A few shrewd pickups this week: the Mets bring on Rey Sanchez, who’s a better, cheaper, more versatile and friendlier version of Rey Ordonez; the Blue Jays, not coincidentally the one team with a Baseball Prospectus alum in the front office, pick up the multitalented Frank Catalanotto (although I’m less thrilled about the salary-cutting expedient of putting Catalanotto in the outfield to replace Jose Cruz jr.); and the Rangers bring aboard Esteban Yan, a good arm who should be a useful setup man.
Strangely, the ESPN report on the Yan signing says that Francisco Cordero “could be ready to take over as a closer by” 2004. Cordero converted 10 of 12 save opportunities on the season and posted a 1.79 ERA, striking out 41 batters while allowing just 46 baserunners in 45.1 IP. After June 1, he was 2-0, 10 of 11 in saves, 0.47 ERA, 38 IP, 25 H, 0 HR (you read that right – none), 8 BB, 38 K. Four months, 33 games, ten saves in eleven tries, two runs allowed. Cordero will be ready to close before Uggie Urbina is.