Ah, yes. It’s stretch time in the Baseball, which means contending teams are scouring the waiver wires for that Proven Veteran™ who can put them over the top ... and wouldn’t you know it, there are plenty of Proven Veterans on the waiver wire! Imagine that!
Nationals Grab Infielder Cesar Izturis
Today's example: 32-year-old Cesar Izturis, now in his 12th season in the majors, has been claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.
Izturis has never been a league-average hitter. Izturis has never been close to a league-average hitter. And the worst part is, he’s getting worse. From 2010 through yesterday, Izturis has a 50 OPS+.
How good is 50? It’s not good at all. In this three-season span, 320 players have at least 600 plate appearances in the majors. Izturis’s OPS+ ranks 319th.*
* Jeff Mathis!
But hey, he can play three positions and he’s been around for a long time, and he really won’t cost you too many baseball games as long as you don’t actually let him play.
In less than four weeks, the rosters expand.
Meanwhile, with an open roster space, the Milwaukee Brewers are promoting shortstop Jean Segura -- who they got from the Angels in the Zack Greinke trade -- to the majors. Segura's probably not ready to hit in the majors, but he's got youth on his side.
See More:
