Back before I knew anything about sabermetrics, I was a big fan of a certain Cubs utilityman named Augie Ojeda. Don’t ask me why; I wasn’t even a teenager yet at the time, and these things just sort of happen at that age.
My first exposure to the minor leagues, I kid you not, was tracking Ojeda’s progress with the Rochester Red Wings in 2004. Seriously. That’s probably the most bizarre introduction any future prospects guy had to the minors, but that was it for me.
Anyway, along the way, I discovered sabermetrics, and realized that Ojeda’s career .234/.320/.313 line wasn’t exactly the sort of thing that wins teams championships.
Still, though, on a minor league deal, this is a nice pickup for the Cubs.
Ojeda brings a versatile and consistent glove to Chicago. He’s been 21.6 runs above average for his career, according to UZR, and that has significant value.
Furthermore, Ojeda’s not as much of an offensive black hole as he’s often made out to be. He’s walked more than he’s struck out in his career, and in every season he got at least 100 plate appearances in Arizona, he put up at least a .340 on-base percentage.
Is he some sort of fantastic infielder? No, of course not. But Ojeda’s combination of contact, plate discipline, and defensive skill has value at a six-figure salary, and given that the Cubs got him on a minor league deal, it’s virtually a no-risk proposition for Chicago.