More good news
Dave · December 9, 2004 at 4:48 pm · Filed Under Mariners
The Dodgers have signed Jeff Kent to a two year, $17 million contract. His position is as of yet unsettled. The Dodgers got a great year out of Alex Cora, so second base is probably his least likely position. And yes, it’s fair to say that this signing was made with the understanding that Adrian Beltre’s return isn’t as likely as the Dodgers would wish.
The Angels are supposedly on the verge of signing Steve Finley to a two year, $20 million contract that would end their pursuit of Carlos Beltran.
There’s just no way to spin this as anything but good news for Mariner fans.
Comments
71 Responses to “More good news”
Good call, Jim.
chico, what AK just said.
i really don’t think the m’s will be able to dump green, er, i mean his salary on anyone. unless depo’s got something up his sleeve (which i wouldn’t put past him).
i also think it’s too early to get excited. i’m just pointing out reasons this could happen. i admit, i don’t necessarily think it will. it is the mariners we’re talking about after all…
PECOTA projects that the mariners will continue to decline in attaining impact free agents.
okay giuseppe, fair enough–we’re thinking alike (and I like the PECOTA comment). Now if you can just work in a Ryan Howard angle, I know a number of the other readers will be happy, not to mention Dave and Derek……
There really isn’t anywhere but 2B that Kent or Cora can be effective. It looks to me likethis is LA’s entry into the Hudson sweepstakes–Cora and Choi and ??? for Hudson. Stay tuned for another shoe to drop on this one.
JIm (#48): I agree with your priorities (and likely there’d be as much screaming in anguish as joy on these boards no matter [i]who[/i] the M’s grabbed — yes, even the Belts).
But “crisp autumn air”? Where the heck are you living? It’s soggy freaking winter air in seattle, and up in the mountains it may be crisp but it’s snowing and midwinter there too.
I would think Kent is Beltre insurance…. If they lose Adrian, they can plug Kent in at third… If they get Beltre signed, they can have Kent play second or even some first if Choi does not hit… Cora would be their utility guy…. Kent plus Beltre would be an awfully good line-up; add in a productive Green and I would think the Dodgers would score more runs than last year…. I don’t think the Kent signing means the Dodgers are out of the running for Beltre….
MLB.com is saying exactly what #56 says.
“The Angels are supposedly on the verge of signing Steve Finley to a two year, $20 million contract that would end their pursuit of Carlos Beltran.” Not necessarily. Moreno has shown the ability to be unpredictable, especially when going after Hispanic talent (Vlad last year).
“There’s just no way to spin this as anything but good news for Mariner fans.” That’s pure overstatment in your phrasing. The number of years is good news. But how many major free agents have ever signed with Seattle? This ownership/managment has shown the inability to close deals. Until something happens, the M’s are entering into the spiral the Sonics just recently exited.
Tede, how does you’re statement refute what Dave said? I just don’t see how it’s an overstatement. If we hope to land one of those guys, we have to pay, obviously, but when we rid ourselves of competition, how does value go up? It’s hope, as a M’s fan, that they make a move, and to use their lack of moves in the past is no way judge the future, particularly when our GM finally has the freedom to do what he wants w/o Gillick looking over his shoulder. Bavasi’s shown the ability to do it in the past, albiet with Mo Vaughn, but those are the risks taken with every free agent, some with a harsher penalty. To date, Seattle’s never made that risk, but when a guy knows his job is on the line without improvement, anything’s possible!
And by the way, what big move did the Sonics make to exit “the spiral?”
Steve Finley signing with Anahiem would mean no more Beltran for the Angels. Finley and Beltran both insist on playing center field. What is Moreno going to do, have the Angels play two CFs, then Vlad in right, and Anderson DH?
