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Friday, November 30, 2007

MLB: Cardinals sign free agent INF Cesar Izturis

Picking up the scraps…

With hopes of improving upon the team’s defensive play, the St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract for 2008 with free-agent infielder Cesar Izturis. The Cardinals finished 15th in fielding pct. among N.L. teams in 2007 at .980, their worst finish since 1999 (.978).

Izturis, 27, was a Rawlings Gold Glove recipient in 2004 and was named to the N.L. All-Star team in 2005. He ranks 4th among Major League shortstops (min. 5,000 innings) in fielding pct. (.979) since becoming a regular in 2002 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cardinals’ shortstops combined for 32 of the team’s 76 infield errors last season.

“We (the Cardinals) have always prided ourselves on being a sound defensive team,” said Cardinals General Manager John Mozeliak. “Hopefully Cesar can help us restore that. We’ve seen first-hand how important solid defensive play can be to a team’s overall performance.”

Repoz Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:36 PM | 41 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:41 PM (#2629647)

Is Izturis still considered to be good defensively?

There don't seem to be a ton of options out there, so if you're the Cards, you may as well get a good gloveman I suppose and hit him 9th, behind the pitcher.

2. Calvin Schiraldi Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:46 PM (#2629666)

Muahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Sounds like LaRussa had two glasses of wine and started drunk dialing agents.

3. Alex meets the threshold for granular review Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:47 PM (#2629671)

Bleeeeeeaaaaaargh.

4. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:49 PM (#2629684)

Trying to beat the Cubs at their own game?

5. salvomania Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:50 PM (#2629686)

Christ!! why not just pay Brendan Ryan the minimum?

6. salvomania Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:54 PM (#2629697)

Og god.. I just actually looked at his BBref page... a sub.300 career OBP?

An OPS+ of 66 is a "good year"?

Maybe Ryan was playing over his head last year, but still, it's hard to believe he can perform the way he did last year and then be considered a WORSE option to start than Izturis...

If you're already conceding an offensive spot behind the plate (although I think Yadi is in the top half of NL catchers offensively--which isn't saying much) can you really afford to start one of the worst offensive players in all of baseball at shortstop? I mean really.. is there a worse-hitting starter in the game????

7. salvomania Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:57 PM (#2629707)

So now they lose 7-2 instead of 8-3. Why not try and lose by only 4-3 or 5-4?

8. DCW3 Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:57 PM (#2629708)

I mean really.. is there a worse-hitting starter in the game????

The guy who's going to stand across second base from Izturis next year might give him a run for his money.

*weeps silently*

9. Teheran's Uranium Enriched Missiles Posted: November 30, 2007 at 07:58 PM (#2629710)

And Izturis isn't all that great defensively if you go by pbp defence ratings.

NL Central Motto ( 07/08 ) : Save Jim Hendry

10. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:00 PM (#2629715)

I think John McDonald, Adam Everett and Itzuris should all have to where those pygama top looking retro uniforms from the 70's. That would be stylin'.

11. Enrico Pallazzo Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:10 PM (#2629739)

is there a worse-hitting starter in the game????

P for Punto.

12. John Northey Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:11 PM (#2629743)

Everett - 69 OPS+ lifetime, 31 years old next season
Izturis - 67 OPS+ lifetime, 28 years old next season
McDonald - 58 OPS+ lifetime, 33 years old next season
Adam Kennedy - 50 OPS+ last year, but an amazing 88 lifetime (well, vs these guys it is amazing). 32 next year.

Oy. Feel sorry for those of us who are hearing our GM going on about how happy he is with his team here in Toronto. A 58 OPS+ lifetime hitter at short. Using a very favorable method I figured with his top notch defense he (in a 61 OPS+ year) was worth as much as a 700 OPS player with average defense at short but boy when Izturis is a better hitter and 5 years younger one has to wonder.

Oh, and if you want really scary in 2000 Homer Bush hit at an OPS+ rate of 33 over 325 PA's as our regular secondbaseman here in Toronto AND KEPT HIS JOB THE NEXT SEASON! Now _that_ is scary.

13. greenback

Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:13 PM (#2629749)

I mean really.. is there a worse-hitting starter in the game????

The guy who's going to stand across second base from Izturis next year might give him a run for his money.

