 27, 2012
hopefully now we can move past calling chris richard
I mean Russ Canzler a prospect
Dbullsfan - January 27, 2012 via mobile
Leslie!
FreeZorilla - January 27, 2012
with Albert Joe still on the 40-man roster, I don't get this
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Just don't know enough about this guy - trusting AF on AJ
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
then I guess you just trust him on Canzler, too
there’s nothing in Suarez’s numbers that would lead me to believe that another team would waste a 40-man roster spot on him at this point. He’s 4 years in to professional ball, hasn’t made it out of A-ball, doesn’t really strike people out, and is perpetually hurt. Literally the only thing he has going for him is that he’s 21.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Would have DFA'd Elliott. Haven't seen AJ, unlike Elliott of Canzler.
So I guess I am more trusting on someone I have never seen play.
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
I think that's not unreasonable
Rays goal is clearly to avoid losing talent. To me, EJ has no options remaining and isn’t making the team anyway, so you might as well DFA him now and see if he clears waivers. But maybe the Rays are thinking there will be a better time to try and sneak him through. I don’t know. I wouldn’t have done it this way, obviously.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
or maybe rays realize he isnt as horrible as you think he is and want to hang onto him in case they trade briggy or rodriguez
Dbullsfan - January 27, 2012 via mobile
I'm not the one arguing that EJ is horrible
you clearly have me mixed up with someone else; see below.
I am arguing that EJ is redundant on the 2012 Rays, and I guess with that I’m arguing that I think it’s unlikely that the Rays trade either Brignac or S-Rod at a point where both have actual value well in excess of their perceived value.
Don’t get me wrong: I think Canzler is redundant on the 2012 Rays Opening Day roster, too. But Canzler had an option remaining and EJ didn’t, so EJ is going to have to clear waivers at some point anyway. That’s my point.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
my bad yea had u confused with another
But everyone hating on him from a sss while dealing with a knee injury is.absurd, he isnt good but.not as horrible as people think
Dbullsfan - January 27, 2012 via mobile
It may have less to do with sneaking him through waivers and more to do with his ability to elect free agency.
Like Ruggiano, Johnson was outrighted once before. That means if the Rays try it again, he can hit the market instead. If they wait until closer to the season, he may opt to stay with the org and ride out the year. Then he can become a free agent afterward if he hasn’t been added back to the 40-man.
R.J. Anderson - January 27, 2012
im pretty sure ej lives in Durham still
I’d be shocked if he elected for free.agency
Dbullsfan - January 27, 2012 via mobile
But why wouldn't he?
If it doesn’t work out, he can come back get a minor league deal with the Rays. Otherwise, he’d have a big league job
benderbrodriguez - January 27, 2012
good point
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Doesn't he get a ton of groundballs?
mr. maniac - January 27, 2012
do you have #s on that? I haven't seen any indication of that
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
That's not exactly a little thing
Ryan Gilliss - January 27, 2012
How the hell does shitty ass Elliot Johnson still have a spot?
Guy couldn’t even bunt last year when we needed him to
Dome Biscuit - January 27, 2012
Because he still might earn a bench spot.
Or the Rays are thinking of adding someone like Canzler (corner guy, RH) that they like better.
Steve Slowinski - January 27, 2012
Elliott would have been my choice
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
clearly, the Rays think EJ would not clear waivers
I think that’s right — he doesn’t get past Baltimore
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
I believe that would be OK
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
because the Rays have a superabundance of shortstops
right now, Elliot would be the best shortstop on the Boston Red Sox, for example.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
We will see how critical EJ is to the Rays.
I suspect he will add nothing.
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
oh, I totally agree with that
I think the Rays don’t want EJ going to a team he would help out, particularly the Red Sox
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
I would be thrilled to see EJ at SS for the Red Sox
crawdelli - January 27, 2012
I think you'll be more thrilled to see their current plan
Nick Punto? Mike Aviles, who’s stretched at second? Elliot Johnson would be a huge upgrade. Seriously.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
I think they'll just start Iglesias and live with the back-hole offense
Imperialism32 - January 27, 2012
again, then EJ is an improvement
Iglesias hit .235/.285/.269 at AAA last year, which basically makes Elliot Johnson look like Babe Ruth.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
And makes Reid Brignac look like... what?
Imperialism32 - January 27, 2012
And by the way
Johnson hit .194/.257/.338 and was somehow caught stealing more than he was successful.
Imperialism32 - January 27, 2012
you're seriously arguing in favor of a guy with a .554 OPS at AAA?
