Rauch

We already have a logjam in the OF. What exactly does he bring to the table?

It’s the same mentality that is being shown in Seattle toward bringing back Griffey, i.e., nobody wants a washed up vet whose best memories reside within their primes.

That’s the reality of it. Rauch was actually pretty good for Washington, with ERA+ figures of 113, 127, 117 and 147 in the three and two-third seasons he played for them. I will certainly admit, he stank atrociously during his time here, but I am not prepared to write him off on the basis of those 23.1 innings. It may have been something as simple as arm fatigue that made him ineffective here, and if so, and he rebounds back to his regular form in 2009, he’ll be a very useful part of the bullpen.

I would, however, rather have been able to wait a bit before invoking his option, but that wasn’t possible. Here’s a thought, though I’ve got no evidence to back it up, and am simply thinking aloud. Perhaps Rauch didn’t want us to invoke the option, preferring free-agency, and so tanked on purpose after the trade? If so, we can perhaps expect a return to form, since he knows the only way he’s getting out of Arizona before the end 2010 is if he makes himself attractive enough to be trade-bait.

However, the alternative, and even worse possibility, is that he continues to blow chunks in the hope of pulling an Ortiz and getting his unconditional release. Ugh. We’ll see, I guess.