Dec. 1, 1985
It’s Sunday and draft pick signing deadline day. We’re fine. With the offer into Henderson we still have $4.78M to play with, and I’m assuming we might not spend a full million of it. We’ll see how things play out over the next week or two before we jump into some talks.
In draft news, Minnesota couldn’t sign first-round pick Greg Vaughn. No other first-rounders going back into the pool.
And the New York Times today reports that there hasn’t been any drug testing in the league this season. Ah, nice to be lied to by the commish, who said previously that testing was happening. Whatever - do it or don’t do it, but don’t be hypocritical.
Dec. 2, 1985
I get into the office … nothing to report.
Meanwhile, pitcher Frank Tanana has signed a two-year, $1.56M contract with Milwaukee. And bigger-fish pitcher John Tudor is on California for six years and $9.78M. I find that wholly misguided.
Finally, Texas sends second baseman Wayne Tolleson and cash to the Cubs for prospects Mike Tullier and Bryan House. A minor move.
The day ends with one last meeting before we our contingent flies to San Diego for the winter meetings. Our goal for San Diego is to figure out the bullpen situation and look for opportunities to bring in prospects, since there’s a possibility we lose some prospects at the top levels of the system.
We also talk about targets whose skills we prefer. Here’s a look at the fastest players available on the market:
- Bobby Brown - LF/RF/CF - 20/20 - 80 SPD
- Albert Hall - RF/SS/LF/CF - 32/36 - 80 SPD
- (Rickey Henderson - CF/LF - 79/79 - 80 SPD)
- Omar Moreno - RF/LF - 21/21 - 75 SPD
- Kelvin Chapman - 2B - 20/20 - 70 SPD
- Alfredo Griffin - 2B/SS - 40/40 - 70 SPD
- Cliff Wherry - 2B/3B/SS - 20/26 - 70 SPD
- Ricky Adams - 1B/3B/SS/2B - 31/31 - 65 SPD
Aside from the obvious, Griffin could be a one-year upgrade from UL Washington, but the gap is probably too small to consider a change. Also, I like Albert Hall and Ricky Adams as utility options. We offer Hall and Adams both a minor league deal with a $110K salary if promoted within 30 days.
Now the top contact bats:
- Juan Beniquez - LF/1B/RF/3B - 47/47 - 60 CON
- Tony Bernazard - 2B - 49/49 - 60 CON
- Bruce Bochte - 1B - 45/45 - 60 CON
- Hubie Brooks - 3B/SS - 48/48 - 60 CON
- Bill Buckner - 1B - 43/43 - 60 CON
- Enos Cabell - RF/1B - 44/44 - 60 CON
- (Rickey Henderson) - CF/LF - 79/79 - 60 CON
- Jerry Mumphrey - LF/RF/CF - 46/46 - 60 CON
- Denny Walling - LF/3B/1B - 51/51 - 60 CON
I loved Beniquez last offseason, and in Kansas City in 1985 he hit .305/.346/.409 with 45 extra-base hits in 716 plate appearances, getting a true starting role. So, yeah, he wants to start in 1986. Like last offseason, I imagine he’d rather go somewhere where he knows he’ll get a chance to play every day. Don’t blame him.
Otherwise I like Cabell, who was energized last season in Baltimore and hit .306/.350/.451 with 30 extra-base hits in 309 plate appearances. I might go for him during the winter meetings, though that means the spot Chris James would’ve taken. In that case, I might try to deal James to either get a reliever or prospects.
Then again, I could keep James, bring him up and hope he grows into a great uber bench bat to start his major league career. Decisions. Put it this way: We’ll shop James during the winter meetings and see if it makes sense to move him.
Next, the top control relievers with good stuff:
- Bill Campbell - RP - 60/60 - 65 CTR, 50 STU
- Willie Hernandez - RP - 51/51 - 65 CTR, 60 STU
- Rick Reuschel - RP - 50/50 - 65 CTR, 50 STU
- Jeff Reardon - RP - 58/58 - 60 CTR, 55 STU
- Al Holland - RP - 44/44 - 45 CTR, 55 STU
What a list, huh? A former Phillie, a former Phillie, a former Phillie, Jeff Reardon, and a former Phillie. Maybe we should just go after Reardon?
Honestly, if any of these guys were happy with being middle relievers, I’d go for them. As it stands, they all want to be closers, and nope, none of these guys are actual closers.
Finally, the top stuff relievers with average (40+) control (that aren’t the guys above):
- Bill Caudill - RP - 41/41 - 55 STU, 40 CTR
- Ron Davis - RP - 38/38 - 55 STU, 40 CTR
- Doug Bair - RP - 39/39 - 50 STU, 40 CTR
- Bobby Castillo - RP - 46/46 - 50 STU, 40 CTR
- Dennis Leonard - RP - 42/42 - 50 STU, 45 CTR
- Steve Mura - RP - 38/38 - 50 STU, 45 CTR
Not a great list, but the top name here seems to be Castillo, who’s your quintessential middle reliever. That’s kind of what I’m looking for. I’m hoping to let Paul Assenmacher, Don Carman, and Todd Worrell really battle for a late-innings spot. One of them plus Larry Andersen back there, and hopefully, a revitalized Donnie Moore. Another one or two of these guys plus a veteran behind them. Not the best bullpen on paper, but my plan is to have my preferred ‘pen grow from this young group and not continue to rely on veteran gambles.
I’ll look into Castillo during the meetings, and really the other guys, too, as camp options. Maybe I can swing a trade for a better arm who can challenge Moore for a back-end spot.
Anyway, we have our plan. Airport, flight to SAN.
We get in just after 11 p.m. local time, a weird flight that lasted about seven hours but was really three. We rented out a massive suite with two bedrooms at the beachside hotel, and I’m the only one staying there. The rest of the team is off site and will drive in each morning. We say goodnights and doze.