Mariners Sign Gutierrez To Extension
Francisco Blavia reports, via Twitter in Spanish, that the Mariners are on the verge of signing Franklin Gutierrez to a 4 year extension worth $20.5 million with a team option for a fifth year. This would buy out his three arbitration eligible years, plus his first year of free agency, and give the M’s an option on his second year of FA. This would take him through his age 32 season, so the M’s have essentially locked him up through his prime.
The M’s give Gutierrez some long term security and get a pretty significant discount over his true value. Given his broad base of skills, Gutierrez will have to get hurt for this to become a bad deal for the franchise. As long as he stays healthy, 4/20 is a bargain for a player of his abilities, even through his arb years.
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46 Responses to “Mariners Sign Gutierrez To Extension”
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Huzzah!
Add 30 seconds to Jack’s standing-o on Saturday, at minimum.
Woooooo.
Big fan of the move right here. It’s almost like we’re getting a re-do on the Mike Cameron situation, only this time Bavasi isn’t the one in charge. Dreams can come true!
This is some the best news I’ve read in weeks. Sign Felix already!
Sweet!
That contract almost seems as if it’s just paying for his bat… That looks to be a fantastic deal.
Long live Death to Flying Things!!!
I’ve got a man crush on 2/3 of the Mariner outfield. And I’m holding out possibilities for LF.
What was Gutierrez slated to make before this deal? Does this affect this year’s budget in any meaningful way?
I don’t get the signing from Guti’s perspective.
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I think Guti is the best defensive outfielder in the game. I expect him to elevate his game at the plate to make him a star.
Woo! Fantastic deal for us!
I’d also like to know what Guti was going to get in arb those years.
Hey, where’d that “No Diminishing Returns on Defense” post go? We don’t need more of Gutierrez, our defense is already good enough!
Ah, just kidding; I’m looking forward to seeing DTFT flag down more troublesome fly balls on Gameday this year!
He had the front row seat to Endy Chavez’ injury, I’m sure that was one motivation to get some guaranteed money.
One more Christmas present from Ol’ Saint Z!! Words can scarcely express the joy I feel at having a competitive advantage in our FO, after having the exact opposite for so long. GUTI!!
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It makes sense for him because he has been getting about the league minimum. If he got injured and his career ended this year, he would never get much.
Now he gets $30M guaranteed no matter what happens, so he is set. When you have nothing, its far better to guarantee $30M than to take a ris it for $40M instead, even if its a very small risk.
This is yet another coup by Zduriencik. Surely outstanding defense will be properly valued within a few years. If so, Gutierrez might have commanded much more money in free agency after his three years of arbitration.
It would have been his first arbitration eligible year, so while there is no set amount Dave had him down for $2.5M in his 2010 Off season plan.
Though the salary breakdown by year is not known, Jeff over at Lookout Landing predicts that he will make $2M in 2010.
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Without even looking further into the numbers. Seems like this is a killer deal.
Wouldn’t his glove alone be worth more than $5 million a year?
I would think Franklin is easily a 3-4war player. What we saw last year from Franklin about what we would expect to see from him? Or does his bat get any better? I know it is impossible for his glove to be worth anymore than it was last year.
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Love the deal, great move again Jack!
Gillick was the GM who decided to let Cameron go.
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How does Guti’s agent have a job?
“He had the front row seat to Endy Chavez’ injury, I’m sure that was one motivation to get some guaranteed money.”
Yeah, I myself wondered why he signed for so little. This is an absolute steal. And who knows, he might still sign a Bavasi-esque deal when he’s 32 and buy an island with his millions after retirement. Another outstanding move by Z.
When Cameron was in Egypt’s land … Let my Cameron go!
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I tried to sign Guti long term in my MLB: The Show game and it cost me like 11 mill a year. Guess Jack Z is just a better GM than I can even pretend to be in a video game.
I can absolutely understand why Gutierrez would agree to this deal. He was somewhat of a late bloomer who bounced around a bit from team to team. Now that he has finally arrived, he has the chance to set himself up financially for life with a quality organization. I applaud both sides for making this happen.
Guaranteed money now is worth more than potentially imaginary money later (as others have mentioned, just ask new free agent Endy Chavez), and this is more now than he would’ve got in arbitration, too.
It all depends on how you weigh risks and future vs present income (whether “you” are the Mariners or Gutierrez). So you can make the case this was a good deal for both sides (and if you disagree, you’re just valuing those differently); it certainly was nothing like the team-friendly steal that was the Evan Langoria contract.
“Guess Jack Z is just a better GM than I can even pretend to be in a video game.”
No, it’s that Z is just like Captain Kirk. He reprogrammed the game so he could win.
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Ninja-in-a-Sweater-Vest locks up Death-to-Flying-Things.
Awesome. I wonder how much (if at all) this contract amount factors into the Felix negotiations. Or are pitchers just compared to other pitchers when determining dollar value per win…?
Love it!
Thanks Dave! Another killer move by Jack Z.
(sorry, I know its bad, I…I just couldn’t help myself)
Awesome. Gutierrez was among the best Mariners hitters with men on base last year as well, just didn’t get nearly as many opportunities as Lopez.
$5 a year for Guiterrez? Wow. Just… wow.
My Gutierrez bobblehead is nodding in agreement.
Heck yeah!
This has to sweeten the music they’re going to play for Felix, and perhaps for Lee once he gets a few starts with Gutierrez at his back.
This is great news, congrats to Guti, his agent and the Mariners. There is no doubt I am getting that Gutierrez jersey now.
I can only hope that this helps lock up Felix, possibly Lee and any future pitchers smart enough to see Death To Flying Things as the fielding stud he is. Oh, and hopefully bloggers in New York and Boston will stop calling him FraGu. Dumb.
Love it! Great news! So this is what it’s like to have a competent GM. We just aren’t used to these wise and prudent moves. So nice to see a player take a little less and help the club and himself without being greedy. Keep the hits coming Z!