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
well neither can hit, and one is a better defender.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
even if you think EJ's .595 OPS last year was his true talent level at the plate
(and why would you?) — Iglesias’s MLE comes out to .202/.244/.231, which gives EJ a 120-point edge in OPS.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Iglesias is much younger
He has time to improve
Transplanted - January 27, 2012
I totally agree
I’d trade EJ for Iglesias in a heartbeat. I’m just saying that I would pencil him in for 500 AB at AAA and see if he actually gets better, rather than send him up to be completely obliterated by MLB pitching.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
which is why the 2012 Red Sox would be better off with Elliot at SS
as opposed to a) screwing with Iglesias’s development; b) trying to get the first full-time season at short out of Nick Punto’s career; or c) watching everything hit up the middle go past Mike Aviles.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
for his career aviles is +12 at SS.
granted it is only 1200 innings, but that’s a bigger sample than any other position. id have a hard time believing he’s actually -10 like you imply.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
2/3 of those innings are from 2008
I think there’s a reason no team has used him at SS much since.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
and punto is +18 in twice that many innings.
both have a MUCH betetr likelihood of replacement level at the plate as well.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
and punto is +18 in twice that many innings.
both have a MUCH betetr likelihood of replacement level at the plate as well.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
and punto is +18 in twice that many innings.
both have a MUCH betetr likelihood of replacement level at the plate as well.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
and punto is +18 in twice that many innings.
both have a MUCH betetr likelihood of replacement level at the plate as well.
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
regardless, both other options are better than EJ.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
Bull
benderbrodriguez - January 27, 2012
no effing chance. that's just not even close to true.
rglass44 - January 27, 2012
He signed for $1.525M
Not bad
Cory Alexander - January 27, 2012
well, $1.525MM and the opportunity cost of losing Russ Canzler
that’s less good
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Where was Russ Canzler going to fit in on the roster? And who over?
The Rays value defensive versatility more
Cory Alexander - January 27, 2012
you can't paint with that broad of a brush
Keppinger is pretty awful defensively. So is Luke Scott. So was Johnny Damon, last year.
Canzler had minor-league options and looked to be a legitimate right-handed bat. That’s obviously valuable.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Well just hoping he makes it through waivers
Much like the trepidation last season with Leslie Anderson, other clubs might not want who we think they’d want.
Ben Tumbling - January 27, 2012
yup yup
and the FO was right on Anderson when lots of the rest of us were wrong
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Even though he is a left-handed hitter.
Maybe Stephen Vogt is going to play a bigger role then most figured.
John Gregg - January 27, 2012
I think Vogt needs to master catching if he wants a shot on this team
By master, I mean be at least as good as Jaso was defensively
Dome Biscuit - January 27, 2012
His minor league numbers are better than Jaso's catching
But I agree…I wouldn’t want him behind the plate with any regularity.
John Gregg - January 27, 2012
?
Canzler is a right-handed hitter.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Right. So he wouldn't be a potential platoon partner like Canzler might have been.
But he has more positional flexibility than Canzler. I was really more thinking long-term anyways.
John Gregg - January 27, 2012
oh oh oh oh
Your title was “Even though he is a left-handed hitter,” and on the top line I thought that was applicable to Canzler, not Vogt. I get it now. Sorry, I’m a little slow sometimes.
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
than
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
This is now two teams (Cubs and Rays) letting Canzler go for nothing
So there’s that.
Imperialism32 - January 27, 2012
yes, but the Cubs are morons
so I’m not sure that helps your argument
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
how high on the Rays prospect list did you have him?
sternfan1 - January 27, 2012
joeybw on MLBTR:
Ben Tumbling - January 27, 2012
HAVE!
BossmanJunior333 - January 27, 2012 via mobile
Did I scare him off that one time I banned him?
benderbrodriguez - January 27, 2012
You are a mod?
mr. maniac - January 27, 2012
And a writer (BBR=PGP in Spanish)
benderbrodriguez - January 27, 2012
I had zero idea you were PGP.
mr. maniac - January 27, 2012
not surprising
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
more than meets the eye
benderbrodriguez - January 28, 2012
i guess he actually is boycotting DRB
THANK YOU. but i miss the lineups :(
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
Who the heck would want to pretend to be Jeff Keppinger?
Barnacles - January 27, 2012
Nick Punto?
AndrewTorrez - January 27, 2012
Maybe Yuniesky Betancourt, too...
ChiBurbRaysFan - January 27, 2012
Fake account or not...
…whoever was running it had inside info. As everything that was tweeted from there came to fruition.
John Gregg - January 27, 2012
Unless the Rays got the idea of signing Kep from the fake account
That’s basically how the military works. Somebody makes up a rumor for shits and giggles, and the next thing you know, we’re bombing somebody.
nomoredevil - January 27, 2012
Can't you see. That's the beauty in it
Sveet - January 27, 2012
Russ 'Freakin' Canzler--the classic backup QB love affair
sternfan1 - January 27, 2012
pretty true actually
although there’s no AAA-NFL equivalent where he put up great numbers against practice-squad level players
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
I'd rather watch him fail here than succeed somewhere else.
Sandy Kazmir - January 29, 2012
This could be the worst mistake
since Josh Hamilton.
Patrick Relano Kim - January 27, 2012
could, but very unlikely.
pudieron89 - January 28, 2012
Well, I don't think there really have been a bunch of mistakes, especially big mistakes.
If Canzler becomes even a lefty mashing platooner, this could fit the bill.
SandalsNoPants - January 28, 2012
I still can't believe Keppinger is going to be on the team
I’ll be in denial until he is released.
SandalsNoPants - January 27, 2012
I see what you did there
benderbrodriguez - January 27, 2012
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