The agent for Ted Lilly anticipates mutual interest between his client and the Dodgers, but suspects other teams might make better offers.
“I’m just not sure the Dodgers at this point are going to get to a range that will be very easy for us to achieve come December,” agent Larry O’Brien told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. “I’m pretty confident that there’s a minimum three-year deal out there for Ted.”
Lilly, who turns 35 in January, has pitched well for the Cubs and Dodgers this season. He has an overall ERA of 3.71 with 7.6 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 186.2 total innings. He and teammate Hiroki Kuroda will be among the more appealing free agent starters not named Cliff Lee.
As Rosenthal points out, Lilly currently projects as a Type A free agent, but not by much. It may not matter, since the Dodgers would have to offer arbitration to obtain compensation picks and that doesn’t seem likely given their recent history.
Lilly’s in a pretty similar position to what Randy Wolf (his number one career comparable) was last year. Only he’s 1 1/2 years older than Wolf was at this time last year. I seem to recall reading the Brewers were the only team that guaranteed Wolf 3 years (plus an option).
Lilly’s going to have a hard time getting that 3rd guaranteed year at 35. He might, but it’s not a sure thing.
He might get 2 years and maybe a option or vesting option but 3 guarnteed years i dont really see.
I agree on the two years, but will only agree on the option if it was a club option. I call 2/13-15 plus 6-7 million club option.
I think he can do better than 7 million a year , i say 3/27 with he third year at he cud option but if gets to say 200 innings the option vests or something like that
Sorry guys my key board is sticking bt the third year as a club option a sif gets to say 200 innings the option vests or something like that
Lilly had better stick to the NL unless he wants that ERA to go up by 1 1/2 runs or so per game. Even sticking to the NL, being a Type A and 35YO, who would want to lose a 1st round pick and THEN give this guy 2-3 years guaranteed?
Good point. I don’t think at his age he’s going to get that 3 year deal, at least not with the money he wants guaranteed. If I’m the Dodgers, offer arbitration and get the draft picks if somebody else does offer him a longer deal. You can get another free agent starter who is close to what Lilly did this year.
Wrigleyville reunion?
i wanted my team to sign him until i saw the type a free agent
He probably won’t be offered arbitration—so the Type A tag might not even matter.
Not that that’s an intelligent scheme, he SHOULD be offered arb, but I’m not seeing it with the Dodgers.
His only bet to get a 3 year deal is if he isn’t offered arbitration, which immediately makes him really attractive to teams in light of the loaded 2011 draft.
If he’s offered arb, the market will really change for him.
the dodgers would be foolish to not offer him arb. It would be preferable to have Lilly on a 1 yr deal even at an inflated rate if he accepts and let some team outbid him in years than to decline arbitration and still have to compete in years. And as many above have already stated, the interest in him will be a little less (being generous) if he’s offered Arbitration. We all know Ted wants more than a year–dodgers would love less years–therefore little risk ted accepts and even if he does thats a win for the dodgers getting him on a one yr deal. Maybe I’m missing something.
the dodgers would be foolish to not offer him arb. It would be preferable to have Lilly on a 1 yr deal even at an inflated rate if he accepts and let some team outbid him in years than to decline arbitration and still have to compete in years. And as many above have already stated, the interest in him will be a little less (being generous) if he’s offered Arbitration. We all know Ted wants more than a year–dodgers would love less years–therefore little risk ted accepts and even if he does thats a win for the dodgers getting him on a one yr deal. Maybe I’m missing something.
Umm, the Dodgers will offer arb because the Dodgers 1st rd pick is protected anyways.
Dodgers would be happy to sign Lilly for 1 year if he doesn’t get a better deal.
Why does the pick being protected matter? I thought that only applied when signing a Type A that is leaving another team…