When the Padres dealt Khalil Greene to the Cardinals recently -- in an attempt to slash payroll -- they were left with a void in the middle of the infield. Assuming they don't end up trading Jake Peavy for some major league ready players to fill those holes, they'll have to sign some short-term replacements. The candidates? Well, it ain't pretty. Reported Padres' general manager Kevin Towers is interested in -- drumroll, please -- David Eckstein, Mark Grudzielanek, and Omar Vizquel. Fortunately for Padres fans, those guys may be too pricey.
"We've got to keep our options open, and we certainly need middle infield help," Towers said. "We provide opportunity, but to be financially aggressive on players right now, we can't do it. Our hope is that the later we get in free-agent season, there will still be inventory out there and people who need jobs."I'm guessing Padres fans hope those guys are all signed by the time the Padres get around to being active. Let's take a look at each, and what he could (not) bring to the table in 2009.
Grudzielanek - He has the best upside of the bunch, but he's turning 39 this year, and he only played 86 games last season. Some serious questions would have to be raised about his durability if the Padres would pay him like a full-time player. He's become the definition of average when using OPS and most defensive measuring sticks. He doesn't have any home run power, but San Diego kills much of that anyway.
Eckstein - He's been criminally overrated his entire career by the mainstream media and fans who hate stats. He turns 34 this year, and he's getting even worse than he was before. Here are his games played since appearing in 158 in '05: 123, 117, 94. So he's not durable. His OPS has only been above average once, and that was all the way back in 2002. Last year it was a dreadful .692. His defense at shortstop finally became embarrassing enough -- especially his throwing arm -- that the Diamondbacks started using him at second base. He's better there, but I wouldn't consider him more than a backup. On any team.
Vizquel - He's still quite solid defensively, actually, though not as stellar as he once was. The problem is that, at age 41, his offensive skills and durability significantly declined last season. Can you really justify paying a guy with a 45 OPS+ any amount of money, just because he's a good defender?
