Update: HOLLIDAY A CARD 7yr/120 million, p178

[Michael]

I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that there's so much support for giving DeRosa what will likely be a 3-yr deal if you believe the reports.

3 years? Yikes. I guess it would open up the opportunity to trade Ludwick.

I don't know why we wouldn't just hang on to Ludwick, take the draft pick for DeRosa and sign someone comparable like Nady to a shorter term deal. I really don't want 35-year old DeRosa on a 3-yr deal.

Ludwick is not good.

Come on, at least tell us why you don't think he's good.

[cards2468]

Keep in mind the issues he had last year with injury and finding his swing after too extensive of an off season strength program. Bill James is projecting him to post an OPS around .830. I wouldn't call that "not good".

[Rieges]

I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that there's so much support for giving DeRosa what will likely be a 3-yr deal if you believe the reports.

3 years? Yikes. I guess it would open up the opportunity to trade Ludwick.

I don't know why we wouldn't just hang on to Ludwick, take the draft pick for DeRosa and sign someone comparable like Nady to a shorter term deal. I really don't want 35-year old DeRosa on a 3-yr deal.

Ludwick is not good.

He's a helluva lot better than going after Nady or some other terrible defensive outfielder. He was a little better than average this year according to some stat that I don't know much about, and he works well as a 5 hitter. He also plays good defense and has a strong, accurate arm. If I had to choose between Ludwick and DeRosa, I'd pick Ludwick.

Nady didn't look so bad in LF in '08 according to UZR and Dewan's. Dewan's = +2 and UZR/150 = 4.6 for '08 in 389.2 innings in LF. His career LF innings total prior to '08 was less than that so not a huge sample size but his career UZR/150 of 1.8 in 671.1 innings suggests he can at least be an average LFer. His UZR/150 and Dewan's numbers suggest he's not even a terrible RFer, but probably a bit below average.

[epinephrine]

I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that there's so much support for giving DeRosa what will likely be a 3-yr deal if you believe the reports.

3 years? Yikes. I guess it would open up the opportunity to trade Ludwick.

I don't know why we wouldn't just hang on to Ludwick, take the draft pick for DeRosa and sign someone comparable like Nady to a shorter term deal. I really don't want 35-year old DeRosa on a 3-yr deal.

Ludwick is not good.

Come on, at least tell us why you don't think he's good.

Too streaky of a hitter.

[ilstu24]

Not like anyone cares, but here's my two cents on it. He either wants to be here or doesn't. Hes gunna get so much money it doesn't matter.

[Hungary Jack]

I have to admit that I'm a little surprised that there's so much support for giving DeRosa what will likely be a 3-yr deal if you believe the reports.

3 years? Yikes. I guess it would open up the opportunity to trade Ludwick.

I don't know why we wouldn't just hang on to Ludwick, take the draft pick for DeRosa and sign someone comparable like Nady to a shorter term deal. I really don't want 35-year old DeRosa on a 3-yr deal.

Ludwick is not good.

Come on, at least tell us why you don't think he's good.

Too streaky of a hitter.

That's weak.

Albert had an historic (for him) home run drought late in the season. Is he "not good"?

Ludwick was worth 1.8 WAR in 2009, or $8.1M. He was paid $3.7M. That's a pretty good value.

[Eephus Speed]

If we're talking about Nady as a starter, let's stop talking. 2008 aside, he's not even a 1-win player. If we're talking about having him be the backup corner outfielder and backup first baseman, I'd rather give that job to Craig or someone else from the minors.

If DeRosa is demanding multiple guaranteed years, forget it. If he'll sign for 1 year (with a club option, perhaps), he's a good option. Byrd's another possibility.

After Holliday, Beltre and Cameron are the 2 most valuable FA. If we don't get any of them, I'd rather go the trade route than overpay one of the other FA (Bay, Tejada, DeRosa, Nady, etc.).

If we sign Holliday, we could trade Ludwick. Otherwise, keep him.

[cards2468]

Jim Edmonds was 1 of the most notorious streaky hitters... but he was still pretty damn good.

[Hungary Jack]

If we're talking about Nady as a starter, let's stop talking. 2008 aside, he's not even a 1-win player. If we're talking about having him be the backup corner outfielder and backup first baseman, I'd rather give that job to Craig or someone else from the minors.

This. Nady had one good year, and was craptastic otherwise. Plus he's an injury risk. I wouldn't touch him with the shepherd's crook Leroy uses to fish bodies out of his retention pond.

[Rieges]

If we're talking about Nady as a starter, let's stop talking. 2008 aside, he's not even a 1-win player. If we're talking about having him be the backup corner outfielder and backup first baseman, I'd rather give that job to Craig or someone else from the minors.

Look a little deeper - Nady's WAR looks a lot better if he's a full-time LFer. With that said, I'm not opposed to a Craig/Church platoon over Nady but Church seems to have more value as a RFer.