Ryan Raburn and 8 MLB Duds Who Don't Deserve Big League Spots

Major League Baseball franchises acquire most players through the amateur draft held every June.  In the draft’s early rounds, franchises hope to find their future superstars.  Some players indeed live up to the hype, while others never reach the major leagues. 

There are a few that pass the “too early to tell” category, though it appears they may never reach the expectations placed on them when they entered the league.

Despite this long-term lack of production, MLB franchises have kept these players on their rosters in hopes that they will one day reach their potential. Unfortunately, this prevents productive minor league players from reaching the big show.

Players like these hurt their franchises, who continue to invest in them despite receiving little production in return.

As the title suggests, Ryan Raburn is one such player. Let’s look at Raburn and seven other players who should not be in the major leagues.

The 2012 MLB Draft will be held June 4-6.

Mike Zagurski (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Mike Zagurski, a 2005 draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, has pitched 43.0 innings in 48 major league appearances.  He has 6.49 career earned run average.

This season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Zagurski has outperformed his career averages in most pitching categories, but his strikeouts per 9 innings (7.9) is at a career low.

As a left-hander, the Diamondbacks might see some value in him, but it could be time to give another pitcher a shot in Arizona’s bullpen.

J.C. Boscan (Atlanta Braves)

J.C. Boscan signed with the Atlanta Braves in 1996 and made his major league debut in 2010.  Give credit to the Braves for sticking with him this long, but 2012 should be the year the two sides finally part ways.

Atlanta has Brian McCann behind the plate, and David Ross stands (or squats, rather) between him and Boscan on the depth chart.  The Braves also have their future backstop waiting at AA Mississippi.

Christian Bethancourt is MLB.com’s No. 84 overall prospect, No. 6 catching prospect and Atlanta’s fourth overall prospect.

Bethancourt does not look ready for the major leagues yet, but Boscan should leave the roster when that time comes.

Nick Johnson (Baltimore Orioles)

At 32, the nephew of Larry Bowa is hitting under the Mendoza line for the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. 

Once a third-round selection of the New York Yankees in 1996, Johnson hasn't appeared in 100 games since 2009.  He's never hit 300 or posted a positive defensive WAR rating in any season, and his career defensive WAR stands at -5.9.

Johnson has mostly been used as a designated hitter, but with his poor batting average (.183) the Orioles should look to another bench player.

Nick Punto (Boston Red Sox)

Punto has dropped off considerably with the glove.  He has a career 9.4 defensive WAR rating, but in 2012, the rating has dropped to -0.1.

Punto has not hit well this year either.  His batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS are all below his career averages. 

Considering Punto’s age (34) and decline in performance in 2012, the Boston Red Sox should look for a replacement.

Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago White Sox)

Kosuke Fukudome debuted in Major League Baseball in 2008 at 30 years old.  Fukudome has not lived up to the hype he got coming from Japan.

This season, Fukudome has not reached .200 in either batting average or slugging percentage.  Fukodome has played a strong outfield for his standards, but his defensive WAR is still negative (-0.1).

The Chicago White Sox should ship Fukudome out of the Windy City with these poor numbers.  In fact, based on his major league numbers, Fukudome should have stayed in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Miguel Cairo (Cincinnati Reds)

Miguel Cairo played 102 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, his 16th major league season.  The way Cairo has played this season, though, he should think about retirement.  Statistically, there is no reason the Reds should keep him around at 38 years old.

Cairo has batted .147 this season.  A negative defensive WAR rating (-0.2) also doesn't help Cairo’s argument to stay in Major League Baseball.

Ryan Raburn (Detroit Tigers)

Ryan Raburn should not be a second baseman for the Detroit Tigers right now.  This season, Raburn has a .146 batting average, a .209 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of 16.

Raburn is three years removed from his best statistical season.

*Danny Worth has replaced Raburn on the Tigers’ active roster.  Worth has batted slightly better than Raburn this season for the Tigers.

Until Raburn gets his production back to normal, Detroit made the right decision to option him for assignment.

Dewayne Wise (New York Yankees)

Most baseball fans remember Dewayne Wise for preserving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game in 2009 with a highlight reel catch in the outfield.  Three years later, Wise has found himself on the New York Yankees.

Wise has not produced for the Bronx Bombers thus far.  Though Wise has played better on the field than at the plate in his major league career, he has never batted as poorly as this season.

Wise has a .130 batting average, a .167 on-base percentage and an OPS+ of -8.0!  2012 has been his worst offensive season ever.

New York can afford someone who has more to offer than Wise.  The Yankees could also choose to bring up someone from the minors.

Outlook

With the 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft around the corner, clubs will try to find their next great superstar.  These players could replace those who have worn out their welcome with their current teams.

It will be interesting to find out what will happen to these "duds," and which clubs will seek their talents—or lack thereof—next.