The link takes you to the rosters at TQ Stats for the Baseball Weekly LABR AL draft. The next link takes you to the NL rosters.
Victor Martinez went for $22, Ivan Rodriguez for $20, Javy Lopez for $19, Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek for $15, and Jason Kendall for $13. I won’t argue about the prices of those other than Kendall–they seem quite fair–but Baseball Prospectus’s Nate Ravitz got a steal in Kendall. Mark my words.
The thorn in every manager’s side, AJ Pierzynski, also went for $13. Somebody screwed up here, don’t you think?
Which reminds me: There are no good catchers in the National League. Paul Lo Duca, Johnny Estrada and Mike Piazza each went for $14. Mike Lieberthal and Ramon Hernandez went for $13. I think you could argue that all stretch expectations.
Regarding AJ – you think $13’s too high? Sure, he’s an arsehole, but he hit fine with the Twins. A return to his high-average ways in a full-time catching role should give him decent value. SBC, no matter how it appeared last year, should still be considered a pitcher’s park, and Comiskey’s one of the best HR parks in the AL. Wouldn’t a line like .285/15/70/70/3 make him worth $13?
As for Kendall, Oakland zaps AVG, and Oakland management zaps SBs from guys with mediocre SB rates. $13’s not unreasonable, but I think I’d actually have AJ.
“But that’s why they play the games.”
It could go that way. Oakland zaps RH AVG 6%. Helps RH HR 14%. He won’t steal 15, but even 7 gives him an edge on everyone else. I think he’s such a good hitter and will be helped a lot by being in even the bad Oakland lineup (as opposed to the bad Pittsburgh lineup).
Pierzynski earned $17 in 2003, so obviously he can do it. Especially in a happier situation (my point is that if he’s maladjusted there is a much greater chance he’s going to flame out again). I think it’s a risk to push him, but if he plays and keeps his head on straight no one should be surprised if he hit.