Around the Majors: Astros re-sign Berkman

1) The Astros re-signed OF Lance Berkman to a 1 year, $10.5 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 55 RCAA/.982 OPS and 40 RCAA/.927 OPS seasons, Berkman hit .566 SLG, .450 OBA, 1.016 OPS, 69 RCAA in 160 games. He has a .980 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and 254 RCAA in 775 games. Berkman had knee surgery earlier in the offseason, to repair a torn ACL, and is expected to miss the first month of the season.

Berkman’s 236 RCAA over the past 4 years ranks 8th in the majors, over the past half century, for ages 25-28–

RCAA      
1    Mickey Mantle               322   
2    Frank Thomas                320   
3    Barry Bonds                 319   
4    Hank Aaron                  256   
5    Manny Ramirez               250   
6    Willie Mays                 246   
7    Jeff Bagwell                239   
8    Lance Berkman               236   
T9   Todd Helton                 228   
T9   Frank Robinson              228   

2) The Devil Rays signed free agent P Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After 3.39 ERA/9 RSAA and 3.09 ERA/22 RSAA seasons, Nomo had a 8.25 ERA/-38 RSAA in 18 starts with the Dodgers. He has a 4.05 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.35, and 9 RSAA in 301 games.

3) The Diamondbacks re-signed P Mike Koplove to a 1 year, $2 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 3.36 ERA/8 RSAA and 2.15 ERA/11 RSAA seasons, Koplove had a 4.05 ERA/4 RSAA in 76 games. He has a 3.44 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.25, and 24 RSAA in 171 games.

4) The Brewers re-signed OF Brady Clark to a 1 year, $1.15 million contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After -7 RCAA/.511 OPS and -7 RCAA/.733 OPS seasons, Clark hit .397 SLG, .385 OBA, .782 OPS, 1 RCAA in 138 games. He has a .742 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -14 RCAA in 427 games.

5) The Nationals signed INFs George Arias and Jamey Carroll and Ps Michael Hinckley and Darrell Rasner to minor league contracts.

Carroll has -15 RCAA/.720 OPS in 223 career games, including a .372 SLG, .378 OBA, .750 OPS, 4 RCAA in 102 games with the 2004 Expos.

Arias, who spent the last 5 years in Japan, has -30 RCAA/.649 OPS in 173 career games.

6) The Braves re-signed P Kevin Gryboski to a 1 year, $877,500 contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

After 3.48 ERA/4 RSAA and 3.86 ERA/1 RSAA seasons, Gryboski had a 2.84 ERA/8 RSAA in 69 games. He has a 3.38 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.24, and 13 RSAA in 190 games.

7) The Angels re-signed C Josh Paul to a 1 year, $450,000 contract, to avoid salary arbitration.

Paul has -16 RCAA/.676 OPS in 194 career games, including a .371 SLG, .308 OBA, .679 OPS, -3 RCAA in 46 games in 2004.

8) The Yankees signed utilityman Damian Rolls and OF Doug Glanville to minor league contracts, with invitations to spring training.

After -3 RCAA/.712 OPS and -12 RCAA/.666 OPS seasons, Rolls had a .205 SLG, .231 OBA, .436 OPS, -15 RCAA in 53 games. He’s spent his whole career with the Devil Rays and has a .628 career OPS, compared to his league average of .764, and -42 RCAA in 266 games.

After -12 RCAA/.636 OPS and -13 RCAA/.632 OPS seasons, Glanville had a .265 SLG, .244 OBA, .510 OPS, -16 RCAA in 87 games with the Phillies. He has a .695 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and -112 RCAA in 1115 games.

Glanville ranks 8th on the worst career RCAA by an OF (since 1900)–

RCAA    
1    Doc Cramer                 -220   
2    Darren Lewis               -153   
3    Tom Goodwin                -146   
4    Omar Moreno                -130   
5    Shano Collins              -125   
6    Brian Hunter               -115   
7    Dave Philley               -113   
8    Doug Glanville             -112   
9    Myril Hoag                 -109   
10   Otis Nixon                 -107   

9) The Braves signed P Jay Powell to a minor league contract.

Powell had Tommy John surgery last July. After 3.44 ERA/9 RSAA and 7.82 ERA/-18 RSAA seasons, he had a 3.38 ERA/5 RSAA in 23 games with the Rangers. Powell has a 4.19 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.38, and 20 RSAA in 507 games.

10) Reds INF Anderson Machado will have knee surgery, after injuring himself during winter ball, and it’s not known yet how long he’ll be out.

Machado, who also played in 1 game, with no PA, in 2003, had a .393 SLG, .379 OBA, .772 OPS, 1 RCAA in 17 games in 2004.

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