Around the Majors: Cubs re-sign Garciaparra

1) The Cubs re-signed free agents SS Nomar Garciaparra (1 year, $8 million) and 2B Todd Walker (1 year, $2.5 million, with a mutual option for 2006).

After 30 RCAA/.880 OPS and 26 RCAA/.867 OPS seasons, Garciaparra hit .477 SLG, .365 OBA, .842 OPS, 5 RCAA in 81 games (first 38 with the Redsox). He has a .919 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and 248 RCAA in 1009 games.

Garciaparra ranks 6th on the career RCAA list for SS–

RCAA      
1    Honus Wagner                850   
2    Arky Vaughan                464   
3    Alex Rodriguez              400   
4    Barry Larkin                271   
5    Derek Jeter                 251   
6    Nomar Garciaparra           248   
7    Ernie Banks                 239   
8    Joe Cronin                  236   
9    Luke Appling                225   
10   Hughie Jennings             211   

After 2 RCAA/.785 OPS and -7 RCAA/.760 OPS seasons, Walker hit .468 SLG, .352 OBA, .820 OPS, 5 RCAA in 129 games. He has a .784 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -26 RCAA in 1022 games.

2) The Twins re-signed free agent P Brad Radke to a 2 year, $18 million contract.

After 4.72 ERA/-4 RSAA and 4.49 ERA/3 RSAA seasons, Radke had a 3.48 ERA/31 RSAA in 34 starts. He has a 4.23 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.70, and 141 RSAA in 319 games.

Radke ranks 3rd on the Senators/Twins career RSAA list–

RSAA 
1    Walter Johnson              643   
2    Bert Blyleven               191   
3    Brad Radke                  141   
4    Jim Kaat                    124   
5    Firpo Marberry              112   
6    Dutch Leonard               104   
7    Frank Viola                  88   
8    Johan Santana                86   
9    Jim Perry                    85   
10   Dave Goltz                   83   

3) The Yankees have reportedly signed free agents 2B Tony Womack (2 years, $4 million) and P Jaret Wright (3 years, $21 million), with official announcements coming later in the week.

After -23 RCAA/.678 OPS and -34 RCAA/.558 OPS seasons, Womack had a career year, hitting .385 SLG, .349 OBA, .735 OPS, 3 RCAA in 145 games with the Cardinals. He has a .681 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and -125 RCAA in 1167. It’s a bad sign when a career year only gets you 3 RCAA, which was the first time in his career that he had a positive figure (other than a 17 game small sample size in 1996).

Over the past 5 years, Womack ranks 9th in the majors in worst RCAA–

RCAA 
1    Neifi Perez                -184   
2    Royce Clayton              -138   
3    Brad Ausmus                -132   
4    Rey Sanchez                -122   
5    Alex Gonzalez              -108   
6    Brent Mayne                -107   
7    Vinny Castilla             -105   
8    Mike Matheny               -104   
9    Tony Womack                -100   
10   Doug Glanville              -97   

After 15.71 ERA/-23 RSAA and 7.35 ERA/-21 RSAA seasons, Wright had a career year, with a 3.28 ERA/21 RSAA in 32 starts with the Braves. It was the first time in his career that he had more than 2 RSAA and he has a 5.09 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.58, and -45 RSAA in 180 games.

4) The Mariners re-signed free agent C Dan Wilson to a 1 year, $1.75 million contract.

After -1 RCAA/.721 OPS and -18 RCAA/.611 OPS seasons, Wilson had a .310 SLG, .305 OBA, .615 OPS, -16 RCAA in 103 games. He has a .693 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -145 RCAA in 1288 games.

Wilson is the Mariners record holder for worst career RCAA–

RCAA 
1    Dan Wilson                 -141   
T2   Harold Reynolds             -89   
T2   Omar Vizquel                -89   
4    Dave Valle                  -75   
5    Jim Presley                 -74   
6    Larry Milbourne             -69   
7    Spike Owen                  -60   
8    Todd Cruz                   -59   
9    Scott Bradley               -58   
10   John Moses                  -57   

5) The following free agents were offered salary arbitration–

Redsox–1B Dave McCarty, 2B Pokey Reese, SS Orlando Cabrera, C Jason Varitek, Ps Pedro Astacio, Derek Lowe, Pedro Martinez, Mike Myers
Twins–3B Corey Koskie, P Terry Mulholland
Yankees–DH Ruben Sierra, Ps Orlando Hernandez, Jon Lieber
Mariners–P Ron Villone
Rangers–OF David Dellucci
BlueJays–C Gregg Zaun
Diamondbacks–1B Richie Sexson
Braves–1B Julio Franco, Ps Paul Byrd, Jaret Wright
Cubs–OF Todd Hollandsworth, P Matt Clement
Rockies–C Todd Greene, P Jamey Wright
Marlins–Ps Carl Pavano, Ismael Valdez
Astros–CF Carlos Beltran, P Roger Clemens
Dodgers–3B Adrian Beltre, C Brent Mayne, Ps Wilson Alvarez, Odalis Perez
Phillies–2B Placido Polanco, CF Doug Glanville
Cardinals–SS Edgar Renteria, C Mike Matheny
Padres–P David Wells
Giants–P Jason Christiansen

Any free agent who isn’t on the list is ineligible to negotiate with his old team until May 1 and the team can’t get draft picks as compensation.

