Some Sunday links to browse….
- The Royals agreed to terms with Brayan Pena and Chris Getz, according to a team press release. Terms of the contracts were not disclosed. With Pena and Getz sorted out, the team now has four unsigned players remaining: Billy Butler, Alberto Callaspo, Luke Hochevar, and Carlos Rosa.
- In his most recent blog post, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes that Prince Fielder ought to consider a long-term extension with Milwaukee, since "it's still unclear whether any team would value him as much as the Brewers."
- Mike Cameron considered signing with the Mariners before he landed in Boston, according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times.
- Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that the Phillies were Chan Ho Park's first choice heading into this winter, but that the two sides just couldn't work anything out.
- If Josh Beckett's last contract was any indication, he won't be concerned about "setting the market" when he signs his next deal, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald.
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle defends the Astros' offseason bullpen signings, explaining how the team evaluated Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch passes along comments from Tony La Russa about how the club's infield rotation will work with Felipe Lopez now a Cardinal.
- Blaine Boyer played a major part in recruiting Adam LaRoche and Kelly Johnson to Arizona, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
So it looks like the Beckett situation will be the same as Bay. Boston media tells us he wants to be in Boston, wont just go after money like players on the Yankees, he wants to win, he wants to be comfortable, etc. Boston wont blow him away, he’ll hit FA, sign with another team, and then the Boston media will crap on him.
Cudos to Olney for being dense. Yah, clearly nobody else could value a 1B who can hit for ridiculous power while maintaining a solid average and okay defense. The man should clearly just extend and be done with it.
But what I like best is the logic behind it. Ike Davis? The Mets would pass on Fielder because of IKE DAVIS? Really? He must be like the #1 prospect in baseball or something.
What does he mean “if any other team values them like Milwaukee would” Prince Fielder is an elite type player by now – of course any team would give up anything for him, if I were GM of the White Sox, I would maybe even give up Beckham for him
A lot of GMs might be a bit trigger shy to give up what it would take to get what Milwaukee deems fair value for Prince. I think that’s what Olney means. Good name, by the way! 🙂
To give up on Beckham for just about anyone would be folly. A second baseman w/ his hitting is far more uncommon than other positions, especially first base.
Josh Beckett signed his last deal when it was uncertain whether or not he would remain healthy, and he was in the midst of putting up a 5+ ERA first season in Boston. He knowingly gave up money in his last deal for security. He’s absolutely looking for what he’s worth this time, and that makes him no different from most other players in the league. Boston just gave Lackey an $85 million deal. 0% chance Beckett takes anything less than that from Boston.
Wishful thinking from the ever-more-worthless Boston Herald sportswriters.
This often goes unnoticed; Beckett had his ERA close to 5 when he signed his extension, after years of not staying healthy and struggling in a new league he’d be dumb not to take that 30m to set himself up for life.
What 30m are you talking about? 30m was the value of his last contract extension with a 12m additional option.
He should get paid, again, but really, how is he not set up for life already? I am completely confused by your response.
Strrrroooongly agree. Boycott Boston sports media.
Stupid article. I can’t stand hometown writers that try to make some ridiculous argument that their elite level star doesn’t want his share of the pie, due to an extension signed early in his career for security. Ya, there are slight hometown discounts, we all get that, but come on. This article makes no sense.
I’m rather torn about giving Beckett $85m though. On the one hand, I do think he is legitimately better than Lackey. Lackey is more consistent, but Beckett can be more overpowering. From a playoffs standpoint, I much prefer the latter. Plus Beckett has been putting up similar performance in a harder park. The only issue is, I think that 85m for Lackey was a crazy contract. It’s market value, but that just means the market is almost surely overpaying for his performance. If you could be assured of him playing like he did between 2004 and 2008 it’s a great deal. But we all know he’s just as likely to give out a bunch of 2008-2009 performances. So where does this leave us?
Should the Red Sox re-up Beckett at market value, and probably end up with poor spending efficiency? (between him and Lackey together at those prices, I’d imagine the actual performance could be easily a 10m loss apiece)
Or should they let him walk, knowing he’s probably at least as good a pitcher as Lackey, that they could have extended him for just about as much as they did for Lackey, but they want to demand the hometown discount?
Basically, this is a no-win. You either are stuck paying market price when the market is overpaying or you are stuck without a better pitcher that you could have gotten for the same price as a slightly worse pitcher (Lackey).
baseballanalysts.com/archives/2010/02/_rk_player_e…
So Justice’s defense of the Lyon signing is showing a scouting report that, by the Astros’s own standards, basically says that Lyon is a slightly above average player?
Just think of that outfield defense that could have been! Cameron, Franklin, Ichiro?! That could have been the first outfield in history where all 3 win a gold glove in the same season…Franklin and Ichiro are almost locks next season (barring injury) and Cameron has the name recognition. Oh well, I guess they’ll have to deal with Bradley in left instead.
Since the whole gold glove thing is just politics anyway, I don’t think they would ever give each outfield award to the same team. That being said, it would have been a joy to watch that outfield. Also, Cammy would have added some pop to the line-up too… would have been a perfect fit. I kind of wish I didn’t find out about this, because now I’m sad. 🙁
Not only a politics award but also an offensive award.
Let’s see…
Over the past 3 years, Prince Fielder has averaged 160 games, a .287 batting average, a .393 OBP, 43 homeruns, 120 RBIs, .576 SLG, .969 OPS, and showed improved defense last year. Fairly sure any team will value adding that to their lineup, as a 1B or DH, Mr. Olney.
i think Olney’s point is big money teams may not have a need and the Brewers may pay him to be the “face of the franchise”. I think the point is valid but that extra value they place on him should be in his contract.
Teams will make room.