Dbacks sign LF Kubel from ztwins

[overseascardfan]

A couple of things I wonder now:

1. Why didn't ARZ go after Huston Street, COL gave him up for practically nothing?

2. Who is the #5 SP? Without Saunders and trading of Parker do we promote from within (Bauer or Corbin) or are we eyeing someone on the market or another trade? Kennedy, Hudson, Cahill, Collmenter.....?

 

[azsportsfan01]

Gerardo Parra's 2011 numbers (493 plate appearances): .292/.357/.427/.784 -- OPS+ of 113
Jason Kubel's 2011 numbers (401 plate appearances): .273/.332/.434/.766 -- OPS+ of 111

You can say that you think Parra's 2011 was a fluke, but given that he's just 24 he has earned the right to prove that it wasn't. Given that Kubel will turn 30 shortly after the season begins, has missed a good chunk of time with injuries, and has dropped significantly off of his 2009 peak, the same argument can be made that Kubel is likely to continue his regression. Kubel is unlikely to be so great of an upgrade over Parra to warrant $15M over two years given that there are more obvious places to use that money (the rotation is still a little soft in the middle, and Montero still needs to be signed long term). I just don't see how this deal is worth it.

Chase was also the 5th best place to hit while Target Field was 21st.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Chase was also the 5th best place to hit while Target Field was 21st.

Which is corrected for in the OPS+.

 

[azsportsfan01]

A couple of things I wonder now:

1. Why didn't ARZ go after Huston Street, COL gave him up for practically nothing?

2. Who is the #5 SP? Without Saunders and trading of Parker do we promote from within (Bauer or Corbin) or are we eyeing someone on the market or another trade? Kennedy, Hudson, Cahill, Collmenter.....?

1. We don't need him. An extreme fly ball pitcher would not work well in Chase. Plus why would you want to pay $7.5 mil to a 7th inning pitcher? The reason he was given away for nothing is because San Diego is will to eat the contract.

2. The D-Backs have a lot of guys who can pitch in the 5th spot. Skaggs, Miley, Bauer, Corbin.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Which is corrected for in the OPS+.

Look at Kubel's stats when they played in the Metrodome. That is a good comparison for Chase. He will hit well here.

 

[TJ]

oh.... and let me add:

You just solidified CY's Triple Crown status.

Congrats

 

[HooverDam]

Weird move, can't really judge it unless we see if some other moves happen, whether thats dealing CY and moving Parra to CF or moving Parra. I don't like Reynolds as an every day 3B, and I still fear Drew leaving at some point, so getting some help on that side of the infield (even if its a rental while we wait for Bochering) seems wise.

 

[DWKB]

Look at Kubel's stats when they played in the Metrodome. That is a good comparison for Chase. He will hit well here.

The Metrodome is not a good comparison for Chase. Chase is a big hitters park and the Metrodome is rather average.

 

[82CardsGrad]

You just solidified CY's Triple Crown status.

Congrats

LMAO!! Good one TJ... even in the offseason I can still impact CY's play!! Love it!!

 

[Dback Jon]

Weird move, can't really judge it unless we see if some other moves happen, whether thats dealing CY and moving Parra to CF or moving Parra. I don't like Reynolds as an every day 3B, and I still fear Drew leaving at some point, so getting some help on that side of the infield (even if its a rental while we wait for Bochering) seems wise.

Reynolds?

You mean Roberts?


If so, I agree.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Weird move, can't really judge it unless we see if some other moves happen, whether thats dealing CY and moving Parra to CF or moving Parra. I don't like Reynolds as an every day 3B, and I still fear Drew leaving at some point, so getting some help on that side of the infield (even if its a rental while we wait for Bochering) seems wise.

Borchering has been moved to left field. Our top 3rd base prospects now are Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler.

 

[BC867]

Kubel is a 29 year old, left-handed hitting power hitter with a steady .270's batting average.

Not only will this improve our cleanup spot, it will give Upton more good pitches to hit. Remember before he got injured, Drew was out cleanup hitter and pitching around JUp began.

I am one of those who thinks this will open the door to trading Young and moving Parra to CF. I think Upton will have a greater chance of fulfilling his long term potential if he is separated from CY.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Kubel is a 29 year old, left-handed hitting power hitter with a steady .270's batting average.

Not only will this improve our cleanup spot, it will give Upton more good pitches to hit. Remember before he got injured, Drew was out cleanup hitter and pitching around JUp began.

I am one of those who thinks this will open the door to trading Young and moving Parra to CF. I think Upton will have a greater chance of fulfilling his long term potential if he is separated from CY.

.... oh, let me toss in a as well!!!

 

[azsportsfan01]

I am one of those who thinks this will open the door to trading Young and moving Parra to CF. I think Upton will have a greater chance of fulfilling his long term potential if he is separated from CY.

Said it before but will say it as many times as needed. Parra in center will be an absolute and utter disaster. If we go into the season with an outfield of Kubel, Parra, and Upton we will have gone from the best defensive outfield to one of the worst.