6) The Astros re-signed free agents OF Orlando Palmeiro (1 year, $800,000) and P Russ Springer (minor league contract).

After 1 RCAA/.722 OPS and -6 RCAA/.683 OPS seasons, Palmeiro hit .346 SLG, .344 OBA, .690 OPS, -4 RCAA in 102 games. He has a .704 career OPS, compared to his league average of .775, and -38 RCAA in 888 games.

Springer, who hasn’t pitched in more than 20 games in a season since 2000, has a 5.12 ERA/-46 RSAA in 384 career games, including a 2.63 ERA/3 RSAA in 16 games in 2004.

7) The Cardinals re-signed free agents Ps Matt Morris and Cal Eldred and OF John Mabry, with the terms not announced.

After 3.42 ERA/10 RSAA and 3.76 ERA/7 RSAA seasons, Morris had a 4.72 ERA/-12 RSAA in 32 starts. He has a 3.53 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.27, and 82 RSAA in 206 games.

After a 3.74 ERA/3 RSAA season, Eldred had a 3.76 ERA/3 RSAA in 52 games. He has a 4.48 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.50, and 8 RSAA in 310 games.

After 0 RCAA/.821 OPS and -3 RCAA/.684 OPS seasons, Mabry hit .504 SLG, .363 OBA, .867 OPS, 7 RCAA in 87 games. He has a .741 career OPS, compared to his league average of .770, and -50 RCAA in 1074 games.

8) The Phillies re-signed P Rheal Cormier to a 2 year, $5.25 million contract, with an option for 2007.

After 5.25 ERA/-10 RSAA and 1.70 ERA/22 RSAA seasons, Cormier had a 3.56 ERA/7 RSAA in 84 games. He has a 4.01 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.19, and 18 RSAA in 556 games.

9) The Orioles re-signed OF B.J. Surhoff to a 1 year, $1.1 million contract.

After -1 RCAA/.729 OPS and 4 RCAA/.758 OPS seasons, Surhoff hit .420 SLG, .365 OBA, .785 OPS, 2 RCAA in 100 games. He has a .749 career OPS, compared to his league average of .756, and -11 RCAA in 2222 games.

10) The Mets re-signed free agent P Mike DeJean to a 1 year, $1.15 million contract.

After 3.12 ERA/7 RSAA and 4.68 ERA/-3 RSAA seasons, DeJean had a 4.57 ERA/0 RSAA in 54 games (first 37 with the Orioles). He has a 4.30 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.35, and 38 RSAA in 497 games.

11) The Dodgers re-signed free agent P Elmer Dessens to a 1 year contract, with a mutual option for 2006.

After 3.03 ERA/28 RSAA and 5.07 ERA/-6 RSAA seasons, Dessens had a 4.46 ERA/-1 RSAA in 50 games (10 starts–first 38 G/9 GS with the Diamondbacks). He has a 4.46 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.32, and 9 RSAA in 249 games.

12) The Royals re-signed free agent P Kevin Appier to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

Appier has a 3.74 ERA/225 RSAA in 414 career games, including a 13.50 ERA/-4 RSAA in 2 starts in 2004.

13) The Cubs signed free agent C Henry Blanco to a 2 year, $2.7 million contract.

After -16 RCAA/.602 OPS and -14 RCAA/.523 OPS seasons, Blanco had a .368 SLG, .260 OBA, .628 OPS, -26 RCAA in 114 games with the Twins. He has a .644 career OPS, compared to his league average of .781, and -115 RCAA in 538 games.

14) The Phillies are reportedly close to signing free agent P Jon Lieber.

15) The Mets are reportedly interested in free agent LF Moises Alou.

16) According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the Padres are interested in free agent P Woody Williams and, while GM Kevin Towers has indicated that Williams is a backup plan in case they don’t re-sign David Wells, the team might sign both.

17) The Giants are reportedly very interested in free agent CF Steve Finley.

18) According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles and A’s have had trade talks regarding Tim Hudson.

19) According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates and Indians have discussed an Arthur Rhodes for Matt Lawton trade.

20) The Diamondbacks re-signed free agent OF Quinton McCracken to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

---

If you enjoy the ATM reports and want to support them, check out my other creation–the sabermetric baseball encyclopedia. Orders are now being taken for the next edition, which will include the 2004 stats and is currently shipping. It’s powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting, stat display options, and features that are not available in online and printed sources. The deluxe package has been greatly expanded, making it a much better bargain. For more information, see http://www.baseball-encyclopedia.com

According to Peter Gammons, “There is no greater baseball tool than Lee Sinins’ Baseball Sabermetric Encyclopedia. Get thee to Baseball Immortals and order the disc, haste post haste.” The product Jayson Stark called “the best invention since the toaster oven!” has gotten even more powerful.