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Verducci On Hamels, Shields, Lowe, Manny

By Tim Dierkes [January 20, 2009 at 1:08pm CST]

Let's take a look at the latest from SI.com's Tom Verducci.

Interesting line: "One journeyman reliever, for instance, turned down a $2 million offer, saying he would retire before taking that kind of money." Many veterans will choose between swallowing their pride and retiring this spring.
Verducci makes a comparison between Cole Hamels and James Shields, who were called up 19 days apart. The extra service time for Hamels gave him Super Two status, meaning he became arbitration-eligible four times instead of three. That decision probably cost the Phillies more than $10MM.
The Mets were willing to give Derek Lowe $14MM per year.
The Giants don't believe Manny Ramirez is anywhere near a decision right now. He's a special case for them (they're not in the market for an outfielder) but they won't enter a bidding war.
The Blue Jays aren't interested in Orlando Cabrera; they're content with Marco Scutaro.

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Comments

How can Manny make a decision with no offers??

lol

Posted by: 55saveslives | January 20, 2009 at 01:17 PM

These players are a joke. You get mad b/c they offer you 2 million dollars to play ball for 6 months? I seen people swallow a milk shake with worms trying to win 50 thousand in fear factor.

Posted by: DominicanYanks | January 20, 2009 at 01:21 PM

How can anybody be content with Marco Scutaro as a starter.

Posted by: astralpanda | January 20, 2009 at 01:22 PM

The only descision Manny is close to right now is whether to get one of those little umbrellas in the next drink he orders on the Brazilian beach he's at. He's leaving it to the Great Satan to get him his next contract (in LA, mind you).

Posted by: abcrazy4dodgers | January 20, 2009 at 01:23 PM

Quoth Verducci:

"On May 12, 2006, the Phillies called up Cole Hamels to make his major league debut. Nineteen days later the Rays called up James Shields to make his major league debut. They have been similar pitchers ever since."

I suppose this is true in the sense that they're both carbon-based life forms.

Posted by: Bourne's_Identities | January 20, 2009 at 01:27 PM

Shields is alot like Hamels, except Hamels does it on a different level, not a much much better level, but enough that it makes one an ace and the other a strong #2.

Posted by: CubFanRaysaddict | January 20, 2009 at 01:36 PM

Hamels:

84 GS, 38-23, 543.0 IP, 518 K, 1.136 Whip, 3.43 Era, 133 ERA+, 72 HR allowed.

Shields:

85 GS, 32-24, 554.2 IP, 448 K, 1.199 Whip, 3.96 Era, 114 ERA+, 70 HR allowed.

Each has gotten better each year as well.

I'm not saying I agree, necessarily, that they are the same guy, but there are similarities worth drawing.

Posted by: Mattyc44 | January 20, 2009 at 01:50 PM

"The extra service time for Hamels gave him Super Two status, meaning he became arbitration-eligible four times instead of three. That decision probably cost the Phillies more than $10MM."

...pretty sure trading $10MM for a World Series Ring was worth it... ask any Cubs fan

Posted by: CincyKid | January 20, 2009 at 02:00 PM

Hamels has better pure stuff, thus having more upside, and is lefthanded. Other than that I can't see much more of a difference, especially results-wise.

Posted by: Pinky29 | January 20, 2009 at 02:11 PM

5-0 in the post season thats the difference and a ring world series and NLCS MVP

Posted by: derman1984 | January 20, 2009 at 02:12 PM

It is discouraging to hear that a "journeyman reliever" feels that a $2 million offer is so beneath him that he would rather retire than play for such a 'paltry' sum.

We don't know who the player is but presumably, he has already made so much money that he can live out the rest of his life very comfortably and the $1.2 million or so that he would earn this season (after taxes depending on the state he lives in) just isn't worth the bother of pitching in the big leagues this.

As a fan, I say good riddance; I suspect that there will be several "journeyman relievers" emerging from AAA ball this season who will be just a productive - and a lot cheaper and hungrier - than the guy who would retire than endure the humiliation of working for $2 million this season.

Posted by: bernie | January 20, 2009 at 02:14 PM

I apologize if I am incorrect, ...but didnt the Mets claim all along that they didnt offer Derek Lowe the so-called 3 year deal worth 36M?? Now, I am hearing that they were willing to offer 14MM per instead of 12MM per??

Who is the credible source and who isnt?

Posted by: jadarm | January 20, 2009 at 02:39 PM

Why the hell are there still reports about the Giants and Manny? The Giants owner has said they aren't getting him. I don't know what else the National media needs?

Posted by: Joe505 | January 20, 2009 at 02:46 PM

"Why the hell are there still reports about the Giants and Manny? The Giants owner has said they aren't getting him. I don't know what else the National media needs?"

Two words...Scott Boras

Posted by: 55saveslives | January 20, 2009 at 02:59 PM

jadarm,

I'd have to go with not the Mets on that one. They were trying to get Lowe for as little money as possible, so of course they don't want teams knowing how much they offered.

Posted by: nixa37 | January 20, 2009 at 05:26 PM

Given a choice between Scutaro or Cabrera, given that Scutaro already exists on the roster is actually an easy one. Remember, Scutaro is already a sunk cost. Now, compare the two. Scutaro OPS .697, Cabrera .705 .. pretty insignificant difference. Fielding percentage? Scutaro .987 Cabrera .986 , edge to Scutaro, but still insignificant. Range Factor Cabrera 4.62 , Scutaro 4.50... again pretty insignificant. So the for an insignificant difference, why would anyone blow new cash plus a first round draft pick for someone who is arguably no better than Scutaro?

Posted by: Iain Sutherland | January 20, 2009 at 05:55 PM

to be exact he never William Neukom never said the Giants wont get Manny

He said it is unlikely

if I can quote a great movie line from Dumb and Dumber: "So your sayin there's a chance!!)

Posted by: Bleacher_bum_SF | January 20, 2009 at 07:05 PM

I just heard on MLB on XM that the Dodgers are standing pat on their 2 year $25Mil for Manny. The Giants don't need to make any offers based on a Boras rumor.
Thank god.

Posted by: Kfer | January 20, 2009 at 07:16 PM

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Verducci On Hamels, Shields, Lowe, Manny

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