The Cubs have signed right fielder David DeJesus to a 2-year contract with a third year club option. It’s reportedly a 2-year deal for $10 million. Not sure how much the club option year is worth. Before I move on, how would you even Quadify this guy’s name? Would it be Davey? DeJey? Jesusy?
DeJesus played RF for 116 games last season and played 8 games in CF. He’s a damn good fielder so it’s not surprising the Cubs have signed him. They need to improve the defense and DeJesus does just that. While his Total Zone last year was -1, defensive metrics aren’t exactly reliable over just one season. The previous three years his Total Zone was 9, 15 and 13. His UZR the last 3 years has been 16, 2.5 and 7.5. His DRS last year was 10. The guy can field.
The Cubs have also sucked at running the bases. DeJesus has been worth 16 runs in his career on the bases according to UBR. He was worth 2.7 last year. According to Baseball Prospectus’ baserunning metric, EQBRR, he was worth 1.3 in 2011.
It’s obvious the Cubs have made their first attempt to improve both their defense and baserunning and they’ve done a fine job at that. That’s not all the value a player provides and hitting remains the most important part.
His wOBA last year was only .309, but that was a 95 wRC+. He was only a little below average. The three years prior to that his wOBA was .355, .337 and .363. Those are pretty good for a guy who fields well and runs well.
Bill James projects a .324 wOBA. CAIRO projects a .320 wOBA. Oliver projects a .326 wOBA. Keep in mind that these are all projections for the American League and in a pitcher’s park that Oakland is. We can expect when updated projections come there will be a bump. Basically, he’s expected to be above average at the plate.
Let’s use a .330 wOBA for the Cubs. CAIRO has an average defensive projection for him at +3 runs in RF in 545 innings. Since he’ll be the every day guy we can bump that up to over 1000 and we’ll call it +6. We’ll go with +2 on the bases. And we’ll use a $4.8 million value per win and 550 plate appearances.
| Year | WAR | $WAR |
| 2012 | 1.8 | $8.6 |
| 2013 | 1.3 | $6.6 |
| 2014 | 0.8 | $4.0 |
Over two years, DeJesus is worth $15.2 million and he’s being paid $10 million. The Cubs essentially saved enough money to buy one more win on the free agent market. I included 2014 since there’s a club option. If he’s worth only .8 WAR by that time that option will be declined. If he outperforms the projections in 2012 and 2013 he’ll probably be back depending on who they have available to play and how much the option is worth.
DeJesus doesn’t make the Cubs contenders by any means. It’s not a sexy move. It’s probably a signing that will even anger some or many Cubs fans, but don’t pay attention to them. This is a good contract.
I’d also say it makes it more likely now than ever before that Alfonso Soriano won’t be a Cub when next season begins. I still think it’s likely that Brett Jackson begins the year in CF. I had thought Byrd would move to RF, but I’ve got money on him being the LF next year.
Comments
[quote name=Berselius]My instareaction Is a resounding meh. Seems like a fair deal.[/quote]My only opinion is that based on the projections it’s a good contract. He’s being paid less than he’s worth.
mb21Quote Reply
Zeus.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Basically, they replaced Fukudome at a much lower cost.
ACTQuote Reply
FWIW DeJesus’s OLIVER forecast (in OAK) is
.268/.335/.406 with +1.5 fielding for a whopping 0.3 WAR
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Zeus.[/quote]I would’ve went with “Jeez”.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
So do they keep Soriano as a bench bat if they can’t find an AL team to eat part of his contract? Or is he just flat out released?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]FWIW DeJesus’s OLIVER forecast (in OAK) is
.268/.335/.406 with +1.5 fielding for a whopping 0.3 WAR[/quote]That doesn’t make any sense. Oliver must think he’s an awful baserunner or they have the average wOBA at about .350.
mb21Quote Reply
Using their defense it would be a league .340 wOBA.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Basically, they replaced Fukudome at a much lower cost.[/quote]Yeah, that’s a great way to look at it.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Using their defense it would be a league .340 wOBA.[/quote]
Maybe it’s a higher replacement level. The NL switch should be worth 0.5 WAR too, right?
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Maybe it’s a higher replacement level. The NL switch should be worth 0.5 WAR too, right?[/quote]Yeah. I don’t think Brian calculates WAR using wOBA if I recall so he’s doing something else entirely.
mb21Quote Reply
Jesus was worth 21 rWAR from 2005 through 2010. In 2005 he had his best season and was worth 4.4 rWAR. Each of the other seasons he was between 3.0 and 3.7. Last year he was .6 because his offense slid and TZ had his defense below average. I don’t see how any projection could have Jesus as being worth .3 WAR. He turns 32 in December so it’s not like he’s 44 years old or something.
mb21Quote Reply
It’s an interesting move. I’ve been trying to see what else we could deduce from the move, but I can’t see anything solid. Would DeJesus make a solid platoon player with Byrd in right?
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]It’s an interesting move. I’ve been trying to see what else we could deduce from the move, but I can’t see anything solid. Would DeJesus make a solid platoon player with Byrd in right?[/quote]Assuming neither was having a year to warrant full-time play, that is.
binkyQuote Reply
Head of Italian Players’ Association tells left-handed Marlon Byrd footballers to stay in the closet
http://www.thescore.ie/head-of-italian-players-association-tells-gay-footballers-to-stay-in-the-closet-293012-Nov2011/
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Save me, DeJeebus!
