Late Innings

The Comeback Player of the Year Awards came out today. The winners were Cleveland’s Cliff Lee (22-3, 2.53, Cy Young possible) and Philadelphia’s Brad Lidge (41 for 41 in save opportunities, also Cy Young possible.) I realize that these two had off years in 2007, and they both are solid choices for the awards. Still, I stick with the voices that the masses are saying. The awards should have went to Carlos Quinten (36 HR) and Ryan Ludwick (37 HR), in my honest opinion.

One possible front-runner for next year’s award could be Edgar Renteria. As everyone knows by now, Renteria had an off year, especially being part of a Tigers team that was going to score “1,000 runs.” The team was slumping with their bats back in April, and so did Renteria. His option isn’t going to be picked up by the Tigers, and they’re buying out his contract for 3MM. In other words he’ll be a free agent. There’s a piece up on Roch Kubtako’s blog about what the Orioles would do, and most people in the comments suggested that they sign Renteria. I floated the comments and this idea to Tim Dierkes (the MLB Trade Rumors guy) and he responded with the following to me:

Yeah I was looking at that. Bad idea.

Baltimore tried many different shortstops in 2008: Luis Hernandez won the job in Spring Training and was the Opening Day starter. A month or so later, they gave it to Freddie Bynum. Brandon Fahey and Alex Cintron were also given chances, and the team made the late-season trade for Juan Castro, who didn’t provide the offense they needed (his glovework was albeit sound.) Baltimore needs a shortstop for 2009, someone to pair up with Brian Roberts at second. They don’t have too many minor league options, and I did suggest that Andy MacPhail would go after Orlando Cabrera. I personally feel that Renteria would be a better fit.

I’m sure that there will be many teams kicking the tires on Renteria this winter. As to what they’d offer, I’m not sure. There might be a multi-year deal passed, but Renteria might want a one year deal which he could use to reestablish his value for next winter. One year at 6MM would work, and I think MacPhail would bite at that as well. Renteria is only 33, and is one year out of a season in which he hit .332. His defensive range is declining, and his speed is for the most part gone. He still has a good bat. His .269 average last year was his lowest since 2001, and the .698 OPS is ugly. Still those are better number than all Orioles shortstops hit combined last season (Renteria also out-slugged them with his 10HR.)

I would take Renteria for one year, but not for four (e.g. Luis Castillo and his four year/24MM deal with the Mets.) Baltimore hasn’t been dealing out bad contracts of late, and a flyer on Renteria is a good move. Good budget moves include looking for players who have had success in the past. Granted it’s a roll of a dice, but it could pay off for the O’s. After all, Aubrey Huff made a case for the comeback of the year player himself. The same thing goes with the Marlins, who now have a viable trade chip in Jorge Cantu.