The Giants Should Absolutely Sign Kiko Calero

Absolutely.

I read a blurb today on mlbtraderumors.com that there hasn’t been much chatter about Kiko Calero, but the Cubs and Giants are interested in him.  He’d be a great sign at the right price for either team.  Of course, I hope the Giants get him.

Calero was absolutely terrific for the Marlins in 2009, recording a 1.95 ERA with the following line: 60 IP, 36 hits, one HR and 30 walks allowed and 69 Ks.  The Giants now have a $2.75 million slot open in the bullpen, what with Bob Howry signing with the Diamondbacks for $2.25 million ($2 million in ‘10, with an option for ‘11 at $3 million with a $250,000 buyout — Howry’s ‘09 salary was $2.75 million).

Calero will be 35 next year, the same age Howry was in ‘09, but Calero had a much better year in 2009 than Howry did in 2008, when Howry posted an ugly 5.35 ERA for the Cubs.  Howry was overpaid in 2009, but Calero is definitely worth the same money for 2010.  In this market, there’s a good chance of the Giants getting him for right  around that price.

The Giants also need to sign a right-handed reliever.  Besides losing Howry, the Giants have lost Justin Miller, who signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers for 2010, which will pay him $850,000 per year for major league service time and includes incentives for another $50,000.

Well, that’s more than the contract he signed with the Giants last year. However, it’s hard for me to understand why Miller didn’t pitch well enough in ‘09 to get a guaranteed major league deal for the same amount, especially from the Giants.

Miller was an excellent short man last year, posting a 3.18 ERA in 44 appearances and 56.2 innings pitched in which he allowed 47 hits and 27 walks and recorded 36 Ks.  It was the third year in a row that he was an effective short man.

Granted, there is some cause for concern with Miller’s Ks-to-BBs and Ks-to-IP ratios, which dropped substantially compared to 2007 and 2008.  Also, he will be an old 32 next year, turning 33 in late August.  However, it’s still hard for me to understand how after three good years in a row, not one team would risk guaranteeing $850,000 on Miller for 2010.

Miller has a reputation in baseball for being an outsider.  He has so many tattoos on his arms that MLB adopted a so-called “Justin Miller Rule” which requires him to pitch in sweatshirt sleeves because hitters were complaining about his tattoos making it hard to see the ball.

Baseball is an insular world which doesn’t have a great deal of tolerance for non-conformists who aren’t great players.  That may be one of the reasons why Miller can’t seem to get a major league contract no matter how well he pitches.

However, I don’t remember reading one bad thing in the press about Miller during his year as a Giant.  I hope he has one last great season in him in 2010, which could very well happen pitching half his games at Chavez Ravine, a great place to pitch; except for, of course, when he pitches against the Giants. That way, maybe, he could finally get a guaranteed contract.

The biggest factor in Justin Miller’s contracts, however, is probably straight economics.  The Justin Millers of the Baseball World are fairly plentiful each offseason, which doesn’t give them a lot of leverage negotiating their contracts.

The upshot is that sharp-eyed teams can get the Justin Millers and Kiko Caleros for a relative bargain, particularly in this market.