Camden Depot: Take the Under

[weams]

http://camdendepot.blogspot.com/2017/01/mark-trumbo-projections-take-under.html

Dan Duquette has a knack for finding value on the fringes of active rosters.  He found himself Nate McLouth, David Lough, Nelson Cruz, and Mark Trumbo.  He has had some misses too like Travis Snider, reupping Alejandro De Aza, and strangely trading starting pitching depth for Gerardo Parra.  However, he generally does well with his recycling bin selections.  One major benefit, of course, is that this enables him to bet on breakout candidates while only locking himself in to a one year deal.  A one year deal reduces the upside of a deal, but also greatly controls for any losses.  For a club like the Orioles, a heavy spending lower revenue club, it is difficult to get a payroll locked into big deals (more on this in three years when I talk about Chris Davis).

[ChuckS]

Never thought of David Lough as one of the success stories.  We cut him for a reason and the guy has played mostly minor league baseball since for a reason.  

[Redskins Rick]

13 minutes ago, ChuckS said:

Never thought of David Lough as one of the success stories.  We cut him for a reason and the guy has played mostly minor league baseball since for a reason.  

He was a backup outfielder and bench player, that played plus defense at all 3 positions, and almost went to the WS with that roster.

2014, he was a 1.6 WAR for 510K, so I would call it a success, just not long term success.

[thezeroes]

1 hour ago, ChuckS said:

Never thought of David Lough as one of the success stories.  We cut him for a reason and the guy has played mostly minor league baseball since for a reason.  

He was not cut but was non-tendered a contract which made him a free agent. 

[ChuckS]

3 minutes ago, thezeroes said:

He was not cut but was non-tendered a contract which made him a free agent. 

He really made it through all of 2015 with us?  Regardless, he wasn't very good and has been having difficulty finding a major league job since.  I suppose he did provide some value to us in 2014.  Still I wouldn't consider him a Duquette "diamond in the rough" find. 

[thezeroes]

1 hour ago, ChuckS said:

He really made it through all of 2015 with us?  Regardless, he wasn't very good and has been having difficulty finding a major league job since.  I suppose he did provide some value to us in 2014.  Still I wouldn't consider him a Duquette "diamond in the rough" find. 

Adam Jones was out with injury while finishing with 137 Games.  Reimold, Parra and Lake finished the season in CF with Lough going in as the defensive replacement.  Lough was headed into his arbitration year that winter and it was thought he would garner a $750,000 + contract.  For a defensive replacement that was TOO MUCH $$$$$.  We traded Danny Valencia to KC for him in December of 2013.  Valencia was the utility IF behind Schoop, Machado, Hardy and Flaherty.  Valencia garnered $2.7 Million over the next two years while Lough was paid $1.1 Million.  Saved about 1$1.6 Million over two years for a defensive outfielder.  So i do believe a "Diamond in the Rough" for $$$ spent was apropos.