Oscar Salazar is rotting on the bench. I imagine he and Felix Pie are getting to be quite chummy.
Rumors are swirling about trades involving Aubrey Huff and I can't begin to decide if they're true...but they should be. The Orioles have an adequate replacement for Huff sitting on the bench. Sure, he'll soon be 31. He's certainly no prospect. But Salazar is ready to play and can serve as a nice bridge to Brandon Snyder in a year or two.
Aubrey Huff 2009:
These numbers are a far cry from Huff's career 2008 where he OPSed .912 but they are far closer to what kind of player he really is at this point in his career.
Conversely, Salazar in 2008:
Salazar in Norfolk this year:
According to MinorLeagueSplits.com his Major League Equivalent (MLE) stats for his 2009 Norfolk stats:
These are pretty good indicators that Salazar is ready to take a real shot at holding down a regular position in the majors. He certainly will be able to hold his own and may be able to put up better overall numbers than Huff would anyway.
ZIPS projection for the rest of the season for Salazar:
Then you can trade Huff away for some useful players who will be around when the rebuilding effort begins to bear fruit.
I keep hearing that the Orioles don't have any candidates to take over at first base if Huff is moved. I respectfully disagree. Not only do they have a replacement, they may have an upgrade.
Rumors are swirling about trades involving Aubrey Huff and I can't begin to decide if they're true...but they should be. The Orioles have an adequate replacement for Huff sitting on the bench. Sure, he'll soon be 31. He's certainly no prospect. But Salazar is ready to play and can serve as a nice bridge to Brandon Snyder in a year or two.
Aubrey Huff 2009:
G AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR
Huff 63 .266 .330 .444 .774 14 9
These numbers are a far cry from Huff's career 2008 where he OPSed .912 but they are far closer to what kind of player he really is at this point in his career.
Conversely, Salazar in 2008:
G AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR
Salazar '08 34 .284 .372 .506 .879 3 5
Salazar in Norfolk this year:
G AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR
Salazar AAA 50 .372 .408 .618 1.027 17 10
According to MinorLeagueSplits.com his Major League Equivalent (MLE) stats for his 2009 Norfolk stats:
G AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR
Salazar 2009 MLE 50 .337 .366 .545 .911 15 9
These are pretty good indicators that Salazar is ready to take a real shot at holding down a regular position in the majors. He certainly will be able to hold his own and may be able to put up better overall numbers than Huff would anyway.
ZIPS projection for the rest of the season for Salazar:
AB AVG OBP SLG OPS 2B HR
Salazar ZIPS 243 .284 .326 .457 .782 15 9
Then you can trade Huff away for some useful players who will be around when the rebuilding effort begins to bear fruit.
I keep hearing that the Orioles don't have any candidates to take over at first base if Huff is moved. I respectfully disagree. Not only do they have a replacement, they may have an upgrade.
So I don't know what will happen at the trading deadline with Aubrey Huff but I do know what should.
Salazar better than Huff? Gutsy call...
ReplyDeleteBetter over the next two or three years....I think there's a chance.
ReplyDeleteI like Salazar's utility potential and think his bat would be Huff's equal at least. If Huff has some value on the trade market, let's take it. We have a fine replacement for him.