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01/29/2003 Archived Entry: "MLB NEWS 1/29/03 Cruz Signs With Giants-Let the Dominos Fall"
MLB News 1/29/03 Cruz Jr. Signs With Giants- Let the Dominos Fall
By
Bart Ewing
Jose Cruz Jr signed a 1 year 2.5 million dollar contract with San Francisco. There is a mutual option for another year for 4 million.
This impacts 2 teams significiantly. The Giant's benefit not so much by the addition of Cruz, who is a decent enough hitter but it allows for worse hitters to leave primary roles. This moves allows Felipe Alou to move Ray Durham back to 2b, Edgar Alfonzo to 3b and Neifi Perez to the bench as a solid utility player. Marquis Grissom and Marvin Bernard can move to platoon roles where they have some value. Giants benefit all around. Cruz normally a good 25-30 homerun threat with a sub par average and he can get to double digit steals. In Frisco look for a dip in power and a small dip in average. Cruz may also respond to Alou, look for an average in the .250's with just over 20 long balls.
The other affected team is Toronto. This opens up an opportunity for Jayson Werth. The 23 year old Werth has a decent upside for power/speed combo but maybe not in 2003. His major league estimates show a .230 hitter with 15-20 homeruns. He'll easily strike out over 100 times and if given a green light can steal 20 bags. He can play good defense and is versitile. He probably needs another year in AAA but the Jays may not have the luxury. Pay attention in spring training and if full time status looks good he can be a 20/20 player but you take a hit in BA. In the steal starved AL only leagues he may be a nice end game pick. The ideal scenario to maximize Werth is a platoon with Frank Catalanotto (btw his value just increased as well since he can hold his own vs LH's). Another notion is could DH slugger Josh Phelps get some reps in LF? Probably not but maaaaaaybe.
