"I’m sure there’s someone out there who really will appreciate what I’ve done here in this league."

Paging Jim Bowden. Jim Bowden, please pick up the white courtesy phone.

Seriously, who wants a bad defensive second baseman who appears to think very highly of his abilities and (even when he was good) had to struggle to on-base .300?

Credit where credit is due...he did hit 40 doubles and 28 homers two years ago as a 23-year-old. I don't think there'll be any shortage of organizations willing to take a flyer and offer him a job in AAA. I'd give him that much. But unless he starts hitting, I consider his MLB career over.

He's like a hispanic Shea Hillenbrand.

As a fan of the hitting deprived Oakland A's I wouldn't mind seeing them take a flier on him, provided the price is cheap. But of course, he's nowhere near the type of player Beane likes to acquire so that's never happening.

I don't think there's much reason to believe he'll start hitting again, but he's still relatively young and Sacramento's already been nice to a kind've similar player (Donnie Murphy).

The problem Cantu's got is that apart from his age, there's really nothing that makes him a more valuable commodity at this point than D'Angelo Jimenez or Keith Ginter or Jeff Keppinger or any number of AAAA infielders. There's eight billion of these guys. Bobby Scales, Mark Bellhorn. Jake Gautreau.

Most of those guys can actually get on base, and have actually produced something offensively somewhere in the last two years.

Seriously, who wants a bad defensive second baseman who appears to think very highly of his abilities and (even when he was good) had to struggle to on-base .300?

The YES Network broadcasting crew, for a short while, considered Jorge Cantu some sort of second-basing god.

Of course, Robinson Cano is starting at bag-two for the Bombers..

The problem Cantu's got is that apart from his age, there's really nothing that makes him a more valuable commodity at this point than D'Angelo Jimenez or Keith Ginter or Jeff Keppinger or any number of AAAA infielders. There's eight billion of these guys. Bobby Scales, Mark Bellhorn. Jake Gautreau.

Most of those guys can actually get on base, and have actually produced something offensively somewhere in the last two years.

Well I think you hit on it with your first post. 40 doubles and 28 home runs as a 23 year old at any position, let alone second base, will get you second and third and fourth and fifth chances. Right now, is he better than any of those guys? Certainly not. But he has that 2005, and the off chance that he recovers that form is what sets him apart from the AAAA fodder, like Ginter, as interesting. If he were 28 he'd be D'Angelo Jimenez, but, as you point out, he still has his youth and that's why we're talking about him.

I think Cantu can hit in the majors again with consistent playing time but unless he suddenly improves his plate discipline, a glaring weakness his entire career, then he probably won't do any better than his 2005 performance. That's not enough offense for 1B/DH and his defense is too bad at 2B/3B (an outfield corner is no good either, he's a slug) to make him a fit there.

The YES Network broadcasting crew, for a short while, considered Jorge Cantu some sort of second-basing god.

Of course, Robinson Cano is starting at bag-two for the Bombers..

Considering that Cano is, you know, amongst the best defensive 2B in the game, this statement lacks the sting you were going for.

Now I know that Cantu wears his helmet super low to hide his Robert Davi-like craggly skin problem...BUT HE CAN'T SEE THE BALL!

The problem Cantu's got is that apart from his age, there's really nothing that makes him a more valuable commodity at this point than D'Angelo Jimenez or Keith Ginter or Jeff Keppinger or any number of AAAA infielders.

Except the fact that Cantu can actually hit major league pitching. I doubt he will make it as a regular 2b, but I think he will have a reasonably long career. He has good bat speed, and hand eye coordination. If he hits .260 he can be a valuable role player due to his extra base power, if he hits 280 he can be a good regular.

Except the fact that Cantu can actually hit major league pitching.

But at this point, there doesn't appear to be any indication that he can hit major league pitching. He's hit roughly .244/.290/.382 over his last ~500 plate appearances. He hasn't hit in limited minor league action in either of the last two seasons.

Career MLB OPS+:
Ginter 96
Cantu 96
Jimenez 93
Bellhorn 93

Right now, at this moment, he's not a better ballplayer than Ginter or Jimenez. He's much younger, and that can be tremendously useful, but he's got to start hitting if he's going to be anything other than a AAA lifer who gets an occasional cup of coffee.

Just for the record, Keppinger's a better hitter than people give him credit for. Since his first pro season, he's never had a BA under .300 at any level of the minors, and he's hitting .368 at AAA this year.

I'm glad the Reds are giving him a look right now.

Of course, Robinson Cano is starting at bag-two for the Bombers..

It's worth noting that Cantu has played mostly 1B and DH in his limited appearances this year.

He's such a terrible defensive infielder that Jimenez, Bellhorn aren't his best comparables. He'll be fighting for jobs with guys like Josh Phelps, Scott Thorman, and Craig Wilson. If he hits .260 his OBP doesn't crack .300 and his power is not that remarkable for a corner. He's such a marginal player that he's going to need humility to earn and keep jobs - be the kind of player who will say "yes sir" to whatever a manager asks. Guys with less talent (Joe McEwing) have made careers this way. But Cantu seems to have a bit of an ego connected to his 117 RBI year.

Right now, at this moment, he's not a better ballplayer than Ginter or Jimenez

I couldn't disagree more strongly. Ginter OPS+ contribution was in 04 and 05 when he was 27 and 28. Now he is 31 and past his prime. Now he likly past his prime, and hasn't been a valuable big leaguer since. Not to mention he is hitting .224 in AAA with a 740 ops.

Jimenez major OPS+ contribution came again as an in prime 26 year oild during 2005. Now he likly past his prime, and hasn't been a valuable big leaguer since. Atleast Jimenez is hitting in AAA.

Not only that, but the projection systems favor Cantu by reasonable margins.

In other words I don't think you have a clue what your talking about.

I don't think you have a clue what your talking about.

The feeling is mutual, sir. The feeling is mutual.

I couldn't disagree more strongly.

But who cares if he's a better player than Keith Ginter or D'Angelo Jimenez? Those guys aren't actually any good themselves. By all accounts Cantu can't play anywhere but 1B/DH without giving back defensively most of what he provides offensively.

He could probably make it as a low-level first baseman (####, he might actually represent an upgrade for the Yankees there at this point) but that's not much to hang one's hat on.

AROM's point about him being too big an ego to be a strong role player is a fair one.