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December 14, 2014
Subject: Winter Meetings Begin
The Continental Baseball Association winter meetings are a godsend to a gabby baseball media hungry for rumors, intrigue and talk of a brighter day. Free agents will meet with prospective clubs. The fraternity of managers will gather in little clusters, assessing the past season, while GMs sit in their own little covens concocting intricate potions in the hope that they will be able to pull off a magical trade before the meetings close in three days.
I am working on some potential trades for a first baseman, mainly because I don’t want to forfeit a first-round pick on a compensation eligible free agent. I probably can’t afford one of those three top names (Kramer, Reynolds, and Whitaker) anyway if I complete my entire shopping list.
My rankings for free agent short relievers in which I have interest are:
1. Carlos Pereira (31/R/4.5*) CLT 2014 = 83 IP, 1.95 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 11 SV
2. Eric Cox (28/R/4*) CLT 2014 = 76 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 28 SV
3. Joaquin Garcia (28/L/4.5*) CHS 2014 = 79 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 41 SV
4. Anastasio Alomar (35/R/4*) DET 2014 = 80 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 5 SV
5. Anibal Rocha (31/R/4.5*) ORL 2014 = 87 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 0 SV
Compare those relievers to my projected closer, currently under contract at $3.2M:
Jorge Merced (29/R/4.5*) LOU 2014 = 85 IP, 3.18 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 3 SV
Merced can be better than any of these guys if he can adapt to the closer role. I don’t see a reason to pay one of these potential closers more than Merced’s salary, but the free agency process will almost certainly lead to that.
I really need a dependable setup man that could slide into the closer role if Merced falters, but it will be hard to find someone that won’t be unhappy about not being the closer.
Perhaps a trade for a solid and affordable closer might be a better route, leaving Merced in the setup role where he is happy and productive. I intend to pursue the names above first, but I won’t go outside of my own parameters to land one.
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