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Monday, December 19, 2011

Kubel, D-backs reach two-year deal

Heyman says 2 years, $15 million. That is one expensive pinch hitter!

The D-backs have agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Jason Kubel on a two-year contract with an option, a baseball source confirmed Monday.

The move is somewhat surprising in that the D-backs had not been linked in any rumors to Kubel, nor had they been rumored to be in the market for an outfielder.

Kubel, 29, hit .273 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs for the Twins in 2011. He was originally drafted by Minnesota in the 12th round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft…

Over his career, Kubel has split his time between the outfield corners. With the D-backs, it would appear that he would become the starting left fielder with Gerardo Parra being shifted to a fourth outfield position, or used in a trade to acquire another position of need.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 04:10 PM | 19 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: arizona, twins

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1. JJ1986 Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:25 PM (#4019298)

Why do NL teams with two corner outfielders keep signing Twins DHs?

2. Davo Malvolio Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:28 PM (#4019299)

I don't think he'll be better than Geraldo Parra over the next two years.

I KNOW he won't be $15MM better than Geraldo Parra over the next two years.

Can Kubel play first at all? That's what they need.

3. DL from MN Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:37 PM (#4019309)

Kubel can probably fake it at 1B but he won't be very good. The Twins didn't think he was better than having Cuddyer or Luke Hughes play 1B and neither of those guys was all that good.

4. Ben Broussard Ramjet Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:38 PM (#4019313)

Do the D-backs not like Goldschmidt at 1st? My fantasy baseball team is keen to know these things.

5. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 05:46 PM (#4019320)

D-Backs already have Paul Goldschmidt, who is good, and Lyle Overbay, who is not, at first base.

Could Parra handle CF? He doesn't really hit enough to be a great corner OF. I know the D-Backs have Young there already, but I was thinking about Parra's value in a trade.

6. Enrico Pallazzo Posted: December 19, 2011 at 06:21 PM (#4019347)

Parra won a Gold Glove. From what I've seen (albeit limited), he could easily handle CF. Smooth looking fielder with great range and positioning. Fans never have a reason to worry about a ball hit near the track.

He could be a David Murphy-type with better D. Aren't the Nats looking for a CF?

7. Davo Malvolio Posted: December 19, 2011 at 06:36 PM (#4019359)

I mean, ok, you sign Kubel to make Parra 4th outfielder. Cool.

So....Captain Obvious....why wouldn't you just sign a regular 4th outfielder? Nate McLouth signed for $1.75M. Why not do that?

8. WhoWantsTeixeiraDessert Posted: December 19, 2011 at 06:37 PM (#4019361)

The Nats trading for Parra would make too much sense.

9. Walt Davis Posted: December 19, 2011 at 06:47 PM (#4019371)

It's not often you see GGers lose their job. It's not often you see GGers lose their job when they also put up average offense for their position. By OPS+, Parra out-hit Kubel last year ... then again, by Rfield, Kubel was a smidgen better defensively. Baseball is a funny game.

Chone suggests he would be below-average but not awful in CF ... but his handful of innings in CF suggest he'd be pretty awful.

10. DL from MN Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:31 PM (#4019394)

Kubel will hit better in Arizona. Target Field was not kind to Jason Kubel.

Kubel also isn't an everyday player with his history of knee problems. He needs a break a couple days a week.

11. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:37 PM (#4019398)

Kubel also isn't an everyday player with his history of knee problems. He needs a break a couple days a week.

Unfortunately, both he and Parra are LH.

12. DL from MN Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:39 PM (#4019402)

Upton and Young are both RH. Doesn't seem like a huge problem.

13. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:44 PM (#4019407)

Upton and Young are both RH. Doesn't seem like a huge problem.

But don't Upton and Young play virtually every day? At their ages, you'd hope they'd give you 155 Gs or so.

I don't think you want to sit either one of them to get Kubel or Parra in the lineup.

Makes more sense to trade Parra somewhere he can start, and get a RH 4th OF.

14. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:46 PM (#4019408)

Makes more sense to trade Parra somewhere he can start, and get a RH 4th OF.

Ah, Parra for Alfonso Soriano?

15. DL from MN Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:51 PM (#4019413)

A RH caddy for Kubel makes a ton of sense. He's going to give you 140 games if everything goes well. He also has a nasty platoon split.

16. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 19, 2011 at 07:58 PM (#4019419)

A RH caddy for Kubel makes a ton of sense. He's going to give you 140 games if everything goes well. He also has a nasty platoon split.

If Parra was RH, this would work out great. Give Kubel ~80-90 G's in LF, 40 at 1B, all vs. RHP. Parra replaces Kubel for D in late innings.

So, basically, they need to trade Parra for a RH version of himself.

17. JJ1986 Posted: December 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM (#4019427)

So, basically, they need to trade Parra for a RH version of himself.

They just traded one to Oakland.

18. ValueArbitrageur Posted: December 19, 2011 at 09:46 PM (#4019535)

Parra finally had a break-through season at an age where it probably isn't a fluke (24), and you can reasonably expect him to improve. Now they are going to replace him with a 30 year old with bad knees and a career OPS+ worse than Parra's last season.

Are the DBacks afraid of Parra in arbitration?

19. Double-Spin Mechanic Posted: December 19, 2011 at 10:00 PM (#4019545)

Gibby says he's not gritty enough. Doesn't score on popups to second, marry strippers, speak English...

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Kubel, D-backs reach two-year deal

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