In this installment of RRA we'll discuss a player I honestly forgot had spent time in Houston, outfielder Roger Cedeno. Roger would spend just one season, 2000, with Houston before moving on.
In December of 1999 Cedeno was traded to Houston from the Mets along with young starter Octavio Dotel and minor leaguer Kyle Kessel in exchange for Derek Bell and Mike Hampton. Cedeno had just come off an age 24 season with the Mets in which he stole 66 bases with a .396 OBP.
Houston used Roger almost equally across all three outfield positions while batting him first or second, utilizing his strong on-base ability and speed. Unfortunately, a broken hand suffered sliding head first into first base cost him two and a half months on the disabled list. Still, in 74 games Cedeno hit .282/.383/.398 with 25 steals.
Two games in particular show the ability Roger was able to flash. On April 22 against San Diego, Cedeno went 2x3 with two walks, a double, one run scored, two RBI on a game tying two-out single in the sixth inning, and an amazing four stolen bases in a 10 inning 8-6 loss. Three weeks later, Roger targeted the Reds on May 12. He would contribute to all three Houston runs in a 7-3 loss as he went 5x6 with one run, two RBI, and another three stolen bases.
Cedeno would suffer his injury two weeks later, which opened up a spot in the outfield for a young Lance Berkman. Berkman's emergence allowed Houston to trade Cedeno to Detroit along with Chris Holt and Mitch Melusky for Brad Ausmus, Doug Brocail, and reliever Nelson Cruz.
Roger would spend another five seasons in the majors without ever returning to the level of success he experienced with the Mets. He was last seen in uniform during a comeback attempt with Baltimore in 2007. After reportedly arriving to camp weighing in at 274 pounds he was released during spring training.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
