Jeff Blair reports that the Jays are close to an agreement with Plucky Shortstop Smurf, David Eckstein.To which we say: Wwwwwhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa?
Eckstein's offensive numbers are vastly better than Johnny Mac's, and he would provide the Jays with exactly the sort of prototypical leadoff hitter that they might have needed last year. But the X Factor has been in decline for a couple of years, and has missed significant time due to injuries. Moreover, most teams that were looking at him in the off-season had visions of him playing 2B. His ability to compensate for his weak arm and limited range with spunk (or grit, or hustle, or heart, or whatever intangible bunk you choose) is declining as he ages, and he'll turn 33 next month.
On the bright side, there's something to be said about building up you depth, and we'd take Eckstein over your Hector Lunas or your Joel Ingletts any day.
UPDATE, 12:01: And it's done. One year, $4.5 mill.
PMoD has so much room for improvement that there must be a (legal!) way to spend the millions per year we would be offering X to improve PMoD's bat, right? Not to X levels, of course, but enough to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteWell since Johnny Mac turned 33 in September, I don't know what to think. Other than 1 year and 4.5 mill is much better than what could have happened...
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