On this date in 1927, Babe Ruth became the highest paid player in baseball history when he signed a three-year contract with the Yankees that would pay him $70K annually. That would be approximately $910K per year in 2012 dollars, giving you an idea of just how much baseball salaries have exploded over the years. Here's the latest from the baseball corner of the internet…
- Motor City Bengals interviewed Tigers prospect Casey Crosby.
- We Should Be GMs interviewed Yomiuri Giants closer Scott Mathieson.
- Redbird Rants says the Cardinals had little choice but to extend Yadier Molina.
- Call to the Pen explains how Molina's contract extension impacts the catching market.
- Federal Baseball wrote about Ryan Zimmerman's extension and his no-trade clause.
- Royals Review broke down Salvador Perez's contract extension.
- Royal Revival is optimistic about the Royals and Perez's extension.
- Pirates Prospects is comforted by the $10MM gap between the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen in contract extension talks.
- Yankees Fans Unite says the Yankees need to extend Robinson Cano.
- MLB Reports believes C.J. Wilson was a bargain for the Angels.
- Monkey with a Halo tries to figure out how Bobby Abreu will get playing time.
- LA Angels Insider asks if you'd trade Peter Bourjos for Anthony Rendon.
- Harness the Halo says the Angels have to earn a World Championship.
- Giants Nirvana reminds everyone not to forget about Eric Surkamp.
- NASORB says the Mariners should sign Roy Oswalt.
- More Mariners wrote about Mike Carp and the Mariners left field woes.
- Baseball Reality Tour analyzed Blake Beavan's poor pitch selection.
- Know Hitter played a game of "what if" with the Mariners.
- Through the Fence Baseball has some advice for Fredi Gonzalez and the Braves.
- The Baseball Opinion looked back at the trade that sent Rich Harden to the Cubs.
- Both House of the Bluebird and The Blue Jay Hunter explain what the new playoff system means for the Blue Jays.
- Wahoo's on First thinks the Indians are in position to benefit from the new system.
- Chicken Friars says the new playoff system will help the Padres.
- Sports of Boston wrote about how the Red Sox will benefit from the new system.
- Cubs Den explains how the Cubs will be impacted by international spending rules.
- ClubHouseGM posted their 2012 Fantasy Draft Kit.
- Full Spectrum Baseball wrote about some fantasy players in their contract years.
- MLB Draft Insider published a mock draft for June's amateur draft.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.
There could be a debate about trading Borjous for Rendon? Really? What a joke. The short answer is, “in a heartbeat.” It’s all speculation because Rendon can’t be traded yet anyway.
Borjous I would say is the 3rd best defensive centerfielder in the game, behind Gutierrez and Ellsbury. But, with Trout pounding on the door….you’d have to be an idiot not to.
You obviously haven’t seen Austin Jackson, who might be the best.
i don’t think so having watched both jackson and bourjos.
I’ve seen them both and Jackson is better in my opinion.
Have watched Jackson plenty. Would say he is maybe 4th but you are entitled to your opinion.
People don’t think much of him because he makes it look easy. He doesn’t have to dive for balls that the rest of the guys do.
Anyone that’s seen Bourjos play knows he completely blows Ellsbury and Guty out of the water. Austin Jackson is very good, clearly a step above Ellsbury and Guty, but no one is is Bourjos’ class yet. No one covers the ground he does.
And if you needed any more convincing, Borujos’ dWAR was over 3 times as much as Ellsbury and Guty. He’s simply faster, and has a stronger, more accurate arm. Even Austin Jackson, as good as he is only had half the dWAR Bourjos had. I mean there’s simply no comparison defensively. I don’t think there’s been a CF THIS good at his position since Devon White.
Borjous is good and I have spent time watching both of them actually. The problem with stats, dwar or UZR is that you can make them say a whole lot of different things. I believe Gutierrez missed half the season with IBS last year.
If you do measure UZR/150 over the last 3 years Borjous is a very close 2nd to Gutierrrez with no one else within reach.
Austin Jackson makes spectacular plays but Gutierrez and Borjous make those same plays look easy because they read the ball off the bat much better.
Except Guty isn’t healthy and doesn’t cover nearly the ground Bourjos does. This one isn’t even close.
Things that are important to Roy Oswalt: 1. Being close to Mississippi. 2. Playing for a contender. Why on Earth would he sign with Seattle?
That was my thoughts after reading that article.. Hard to believe what some of these BB blogs put up.. Safeco offers a stadium, no chance to win and Seattle might as well be Anchorage as close to MS as it is..
If Oswalt wants to pich in a STADIUM, he might as well go to one in the NL, where he has a remote chance of winning.. LAD.. Or not winning even.. SD..
Nice way to put himself in total isolation.. Go play in outer Bulgaria and lose…
Kinda agree with the wilson signing being a bargain compared to some of the other extensions. He will get paid the same money as the cards are paying Yadier, but he is way more valuable. Also he has proven himself way better than Zim. His only knock was having 2 years of experience as a starter, instead of 4+ years. (ignore his bad postseason, all players have some rough starts)
I’m going to disagree that CJ is more valuable than Yadier… Wilson will make about 35 starts per year, barring injury – Molina will probably make ~135-145 starts per year, also barring injury. While it is true that above average pitching is a rare commodity, so is having an above average catcher. And Molina’s defense, ability to call a game, and presumed ability to nurture along young pitchers (Garcia and soon to be Miller) is definitely going to be much more valuable than the 20 or so (give or take) quality starts that Wilson is going to give the Angels each year.
the rarity of available top quality pitchers makes wilson very valuable. don’t get me wrong, though. molina is one of the best catchers in the league. however, even contending teams can get by with decent catchers but not without a top pitchers in their rotation. especially in a.l.
Good point…
Wilson is going to be no bargain. As soon as he spirals out of control in one of his starts and goes toe to toe with Scioscia for yanking him, the Angels will see the head case they are really getting.
Wouldn’t be too happy as a Nationals fan if Rendon was traded straight up for Bourjos