Links for Wednesday, as we await news on the top free agent pitchers available: Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt…
- Ben Lindbergh of Baseball Prospectus responded to Scott Boras' comments about the importance of a closer in MLB. Though Lindbergh confirmed Boras' assertions on a factual level, he interprets them differently than the agent and doesn’t buy the implication that good teams are good because they have good closers.
- Though MLB was supposed to send the players' association a proposed schedule for the 2012 postseason by today, fitting two extra Wild Cards in has been more challenging than anticipated, and the deadline may not be met, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. Stark explains the challenges facing commissioner Bud Selig, who hopes to add a second Wild Card team to each league in 2012.
- Kevin Goldstein asked MLB executives about Yoenis Cespedes' ability in relation to other MLB center fielders such as Drew Stubbs and Adam Jones for a piece at Baseball Prospectus and ESPN.com.
- Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he's pleased to have added starting pitching depth in Chicago and explained how he's 'building' the Cubs into a contender at his recent Hot Stove Cool Music charity event, Evan Drellich of MLB.com writes. MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker offers a detailed look at Epstein’s offseason moves.
what were the results of the cespedes vs (insert CF name)
i know rasmus was 6-2 which didn’t really surprise me
6-2 Cespedes over Stubbs, 4-4 tie with Chris Young, and Adam Jones 6-2 over Cespedes
probably him in favor of bj upton too?
Cespedes 5-3
Tied with Young? Wow.
Poor Jed Hoyer – can’t even be the “Acq. GM” listed on MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker. Theo gets all the props. Someone please make a similar Transaction Tracker that just lists all the Starbucks offerings that Jed buys for Theo.
because he was not acquired the padres let him out of his contract and he signed a new one with the cubs..where as theo was actually acquired by the cubs knowing they would work out compensation at a later date….which we are all still waiting on…..BUD!
The cubs are small market? Huh
Adam Jones looks to be in line for a raise to around $7MM and if he keeps it up or gets any better he’s looking at FA years for at least $15MM per season. I think the Orioles might want to lock Jones up now to a 7 year/$102MM deal:
2012: $7MM Age 27 season
2013: $10MM Age 28 season
2014: $13MM Age 29 season
2015: $14MM Age 30 season
2016: $15MM Age 31 season
2017: $16MM Age 32 season
2018: $17MM Age 33 season
Of course, given the financial atmosphere he’s probably going to demand $17-23MM a year for his FA seasons meaning his eventual contract would probably approach $140MM over 7 years, which would look like this:
2012: $17MM
2013: $18MM
2014: $19MM
2015: $20MM
2016: $21MM
2017: $22MM
2018: $23MM
Yea, take a cue from the Rockies (Tulo).
Or be wary of other Rockies contracts [CarGo (the jury is out on a possible overpay), Todd Helton (I know he looked like a stud once upon a time but the way he’s broken down people have analyzed him with kid gloves the past four years of that contract) and of course, Mike Hampton (need I say more?)]
Whoa! No flipping way Jones gets $140. Kemp got $160, and there’s no way Jones is that close to Kemp. If Adam Jones is ever getting paid 23 million a year, the GM was either tricked or threatened.
This is Adam freaking Jones here guys. He’s a guy who on a good year will hit 20HR’s, steal 20 bases, and have an obp around .320. Thats a solid ball player but not superstar. he might look like a superstar since he’s the best player on a terrible team but that doesn’t mean he should get paid like one.
I was saying what he’d DEMAND, not what he’d get. From what I’ve seen the disparity between FA contracts of players with 20 HR/90 RBI expectations has been heavily skewed. When a guy like Jayson Werth can get $126MM over 7 years, all bets are off.
I think whoever gets Cespedes will get a really good player. I predict that he will hit 20-25 homerun, hit .270-.280, drive in 85-95 runs, and steal 30-40 bases. He won’t be a superstar at any certain thing, but with his plus defense, he looks to me to be a 3.8-4.4 WAR right fielder.
Those numbers would put him in the argument for best right fielder in the game.
And I truley think that he is capeable of that. I just have a feeling that he is capeable of doing that. I think with a little bit of coaching to shorten his swing, he will be one of the best right fielders in the game. He has both the skills and work ethic.
But see- it seems that there’s a consensus on his ceiling, but not on his realistic potential, which should be the real concern. If he underperforms, then suddenly $7MM per season or more is an overpay.
You have to take risks to be rewarded.
It’s all relative- MLBTR listed Adam Lind as being overpaid on 4 year/$18MM contract when he blasted 26 HR’s last year- which is almost equal to A-Gonz who’s making $21MM a year. Now, you have to take into account BA, OBP, Fielding Percentage, etc. but the bottom line is nobody mashing 26HR’s for $4.5MM a year is overpaid.
You have lost me to the fullest extent.
I suppose my point was that overpaid, underpaid and appropriately paid are approached quite differently depending on the perceptions of an individual player.
hahha those numbers make him a superstar for sure…and im surprised you didnt say “I think when the tigers get Cespedes” have you stopped thinking that after little ceasers bought prince fielder?
He won’t be a superstar AT ANY CERTAIN THIN.
And I think that the Tigers have a good shot at him, as they have still said that they have interest.