Offseason Notes, Featuring the Words “Derek Jeter”

Marginally Important News
In which the author examines some news that’s maybe less-than-fit to print.

Arbitration Deadline Tomorrow
A total of 21 teams have at least one decision to make in offering arbitration to eligible free agents tomorrow. MLB Trade Rumors has a complete list. Among the more interesing cases: Derek Jeter, Frank Francisco, Felipe Lopez (a Type B free agent), Paul Konerko, J.J. Putz.

Cubs Leave M. Smith Off 40-Man
Chicago third-base prospect Marquez Smith was noted in these pages late last month for his favorable ZiPS minor-league translation (zMLE). Now he’s being noted for another reason — namely, for being excluded from the Cubs 40-man roster (and thus eligible in December’s Rule 5 Draft). Though contact remains a (legitimate) issue for the 25-year-old Smith, TotalZone likes his defense to the tune of 1.0 to 1.5 wins per season.

Dan Moore Uses Word “Machinations” in Title of Post
Let’s just celebrate that, is all.

SCOUT Leaderboards
Season Over
The Arizona Fall League is over now. The top-10 SCOUT leaderboards for batting and pitching are below. (Click here for more on SCOUT, the metric that’s “sweeping” the “nation.”)

Also, a spreadsheet of all SCOUT numbers is available by clicking here.

Batting Leaderboard
Below is the final SCOUT batting leaderboard for the Arizona Fall League.

Note
Minnesota prospect Ben Revere is the only player to finish a full standard deviation above the mean in any category, ending his AFL season with only 12 K in 123 PA. He also (a) finished a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen bases and (b) failed to hit a home run, placing him in the minority among qualified batters.

Pitching Leaderboard
Same verse, very similar to the first.

Note
Despite finishing with a unsightly 6.12 ERA, Tampa Bay prospect Alexander Cobb was the only pitcher to post a regressed strikeout rate (xK/9) above 10, finishing with a 10.1 xK/9.

Bryce Harper Watch
The Bryce Harper Watch is officially over.

Harper ended the Arizona Fall League with this line: .343/.410/.629. In this many PAs: 39 (probably).