Just browsing through the ESPN baseball headlines makes me anxious for pitchers and catchers to hurry up and get spring training rolling.
Let’s take a look at each of these. Try to refrain from getting too excited.
The Dodgers are thinking about signing Alfredo Amezaga. You know news is slow when thinking about signing a 32 year old backup everything makes the highlight news. Throughout his career Amezaga (who does have a cool name) has averaged 4 Homeruns, 32 RBI with a .251 Average and a .311 OBP. He can play many positions which makes him somewhat valuable for today’s budget aware teams.
The Dodgers sign Jeff Weaver to a minor league contract. Wow, it’s been a busy week of doing not much for the Dodgers. Weaver is a pitcher with great stuff and average numbers at best. He had been a starter for most of his career but pitcher out of the bullpen a lot for the Dodgers last year. Lifetime he is 99 and 118, with a 4.67 ERA. He is the second best pitcher in his own family.
Another west coast minor league signing. This time the Giants with Guillermo Mota. The 36 year old, Mota is an 11 year vet. He’s been with the Expos, Dodgers, Marlins, Indians, Mets and Brewers. So he’s been around. Keeping with the Dodger’s theme he played last year with them. He has some talent with a career record of 36 and 39, with 89 holds and a 3.89 ERA. In the past he’s had “temper issues”. The one I remember most is when he picked a fight with Mike Piazza.
Staying on the west coast, the Padres make the headlines by avoiding arbitration and signing outfielder Scott Hairston to a one year $2.45 million contract. Last year Hairston hit 17 homeruns, with a .265 average and a .307 OBP. His Worth Above Replacement rating was 1.8. Man, you gotta love that baseball math!