 

[Gaddabout]

Gerrardo Parra, you just won a Gold Glove! Now grab some pine, buddy!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[BC867]

Said it before but will say it as many times as needed. Parra in center will be an absolute and utter disaster. If we go into the season with an outfield of Kubel, Parra, and Upton we will have gone from the best defensive outfield to one of the worst.

Why do you say Parra will be an absolute and utter disaster in CF? If Young is an "A" in CF and Parra an "A" in LF, moving Parra to a "B" in CF is hardly a disaster. The few times Parra played CF for us, he didn't do anything to embarrass the team. With experience in CF, he'll just get better.

Kubel, of course, is more needed for his bat at cleanup than his glove in LF.

And Upton fluctuates between "A" and "D" from play to play, with his showboating in RF and lack of discipline in hitting the cutoff man.

Now we are getting back to the Major League standard of power at the corners. Don't forget that Ryan Roberts had only one HR and six RBI's less
than Young last season. And Young had 85 more official AB's than Roberts.

85 more official at-bats producing one more HR and six more RBI's. Some of our pitchers could do that in 85 at-bats.

 

[HooverDam]

Reynolds?

You mean Roberts?


If so, I agree.

I do mean Roberts, sorry my brain was not working.

Borchering has been moved to left field. Our top 3rd base prospects now are Matt Davidson and Ryan Wheeler.

Interesting, I don't follow the Farm too closely and hadn't heard that. That seems somewhat odd considering the D'backs are more in need of a 3B than another OF, but I guess you have to do what's in the best interest of the player b/c who knows what the makeup of the big league squad will be like when he's called up. I guess I got overly hopeful with some of the Chipper Jones comparisons I read.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Why do you say Parra will be an absolute and utter disaster in CF? If Young is an "A" in CF and Parra an "A" in LF, moving Parra to a "B" in CF is hardly a disaster. The few times Parra played CF for us, he didn't do anything to embarrass the team. With experience in CF, he'll just get better.

It doesn't work that way. You can have average speed (which Parra has) and be an outstanding left fielder) which Parra is. Parra does not have the speed to get to balls in the gap while playing center. There is just too much ground to cover in center. If we were to trade Young then the D-Backs best bet for center would be Upton but there is no way you shift him. There is a reason Parra's career UZR/150 out in center is -7.2 (http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=8553&position=OF#fielding). That is over 362.2 innings. For comparison sake Parra has a 11.1 UZR/150 in left in his career.

 

[Gaddabout]

The few times Parra played CF for us, he didn't do anything to embarrass the team. With experience in CF, he'll just get better.

Hm. Were we watching the same games this year? I can recall twice when he misjudged a ball that led to it getting by him. The dude has no instincts to play that position.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

A puzzling move for a team that is budget restricted. He'd be an interesting option as a 4th outfielder, but as a starter? Don't like it at all. First questionable Towers move. Guess we'll see how it plays out.

 

[DWKB]

Hm. Were we watching the same games this year? I can recall twice when he misjudged a ball that led to it getting by him. The dude has no instincts to play that position.

In the spirit of 82

Parra in CF is a solution without a problem.

 

[Dback Jon]

Why do you say Parra will be an absolute and utter disaster in CF? If Young is an "A" in CF and Parra an "A" in LF, moving Parra to a "B" in CF is hardly a disaster. The few times Parra played CF for us, he didn't do anything to embarrass the team. With experience in CF, he'll just get better.

Kubel, of course, is more needed for his bat at cleanup than his glove in LF.

And Upton fluctuates between "A" and "D" from play to play, with his showboating in RF and lack of discipline in hitting the cutoff man.

Now we are getting back to the Major League standard of power at the corners. Don't forget that Ryan Roberts had only one HR and six RBI's less
than Young last season. And Young had 85 more official AB's than Roberts.

85 more official at-bats producing one more HR and six more RBI's. Some of our pitchers could do that in 85 at-bats.

The non-major league standard won 94 games last year.

This obsession with the "standard" is going to kill the Dbacks

 

[az240zz]

Don't understand this unless he can play 3b. And everything I've read says no.

WE need a 3rd baseman!!

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Make no bones about it, at his price tag, Kubel was brought in to start. The DBacks aren't a team with a budget to afford a 7 million dollar a year plus bench player.

I like Kubel's power bat in this lineup and in LF he won't have as much ground to cover.

Flipside of that, I am almost certain this spells the end of Parra as a starter. Parra in LF is a good plan. Parra in center is disasterous... And thats being generous.

One wonders if GP will be dealt for a 3B. Just thinking aloud here.

 

[Dback Jon]

Make no bones about it, at his price tag, Kubel was brought in to start. The DBacks aren't a team with a budget to afford a 7 million dollar a year plus bench player.

I like Kubel's power bat in this lineup and in LF he won't have as much ground to cover.

Flipside of that, I am almost certain this spells the end of Parra as a starter. Parra in LF is a good plan. Parra in center is disasterous... And thats being generous.

One wonders if GP will be dealt for a 3B. Just thinking aloud here.

That is the ONLY thing I have thought of that makes sense for this signing - Towers has a trade for a 3B in the works, and one of the pieces is Parra.