They May Not Be Great Players, But I Like the Price

Scott Podsednik just reached a one-year deal with the Royals for $1.75 million, and the Astros reached a one-year deal with Brett Myers for $5 million.  Neither player is anything close to guaranteed success in 2010, but at least they’re cheap!

Podsednik had a fine year in 2009, hitting .304 for the White Sox with a .353 on-base percentage and stealing 30 bases in 43 attempts.  Scott will be 34 in 2010, and 2009 was his first good season since 2005, so the odds are exceedingly slim that he’ll have anywhere near as good a year in 2010.  However, because he did have a fine year (as a top-of-the-line-up hitter) in 2009 and still provided average center field defense, there is at least a chance that he will have a good season for the Royals in 2010.  $1.75 million isn’t risking a lot to find out.

Brett Myers is more of a risk financially, but, of course, he’s got more upside.  Brett Myers is a fine pitcher when he’s right mentally and physically.  Myers had a torn labrum in his hip last year, and he’s earned a reputation as something of a head-case (or at least a guy with anger-management issues — just ask his wife, or, at least, the witnesses), but at age 29 in 2010, there’s a reasonable chance that he could turn out to be a real bargain for the Astros.  $5 million is not a lot to risk, even in the present market, for a guy who could be a strong No. 2 or No. 3 starter.

Another sign that times have really changed:  Endy Chavez just came to the end of the two-year $3.85 million contract extension the Mets gave him before the 2008 season.  Chavez is a classic glove-tree outfielder with a lifetime .312 OBP and a. 679 OPS.  Can you imagine a 30 year outfielder who hits like that getting a two-year contract for nearly $4 million today?  I can’t.

Also, the Nationals are reported to be interested in former Giant Randy Winn.  Winn would be worth at least $5 million a year to the Nats if they could play him in left field and give all the at-bats to Adam Dunn.  Between the two of them, you’d have the perfect player.  Unfortunately, the rules don’t work that way.  In the National League at least, Winn has to come to bat and Dunn has to play the field.

Still, if the Nats signed Winn, Randy would be guaranteed to play in at least as many games as the Nats play in 2010 in which they have a lead going into the 8th inning.  That will probably be around 50.