The Rays are off to their breakout season and a lot of their success can be credited to the defense, especially up the middle. In Jason Bartlett, who the Rays obtained along with Matt Garza for Delmon Young , the Rays have the defender they have lacked for a long while. He is helping the Rays pitchers numbers making the key plays, while at the same time not really hurting them that much with his bat. Though his VORP is low, I believe Joe Maddon is correct that baseball needs a plus/minus on how many runs a player saved, to go laong with how many he has given up. In my mind, this SS Bartlett should be kept around for a long while. But, In the same time, in AAA Durham Reid Brignac continues to develop at SS. Its a tough decsion on what to do in years to come. In Brignac, you are talking about 20 HR potential, while at the same time he plays solid defense. After years of underachieving and bad decision making, the Rays are the toast of baseball. Do you mess with success or do you start making use of your future chips in years to come
Filed under: American League, MLB, Rays, Rookies, Shortsop
If I were the GM, I’d strongly consider a September callup when it comes to Brignac and see how he does by just slipping in here and there. Depending on that, I’d make a decision. It could be a good idea to then trade him away for whatever the team needs or trade Bartlett away for needs & and keep the prospect for grooming