Which guy, Kennedy or Miles?

14. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:34 PM (#2629809)

$2.85 million with $650,000 in incentives according to rotoworld.

15. salvomania Posted: November 30, 2007 at 08:44 PM (#2629828)

$2.85 million? Again, can you do any sort of calculus that suggests Izturis can be a more valuable everyday player than what the team already has on its roster?

...Unless... they're stockpiling talent to make a run for Johan....

16. Eddie Gaedel Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:03 PM (#2629881)

salvo,

Since Izturis was signed as a FA, he can't be traded for Santana until 15June.

Minnesota will have to settle for a package of Rolen and Kennedy unless they want to wait until mid-summer.

17. John Northey Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:12 PM (#2629904)

Hmm... maybe $3.8 for McDonald over two years ($1.9 per year) wasn't so bad after all. Scary that shortstops who don't hit are worth that much.

18. salvomania Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:22 PM (#2629924)

I wonder how much graphic designers who don't hit could be worth on the FA market?

19. Gern Blanston Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:40 PM (#2629952)

I'm trying really hard not to snicker about this. OK, not really.

20. Gern Blanston Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:41 PM (#2629954)

...Unless... they're stockpiling talent to make a run for Johan....

OK, but what does stockpiling talent have to do with Cesar Izturis?

Speaking of all this--don't the Pirates still owe the Cubs a player for Izturis?

21. TOLAXOR Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:43 PM (#2629958)

WELL, AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T TRADE COLBY RASMUS FOR BRAD AUSMUS AND LUKE SCOTT...

22. The District Attorney Posted: November 30, 2007 at 09:45 PM (#2629963)

WELL, AT LEAST THEY DIDN'T TRADE COLBY RASMUS FOR BRAD AUSMUS AND LUKE SCOTT...

That is pretty damn comparable, isn't it.

Oy.

23. Chris Hansen, NBC Dateline Posted: November 30, 2007 at 10:35 PM (#2630037)

Everett - 69 OPS+ lifetime, 31 years old next season
Izturis - 67 OPS+ lifetime, 28 years old next season
McDonald - 58 OPS+ lifetime, 33 years old next season
Adam Kennedy - 50 OPS+ last year, but an amazing 88 lifetime (well, vs these guys it is amazing). 32 next year.

I have a newfound appreciation of Jhonny Peralta.

24. NTNgod Posted: November 30, 2007 at 10:56 PM (#2630068)

From the STL Post-Dispatch article on the signing:

The Cardinals remain in pursuit of another starting pitcher and are believed to have strong interest in Milwaukee Brewers lefthander Chris Capuano.

Not the first mention of the Cards interested in trying to buy low on Capuano...

25. kthejoker Posted: November 30, 2007 at 11:00 PM (#2630072)

The NL Central is monopolizing the weak-hitting middle fielder market.

26. rfloh Posted: November 30, 2007 at 11:04 PM (#2630079)

Izturis == Neifi II.

27. Slivers of Maranville (SdeB) Posted: November 30, 2007 at 11:12 PM (#2630085)

That's All-Star™ Cesar Izturis.

28. NTNgod Posted: November 30, 2007 at 11:51 PM (#2630132)

re: Capuano/Cards, from MLB.com

Melvin gathered his staff all day on Friday to prepare for the Winter Meetings in Nashville, which begin unofficially on Sunday night. He did not spend the day, as some reports would make it seem, negotiating with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Talk radio buzzed with rumors of one deal sending Brewers left-hander Chris Capuano to St. Louis, and another with the Cardinals sending third baseman Scott Rolen to Milwaukee. Melvin did say earlier in the week that the Brewers had discussed Rolen internally, but had concerns about his high price tag ($36 million over the next three years) and his uncertain health.

"I haven't talked to the Cardinals in a while," Melvin said.

29. Guts

Posted: December 01, 2007 at 01:52 AM (#2630264)

I just wanted to be sure my disgust with this deal was on the record.

30. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 01, 2007 at 01:55 AM (#2630269)

That's All-Star™ Cesar Izturis.

Dear god, I thought "All Star Mark Redman" was bad.

31. NTNgod Posted: December 01, 2007 at 01:56 AM (#2630272)

I just wanted to be sure my disgust with this deal was on the record.

