The Mets play the 8,000th game in the history of their franchise tonight, and they're still looking for their first ever no-hitter. Here are some links to read before Johan Santana takes on Mark Buehrle and the Marlins in Miami…
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington says the team's medical staff doesn't believe Josh Beckett was putting himself at risk by golfing with stiffness in his lat muscle, Alex Speier of WEEI.com writes. Cherington does acknowledge that perception matters when it comes to the team's level of commitment.
- Lines of communication are open between Matt Garza and the Cubs, Jon Heyman of CSBSports.com reports. The Cubs will try to extend Garza, who's under team control through 2013. Heyman suggests a five-year, $80MM deal could work for both sides.
- Some people expect the Padres to release Jason Bartlett, Heyman tweets. The 32-year-old has a .433 OPS in 88 plate appearances and he doesn't appear to figure into the Padres' long-term plans.
If they release Bartlett does that mean Amarista will take his place?
It would probably come down to Amarista or the person that has been their longest season ticket holder…
Everth Cabrera
I’d hate to be the team where a .433 OPS figures into their future plans.
When is the last time a long-term contract for a pitcher worth as much as is being speculated here actually worked? I would like to see a story on here about the success rates of such deals. It just seems to me that either the pitcher has a huge drop-off from the first years of the deal or has a major injury that results in a drop off. Maybe I have been watching the Red Sox too much lol (Beckett, Lackey, Dice-K all huge gaffes, and now Theo may be looking at another with Garza if the deal isn’t right)
Sabathia’s first contract worked out pretty well. I know he opted out, but had he not, that contract would of been really nice for the Yankees.
Free agent pitchers are too often paid based on what they have done in the past, but most of them are 30ish by the time they hit free agency so they are only a couple years from their decline (at best) when they are signed, so it shouldn’t be a shock that they aren’t as good after signing their contract (yet, somehow, fans and teams alike seem to be shocked every time).
This is reminiscent of when vince carter was too injured to play but then showed up at a rap concert and was bouncing around on stage..
He was traded about 3 weeks later
if only
It’s a crazy market that gets a pitcher with a lifetime ERA+ of 109 a five year $80 million contract. But he might, since John Danks, who is basically his statistical twin, gets over $14 Million per year. Both are solid, but neither are top of the rotation pitchers.
He’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball since last year’s ASB. He’s certainly a high 2 at least based on the last couple years.
Boston is stuck with this PR nightmare who has lost the fans. Hopefully he will pitch reasonable well as the season progresses and his value will go up. Knowing Beckett you could always offer a lifetime membership at Sawgrass to waive his 10/5.
I for one am shocked that Bartlett doesn’t fit into the Padres long term plans. I mean who wouldn’t want a SS who is hitting .135 and can’t play the field anymore. To be honest, I thought that Bartlett was the lesser of two evils last year, Hudson being the cancer, but watching this season Bartlett isn’t even into it. Collecting a 5 million dollar paycheck must be tough, while your sitting on the bench.