kelso wrote: Is Chavez not an option?
As a backup, maybe. He's too much of a liability at the plate to play regularly...this was his best performance in any season where he received 100+ PAs (by far), and it was still terrible even for a catcher.
How far off are Jaroloman & Arencibia?
Jeroloman had a really bad season in AA, hitting .217/.330/.316; unless he rebounds, his future is probably as a AAAA guy. Arencibia probably needs at least another season at AAA to sort out his swing, because he would get eaten alive my major-league off-speed stuff.
What about re-signing Barajas?
It's an option, but there's more value in offering him arbitration and hoping he walks...if another team picks him up, we get a supplemental pick (ie., top-50 in the draft), and because the team picking him up doesn't lose anything he shouldn't have difficulty finding a home. However, there's a decent chance he accepts arbitration; worst-case, we get him for another year and sort things out in 2010.
Considering the likes of these guys and seeing the Jays trying to trade Lyle for Snyder makes me think either they REALLY want to get rid of Overbay bad, or our prospects aren't as promising maybe as we would have them be.
Jeroloman was always pretty borderline as a prospect...think Gregg Zaun with less power and a better arm. Arencibia is a bit of a disappointment, though; he has exceptional power, but his future hinges on discovering some plate discipline, and as he's hitting 24 in January the clock is running out.
If we do trade Overbay, I really hope the team will give Dopirak a long look in Spring Training...he's killing it in the Venezuelan Winter League at the moment.