I did give advance warning they were interested in Izturis a few weeks ago, so at least you realized it was a possibility, and could attempt to steel yourself.

32. KJOK Posted: December 01, 2007 at 02:18 AM (#2630295)

Which guy, Kennedy or Miles?

Yes, that guy, Kennedy/Miles.

33. Guts

Posted: December 01, 2007 at 02:29 AM (#2630307)

NTN - True. You did give notice. But seriously, CESAR IZTURIS!?!? How can I prepare for that? Except by rewatching Eck's "highlights" this year, I guess.

At least Mizzou is doing well this year. That'll have to sustain me through the summer, since Albert evidently has to personally score all of the Cards' runs.

34. So Taguchi is My Sensei Posted: December 01, 2007 at 03:16 AM (#2630352)

as comic book guy would say, "it's the worst signing ever! rest assured i was immediately on the internet, registering my disgust with the world."

35. John Northey Posted: December 01, 2007 at 03:18 AM (#2630355)

Hey for fun howsabout Alfredo Griffen All-Star in 1984 when he had an OPS+ of 48 (he actually had a season with 502 PA with a lower OPS+, 1990 at 43 not to mention his final season on the bench in Toronto for the 1993 WS with a 28 OPS+ over 102 PA's - he was on deck when Joe Carter hit the home run).

There is a caveat on that - Griffen only made the team due to the fact he was there (went with buddy Damaso Garcia who made the team with an 86 OPS+) and someone was hurt pre-game so they grabbed him so they'd have a full team.

36. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: December 01, 2007 at 03:27 AM (#2630363)

Also posted in dugout, but they DFA'd J-Rod to free up room for him.

37. Guts

Posted: December 01, 2007 at 03:49 AM (#2630388)

they DFA'd J-Rod to free up room for him.

Unbefuckingleivable. Sure, dump the better, cheaper guy. Just because TLR hates him. For no reason. Other than he doesn't like the nickname "J-Rod."

Hey, at least the Mets did something stupider today!

38. NTNgod Posted: December 01, 2007 at 07:22 AM (#2630539)

STL Post-Dispatch

The Cardinals inquired about Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada and Pittsburgh Pirates starting shortstop Jack Wilson but could not complete a match with either club. The Orioles are expected to trade Tejada, the 2002 American League MVP, perhaps as early as baseball's winter meetings next week in Nashville.
...
Mozeliak insisted the Cardinals' offense is better than advertised last season.

"If you look at our offense, you had an injured Rolen and an injured Edmonds," Mozeliak said. "A healthier club could give you more offense. It seems like people fail to recognize that was one of the reasons we struggled. Our team wasn't out there. We still would like to bring another hitter on board."

The Cardinals become Izturis' fourth team in three years.
...
The Cardinals have targeted Milwaukee Brewers lefthander Chris Capuano as one possibility and may add third baseman Scott Rolen to the discussion.

39. DCW3 Posted: December 01, 2007 at 07:30 AM (#2630546)

Unbefuckingleivable. Sure, dump the better, cheaper guy. Just because TLR hates him. For no reason. Other than he doesn't like the nickname "J-Rod."

No, there's definitely a reason. Think about all the players on the last couple Cardinal teams that La Russa clearly despises: John Rodriguez. Scott Rolen. Anthony Reyes. Brendan Ryan. Notice anything they all have in common? I'm confident that once Colby Rasmus makes it to the majors, La Russa will tell him to stop walking so much, bench him, and finally engineer a deal to trade him for Kris Benson.

40. salvomania Posted: December 01, 2007 at 09:22 AM (#2630616)

John Rodriguez. Scott Rolen. Anthony Reyes. Brendan Ryan.

LaRussa has a problem with non-Black players?

41. NTNgod Posted: December 01, 2007 at 10:47 PM (#2630965)

MIL J-S blog:

The rumors that the Brewers will acquire St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen continue to spread but general manager Doug Melvin told me today he has nothing imminent with the Cardinals.

In fact, Melvin said he hadn't talked to the Cards for a couple of weeks. That doesn't mean the trade won't happen at some point, however.

To make a deal for Rolen work, the Brewers would ask the Cardinals to eat some of the $38 million over three years that he has remaining on his contract.

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MLB: Cardinals sign free agent INF Cesar Izturis

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