Willie Harris update...

[Malman]

I really hope the Marlins are the other NL team in the mix for Harris. The Fish could use some help at second and in the outfield. Beinfest needs to get something done...Harris would be a good start to solidifying our lineup.

 

Speedy Harris new option

By Troy E. Renck

Denver Post Staff Writer

 

Call it the fast and the curious.

 

If Willie Harris joined the Rockies, he would be their quickest player, their top stolen base threat and a rare infielder capable of playing center field on occasion. Colorado has kicked the tires on this human roadster, continuing dialogue with Harris' agent after losing out on Junior Spivey.

 

Four teams - two each from the National and American leagues - are chasing Harris but he has an affinity for the Rockies.

 

"He has told me he wants to play for Colorado," agent Daryl Buford said Monday night. "He likes the organization and believes his skill set would match up well there."

 

Whereas Spivey would have competed for the second-base job with Luis Gonzalez, the Rockies view Harris strictly as a utility player. Gonzalez, his sure-handed versatility notwithstanding, intrigues Colorado as an everyday player capable of belting 15 home runs. Slick-fielding rookie Omar Quintanilla profiles as a utilityman but could benefit from more Triple-A at-bats after hitting just .219 in 39 games.

 

Harris, 27, batted .256 with the world champion Chicago White Sox. He has played 104 games in center field during his career. The Red Sox are among his suitors. Rockies assistant general manager Bill Geivett said the Rockies still are weighing their interest in Harris.

 

The Rockies' search for a utility player probably won't include Alex Cintron. The addition of second baseman Orlando Hudson (along with pitcher Miguel Batista) in the Troy Glaus trade, which will be announced today in Toronto, makes it likely Cintron will be dealt, though Arizona is reluctant to move him within the division.

[Guest Moneyball]

Not a bad idea. I like.

[Marlins2003]

To what end?

 

He's entering his fifth year in MLB, he has borderline offensive skills although I'll give you he's got a pretty good glove. I'd rather sign a more seasoned player for not much more $$$ who at least can contribute in the short-term without the expectation of being with the team for years to come.

 

On the otherhand, if you're looking for someone of approximately the same age and experience as Harris to play up the middle it looks like the D'Backs' Alex Cintron may be available. Cintron has enough ML experience at 2B-SS-3B to be a valuable player for the fledgling Fish, not just this year but for several years. The question is who do you offer in exchange?

 

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbac...dbacks1227.html

 

"...Hudson's arrival likely will move Craig Counsell to shortstop while potentially making Alex Cintron a trade commodity. The team could look to package Cintron with another pitcher in hopes of upgrading the rotation."

[rferry]

If by borderline, you mean Gathright, a projected Eric Reed or 2005 Pierre but at a more critical defensive position.

 

I don't object to Cintron or Spivey or any number of middle infielders, which I think we could use some options. I'd just have one who is relatively young, cheap and could give us some speed.

[Malman]

I don't object to Cintron or Spivey or any number of middle infielders, which I think we could use some options. I'd just have one who is relatively young, cheap and could give us some speed.

 

 

Harris fits all of the criteria you mentioned, plus we don't have to give anything up to get him. I think he would be a huge upgrade over the Andino's, Uuggllaa's & Wilson's of the world.

[Marlins2003]

"If by borderline, you mean Gathright, a projected Eric Reed or 2005 Pierre..."

 

 

How in the name of god do you make that leap? :blink:

 

Bizarre the way your mind works sometimes...

[rferry]

He's a .270 hitter with speed, modest on-base ability and no power. Sounds like the three aforementioned players.

[Marlins2003]

He's a .270 hitter with speed, modest on-base ability and no power. Sounds like the three aforementioned players.

 

 

He's a career .242 hitter who NEVER hit .270 in his ML life.

 

He has neither the speed or on-base ability to be mentioned in the same breath as Juan Pierre. I understand, even after he's been traded, you'll continue to spread your hateful and poisonous obsession with JP in any thread even remotely related, and such is your choice, but please never try to compare a career .305 hitter with a guy whose career BA is more than 60 points south of that.

