Good Article Part III

Here is a link to a good article by Glenn Dickey analyzing the Huff signing. Unfortunately his conclusion is a bit off. The idea that the signing is 'out of touch with reality' is dramatic at best. His salary is at 3 million. and CHONE projects Huff to be worth 2.7 million. It is not the kind of signing that is going to change the your expectation of the offense. But of course the signing did not happen in a bubble.
Huff will take the place of last years starter Travis Ishikawa (presuming Huff plays most of his time at 1st; also his name makes me thing about Jimmy Wang Chang). Travis was a stud at defense last year according to UZR. And even though he isn't as good on offense, Travis' defense alone puts him over the top of Huff as far as WAR and value. Add in that Travis is 26 and Huff is 32, it would seem taking at-bats away from a player entering his prime, and giving them to a player leaving his, is not a step in the right direction.
Case Closed!!!

P.S. Here is a much better article by Evan Brunell of the Hardball Times. He completely shames me with his analysis, but we both came to the same conclusion that Travis is the better long term choice.