Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Ross, owner of a career .198 ISO, certainly has the pop to man a corner outfield position every day for just about any team in either league, but he doesn’t hit for average, and he could stand to walk a little more. The final package is that of a solidly above average hitter who absolutely rakes left-handed pitching.

If Ross were a left-handed hitter with traditional platoon splits instead of a right-handed hitter with traditional platoon splits, it’d be a lot easier to get behind this deal for the Diamondbacks, but since he’s decidedly mediocre (or worse) for a starting corner outfielder against non-southpaws, it seems that he’s better served in a spot starter role/lefty masher — someone who might receive 300-400 plate appearances in a typical season.

Instead, the Diamondbacks, who already have plenty of outfielders to choose from, are paying a player for his age 32-34 seasons who isn’t particularly good at defense or anything at all other than hitting for occasional power. Ross would make a fantastic frequently used bench part, but he’s been worth more than 2.4 WAR exactly one time in his career. This isn’t a dreadful signing, but it still seems like a questionable one.

Can’t get enough of Spencer? Check out his work at StanGraphs and follow him on Twitter at @shendricks221.

September 18, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Cody Ross (7) singles in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Ross is coming off a strong season at the plate in 2012 where he posted 22 home runs and 81 RBI to go along with a career-best .807 OPS. The Rangers, who had not previously been linked to Ross, have missed out on a host of elite players this Winter, either through free agency or trade, and need to add offense.

It isn’t clear how serious Texas is in their pursuit of Ross, but it stands to reason that if this were merely due diligence, they could have done that without hosting the player and taking him to dinner. Daniels watched as 67 home runs left his lineup when Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton agreed to sign deals elsewhere. While Ross isn’t the caliber of hitter than Hamilton is, he does have the ability to play all three outfield positions and he hammers left handed pitching. The Rangers without Hamilton lack a strong left handed hitter, however, with only Mitch Moreland and David Murphy projected to start.

Ross has been seeking a three-year deal worth $21-30 million overall based on reports from earlier in the off-season. He has been linked to a handful of clubs looking to add an outfield bat and represents a less expensive option than fellow free agent Nick Swisher.

The Red Sox, Phillies, Braves, Mariners, Orioles, and Mets have been rumored to have some level of interest in signing Ross this Winter.

The contract will pay Gomes $10 million over the course of the deal; more than he’s made in his career to this point.

Have bat, will travel: Gomes is joining his fifth big league team. Image: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Gomes is a dead-pull hitter and shows tremendous power versus left handed pitching. In 2012, Gomes hit 90 points higher when facing a southpaw, but still managed a respectable .714 OPS when facing right handers. He tuned lefties up for a .974 OPS.

By signing Gomes, Boston essentially decided to halt their pursuit of Cody Ross. Ross is a much better defender and can even play center in a pinch. Like Gomes, Ross is an extreme pull hitter though Gomes has more raw power. Ross clubbed 22 home runs in 130 games in Boston last year when he played on a one-year, $3 million deal.

Word is that this year, Ross is looking for three years on a contract that pays him roughly $8 million per season.

Evidently, that commitment was too great for the Red Sox, who opted to sign Gomes; a guy who might be considered a poor man’s Cody Ross.

Ross has drawn at least some level of interest from a handful of teams, but has been most often connected to the Braves and Phillies. The Tigers are also looking for a right handed hitting outfielder and could consider Ross, though a multi-year deal wouldn’t make sense for Detroit (I actually saw Gomes as a great fit in a left field platoon with the Tigers). Though he was not great when facing righties, Ross did produce a .729 OPS when facing them in 2012. He also hit lefties better than Gomes did, posting a 1.010 OPS.

Gomes will see starts in left field any time a left hander is on the mound. How often he plays versus right handers is yet to be determined, but $5 million per year is a bit much from a platoon guy. The bigger issue is that with David Ortiz entrenched as the DH, Gomes will be forced into playing defense. Not only has he not done well when asked to do so, but teams that have employed Gomes understood this and have by-and-large keep him off the field.

