Indians add Canzler from Rays
Russ Canzler acquired for cash and on the 40-man roster. Laporta just got his competition.
4 months ago
APV
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I checked out Canzler when he was DFA’ed by the Rays. Solid numbers the past two seasons but the scouting reports on him coming up through the Cubs organization weren’t good. Something seems to have clicked the past two seasons, though. He’ll be 26 in April, so 16 months younger than LaPorta.
I just want to say, less than 10 minutes later, ‘growth stock’ feels like a dumb overstatement.
Potential stopgap.
Yes. It is just someone who will probably be better than LaPorta, but only because LaPorta sucks. It won’t stop people from wishcasting him into something better than what he his.
At least it means we aren’t completely stuck. I hate this offseason.
I looked at his age 25 season and Jordan Brown’s… Very similar triple slash. Stuck out twice as much in similar plate appearances. Maybe better defensively.
Canzler had 39 HR’s between 24/25 as opposed to Brown’s 22. You’re right that they’re pretty similar in some regards (meh contact, bad plate discipline, bad defense) but if one of them has more value, it’s Canzler, b/c of that pop.
Canzler’s age 24 to Brown’s age 24 makes the argument for Canzler pretty soundly. That said, being more appealing than Jordan Brown doesn’t mean you’re a major leaguer.
more appealing than Jordan Brown
perfect example of damning with faint praise
by stuart dean on Jan 31, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
But Brown was homegrown! See, our 25-year-olds are prospects. Other clubs’ 25-year-olds are just guys who will block our prospects!
by Jay on Feb 1, 2012 2:41 PM EST up reply actions
I think he may be a “white-flag” signing for this offseason; he can play the corners giving ABs as needed while they search for a better solution (LF/1B) via trade during the season.
You are reading my signature.
I am wondering if the fact that the Indians are adament about getting Sanatana in teh lineup everyday, taking AB’s from potential 1B free agents might not have something to do with the difficulty in signings someone. We have tradtitionally played the platoon at first idea, at least Since Thome left, when we did the benwardo duo, (which turned out great for us, not so much for Seattle)So I am wondering if the Pena’s and others are hesitant to sign with us based on the fact that Carlos will be taking their spot in the lineup frequently? based on this history, and our desire to put carlos at 1st, it makes sense to get a guy like this that does play multiple places… Also, i wonder if after Hafner’s contract is up, if we will see a more long term Full time 1st baseman as Carlos will be able to DH on the days he is not catching…
I might agree if I didn’t think they’re willing to DFA this guy the second a better option comes along.
by Jay on Feb 1, 2012 2:42 PM EST up reply actions
I’m a little surprised no one has mentioned him yet, but the obvious upside comparison seems to be Casey Blake. Similar build, similar positional versatility (though Blake might have the defensive ability edge), similar batting tendencies
Egad. The last person I want to see standing at first is one who comps favourably with a Fridge Magnet.
"Sounds like 'Take the Z-Train' to me." -- Antoine Batiste
by T.O. Tribe on Jan 31, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yay, a guy with a Casey Blake upside. Small markets are so much fun.
by Cols714 on Jan 31, 2012 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Why the Casey Blake hate? He was a fantastic acquisition. His first two seasons he provided Cleveland with ~ wins of value at the cost of $682k.
by APV on Jan 31, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
True enough. However — and I have no empirical evidence to back this up — he was never clutch when we needed him to be. Never a Pepsi Clutch guy. Not like Jeter.
Nevertheless, he did bring the shaving cream pies. And a fine beard.
Aside from all that, I do think Canzler is a good pickup.
"Sounds like 'Take the Z-Train' to me." -- Antoine Batiste
like his limited range
"sometimes the internet is hard for me." - ClemsonGirl
by world dictator on Feb 1, 2012 1:59 AM EST up reply actions
Or was a good clutch guy? I can’t remember now. The only thing I remember is not getting to World Series against the Rockies, which we could’ve won. Maybe it was his fault. Maybe I’m going senile with pent up rage.
"Sounds like 'Take the Z-Train' to me." -- Antoine Batiste
There was a year where he was horrifically bad with RISP. It left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.
His GIDP on the first fugging pitch after Skinner’s horrendous stop sign to Lofton in Game Seven was brutal.
But no single play determines the outcome of a seven-game series.
by JulioBernazard on Jan 31, 2012 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
Just when I didn’t think I could hate him any more than I already do. I must’ve still been punching the couch and screaming Skins’s and Blake’s names when that error occurred.
by JulioBernazard on Jan 31, 2012 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Man, you go 0-for-27 with RISP one freakin’ time and nobody ever lets you forget it!
by Jay on Feb 1, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
To put it another way, if the Indians had a real 1B and LF, that is, people that could actually hit at those positions, it would be pretty great to get Casey Blake 2.0 as a good utility player.
However the reality is that we just signed a 26 year old AAA player to maybe start at 1B. Sorry if I’m not doing cartwheels in the street over this.
No cartwheels here either… I am sure that I’d pull something… Unfortunatly the reality of being a small market club is that we have to throw a lot at teh wall and see what sticks… And when it sticks extend them and hope that it still sticks by the end of the deal so we can trade them for more stuff to throw at the wall. i like that the indians have added so much. So many prior high draft picks, and a few players that seem to be better then they have been treated as in this signing. If we are just playing the numbers and one out of every 50 NRI’s make some impact and one out of 100 actually make an all star team, then we just play the numbers and hope that one of these guys stick, we can all do cartwheels over the signing when we can look back at the signing in hind sight, and see that we got a steal from some other team who gave up on them. At least by that point in time I will be able to stretch first…
But unlike LaPorta, Brantley’s spot on the 25 is pretty much guaranteed as he can play CF.
Assuming 13 pitchers, 10 position spots are already clinched, which leaves this list for the remaining 2 spots on the opening day 25:
LaPorta
Hannahan
Cunningham
Duncan
Canzler
Brantley’s spot on the 40-man is guaranteed. Whether he’s on the 25-man, the DL or optional assignment is a whole other question.
by Jay on Feb 1, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
Did they remove someone from the 40-man to add him, or did he just get Carmona’s spot? (it looks as if they’re at 40, with Carmona not counted).
Also, Carrasco appears still to be on the 40-man (the list on the Indians web site puts him there). So, they probably have another spot, if one of those NRI’s makes the team, or if they find another player to compete with LaPorta (or Brantley).
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