Around the Majors: Hudson, Beltre, Johnson

1) The A’s traded P Tim Hudson to the Braves for Ps Juan Cruz and Dan Meyer and OF Charles Thomas.

After 2.98 ERA/45 RSAA and 2.70 ERA/41 RSAA seasons, Hudson had a 3.53 ERA/24 RSAA in 27 starts. He has a 3.30 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.63, and 169 RSAA in 183 games.

Hudson ranks 4th on the A’s career RSAA list–

RSAA       
1    Lefty Grove                 410   
2    Eddie Plank                 219   
3    Eddie Rommel                217   
4    Rube Waddell                192   
5    Tim Hudson                  169   
6    Chief Bender                121   
7    Barry Zito                  116   
8    Vida Blue                   112   
9    Jack Quinn                   84   
10   Dennis Eckersley             83   

He holds the record since the team moved to Oakland–

RSAA     
1    Tim Hudson                  169   
2    Barry Zito                  116   
3    Vida Blue                   112   
4    Dennis Eckersley             83   
5    Mark Mulder                  66   
6    Catfish Hunter               58   
7    Rollie Fingers               53   
8    Ken Holtzman                 43   
9    Jim Corsi                    40   
10   Rick Honeycutt               35   

After 3.98 ERA/0 RSAA and 6.05 ERA/-12 RSAA seasons, Cruz had a 2.75 ERA/12 RSAA in 50 games. He has a 3.99 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.25, and 5 RSAA in 128 games.

Meyer, a highly rated prospect, had a 0.00 ERA/1 RSAA in his first 2 career games.

Thomas hit .445 SLG, .368 OBA, .813 OPS, 5 RCAA in his first 83 career games.

2) The Mariners signed free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a 5 year, $64 million contract.

After -8 RCAA/.729 OPS and -14 RCAA/.714 OPS seasons, Beltre had a career year, hitting .629 SLG, .388 OBA, 1.017 OPS, 64 RCAA in 156 games. He had never had more than 12 RCAA in any previous season. Beltre has spent his whole career with the Dodgers and has a .794 career OPS, compared to his league average of .779, and 44 RCAA in 966 games.

3) The Yankees, Diamondbacks and Dodgers are reportedly closing in on a 3 way blockbuster trade that would send Randy Johnson to the Yankees, Shawn Green, Brad Penny, Yhency Brazoban and maybe Brandon Weeden to the Diamondbacks and Javier Vazquez and 2 Yankees prospects (Dioner Navarro and Eric Duncan) to the Dodgers.

4) The Braves re-signed P John Smoltz to a 2 year, $20 million contract, with an option for 2007.

Smoltz was already signed through 2005 and this deal replaces his other contract.

5) The Royals traded C Benito Santiago to the Pirates for P Leo Nunez.

After -4 RCAA/.765 OPS and -6 RCAA/.753 OPS seasons, Santiago had a .434 SLG, .312 OBA, .746 OPS, -6 RCAA in 49 games. He hasn’t had a positive RCAA since 1996 and has a .722 career OPS, compared to his league average of .748, and -158 RCAA in 1972 games.

6) The Braves traded LF Eli Marrero and cash to the Royals for P Jorge Vasquez.

After 7 RCAA/.777 OPS and -6 RCAA/.622 OPS seasons, Marrero hit .520 SLG, .374 OBA, .894 OPS, 14 RCAA in 90 games. He has a .717 career OPS, compared to his league average of .777, and -41 RCAA in 615 games.

Vasquez had a 8.10 ERA/-1 RSAA in his first 2 career games.

7) The Twins re-signed free agent P Terry Mulholland to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After 5.70 ERA/-13 RSAA and 4.91 ERA/-8 RSAA seasons, Mulholland had a 5.18 ERA/-6 RSAA in 39 games (15 starts). He has a 4.41 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.14, and -89 RSAA in 631 games.

8) The BlueJays signed P Scott Downs to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Downs has a 5.41 ERA/-21 RSAA in 32 career games, including a 5.14 ERA/-7 RSAA in 12 starts with the 2004 Expos.

9) The Angels signed Cuban 1B-3B-OF Kendry Morales to a 6 year, about $9 million contract, added him to the 40 man roster and designated P Bobby Jenks for assignment.

10) The Devil Rays re-signed P Rob Bell to a 1 year, $800,000 contract, to avoid salary arbitration, and signed C Tim Laker to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

After 6.22 ERA/-12 RSAA and 5.52 ERA/-11 RSAA seasons, Bell had a 4.46 ERA/0 RSAA in 19 starts (24 games). He has a 5.58 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.55, and -61 RSAA in 113 games.

Laker has -42 RCAA/.601 OPS in 276 career games, including a .308 SLG, .262 OBA, .570 OPS, -11 RCAA in 43 games with the 2004 Indians.

11) The Mariners designated INF Luis Ugueto for assignment.

Ugueto has -2 RCAA/.612 OPS in 74 career games.

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