Eric Gagne To Sign Today?

Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe reports that Eric Gagne should decide whether to become a Red Sox, Indian, or Ranger today.

Edes says the odds favor the Indians and Rangers, who seem more willing to guarantee Gagne $5MM.  Balking at such a request is understandable given how little Gagne pitched during the 2005-06 seasons.  The Dodgers paid him $18MM for 15.1 Major League innings over that period.

Comments

[Ankur]

The move has high upside to it... and I have faith in Shapiro if he will throw $5mm at a player. But wasn't Borowski given the closer's job?

Also, the Rangers have Otsuka, I wonder why they would sign Gagne, maybe there's a trade coming up.

Either way, I'd be nervous/excited about having Gagne.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

I think the Red Sox should go out there and sign him. You can never have enough pitching and he could also teach the younger pitchers, especially Craig Hansen about closing ball games.

[RbCubsFan4Life]

Why the hell arent the Cubs making a run at him? He's a proven closer, granted, he has a injury history, but who doesn't on the Cubs? Dempster was a fluke, and Woody aint even closed a game before. Bad play by Hendry.

[Paul Taschereau JR]

Do the Cubs even have any more money left in the bank to spend?

[WilsonsLittleRoller]

5MM sounds risky, but better than Walker, bradford, speir

[CursedCubFan]

Yeah, that's exactly what the Cubs need, NO! We don't need someone who pitched a whopping 15.1 innings over the last two years. Like you said, we have enough injury trouble without bringing in Gone-yea!

[CursedCubFan]

I think you forget that we have Eyre and Howry that will get the chance to close before Wood right now.

[marchand30]

Starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka's agent Scott Boras, said his client was coming to L.A. on Saturday to take a more active role in his negotiations: "We're going to update him on the negotiations, to advance the negotiations," Boras told the Globe's Gordon Edes. "It's certainly our intentions to make sure the athlete's true intentions are communicated to the club".
Ya Right! As long as it's in your best interest Boras, "Show me some dead Presidents"

[emarbe]

5MM doesn't seem that risky this off season. I could see a come back year, if he really is healthy.

[EM3]

They should put Scott Boras on the cover of "Madden" next year.

[Rayman]

JOE BOROWSKI WAS NOT GUARANTEED THE CLOSERS JOB.

Sorry, but i've had to point this out to a ton of people.

[quintjs]

As a Sox fan, I agree that 5million+ guaranteed is too high, but is it really that too high. Its not much more than a realistic 2-3. Do you really want to pass on Gagne, when you have no real closer option?

Not even close to a million an inning for the Dodgers.

[nickjs21]

Rayman's right.
It seems pretty clear that Foulke or Gange will be an Indian (to me, at least), now that they've missed out on Dotel. But I wouldn't be so upset if Cleveland was unable to sign either of them, because it could force Shapiro to trade for someone who's, frankly, better.

[chodson28]

Well I've heard Foulke doesn't want to pitch in Cleveland because it's too far from his family (which I think is in Texas, maybe arizona). So I'd guess if Shapiro was intent on adding another bullpen arm he's probably working the Gagne angle pretty hard.

[kbrooks2LA]

I heard a rumor that the Dodgers offered Gagne 1 year at $4 mm (w/ incentives). I doubt this really happened b/c I think he would've taken it...he really wants to remain a Dodger.

However, has anyone else noticed that Boras' clients always seem to sign in a place that they don't want to play (and then it turns out poorly). Names on this list include JD Drew to LA, Beltre to Seattle, A-Rod to Texas, etc. I believe that Boras is a probably an actual 'wizard' and uses his dark magic to cloud players' minds. When are players going to realize that Boras cares more about his own agenda and self-agrandizement than truly finding the best situation to better his clients' careers. Boras has no vision. All he sees is the bottom line on a 3 year deal...even if the player is put in a bad situation and his value is minimized after the contract is up