Suburban kidQuote Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W2AIECx6cc#t=04m10s
GWQuote Reply
It’s a solid move. The contract is small enough that if DeJesus flames out it won’t be that big of a deal, and if he plays well and the Cubs don’t, he’s a relatively moveable commodity to other teams in the thick of pennant races that either see one of their OFs get injured or believe they need a veteran presence.
Smokestack LightningQuote Reply
That’s a good contract, 4.25M each year. The 1.5 will be paid after 2013, or he’ll cost an extra 5M to bring back. Feels good to see smart moves. I also have no doubt that Soriano goes. The Cubs just added 5M to what they can pay to get rid of Soriano by saving it on DeJesus. Byrd, Jackson, DeeJee is a good defensive and athletic outfield.
work sucksQuote Reply
KG says DeJesus = Fukudome.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=work sucks]That’s a good contract, 4.25M each year. The 1.5 will be paid after 2013, or he’ll cost an extra 5M to bring back. Feels good to see smart moves. I also have no doubt that Soriano goes. The Cubs just added 5M to what they can pay to get rid of Soriano by saving it on DeJesus. Byrd, Jackson, DeeJee is a good defensive and athletic outfield.[/quote]And he hustles.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I say that nobody uses WARP anymore Kevin so it doesnt matter what you think
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Smokestack Lightning]It’s a solid move. The contract is small enough that if DeJesus flames out it won’t be that big of a deal, and if he plays well and the Cubs don’t, he’s a relatively moveable commodity to other teams in the thick of pennant races that either see one of their OFs get injured or believe they need a veteran presence.[/quote]Agree with this. It feels like Marlon Byrd all over again.
GBTSQuote Reply
D. HayZeus
work sucksQuote Reply
https://twitter.com/#!/BruceMiles2112/status/141951821655715840
I dunno about this.
career vs. RHP: .292/.368/.447
career vs. LHP: .264 /.328/.362
ACTQuote Reply
ACT made the point earlier about Jesus being a cheaper Fukudome. It’s true. Both are good defensively, running the bases and about average offensively. The difference is that Fukudome signed for $12 million per year over 4 years. Jesus is making half as much as Fukudome and every bit as good.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Agree with this. It feels like Marlon Byrd all over again.[/quote]Byrd was more valuable at the time considering his position, but this is also a very good contract.
mb21Quote Reply
i’m hoping we see alot of this
work sucksQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]https://twitter.com/#!/BruceMiles2112/status/141951821655715840
I dunno about this.
career vs. RHP: .292/.368/.447
career vs. LHP: .264 /.328/.362[/quote]He plays good defense and runs well though. Any days off should be against lefties. His career wRC+ vs lefties is 83.
mb21Quote Reply
Hello.
I feel strongly about sports, and am involved with them on many levels.
Yes, it’s true. It’s me, your urethral polyp, Sports Panties.
I like that the Cubs signed a player named DeJesus. I’ll like it even better when they torture him to death on a cross in front of Harry Caray’s restaurant on his 33rd birthday.
That sports speculation was brought to you by me, your slave-owning liberal, Sports Panties.
Sports PantiesQuote Reply
we’ve really missed your insight here SP.
Jason Grey leaving espn for a job with mlb club scouting dept. Cubs?
work sucksQuote Reply
I’ll have an update to the payroll page a bit later. The 40-man is now up to 35 guys.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=work sucks]we’ve really missed your insight here SP.
Jason Grey leaving espn for a job with mlb club scouting dept. Cubs?[/quote]I saw something about him leaving on twitter. He’s leaving for the Cubs?
mb21Quote Reply
His wife is really hot..
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I saw something about him leaving on twitter. He’s leaving for the Cubs?[/quote]
He didn’t name team, it was pure speculation on my part. Hell, it could be alot of teams. I just opined Cubs because they are newly building scouting, but so are Angels and Astros and probly plenty of others.
work sucksQuote Reply
For those interested, here’s the first civil complaint against Sandusky and Penn State: http://www.scribd.com/doc/74294248/74283327-Sandusky-Civil-Complaint
Also, Jay Cutler —-> Engaged again.
As you were.
GBTSQuote Reply
http://helloquizzy.okcupid.com/tests/what-mlb-team-are-you-most-like-test
i got Cubs in all honesty. wtf is wrong with me. Next was cardinals, yankees and red sox
work sucksQuote Reply
[quote name=work sucks]He didn’t name team, it was pure speculation on my part. Hell, it could be alot of teams. I just opined Cubs because they are newly building scouting, but so are Angels and Astros and probly plenty of others.[/quote]Maybe Bobby Valentine is dragging him with as he exits the ESPN analyst dormitory
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=work sucks]http://helloquizzy.okcupid.com/tests/what-mlb-team-are-you-most-like-test
i got Cubs in all honesty. wtf is wrong with me. Next was cardinals, yankees and red sox[/quote]
Me too. 2nd was the BoSox followed by the Cardinals in a distant 3rd. I’m only 5% a Yankees fan (dying laughing)
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]Me too. 2nd was the BoSox followed by the Cardinals in a distant 3rd. I’m only 5% a Yankees fan (dying laughing)[/quote]I think its a bogus test because I think those are the only 4 options. I tried as hard as I could to get Phillies, and it never worked.
work sucksQuote Reply
http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2011/11/30/1130-cubs-have-new-rf-in-dejesus/
ACTQuote Reply
aisle 424 is flirting with Jesus’s wife on twitter
Bubbles=====> Doesnt blame him
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
http://hbwhof.blogspot.com/2011/08/induction-day.html
she is already a hall of famer apparently
snyds01 22Quote Reply
New DeJesus shit: http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/articles/getting-to-know-david-dejesus.html
Aisle424Quote Reply