Repeating from the Concepcion thread --

I've always liked Cardenas quite a bit -- I think he's sort of a better Ryan Flaherty (still doesn't excuse giving Flaherty away, but whatever). Cardenas can, I think, legitimately play a backup role across the IF and I think he about equals Flaherty at the plate.

The Trib article, as noted above, says "released" -- but I heard "designated for assignment" on the ride home... not that I expect DeWitt to fetch anything in trade.

Curious. DeWitt doesn't project that badly (91 OPS+, FR defense across the IF, LHB) and, according to Cot's, he's already signed for 2012 at $1.1 M. Does that $1.1 M not count given they've cut him so soon? (Or did Cot's jump the gun?) Cardenas also LHB so I can see the conundrum but surely there's somebody else on the 40-man to can (e.g. Barney).

Odd Blake DeWitt stat: He's an LHB who has a career line of 290/373/440 against lefties (his OPS against righties is 120 points lower). It's 220 PA, so it could be a fluke, but it's interesting.

His (conventional) fielding stats suggest his defense at third is pretty lousy. Does that jive with reality?

Either way, he's good enough and cheap enough I suspect someone will take a flyer on him.

showing my age--when I saw the headline, my first thoughts were Leo Cardenas and Bill DeWitt from the Reds

I'd rather have Cardenas than Jonny Gomes.

I'd rather have Cardenas than Jonny Gomes.

Or Recker, Doolittle, Wagner, Norberto, Figueroa, Rosales, Kila...

Here's the glass is mostly empty view of Cardenas.
He lacks power. He doesn't draw a lot of walks. He's a pretty terrible defender in the infield. He doesn't hit for enough average to support an existence as a left fielder and possibly at all. (His MLE for last year: .263/.309/.338, per Dan's estimates... the PCL is a pretty good place to hit)
Silver lining: He makes contact. He's young enough (24) to add gap power, or walk more, or get more steady defensively (though upping his range probably won't happen), or something.

I think Flaherty is a better hitter and fielder at this stage in the game.

Dewitt's no great loss (if lost), though he's also better than Cardenas right now. Subpar glove and slightly subpar bat? Sign me up... At least he's lefty, I guess.
If released, they're responsible for a sixth of his salary.

Gomes, in 2012, has a higher floor than any of these guys - he's legitimately a solid hitter versus lefty pitching - but he obviously lacks much in terms of ceiling.

Reminds me of Dice-K

A smart team would forget the foolish Murphy experiment and Justin Turner and pick up DeWitt. But......

[2] I think arb salaries are only partly guaranteed.

Depends on when they release him. I forget the exact date and how much the pay is but if you release a player before Spring Training you only have to pay 30 days or something like that.

Gomes, in 2012, has a higher floor than any of these guys - he's legitimately a solid hitter versus lefty pitching - but he obviously lacks much in terms of ceiling.

Exactly- do the A's need floor or ceiling? They suck. Losing any potential at all to get Gomes makes no sense.

Losing any potential at all to get Gomes makes no sense.

You don't understand - He's got a Mowhawk! He's a Character(tm)!

The comparison shouldn't really be to Gomes, though, it should be to Sean Doolittle. A former first baseman turned pitcher who hasn't played in two years.

[2] I think arb salaries are only partly guaranteed.

That's true ... or at least it was true, no idea what the current CBA says ... and a good point. But was this an arb award or did they settle before the hearing. The arb "escape" clause was there in case a team felt the arbitrator had gone insane (fast Brian Hunter) but I don't know if such an escape clause is allowed in a standard pre-FA contract.

IIRC, under the old CBA, arb salaries were only 1/6 guaranteed. You could release the player before I think March 1 and be on the hook for only 1/6 of the salary.