scoot8270
09-25-2007, 07:13 PM
30 year-old second baseman Mark Ellis has had a solid season, hitting .273/.333/.440 with 19 HR in 568 ABs. He's generally regarded as a fine defender. Today, the A's exercised (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070924&content_id=2227526&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak&partnered=rss_mlb) their $5MM club option on the second baseman for the 2008 season.
It's a smart move; the market seems to continually undervalue this position (Brian Roberts signed for $14.3MM over two years). PECOTA actually figures Ellis to be worth a surprising $13.4MM in '08, with much of that value coming from his defense.
Billy Beane may still shop Ellis this winter. Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6500) feels that the club wouldn't lose much in switching to 25 year-old prospect Kevin Melillo (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Kevin-Melillo.shtml). Ellis is locked in at a reasonable price and is better than any free agent second baseman (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/03/2008_mlb_free_a.html). The Mets, Astros, or Rockies could be possible fits this winter.
It's a smart move; the market seems to continually undervalue this position (Brian Roberts signed for $14.3MM over two years). PECOTA actually figures Ellis to be worth a surprising $13.4MM in '08, with much of that value coming from his defense.
Billy Beane may still shop Ellis this winter. Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6500) feels that the club wouldn't lose much in switching to 25 year-old prospect Kevin Melillo (http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Kevin-Melillo.shtml). Ellis is locked in at a reasonable price and is better than any free agent second baseman (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/03/2008_mlb_free_a.html). The Mets, Astros, or Rockies could be possible fits this winter.