Comments on: Long Term Contracts

By: Jay Duponte

Jay Duponte — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 02:02:53 +0000

I think the Yankees are choke artists!

By: Kyle

Kyle — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 20:00:24 +0000

I think Andruw fits perfectly into the “Void Now” column. He was overpaid last year and will be overpaid going foward. However, his signing was considered a good deal when it was made (he and his dad went over Boras’ head to negotiate with Schuerholtz by themselves). Regardless of what anyone outside of Atlanta says, the Braves are not desparate to get rid of his contract. That doesn’t mean they’d pass on a chance to rip off Kenny Williams if given the opportunity, but it does mean that any deal that involves Andruw leaving in a salary dump or in exchange for another albatross contract is from a source who dreamed it up themselves rather than someone connected to the Braves clubhouse.

By: Max

Max — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 19:49:50 +0000

Good list. Mike Sweeney should be on that list too somewhere – probably VOID NOW.

By: traubdog

traubdog — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 19:18:12 +0000

Ok comparing offensive numbers between Cameron and Jones isn’t terribly accurate – Cameron compiled his in a very pitcher-friendly park (although not as pitcher friendly as Safeco), while Jones compiled his at hitter-friendly park. Adjust for park factors, and their offensive seasons are strikingly similar.

Factor in defense (Jones has been in decline defensively for years, and is either league average or slightly worse, whereas Cameron is probably in the top 3 CFs in the game), and Cameron’s true value shows.

If you take Jone’s offensive stats and translate them to Safeco, they’re going to look terrible, and you’d be screaming about paying him the cash he’s due. He may be 27, but offensively he has peaked, and defensively, he’s already in decline. I wouldn’t touch that contract.

By: hans

hans — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 22:05:45 +0000

Quite an interesting premise (the original post I mean). Kind of takes the wind out of the “sign Beltre now and overpay for him” sails. The history of these signings do not look good. Phrases like “gambling”, and “playing with fire” come to mind.

One minor point might help make this not such a scary subject. Dave notes that several of the “good deal” players are still early in their contracts and there is plenty of room for them to develop into albatrosses. Well, by the same token, there are at least a few “mulligans” who have a lot of time left on their contracts and still could turn it around and “prove their worth”. Guys like Kaz Matsui, Jeff Weaver, Bartolo Colon, Javier Vasquez come to mind. There must be more, but unfortunately I’m not familiar with the contracts of most of these guys.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 21:48:46 +0000

Dave, I didn’t take it personally, I actually agree with most of what you said. I do feel though that if the Braves are so strapped for cash, even dumping most of Jones’ contract elsewhere would make them happy. I don’t like Jones at 12.5 mil, but I would be interested at 8.5-9. I think the Braves could easily find someone say in NY to pick up most of the tab, but the Yankees did get Hicks to send an awful lot of cash with A-Rod last Spring. The trend is there where teams desperate to move bad contracts will do just about anything to do so, even throw in some cash or take a bad contract back. In this day of the haves & have nots what are big market clubs doing getting money thrown into a deal. And what are smaller market clubs doing throwing money in to help pay the salaries. I believe the way things operated in July were that if the team dumping the contract wanted anything decent in return they would have to help pay the players salary. (I guess Soriano is the reason Texas kicked in the cash they did.) If not, they got some low level prospect that will never make the show. Preying on teams trying to get rid of contracts could be a nice win for the M’s this off season. On Turner Field I was under the belief it was hard on righthanded hitters, and easier on lefty’s much like Safeco, but I stand corrected. Including Spezio in any trade would be a dream, but I know he’s our nightmare.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 04:20:43 +0000

Argh. Don’t take this personally, Mike, but those kind of posts irritate me.

1. The Braves are cash strapped, so they aren’t going to be paying any money to get rid of players.

2. No one is going to take Scott Spiezio.

3. Andruw Jones is not a “stud CF”. He’s a solid player getting paid like a superstar.

4. Turner Field is nothing like Safeco Field. Turner Field is a neutral park. Safeco was the best pitcher’s park in baseball last year.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 16 Nov 2004 03:57:45 +0000

I think Jones wouldn’t be much of a risk at all. Using the Walker trade from Colorado to St.Louis as a barrometer the Braves would be willing to kick in some cash. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1853911
I would push very hard to get Jones. The Braves want to keep Drew, fine I think he’s too brittle for what he’ll want in money. Jones has played a minimum of 153 games in each of the last 8 seasons.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?statsId=5681
He’s averaged 29hr’s and 91 rbi’s in Turner Field, a very comparable park to Safeco. Maybe an offer of Spezio, Winn & a couple prospects would land the deal instead of the Braves including cash. They have payrole issues with Hampton’s contract starting to hit their books. Schurholtz is a smart GM, Bavasi may be in over his head in trying to land his stud 27 yr old CF without giving up some quality. We can only hope.

By: msb

msb — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 19:29:47 +0000

#29-30 – FWIW, in 2003 ESPN got 12 out of 50 right (Thome, Clemens, Olerud & Moyer, Matsui Hideki, Byrd, Frank Thomas, Urbina, Trachsel, Ventura, W. Williams, D. Bell). 2004 they got 9 out of 50 (Sheffield, Pettitte, S. Stewart, Ponson, Cameron, Shige, W. Alvarez, Randa, Castilla)

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?page=top50mlbfreeagents

By: The Ancient Mariner

The Ancient Mariner — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 00:34:11 +0000

Hey, terry, with regard to your statement, do you even have a clue what his understanding of the role of fielding (since that’s what’s under discussion here, not “defense”) in baseball is?