The Case Against Jose Valentin

Now that the 2004 season has ended, Sox shortstop Jose Vatenin is a free agent. I've read that some Sox fans want to hang onto him, others don't. Here are my deep thoughts:

Vatentin is a power-hitting shortstop with sub-par defensive skills and a bad on-base percentage. While JV has been a key part of the great Sox teams the past few years, I think with all the power in the Sox line-up, his time in Chicago is over. Likely, he'll request an increase in his $5 million dollar a year salary, and for the Sox, he's just not worth it.

The stats tell the story. Measured against the top 30 MLB shortstops, he ranks near the bottom in at-bats (450 - 23rd), hits (only 97 - 28th), doubles (20 - 25th), average (.216 - 22nd) and on-base percentage (21st - .287). He's in the middle on runs scored (73 - 16th) and walks (43 - 13th). To his credit, he's near the top in RBI (70 - 9th), slugging pct (.423 - 4th) and homers (30 - 2nd).

The defensive stats are notable as well. JV's 20 errors were 7th in the majors, but of the 6 who had more errors, all but one (Matsui - a rookie), played in significantly more games. And Matsui had more hits (125), more stolen bases (12), a higher average (.272) and a higher OBP (.331) than JV. To JV's credit, of those 7 defensively-challenged shortstops, he did have the 2nd best fielding percentage - .965, behind only Miguel Tejada at .971. And also, JV has been consistent in his defensive play the past few years, commiting 20 (2003), 19 (2002) and 22 (2001) errors, respctively. A big improvement over 2000, when he had 36. Bad, but far from the worst. (remember Shawon Dunston?).

To sum up JV's season in 2004 against his performance in recent years, he's playing in less games, scoring less runs, getting less hits, less RBI, has a lower average and OPB and striking out a lot more. The only categories he's imporved in is homers, and even then he's only up from 28 (2003) and 25 (2002), and power hitting is one thing the Sox have plenty of...

So I think JV should test the bounds of free agency beyond Chicago. He'd be a good addition to a team who needs a power hitting shortshop with below average fielding skills. I don't know baseball well enough to know what team out there can afford $5 mil and sacrifice power for defense at the SS position. But I think the Sox would do better to spend their money elsewhere, like on a #1 starter. Which I'll discuss at a later date...