Thursday's deadline for teams to tender contracts to arbitration eligible players is approaching quickly. Here's the latest on a pair of non-tender candidates:
- The Tigers are expected to tender Joel Zumaya a contract and may reach a deal with the reliever before long, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Zumaya told Beck that his agents have started discussing a contract with the Tigers. The non-tender candidate earned $915K in 2010 and, assuming the Tigers don't cut him loose this week, he will hit free agency after the 2011 season.
- Sean Green's agent tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork that he's optimistic the 31-year-old will be tendered a contract this week (Twitter link). Green missed most of the season because of a ribcage injury, but logged over 200 innings out of the 'pen from 2007-09.
- Click here for an explanation of what it means to non-tender a player.
All Zumaya needs to do is learn how to pitch smart. He’s injured because he wanted to throw hard and have the hardest fastball in the game, it isn’t as effortless for him as it for a guy like Chapman. Even if Zumaya threw 95-97 he’d still be very good.
Umm 99 is effortless for him. Even when he was a starter and lost out to Verlander in spring training he was 95-99. He’s 103 -104 when he’s picking it up a notch. His problem is he short-arms it. Lot of strain on his elbow. As far as him throwing #1 all the time that was Laird and Leyland’s fault. Laird called too many fastballs (not just with Zoom) and Leyland wasn’t happy with his offspeed stuff so he told him to stop trying until he figured it out on his own time. His curveball is a very good one with nice bite. The only problem with it is that it is so good that noone can get their bat off their shoulders. I think if it wasn’t as good he probably would get more swings at it but it just buckles people when he throws it and unfortunately it hasn’t been hitting the zone.
Zoom curve was horrible last year. He eithier bounced it or hung it. I maybe saw 3 decent curves from him.
It’s a contract year for Zumaya, so we know he won’t be playing Guitar Hero or lifting any boxes for the next year.
Oh yeah and hey….why stop there? While he’s at it he might as well take a clue from ballplayers of the past (and present) and put the kibosh on:
* Hoisting deer meat
* Rubbing chili juice in his eyes
* Ironing any shirt he’s wearing
* Trying to rip a phone book in half
* Nightmares about spiders
* Trying to put on cowboy boots
…and…
* Sneezing!
(Off topic: great handle, man!)
you forgot throwing an octopus, ala matt anderson
Zoomer was never really a non tender candidate, IMO. His upside is too high, and we’ve seen what he can do when he’s healthy. His numbers in the couple months that he did play in 2010 were as good as any season he’s had. The mistake is that they COUNT on him, year after year, after year, and he keeps winding up on the DL. No doubt there will be the warm n fuzzy stories around him in spring training. How he’s healthier than ever, and how they’ve got him penciled in for a set up role. Don’t buy it! There are enough real good relievers on the market that there is no excuse for not signing one of them. Whatever Zoomer adds is great, just don’t bet your playoff hopes on him being healthy for the full season.
Please no more Sean Green! I’ve had enough. This guy has meltdown after meltdown and people say he’s struggling. Then he has one good outing and people say he’s good. If I have to see him walk another run in I’m going to lose it!
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