Dewan: On Diamondbacks’ signing of Jason Kubel
From SABR member John Dewan at ACTA Sports on December 21, 2011:
Maybe they have some other plans, but it sure seems to me the Arizona Diamondbacks just threw $15 million out the window. Why sign a 30-year-old outfielder coming off a season cut short by injury to come in and take the place of a 25-year-old outfielder who just won a Gold Glove?
The D’Backs’ signing of Jason Kubel a couple of days ago to a reported two-year $15 million contract is a puzzler. Yes, he hit 20+ homers three years in a row before last year, but that’s about all you can say that he has over the man he is rumored to be replacing, Gerardo Parra, as the everyday left fielder for Arizona.
Last year Kubel, a lefty, hit .273 with 12 homers and a .766 OPS in about 400 plate appearances. Parra, also a lefty, hit .292 with 8 homers and a .784 OPS in just under 500 plate appearances. Parra created 71 runs to 59 for Kubel. Given the fewer plate appearances for Kubel, you can say offensively the two players were pretty even. But it’s defense that made Parra a much better player than Kubel in 2011. Parra saved an estimated 12 runs for Arizona last year. He won a Gold Glove in recognition for his superlative play in the field. Kubel cost his team about 3 runs defensively. That 15-run difference is huge.
Not to mention that Parra is five years younger (Kubel turns 30 and Parra turns 25 in May).
Read the full article here: http://www.actasports.com/statoftheweek
Originally published: December 21, 2011. Last Updated: December 21, 2011.