First off, the Pirates lost out on another starting pitcher yesterday with Jeff Weaver looking more and more likely to go to the Mariners. That leaves Tony Armas as the next best option for that fifth spot in the rotation.
In other news, the mega deal that will pay Chase Utley $85 million over seven years might be the standard that Freddy Sanchez will hold up when he finally reaches free agency. There’s no doubt that the Pirates caught lightening in a bottle with Sanchez winning the batting title last year while belting 52 doubles. Sanchez just turned 29 though and while he’s a year older, I don’t really see the Pirates paying even close to what Utley got unless Sanchez starts turning some of those doubles into homeruns. Regardless, the Pirates have another guy that they’re going to have to make decision on soon.
Baseball Prospectus has Freddy Sanchez at a projected 22 VORP. Even if he hits his 75th percentile (30 VORP), you’re not even coming close to what Utley’s mean weighted average VORP of 49 is. Even Utley’s 25th percentile gets him a 30 VORP so Sanchez isn’t anywhere close to the league that Utley’s in, at least not yet.