[rferry]

"2005 Juan Pierre" - .326 obp

Gathright - .316 obp in one brief and another extended season

Harris - .343 obp starting in 2004, .333 in 2005

 

How are they not comparable? How in your mind does Harris limp into a distant second or third place?

[Marlins2003]

What you said was "He's a .270 hitter with speed..." which was a lie.

 

You want to compare JP and Harris in 2004?

 

Okay. here goes...

 

in Harris' only year when he got more than 400 ABs because let's face it he's been a fringe player at best

 

Harris (2004) .262 BA, .343 OBP, 19 SB, 79 SO in 409 AB

 

Pierre (2004) .326 BA, .374 OBP, 45 SB, 35 SO in 678 AB

 

There is no comparison, at least no logical one.

 

I'm not here to demean Willie Harris, but let's not trample on the facts about which is the better ballplayer.

[rferry]

You want to compare JP and Harris in 2004?

 

No, because first of all and most important, the only reason I brought up Juan Pierre was to represent the hitter we were trying to replace in the lineup and secondly and least important, each represent a certain point in their careers.

 

This is about Willie Harris, not Juan Pierre. I jusy think they're cut from the same mold. Only someone inching for a fight (we haven't had one in quite awhile) would twist my argument for Harris into one against Pierre.

 

Do you think Harris is a bad player? That his signing would be a worse move than trading for Gathright or Cintron or some one else, or promoting Reed?

 

P.S. I don't think it's a stretch to say Harris will benefit from JRS/PPS/DS's playing surface as past speedy slap hitters have done. Remember all the projections that Pierre would do terribly moving away from Coors? Since they enclosed the outfield, New Comiskey's a comparable stadium when it comes to ballpark-adjusted projections.

[Marlins2003]

You want to compare JP and Harris in 2004?

 

No, because first of all and most important, the only reason I brought up Juan Pierre was to represent the hitter we were trying to replace in the lineup and secondly and least important, each represent a certain point in their careers.

 

This is about Willie Harris, not Juan Pierre. I jusy think they're cut from the same mold. Only someone inching for a fight (we haven't had one in quite awhile) would twist my argument for Harris into one against Pierre.

 

Do you think Harris is a bad player? That his signing would be a worse move than trading for Gathright or Cintron or some one else, or promoting Reed?

 

It wasn't me who joined JP and Harris in this debate and it wasn't me who lied about Harris' stats.

 

That said, to answer the question posed in your last paragraph, I think Harris is what he is, a capable ML player without the requisite skills to earn a starting job in five years of ML ball. Would his signing be worse than either Gathright or Cintron? I would conclude yes, that he has proven over the past five seasons to have neither the upside potential of a Gathright or offensively the power and average of a Cintron. Is he a bum? No. Does he belong in the major leagues? Well, one could make the argument that remains to be seen.

 

(As for Reed, I know so little about him I can't even begin to draw a conclusion regardng his value vs Harris.)

 

Would he (Harris) help the Marlins in '06? Almost anyone with experience would. So I suppose the answer is yes. But certainly not more than a handful of other available or potentially trade-available players.

[rferry]

How is signing a 2B/SS/OF that has a league-average OBP the past two seasons (and better than our 2005 leadoff hitter who shall go nameless) to what would be a cheap 1-year deal be worse than trading talented prospects for a player with less versatility and marginal difference in talent? Because Gathright hasn't reached his arbitration years? Because in your estimation Harris will sign for more than Cintron will make in arbitration?

 

Signing Harris is a risk we can afford not taking, and it may even be a smart decision to, but he represents a better option now and the future (if he does well, we keep him for a modest raise) than trading quality talent.

 

Where do you imagine Cintron fitting in the lineup? Over the past two years, he's gotten on base less often than any of the forementioned names and doesn't have the speed to compensate to make him a productive top of the order hitter. Hermida, Willingham, Jacobs, Cabrera have the 2/3-5/6 shored up. Aguila, Cepicky, or some free agent is going to be in there too. Does acquiring a 7th-place hitter seem worth it to you?