Jose Guillen Likely To Reach Free Agency
Nothing unexpected here - Jose Guillen's agent, Adam Katz, indicated tonight that the player will decline his option for 2008. The Mariners can exercise it at $9MM, but then Guillen has the right to void it and forfeit the $500K buyout. That makes sense - at the bare minimum he's looking at two years and $20MM. More likely he gets three years from some team, despite his mercurial nature. Mercurial is the word most often used to describe Guillen. I'm not kidding - there are 430 Google results for "jose guillen mercurial."
The Mariners may yet give Guillen an extension; he did a solid job.
Anyway, the most entertaining part of all of this comes courtesy of Jim Street's MLB.com article:
When asked if there was a deadline to terminate the option, Katz snapped, "There is, but I'm a busy man and I don't have time to look it up."
OK then. Katz is probably occupied trying to find a team to take Sammy Sosa.
Cardinals seem like a fit. Or Phillies if they prefer him to Rowand.
Posted by: gogopalehose | October 18, 2007 at 08:46 PM
If Guillen leaves who will fill his spot? Jones, Balentin or both?
Posted by: baseball2e | October 18, 2007 at 09:06 PM
Most likely Jones, I expect the M's to trade Balentin. Jones is by far the better prospect
Posted by: WHITESOX | October 18, 2007 at 09:12 PM
If I were the rangers I'd snag him. Cruz in right just doesnt cut it.
Posted by: NYTXFAN | October 18, 2007 at 10:54 PM
volatile, yes... fickle, sure... flighty, maybe... erratic, absolutely.
But Mercural? Sheesh...
Posted by: IowaCubs | October 19, 2007 at 10:14 AM
The element Mercury does have many intresting correlations to Mr. Guillen.
1. It's unique (a metal that is liquid at room temperature),
2. Mercury is usefull: thermometers, tooth fillings, etc.
3. ...and is toxic.
I think it's safe to say that Guillen is all three of these.
Also note that the chemical symbol for mercury is "HG" which, to a phonetic speller, could be a shortened version of (H)ose (G)uillen.
As for the next destination for the liquid metalled, burning hot planet, Roman commerce God, how many teams are left in MLB for whom he has not already played? Seems like the list gets shorter every year.
Posted by: revrobby | October 19, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Guillen is the least of the Mariners offseason worries and the fact that he has been rumored to be playing hardball in negotiations seems to have the M's turned off.
He played the whole season talking about how much he loved Seattle and wanted to stay long term blah blah blah. Now rumors are that he is squeezing the Mariners either for 11 million per or 4 years guaranteed.
He is worth neither.
Posted by: thr33niL | October 19, 2007 at 10:51 PM