Dec. 16, 1985
The White Sox unload Carlton Fisk to Texas for equally-as-old second baseman Toby Harrah. Chicago apparently saw negotiations as “difficult.” Really? They’re well matched. This deal makes sense. The Sox are delusional.
Today we start talking about the Rule 5 Draft; specifically, players we want to add to the 40-man roster to keep them from being selected. Our top-10 options (we have 37 of 40 spots filled right now):
- CF Jim Eisenreich - AAA - 35/46
- RP Joe Boever - AAA - 30/40
- LF/1B/CF - Keith Hughes - AAA - 29/38
- LF/RF/CF/3B/SS - Gib Seibert - AAA - 27/31
- 1B Pat Adams - AAA - 29/33
- 2B/3B/SS - Greg Legg - AAA - 30/35
- SS/2B/3B - Ken Dowell - AAA - 23/34
- RP Rich Gaynor - AAA - 29/29
- CF/RF/3B/1B/SS - Greg Jelks - AA - 24/31
- RF/2B/CF - Ramon Sambo - AA - 21/31
We don’t imagine anyone beyond maybe Legg being selected (also, catcher Bruce Bochy is the one non-roster invitee that could go), so we’ll probably take the risk this year and protect fewer players. Still hashing things out, though.
Dec. 17, 1985
You can add SS Ricky Adams to that list; the utility bat with solid speed signs a minor league deal.
We’re also heading into prep for what we might want in the Rule 5 Draft, but like last season, we’re not so sure we’ll be looking to add anything. The only possibility: if there’s a painfully obvious bench bat available to us. As of right now, our most likely bench is:
- C Tommy Thompson
- 3B/CF/2B/1B/SS Bill Lyons
- SS/2B/3B Steve Jeltz
- LF/RF Bruce Fields
- LF/CF Dave Stegman
- LF/RF Jeff Stone
It’s not the greatest bench, and we might add to it in free agency (we have that offer out to Enos Cabell), but we do have options. The Rule 5 would have to show us a clear-cut upgrade.
Dec. 18, 1985
The Pirates make a big play, signing 3B Tim Wallach to a seven-year, $9.15 million contract (the seventh year is a player option). At age 28, Wallach has been known more for his defense, winning the last two Gold Glove awards at third base. His hitting, however, has declined since a pretty good 1983 (.269/.335/.434). He still has power, though (21 home runs and 26 doubles last year), though one could argue he should’ve had more (670 plate appearances).
Pittsburgh has to be hoping Wallach improves offensively. Otherwise he’s a nice piece, but maybe not a seven-year type. Either way, he’ll join Jay Buhner, Bobby Bonilla, and Joe Orsulak in a younger Pirates lineup.
And the third base market is rapidly shrinking with Milwaukee locking in Denny Walling on a two-year, $548K deal. Walling hit .272/.307/.420 last season in Oakland. He’s a decent if uninspiring third baseman.
On our end, I check back in with Mike Scott’s camp and it’s the same line. He wants the most money for a pitcher. Also, I’m hearing the Brewers are trying to snag him. Looks like Milwaukee thinks it has a shot in 1986.
Finally, I call up Dan Kacala with the Cubs once again about Lee Smith. He says the same thing: Scott Sanderson, straight up. It remains intriguing, but I can’t in good conscience steer away from my plans.
Dec. 19, 1985
Time to make decisions on who to save for the Rule 5 Draft. We’re going with:
- CF Jim Eisenreich - AAA - 35/46
- RP Joe Boever - AAA - 30/40
- LF/1B/CF - Keith Hughes - AAA - 29/38
- 1B Pat Adams - AAA - 29/33
We had just three spots to play with at first, so we waived both SP Steve Witt and RP Karl Best, who we’re hoping we can get back. It gives us a 40th roster spot to play with, if we happen to get a heck of a deal.
Dec. 20, 1985
First news of the day: The Angels sign 2B Tony Bernazard to a three-year, $2.84M deal. Seems like a slight overpay, especially as they could’ve probably gotten back the better Bobby Grich for less or the same. But then again, they’re hoping Bernazard plays like he did with Cleveland last season (.328/.377/.449) before being dealt to Atlanta.
Anyway, Rule 5 Draft time. The pool is very pitching heavy and sadly includes the great Rollie Fingers. I don’t see us diving in (we pick 24th). Let’s see what happens;
- 1. Oakland Athletics - Tim Crews - SP - 36/36
- 2. Atlanta Braves - Tom Paciorek - 3B - 36/36
- 5. Cleveland Indians - Mike Rubel - C - 33/37
- 6. Texas Rangers - Doug Sisk - RP - 44/44
- 7. Chicago Cubs - Bryan Funk - 40/41
- 8. Chicago White Sox - Vern Ruhle - RP - 38/38
- 11. Baltimore Orioles - Gary Lucas - RP - 38/38
- 13. Cincinnati Reds - Ed Jurak - SS - 34/37
- 14. Kansas City Royals - Sam Horn - 1B - 34/41
- 15. St. Louis Cardinals - Ricky Adams - SS - 31/31
- 22. Montreal Expos - Chris Johnson - CF - 35/40
- 25. Los Angeles Dodgers - Scott Parsons - LF - 34/39
- 27. Oakland Athletics - Dennis Leonard - RP - 42/42
- 28. Atlanta Braves - Ross Jones - SS - 32/38
- 31. Cleveland Indians - Don Heinkel - RP - 39/39
- 32. Texas Rangers - Andy Araujo - RP - 39/39
- 33. Chicago Cubs - Joe Sambito - RP - 37/37
- 34. Chicago White Sox - Mike Schmid - RP - 37/37
- 53. Los Angeles Dodgers - Mike Patterson - CF - 33/34
So I lose Jurak and Adams, both minor league free agent signings, so no big losses at all. That said, I’m going to head back and look for more middle infielders for minor league deals.