Ray’s Ramblings: Taking a Break

Kole Calhoun agreed to a 1-year, $3.4 million deal with the Angels to avoid arbitration. That’s about $300,000 above the mid-point between the two submitted figures. The 28-year-old appeared in 159 games last season hitting a mere .256 with a subpar .308 OBP. Also, I’m looking at that .422 SLG and seeing a mark that was thirty points below the level he posted in 2013-14. Not all bad though with the outfielder. He’s likely to hit near the top of the Angels lineup – he appeared in 125 games in the first or second spot – and that’s always going to boost a player’s outlook. Calhoun boosted his homer mark from 17 to 26, and pushed his RBI mark from 58 to 83. Surprisingly though he lost 12 runs despite racking up 149 more plate appearances. Doesn’t look like any growth is coming, but a continuation of the effort we saw last season is certainly doable.

Ian Desmond is still without a club. Three times in four years he’s gone 20/20, though he wasn’t good at all last season (still had 19 homers and 13 steals though).

Corey Dickerson could be dealt. That’s what we keep hearing out of Colorado that he, Carlos Gonzalez or Charlie Blackmon will be dealt since the club added Gerardo Parra this offseason. Dickerson has a strong career slash line of .299/.345/.534. He’s very talented. At the same time I see the flipside and the caution given that his career slash line in 143 games on the road is far off his overall levels at .249/.286/.410. Coors does help, doesn’t it?

Justin Masterson and Tim Lincecum are hoping to throw for teams soon. Sounds like Lincecum in February and Masterson in March. Both vets could, not the use of “C”, be nice signings or total bombs this campaign.

Devin Mesoraco had hip surgery to fix an impingement. He’s been doing physical drills without issue of late, including some catching drills. The hope/belief is that he will be ready for the start of Spring Training. Still, the 27-year-old is coming off a lost season and it’s not like wearing the tool’s of ignorance is a boost to his health outlook. Mesoraco hit 25 homers with 80 RBIs in a mere 383 at-bats in 2014 before picking up just 45 at-bats last season. So tough to recommend him. Spring Training is so important to his 2016 outlook.

Yasiel Puig was a bit heavy last season. Everyone knew it. Well, everyone except Puig apparently. He doesn’t think it factored in to his down effort at all, but since everyone else told him it did he lost some weight this offseason.  "For me, I don't see the correlation between weight and how well one plays baseball, or how that affects one or the other. However, of course, I'm taking him up on that suggestion. Everyone else has encouraged me to do the same. But really, I don't see much correlation." Mr. Puig, it does matter. I want to trust the talent, but that guy just does something every week that makes me question the validity of drafting him in any setup.

Josh Tomlin agreed to a two-year extension with the Indians. He will make $2.25 million this season, then the following two years the extension kicks in: 2016 he will make $2.5 million and $3 million in ’17. Tomlin was great in limited work last season with a 7-2 record, 3.02 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 10 starts. He’s not close to being that guy. Over 95 big league outings he’s posted a 4.65 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with a mere 5.94 K/9 rate. Still, the guy has appeared in 169.2 innings the last two seasons and with an 8.01 K/9 mark and 1.17 walk rate. Those are some impressive numbers though that 15.3 percent HR/FB ratio and 4.08 WHIP still speak to him being nothing more than a spot starter in mixed leagues. 

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