The Yankees, Diamondbacks and Angels aren’t the only teams making big noises at baseball’s winter meetings through trades and free agent signings. The Cubs made a huge splash of their own acquiring Justin Ruggiano from the Miami Marlins.
“Sabermetics. It’s now. It’s the future. It’s even beyond the future,” declared GM Jed Hoyer. “Our computers are working overtime to uncover nuggets like Justin.”
Perhaps reacting to the criticism of player agent Scott Boras, who compared the Cubs lack of off-season moves to ‘”licking a lollipop all day long until it dissolves,” Hoyer said the ball club isn’t finished dealing. “We’re feeding the computer with data on an hourly basis trying to find that one closer, the middle-reliever or maybe the utility infielder that will make a huge impact next season.”
Hoyer is bullish about what outfielder Ruggiano might contribute toward the success of next year’s team. “Justin is just the guy that can make the big difference between a 90-loss and 100-loss season for us in 2014.”
