Links for Wednesday, as newly acquired catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia joins the Red Sox…
- The Rays signed ninth-round draft pick Jake DePew for $460K, reported Norm Sanders of the Belleville News-Democrat yesterday. DePew, a catcher, was drafted out of Granite City High School.
- The Yankees inked 12th-rounder Daniel Burawa for $300K, reports Aaron Fitt of Baseball America. The righty came out of St. John's as a draft-eligible sophomore.
- A healthy, somewhat effective 2011 season by Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez could trigger a $17.5MM option for 2012, explains Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- SI's Tim Marchman outlines the limitations of advanced defensive stats.
That’s a pretty big tab for 2012.
Wow, from the contractual breakdown Sherman describes, it’s in the Mets’ best financial interest for K-Rod to suck…or at least to suck during an especially inconvenient stretch of the season.
Sadly enough, that probably can be arranged.
Does anybody know the highest-yearly-salary to a closer/reliever?
$17.5M has to be close…
I’m pretty sure Mariano’s 3 year/$45m deal in 2008 made him the the highest annually paid closer and also the second largest contract given to the closer to date, behind B.J. Ryan’s deal with Toronto a few years back (47m, but over 5 years.)
Anyway, this 17.5m option in 2012 would make him the most expensive closer for a single year to date. It’s hard to imagine he’d be worth anything close to that, though.
Oh God I forgot we gave him an option.
Angels fans that you for that.
I can’t remember this happening, but if a player is healthy and playing well (well enough that they SHOULD keep their job and play on a consistent basis.) Is a team somewhat obligated to give them a shot at triggering their option to avoid having the player’s union file a grievance against the team (whatever that accomplishes?) I feel like I’ve heard that before, but I can’t find any information on it.
Obviously if a player is under-performing/injured or if the team has a superior option at that position is another story. But assume a healthy, effective, but less than All-Star quality player (say 2009 K-Rod.)
The team has to act in good faith – giving the player an opportunity to reach that option. Otherwise they open themselves up for a grievance and also set a bad precedent that other players will take notice of. If they act in bad faith will any player consider going to the Mets as a FA?In fact, teams often play it safe so as to not even give the appearance of impropriety. We saw that last year with Ordonez. The Tigers had every reason to bench him after his dismal first half. But they didn’t and his option vested.
The real question is, how was this ever considered to be a good idea?
Maybe this is why the Mets have kept Manuel around figuring he will mess up enough games earlier then the 9th to keep KRod from closing out games.
K-Rod’s contract fits nicely with Castillo, Perez, Cora and Beltran’s. Tell what’s the big deal??