David Eckstein Gets Underpaid

David Eckstein has signed with the Toronto Blue Jays for one year and 4.5 million dollars. Ironically, Eckstein has become the sort of player that only the 2001 version of Billy Beane could love. Very little speed, no glove, but the man can get on base. Eckstein has put up a .350 on base percentage or higher in each of the last three seasons, putting him a good twenty points above the average shortstop and five points above the average leadoff man. Eckstein can be a solid little player if you move him to second base, and slot him at the top of your lineup. When solid little players tend to get four year commitments these days, getting Eckstein at this cost is a huge bargain. I would not have put money on that at the beginning of this offseason.