The Brewster

Some celebrated the New Year with hangovers, College Football, and making New Years resolutions that they'll welsh on by Valentines Day. The Jimmies decided to upgrade the lineup by acquiring Chris Workman from the Crusaders.

In the deal, the Jimmies sent 2B Jeaic Dalyell and RP Felix Leon. Dalyell offers solid contact skills and defense and moves to a park that better suits those contact skills and doubles power. Leon is a ways away from the Majors and more than likely projects as a reliever at the ML level.

Chris Workman will add some power and good on-base skills to an already deep lineup. He will probably sit against lefties, but will be a 1st defensive sub on those days. Against RHP, the Jimmies hope he can provide averagish defense at 2B to justify adding his bat to the lineup.

Workman will make $9M this season and has a $9M team option for next season. If he gives offensive production like the team thinks and proves he can handle 2B well enough, the team would like to pick that option up. Though he could see his option not picked up as the team projects to be over the salary cap for next season. With that in mind, the team does have other options to fix that if they want to keep him. SS Pablo Soto has a $11.2M team option for next year and probably is more likely to have that option declined than Workman. It's also know RP Felipe Soto is on the block, who's due to make $8.5M next season. While the team would like to move him with cash in hopes to get some sort of return, reports have come out that they are willing to cut him outright and eat that money if they need to.

"We wish Jeaic the best in California," GM Brandon Slouck said in a conference call. "He was a solid contributor for us and we appreciate his time here. The plan was to have him starting 2B for us on Opening Day. But as we all know, things can change in an instant."

Workman should provide a steady overall bat and another leading presence in what is still a young locker room. The $9M question is if he can still play 2B. That is a situation that will be monitored closely.

Probably another good choice

This is a bit of a risky move. I believe Workman bounces between 4 and 5 range. Last year he was -2.9 in just 87 innings at 2B. If he plays 8 innings a game for 150 games, that would be well over -20 ZR. One of the things that stood out to me about Charm City last year was that their had one of the better defensive teams in the league as well as a very good offense. Workman is definitely a better offensive player then Dalyell who will put up a higher WAR. I just feel Dalyell was quietly a better fit. A cheaper player who makes all the plays defensively and drove in 72 runs from the nine hole.

Oh and I am kind of a hypocrite for this post. I won a Landis with 5 range 2B Albert Shoemaker, lol

ae37jr wrote:This is a bit of a risky move. I believe Workman bounces between 4 and 5 range. Last year he was -2.9 in just 87 innings at 2B. If he plays 8 innings a game for 150 games, that would be well over -20 ZR. One of the things that stood out to me about Charm City last year was that their had one of the better defensive teams in the league as well as a very good offense. Workman is definitely a better offensive player then Dalyell who will put up a higher WAR. I just feel Dalyell was quietly a better fit. A cheaper player who makes all the plays defensively and drove in 72 runs from the nine hole.

I look at his numbers, and he kind of bounces between slightly below average and slightly above average. And looking at his development report, you're right on his range. I've seen players have numbers like that in a short sample size, especially to start the year, and bounce back. If he can give me what he has over his career, I think it's a net win. But I see how it can be view as kind of risky.

Limited exposure on finances, means if it blows up you're fine.