Phillies Sign Laynce Nix
by dajafi on Dec 4, 2011 8:57 PM EST
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The Phillies continue to overhaul their bench this offseason, coming to terms with lefty outfielder Laynce Nix on a two-year deal. Nix joins earlier additions Jim Thome and Ty Wigginton among the reserve options Charlie Manuel will have available next season. Financial terms are not yet available.
Nix, 31, plays all three outfield positions and seems most likely to serve as the long half of a platoon in left field with John Mayberry Jr; both also could see time at first base early in the season until Ryan Howard returns from injury. With the Nationals in 2011, Nix put up a .250/.299/.451 line, with 16 homers in 351 plate appearances; all 16 came against right-handed pitchers. For his career, Nix has a .253/.296/.451 line against righties, compared to .181/.235/.271 facing left-handers.
While Nix's career numbers are unspectacular--as seen by the fact that this is his first major-league contract entering a season--his last three seasons have been his best by far in the majors, as he's posted OPS+ figures of 99, 114 and 103. Nix spent 2009 and 2010 with the Reds before joining Washington last season. The Phils will be his fifth big-league team, following earlier stints with the Rangers and Brewers.
As Jim Salisbury notes in the article linked above, the signing probably means that Raul Ibanez won't be returning to Philadelphia in 2012. Nix's production against righthanders in 2011 was almost eerily similar to Ibanez's performance, and--while this obviously is a pretty low bar--he's considered a much better defender. Presumably the price tag will be far more modest as well.
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How many bench outfielders does one team need?
Scott Podsednik has a sad.
And so do I.
I <3 our rookies.
Seriously
I don’t think its possible for one guy to be more redundant.
Its all about the []_[]
#FirePaulHolmgren
by philiafan14364 on Dec 4, 2011 9:33 PM EST up reply actions
Not overpaying Michael Cuddyer.
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
by Justin F. on Dec 4, 2011 9:56 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Gee thanks
So instead they pay 3 guys a little less than 1/3 of Cuddyer’s projected salary each to do the same thing he would have done. How exactly is that any better?
Its all about the []_[]
#FirePaulHolmgren
by philiafan14364 on Dec 4, 2011 11:04 PM EST up reply actions
I haven’t seen anything definitive on his left-ear deafness. The only thing for certain I guess is that Cuddyer is in fact deaf in his left ear. By giving him a serious look, as they apparently did, the Phillies must have thought that through hand signals this could be worked through and it would not be a major impediment.
But the fact remains that he has played a total of 15 games on the left side of the diamond in the past 7 years: 14 at 3B in 2010, and 1 game (2 innings) in LF in 2006. The Twins presumably had other options and only used him there in a pinch.
-------
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
To be fair he had an OPS+ of like103, and as a bench bat/platoon you can shelter him. It could be a decent signing.
Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"
by Ed Van Chimp on Dec 4, 2011 10:33 PM EST up reply actions
The two guaranteed years is the perplexing part to me. Rube loves him some 2 year deals for bench scrubs.
As long as they get Jimmy back, or else sign Reyes as plan B, I’ll be satisfied with this offseason.
Multiple sources now report that Reyes is off the market, to the Marlins.
And yes, 6 years $106 means almost $18M a year. Gulp. (Although Miami had to overpay to get him, undoubtedly).
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
I’m guessing that Ibanez is indeed gone. But everyone (including every sportswriter) is speculating so far. I’ll breath a sigh of relief when he formally declines the arb invitation (which, fyi, he has 9 million reasons NOT to do).
In another thread, I pointed out that the Ibanez arb alternatively could be the back end of a quid-pro-quo for the Pap signing. Yes, not as likely. But not impossible. Especially if RAJ is worried that Ryan is not coming back early in the season.
What the NIx signing does mean, as I mentioned in the fanshot earlier, is that Francisco is gone (maybe non-tendered) and Brown is likely in AAA to begin the year. There just aren’t enough chairs when the Spring Training music stops
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
That quid pro quo scenario makes no more sense now than when you first said it. There’s no upside for Raul, who ultimately makes the final decision, and his agency has basically nothing to do with it. If the agents were the ones who had final say, then sure, it might be a plausible scenario, but that’s just not the case.
It’s true that it doesn’t work as a straight quid pro quo, but it didn’t necessarily have to be a straight quid pro quo.
Perhaps during the Papelbon negotiations, with the two sides close to an agreement, the agent offered to call Ibanez and ask him if he’d be willing to promise to decline an arb offer. Let’s say he then said asked Ruben if he would raise his number for Papelbon by $X if he could secure that agreement from Raul. Ruben says yes. The agent makes the call. Raul agrees. Ruben kicks in the money.
That isn’t a quid pro quo because Raul gains nothing from saying yes. At the same time, he loses nothing by refusing to say yes. He’s indifferent. The agent doesn’t have the final call, but the person who does have the final call has no reason to say no, and no leverage to demand anything in exchange for saying yes. The agent does have something to offer to the Phillies though, in that he had the ability to ask Raul or to not ask Raul. The Phillies could do business with the agent because they could make their promise to raise Papelbon’s offer conditional on the agent successfully persuading Raul to do them the favor.
This is brilliant, as well as reassuring.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
Reports are that Reyes signed with Miami. See sidebar. AP reports up to 7 years, $120 million.
"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
Oops, samsies. Sorry HH.
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
No big. How long until he’s hurt? First season, second?
"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn
FTFY
Firstseasonmonth, second?
GMAT verbal section question, Philadelphia sports version.
In 2015, which one of the following will prove to be a better investment?
(a) Ilya Bryzgalov's contract (b) Ryan Howard's extension (c) Mike Vick's extension (d) Greek bonds from 2009 (e) Papelbon's bloat deal
Reyes, Ramirez, Morrison, and Stanton in the same lineup is a pretty good foundation for a lineup. And as someone pointed out to me a few weeks ago, Emilio Bonifacio had a decent 2011 too. That team’s offensive output could really jump up next year.
If only they hadn’t idiotically traded Cameron Maybin, they’d be that much scarier.
Will Ramirez play second now? Or will reyes? Rumors are they are going to make a huge play for pujols as well.
by PhilsForever on Dec 5, 2011 12:55 AM EST up reply actions
Something tells me that the division’s going to get fun over the next few years.
Some people don't think it be what it is, but it do.
by TheOrangeCone on Dec 5, 2011 2:14 AM EST up reply actions
1. Reyes
2. Coghlan
3. Ramirez
4. Stanton
5. Morrison
6. Sanchez
7. Infante
8. Whatever scrub they pick to squat behind the plate
Had they kept Cameron, Maybin would have been 2B and Coghlan at 2nd, so probably Maybin 2 and Coghlan batting 6th with Sanchez sliding back to 7th. That has potential as a very formidable lineup. Which is good, because that Defense has potential to be pretty atrocious.
roster
C: Ruiz, Schneider
1B: Howard (DL), Thome, Mayberry
IF: Utley, Rollins, Polanco, Wigginton, Valdez/Martinez
OF: Victorino, Pence, Francisco, Nix
Not sure what will happen when Howard comes back. I guess they can worry about that when they get there.
With the threat of injuries and the unknown of who is going to break out/have a bad year, I’m not sure if that is something that we can project at the moment.
Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.
Interesting that Ben Francisco in 2011 had the highest walk rate of his career, the lowest K rate of his career, and yet somehow had the worst year of his career.
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