Bengie Molina

From FanGraphs

Bengie Molina Hits The Market

by Jack Moore - October 23, 2009 - Share this Article

2010 is not exactly a banner year for free agent catchers. Bengie Molina will enter the hot stove league as the only type A catcher available*, according to Cot’s Contracts 2010 free agents list. Bengie Molina has been a standby in the league for years, but he will be 35 for most of the 2010 season.

*Assuming the Red Sox pick up Victor Martinez’s $7M 2010 option

Bengie’s career has been a model of consistency. Since 2003, he’s put up 14.8 WAR, for an average of 2.1 WAR per season, and has always stayed within the 1.0 to 3.0 WAR range. Keep in mind, however, that our catcher WAR on FanGraphs doesn’t take defense into account. We can be relatively certain that he is not the gold glover of 2002 and 2003, though. His CS% has dropped from 40%+ from 1999-2003 to 32% for his career now. Also, the elder Molina doesn’t excel on the bases, and WAR doesn’t include non-SB baserunning, depressing his value even more.

Given Molina’s age, production, and previous contract (6M in 2009), it’s hard to imagine the Giants offering Molina arbitration, especially with Buster Posey almost ready. As such, he likely won’t have the dreaded type-A tag that doomed Orlando Hudson to a contract with a base salary of only $3.38 million.

So what can he expect? With his wOBA dropping below .310 for the first time since 2002, it’s fair to say 2009 was a down season. His BABIP of .273 was only 8 points below his career average. Still, a catcher with a wOBA of .308 is still valuable on the free agent market. However, teams will be taking into account the fact that Molina is aging and his defensive value will only drop as the years go on.

Jason Varitek, with a similar 2008 to Molina’s 2009, received a 5 million dollar contract. Molina might be able to expect something similar, but he doesn’t have the “captain” moniker to aid him. Still, he does hit for power – his .177 ISO ranked 3rd in the majors this year. If he can avoid injuries and provide near-average defense, his power will make him a 1.0+ win player, with a 4 million dollar contract or more on a one-year deal. Plenty of teams will have needs at catcher. The question is which one wants Bengie.

The Giants should offer molina arbitration, on a one year deal, as a back up catcher, or starter until posey is ready later in the year. He should reject the offer, and we get picks!!!!!!!!!! They have until the 19th of this month I believe to let molina know he will not be in the picture long term, and then when they offer him arbitration, he will reject it, and we get our young picks.

WARNING!!!!! This plan, should not be done with Randy Winn.

Originally posted by sf1giantfan:
The Giants should offer molina arbitration, on a one year deal, as a back up catcher, or starter until posey is ready later in the year. He should reject the offer, and we get picks!!!!!!!!!! They have until the 19th of this month I believe to let molina know he will not be in the picture long term, and then when they offer him arbitration, he will reject it, and we get our young picks.

WARNING!!!!! This plan, should not be done with Randy Winn.

lmfao ahahah true

Giants Advise Winn To Seek Employment Elsewhere
By Mike Axisa [November 9, 2009 at 4:42pm CST]

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News, the Giants called Randy Winn's agent to thank him for his services, then informed him to seek employment elsewhere because they have a number of young outfielders.

Craig Landis, Winn's agent, said his client is looking for an everyday job, and "believes he’d be a good fit on a team that is looking to add athleticism to a lineup that already has plenty of power production." The 35-year-old hit .262/.318/.353 in 597 plate appearances this year, and his defense in the outfield checked in at a stellar +20.1 UZR/150.

Winn was a good Giant, and if he put up more decent numbers, I wouldn't mind him as 4th outfielder. But he digressed too much to take that chance.

Molina also was good for the Giants, just not as the cleanup batter. Would have been better as the 7th hitter. But, of course that was our manager being a fool. Molina time has come to say goodbye, and let us replace him with someone else, and then posey can take over full time.

i rather let winn go and have someone else as a backup OF
idk why but i hate seeing him bat now

Originally posted by Poncho707:
i rather let winn go and have someone else as a backup OF
idk why but i hate seeing him bat now

I'm saying if he put up decent numbers. He did not, so he must go. NEXT!!!!!

^^ yes.
Nate time!