A's claim Encarnacion off waivers from the Blue Jays (Kouzmanoff on the market?)

[Capn Vivi]

The busiest team of the offseason made another move Friday, acquiring Edwin Encarnacion on a waiver claim from Toronto.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/12/SPKQ1GBD9O.DTL

That's another 3rd baseman off the market. On the bright side, Kevin Kouzmanoff is definitely ON the market now. He might be had for a relative bargain as well and is a definite candidate for a bounce back season offensively (he's already an excellent defender).

Kouzmanoff has been worth 2.5 WAR+ each of the last 4 years thanks in large part to his defense. In 2010, he was worth 2.9 WAR despite a career low OPS of .679.

He has a career .782 OPS against lefties and a career Road OPS of .776 (compared to .673 at Home - playing in Petco Park 3 of the last 4 years).

[wildcard]

MacPhail should be talking to Beane about a trade for Kouz. If he goes to non tender the O's might not be able to attract him.

[scOtt]

EE was ever an option at 3b?

:rofl:

[OrioleMagic]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the O's had to decline EE for him to get to the A's... correct? If so, why would we pass on a waiver pickup like that? Does AM seriously think he can sign Beltre?

[scOtt]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the O's had to decline EE for him to get to the A's... correct? If so, why would we pass on a waiver pickup like that? Does AM seriously think he can sign Beltre?

Um... because he's an old, washed up nobody?

[clapdiddy]

Um... because he's an old, washed up nobody?

Man...if being 27 is old...I'm ancient!!

[OrioleMagic]

Um... because he's an old, washed up nobody?

27 is old and washed up? He is certainly a question mark, but if he can be picked up off of waivers... and we have a huge hole, why not give him a look?

[scOtt]

Ok, he only (may) seems old to me... because he was on Our (hangout) radar YEARS ago.... my point still stands.

WTF is EE going to bring to our club in 2011?

Is what I thought... nothing.

[wildcard]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the O's had to decline EE for him to get to the A's... correct? If so, why would we pass on a waiver pickup like that? Does AM seriously think he can sign Beltre?

Here is my guess. MacPhail is trying to build a team based on pitching and defense. EE is not a very good defensive 3B. MacPhail has probably been talking to both Billy Beane about Kouzmanoff and Tower about Reynolds. MacPhail understands where he is with a trade of either one. I think MacPhail likes his chances of making a deal with Beane or Tower for a 3B better then what he would have had if he had claimed EE.

[NewMarketSean]

I would definitely take a flier on Kouzmanoff. I still like Reynolds for 3B the best (considering Beltre is an impossibility), but would definitely be OK going with Kouzmanoff headed into next year.

It does have to tell you something, though, if Beane wants to go with EE over Kouzmanoff.

[Crazysilver03]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the O's had to decline EE for him to get to the A's... correct? If so, why would we pass on a waiver pickup like that? Does AM seriously think he can sign Beltre?

The general consensus is that EE was going to be non-tendered because he would earn a contract around $5M next season. It will be interesting to see what happens with him and Oakland and to see if they can work out a deal before the non-tender deadline.

He was slightly above average offensively, but to use an old school stat, he only had a .932 Fielding %.

[crowmst3k!]

FWIW, I would have picked up EE in a second. If I needed a super sub, I'd prefer him to Wigginton. If acquiring a guy like Beltre could not get done, EE is not a bad option to play third.

[Sports Guy]

Amazing how Oakland can always make quick, smart moves while the Orioles sit back and do nothing.

Oh and saying EE brings us nothing just shows a total lack of knowledge and understanding of him and stats in general.

[Capn Vivi]

Amazing how Oakland can always make quick, smart moves while the Orioles sit back and do nothing.

Oh and saying EE brings us nothing just shows a total lack of knowledge and understanding of him and stats in general.

The ironic thing about Encarnacion is that Kouzmanoff may be the only third baseman in the league with a lower walk rate, but Kouz has consistently outgained Encarnacion in terms of WAR (though Encarnacion has struggled with playing time). While I agree that getting Encarnacion for free would have been preferable, Kouzmanoff or Reynolds probably fits MacPhail's plan for this team better. Hopefully he's also confident he can land one or the other.

I'm a little upset we couldn't get Encarnacion, but I'm more upset at how Billy Beane has been wheeling and dealing so far this offseason. He's got a young rotation, almost no offense and he's out there making moves and adding players (including MORE talented pitching!).

Then again, the Mariners supposedly had a phenomenal offseason last year, so we'll just have to see the result before we can judge for sure.

[Sports Guy]

The ironic thing about Encarnacion is that Kouzmanoff may be the only third baseman in the league with a lower walk rate, but Kouz has consistently outgained Encarnacion in terms of WAR (though Encarnacion has struggled with playing time). While I agree that getting Encarnacion for free would have been preferable, Kouzmanoff or Reynolds probably fits MacPhail's plan for this team better. Hopefully he's also confident he can land one or the other.

I'm a little upset we couldn't get Encarnacion, but I'm more upset at how Billy Beane has been wheeling and dealing so far this offseason. He's got a young rotation, almost no offense and he's out there making moves and adding players (including MORE talented pitching!).

Then again, the Mariners supposedly had a phenomenal offseason last year, so we'll just have to see the result before we can judge for sure.

EE doesn't have a poor walk rate.