Dodger fan here. Perhaps I can answer a few of the questions you guys have been raising. No, the Dodgers have not taken themselves out of the running for Beltre. Coming into today, with a target payroll for 2005 set by the Dodgers’ owner at “around $100,000,000” (his words), the Dodgers had payroll flexibility to re-sign Beltre, make the deal that was just made for Kent, and get a free agent pitcher or two. DePodesta said at the press conference for Kent that getting Beltre re-signed is still his intention, as well as getting starting pitching. Any deal for Beltre is obviously going to be back-loaded, and since the Dodgers were already paying him $5 million a year, it will not take a bank-breaking amount in addition to that $5 million to cover him for 2005. Kent was acquired to play 2B, replacing Cora, whose value did not extend much beyond defense. And by adding another potent bat to the line-up, the Dodgers now will likely abandon their plans to up-grade offensively at catcher. The Dodgers can now settle at that position for the cheap, no-bat/good defense back-stopper David Ross. In other words, the practical implications of today’s deal for the Dodgers is “No Jason Varitek,” not “No Adrian Beltre,” as you were all are hoping. That does not mean that you won’t ending up getting Beltre, mind you. But I have believed from the beginning that if Beltre leaves the Dodgers, it will be because the LENGTH of contract another team offers him will be better than what the Dodgers are willing to give him, rather than it being a short-term money issue.
wow. 61 comments and probably 50 of them were worthless. Sorry to add to the scrap heap, just to say, “What Jim Said.”
Seems like everybody made one too many trips to Starbucks today.
I still thought the Dodgers planned on trading Shawn Green for Mike Piazza, thereby improving their catching situation offensively? Oh yeah, in regards to the Sonics not making a big move this off-season: Getting Danny Fortson for Calvin Booth was a big move.
#59 I just don’t think this is all good news, nor all bad. Just on the good side of neutral. (1)Moreno is always willing to extend himself to sign Hispanic players and signing Finley doesn’t prevent them from signing Beltran. They are covering their bets in the likelihood that Beltran chooses the Bronx. (2) Being in the upper left portion of the continent in a pitcher’s park with a highly cautious corporate ownership makes big splash signings problematic, especially with their past history.
“And by the way, what big move did the Sonics make to exit “the spiral?— Actually they haven’t made any big moves. They have been in this McIllvaine spiral for more than half a decade. Why the Sonics exit from the spiral is a mystery and wasn’t forecast by anyone. Perhaps it’s due to the kids have developing, Fortson, and a healthy Ray Allen on a salary drive.
Getting Ray Allen for aging Gary Payton and keeping Rashard Lewis were the big moves the Sonics made. It didn’t help them last year because Ray got hurt, but they’re firing it up now.
Oh yeah, they also kept their first-round draft picks (Radmanovic, Ridnour, Collison).
And they’ve done all this with a salary cap limiting what they can do.
…puts the Mariners to shame.
I’m pretty sure signing Finley means no Beltran in Anaheim. I don’t see how they can fit five (or six if you count Erstad) outfielders into three spots (four if you count the DH). They’re not going to find takers for Anderson, Erstad or Salmon’s salary. It’s clear they’re better off with Erstad at center (I guess left now that they have Finley) and going after a Delgado if they need to fill some latin quota.
But just thinking about a Guerrero, Beltran, Finley OF gives me chills.
Oh yeah… and I forgot to add hwo I love the Finley signing cause it means one less suitor for Beltran to consider before he signs with my Cubbies!!!
Human Torch says: “Flame On!”
By the way shoeless Jose, December 21st is actually the first day of Winter. Merry Christmas!!!
Maybe according to theoretical planetary dynamics, and in the lower latitudes. From a practical standpoint, here in Seattle, the seasons run like this:
Memorial day to July 4th: Spring
July 5th to Labor Day: Summer
Labor Day +1 to Hallowe’en: Autumn
November 1st to Memorial Day: Winter
You want to delude yourself reading something off a calendar printed in California, go right ahead.
Ob Mariners: Frankly, I don’t think any of Boras’ signficant clients are going to sign before the New Year. Whether Dave knows anything or not, “Patience” is right approach.
AK,
“My only point was that I don’t understand why a team would overpay for somebody who can’t field and is smoetimes a problem in the clubhouse”.
Does the name Barry Bonds ring a bell? Perhaps Manny Ramirez? It could be argued that those guys added some degree of value to their teams.
Re 69
Nah, here in Seattle we only have two seasons. 4th of July till Labor Day (or usually three weeks later) = Summer.
The other 9.5 months of the year are dreary, unremitting (but rarely chilly) drizzle. Heck, it’s almost 60 degrees today.