JANE ASKS: Hi Buck, do you think the Jays will make a serious effort to sign Jose Bautista to a long-term deal in the off-season or take more of a wait-and-see approach to see the numbers he puts up in 2011? Seems to me, he would be a great keeper because of his ability to play third base and any outfield spot.
BUCK: Jane, I hope they sign Jose to a long-term deal but this is a tricky situation. Bautista is having a great year obviously, but who is the real Jose? His average season is .242 with 22 HR and 69 RBI. I think he compares favourably to Michael Cuddyer of the Twins, Jason Bay of the Mets, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth of the Phillies, Corey Hart of the Brewers, Marlon Byrd of the Cubs, Andre Ethier of the Dodgers and Cody Ross of the Marlins. These are all players of similar service time and performance levels.
The one thing against Bautista in these comparisons is the fact that this is his breakout year and he doesn’t have a track record at these levels. Adam Lind was rewarded with a multi-year deal after his breakout season of 2009. Jose is making $2.4 million this year and will get a big number in arbitration if you use Ethier at two years for $15.25 million after he filed for arbitration with less service time. Michael Cuddyer signed a three-year, $24 million deal after he filed with the same service time as Bautista, 4,157 days. Jason Bay, as a free agent, at the same age as Bautista, signed a four-year $66-million deal with the Mets. Also, Marlon Byrd signed a three-year $15-million deal with the Cubs and Corey Hart at the same service time, won his arbitration case at $4.8 million.
In my mind these are the contracts Bautista will look at for his figure. He will be eligible for arbitration this year and should be able to go from $2.4 million to $9 million, where Cuddyer is this year. Since he can be a free agent after 2011, I would think he would want at least a three-year deal for 2011, 2012 and 2013 at which time he would be 32. With all of that considered, I think a contract for $5, $7 and $9 million may get it done. I love his versatility and character. What he brings to the team would cost you $10 to $15 million per season on the free agent market.
ROB ASKS: Brett Wallace has now been traded four times, and while he has been a part of big-name trades (Matt Holliday, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt) he doesn’t stay in one place for long. Is he starting to develop a reputation as a good-hit, no-field player or is there something more?
BUCK: Brett Wallace was a top pick of the Cardinals that doesn’t have a position. If you really look at his numbers in Triple-A they don’t jump off the page. The Pacific Coast League is a hitters’ league because of the small parks, thin air and hard playing surfaces. I think baseball is looking at more complete players who can hit, hit with power, play defence at a high level and run. Wallace will have to hit a ton to be a valuable first baseman in the majors and you are right in assuming the clubs that have had him have moved him after they determined he may not be that complete player they are looking for. I don’t think there are any non-baseball issues that has led to him being moved so often.
STEVE ASKS: Hi Buck, who do you feel were the big winners following the trade deadline on Saturday? I think the Phillies, Cardinals and Yankees did the best.
BUCK: Steve, in my mind the Texas Rangers made the trade deadline acquisitions that will have the most impact. They get Cliff Lee who is a proven post-season No. 1 starter as we saw last year. He moves the rotation down a spot with C.J. Wilson, Tommy Hunter, Scott Feldman and now a healthy Rich Harden. Benji Molina gives them a World Series catcher. Jorge Cantu at first gives them another veteran bat and Cristian Guzman fills in for the injured Ian Kinsler. For me they made the most improvements in their quest to win in the post-season. This is the only team that hasn’t won a post-season series and that is about to change.
DON ASKS: Now that the Jays have traded Brett Wallace and there seems to be no heir apparent at first base, what are the chances that they convert Travis Snider or J.P. Arencibia to first base? Or what do you think their plans are at first now? Perhaps Adam Lind?
BUCK: Don, I think there are some in the organization that believe Lind can play first. I do think that Lyle Overbay may be an option as well now that he has regained his stroke. Lyle is such a good defensive player that he makes the entire infield better. I don’t think first base is a huge concern right now in that they can fix it in the off-season if they need to.
BEN ASKS: With Buck Showalter taking over the Orioles on Tuesday, what will he bring to that organization to turn that once proud franchise around?
BUCK: Well Ben, Buck has a decent resume with the Yankees and the DBacks, but it will take a while to get the Orioles turned around. Knowing Buck a little, I would think this deal will be for four years at least because that’s how long it will take to have an impact as he implements his philosophy. The Orioles need to get back to basics and Buck is a routine-oriented guy that will change the culture in Baltimore from what they are now to a better team on the field with better fundamentals but it will take a while. When the Orioles were the class of the American League they pitched and played defence better than anyone. That is where it all starts and finishes.
GREG SMITH ASKS: From all your years of catching how much talking did you do to the batters? Were there some guys you knew that you could get off their game? Were there others that were impossible to distract? I am very interested in how that dynamic was in your playing days and whether you think that has changed with today’s game.
BUCK: Greg, there were guys that you could engage in conversation that may have been distracted, but there were more that didn’t lose their focus at all. Thurman Munson always talked when he was hot, but if things were not going his way he would barely acknowledge your presence when he stepped into the box. Guys like George Brett and Robin Yount acted like they were playing with a bunch of friends in the sandlots and had a blast all the time. Those two were always in control of their emotions and played their way right into the Hall of Fame.
MARC ASKS: Hi Buck, I was watching a Jays game when Cito Gaston used both his catchers and there was mention of the Jays emergency catcher being John McDonald. I was just wondering does John practise at catcher (if so, does he practise calling a game and how often?), and is this something that all teams have?
BUCK: Marc, John McDonald is the “emergency catcher”. He will catch an occasional bullpen session to get used to the role and the equipment. If you go to Rogers Centre to watch a game Johnny Mac will catch pitchers warming up between innings just in case.