Ummmmm.... Barry Larkin???

by ohad on Nov 10, 2004 11:05 AM PST

According to ESPN insider rumor central , the a's contacted Barry Larkins agent. Does he wanna move to second? This indicates that Ellis likely won't be ready by the season, and i have to admit it would be cool to sign him. He was my favorite player when i was 8, and i did hit 636 foot shots in All Star Baseball 99 on nintendo 64...

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I read that too

I think it would definitely be really interesting if we were to have Larkin at second base. He's still a relatively productive player and he may be more productive defensively at second. Last year his salary was only 700k, too. I hope we get him.

by clatino on Nov 10, 2004 11:44 AM PST reply actions

injury history the past couple of years

Hasn't Larkin been injured alot the past couple of years? Would such a signing amount to another Mark McLemore type of deal?

Larkin has had a great career. But if he ends up being an injury-prone player at the end of his career he might just be taking a bench space that might go to a more productive younger infielder, that the A's might even already have coming up.

Why might Cincinnati want to let him go? Do they have a hotshot prospect that they need to make room for? or is Larkin no longer productive?

by OaklandSi on Nov 10, 2004 11:55 AM PST reply actions

Larkin

I think this has backup infielder written all over it.

by Kelly on Nov 10, 2004 12:17 PM PST reply actions

Larkin at Second

If he can actually play second base, Barry Larkin's .771 OPS would have placed him around 6th among AL second basemen last year, just behind Belliard. Marco Scutaro had a .690 OPS. On the other hand, it was really only Scutaro's first full season, since he only had 100 bats combined in 2002 and 2003, so he certainly could improve at the plate.

by SA on Nov 10, 2004 12:54 PM PST reply actions

You guys are really reaching at this point

by jmoney on Nov 10, 2004 2:57 PM PST reply actions

Karros 2.0

Old RH bat that's slowing down, attached to a glove that at one point could field capably but is increasingly old, slow, and creaky.

I mean, jeez -- I'd rather have Counsell.

"Wait -- Barry Larkin! I've heard of him! Billy Beane might be pursuing a free agent I've heard of! And I had his baseball card, back in the day, when I would listen to my Wang Chung LPs!"

by monkeyball on Nov 10, 2004 3:12 PM PST reply actions

MB

As always, greantess. Actually I think it was "License to Ill"...Now here's a little story you know so well....

"Not the fucking ducks again." Tony S.

by rook on Nov 10, 2004 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

Ellis

Saw a somewhat disturbing report on ESPN-at the end of Crasnick's article on the GM meetings, he quotes David Frost as saying Ellis 'has a long way to go' based on what he saw during instructional league. The two things people were worried about with the injury were his arm strength returning and the injury affecting his hitting, so it's probably one of those. However, I think the Larkin move would be a bad idea. Between Adam Morrissey, Quintanilla, and Scutaro we should be able to find a capable 2B if Ellis still needs rehab time at the start of the year. If we are talking career threatening complications, it would be a different story, but Larkin would make even less sense there.

by Doug on Nov 10, 2004 3:20 PM PST reply actions

In all fairness

BB does do this almost every year. I think of names like Ron Gant, David Justice, Mark McLemore, and Eric Karros. He usually does pick up a former name with the money he has left over. For Larkin to be out there this early, is crazy, as Beane said in Urban's column today, "We are not going to set the market."

Uhm, and I am not sure there is a market for a 40 year old SS that was in the league when Reagan was running the country. But that's just me.

"Not the fucking ducks again." Tony S.

by rook on Nov 10, 2004 3:32 PM PST reply actions

you guys...

are being difficult. nobody associated with AN started this rumor, and there's no reason not to discuss it. i remember larkin's name coming up in the past regarding the A's, and i don't see why this is so ridiculous. obviously we're not going to give the guy a million dollars, but why couldn't he be a post-1999 randy velarde? Just compare his ops to scutaro. it's not even close. his teammates with the reds still felt he was one of their most valuable players. why couldn't he start 80-120 games at second for us?

by David Owen on Nov 10, 2004 5:07 PM PST reply actions

Barry

Barry Larkin actualy had pretty decent #'s last year. He was used by the Reds mainly as a Pinch Hit/Backup, so no, he wouldnt be a starting 2B.

My guess is he'd be like Maclamore last year. SS, 2B and 3B backup. One thing that Larkin can do that Scutaro cant, is walk. And walking doesnt nessisarly deterirate with age as much as hitting.

Larkins Stats last year:

BA: .289, OBP: 352, 34 BB - 39 K, SLG: .419, OPS: .771

by Zonis on Nov 10, 2004 9:48 PM PST reply actions

Retire

Didn't Larkin officially "retire" as a Red last season? Personally, I wouldn't mind giving him a shot in Green and Gold if he were willing. But, I just don't see Larkin wanting to tarnish the legacy he has as a Lifetime Cincinnati Red.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Nov 10, 2004 10:28 PM PST reply actions

Larkin

No, Larkin told Reds he wanted to play another season. Reds were not interested. I think he's
got a little left. He did have a decent year in
2004. He'd be an interesting pickup for a MacLemore type role. Me thinks.

by sommers on Nov 11, 2004 5:03 AM PST reply actions