In eight big league seasons, Gomes has played at least 500 innings on defense only three times and just once, with Cincinnati in 2010, did he get everyday time in left field. That year, Gomes ranked as one of the worst outfielders in baseball. At Fenway, however, Gomes will have very little ground to cover. If he can learn to play the wall effectively, he can get by out there.

According to Jon Morosi, Baltimore is looking to upgrade that position going forward and they’ve set their gaze upon Josh Hamilton and Cody Ross as potential targets.

Baltimore aiming high for their left field opening. Image: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

The Orioles have been trying to give their money to a big name free agent for years and are consistently spurned thanks to their lack of success as a franchise. But after a Wild Card run that ended in a five-game Division Series loss to the Yankees, maybe Baltimore can use that momentum to land the marquee hitter they’ve been seeking seemingly every year.

Morosi notes that Hamilton’s contract demands are exorbitant and cautions that Baltimore spent only around $85 million on payroll this year. That said, owner Peter Angelos spent the better part of a decade trying to spend his club to the playoff before finally relenting only a few years ago. Very few owners in baseball have pockets as deep as his and he’s shown the willingness to spend big.

I’d argue that the higher the bidding goes for Hamilton, the better the odds are that he winds up in Baltimore. I wouldn’t call them the front-runner for his services, but he’s had success at Camden Yards (his four home run game came there) and it’s a notorious hitters park. I’m sure the idea of pelting the warehouse with home runs is appealing.

Hamilton to the Orioles actually seems like a pretty good fit. If Baltimore decides to spend, they have the resources to land him.

The truth about Cody Ross is that he has been under-appreciated his entire career.  He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1999 draft by the Detroit Tigers.  That in and of itself was an example of how unexpected Ross’ success in the majors has been.  He went to high school in Carlsbad, New Mexico.  Surprisingly, there have been three other players drafted from that same high school.  Ross has had the best career.

(more…)

The Pirates are over .500, and it looks like they will be buyers at the deadline. (Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE)

improbable and exciting.  For a team that has not finished a single season with a record over .500 since 1992, last year represented real progress.  Ultimately, the Pirates finished under .500.  However, this season, the team is battling again.  And much like last season, Pittsburgh will be buyers at the trade deadline.

While the Chicago Tribune, in their team report about the Pirates, thinks the surprising offensive output the Pirates recently showed – 25 runs in three games – will lessen the team’s urgency to trade, they struggle in offense and clearly could use some pop.  Pittsburgh ranks 30th in runs scored this season.  They’re 21st in home runs.  They rank 28th in batting average.  They are bad offensively, and they need some help.

Tom Singer and Mike Emery of MLB.com think the Pirates are on the lookout for offense.  According to Manager Clint Hurdle, “We’d like to first look for ways to impact the offense.”

As further proof that the Pirates need some offense, Jon Anderson of Trib Live Radio pointed out that the Pirates would be 30 games over .500 right now if they averaged five runs per game.  They’ve averaged five runs per game in June.  To sustain that type of offense, the Pirates need help.

Some likely bats on this year’s market include Carlos Quentin, Carlos Lee, Kevin Youkilis (if he can be considered an upgrade), Chase Headley (if the Padres would just admit they plan to trade him), and Cody Ross.  The Pirates could be interested in any of these names.

At 36-32, the Pirates are just two games back of first place.  Then spent some time in first place this summer, and they have a chance to do so in the near future.  The team wants to turn things around, and it can taste success.  The fans have supported the club more in the last two years than any other time in recent memory.  They will, by all accounts, be buyers at the deadline.

For more on the Pirates, be sure to check our Rum Bunter.  

Now 14 games does not make a season, but compared to Posednik’s recent experiences it certainly qualifies as a pleasant interlude. In 2004, Posednik led the American League in stolen bases with 70. In 2011, he couldn’t get out of the minors. All signs on the graph chart of his career pointed downward. In his mid-30s, baseball was trying to tell Posednik, “Well, it’s been fun, but…”

(more…)