When Carlos Villanueva throws his first pitch to Red Sox tomorrow afternoon, he'll set a career high in games started. For some pitchers it'd be a bit of trivia. For Villanueva, it's a more significant threshold that could help him establish his value to prospective suitors as he nears free agency.
The right-hander has spent the second half of the season in Toronto’s starting rotation and his success in that role could be enough to convince MLB executives that he can excel as a starter in years to come. Yet some observers remain unconvinced. Speaking to the media this week Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos credited Villanueva for a successful season but emphasized the importance of remaining objective and establishing realistic expectations.
“When you’re looking at a starter you’re looking at 32 or 34 starts, 200 innings, durability, things like that, that’s part of the equation,” Anthopoulos told reporters, including Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star. “There’s no question when he’s taken the ball he’s done a great job. But his [durability] is obviously part of the equation. That’s not to take anything away from him. But that’s the unknown with Carlos, he’s never had 200 innings, he’s never had 32 or 34 starts. I think we all would say you love what you see, what he’s done for us and he’s a great teammate and all those things. But again we’ve only had bits and pieces of him starting.”
Villanueva, who’s weeks away from hitting free agency for the first time, started 27 games over the course of his five seasons with the Brewers. He started 13 more last year after Anthopoulos acquired him from Milwaukee for a player to be named (the trade, overlooked at the time of its completion, has worked out tremendously for the Blue Jays). He's been a valuable reliever and spot starter to this point in his career. But he believes he can start at the MLB level despite Anthopoulos’ comments.
"Its a little disappointing. Everyone is entitled to their opinion," he told Sportsnet’s Tony Ambrogio (Twitter links). "I definitely don't love the advertising of that being put out there."
Let's set the rhetoric aside and look at the numbers. As Anthopoulos acknowledged, Villanueva is in the midst of an excellent season. He has a 3.48 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and a 38.9% ground ball rate in 111 1/3 innings as a starter and reliever. He generates swings and misses on 9.9% of his offerings — a marked improvement from 2011 — despite a fastball that averages just 89 mph.
Villanueva's strikeout rate and ground ball rate have dropped since he joined the rotation. But he has also pitched to a 3.58 ERA out of the rotation and cut his walk rate in half. In fact, he walked more batters in 33 1/3 relief innings (21) than he has in 78 innings since joining the rotation (20). And Villanueva has been healthy for the entire 2012 campaign after missing time with a strained forearm last year.
For Villanueva to obtain a multiyear contract, he'll probably have to convince teams he's a starter. Multiyear contracts for free agent relievers dropped from 17 in 2010-11 to six last offseason and most of last winter’s multiyear deals went to big-name closers such as Jonathan Papelbon and Joe Nathan.
Many teams — the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Royals, Twins, Brewers, Padres and Rockies to name a few — figure to be looking for starting pitching this coming offseason. Teams that can’t afford Zack Greinke and miss out on Edwin Jackson, Hiroki Kuroda and Kyle Lohse could target Villanueva. After all, he’s younger than most free agents at 28 years old and enjoying success in the American League East.
Assuming Villanueva’s representatives at SFX market him as a starter, they could look to match recent deals obtained by Chris Capuano (two years, $10MM) and Aaron Harang (two years, $12MM). Those pitchers aren’t great comps for Villanueva — few players are — but a contract in that range seems possible. SFX could argue that Villanueva's upside and youth make up for the perceived lack of dependability.
If no multiyear offers surface, Villanueva would be looking for a one-year guarantee in the right environment. A one-year deal would presumably be worth less than the $11MM Edwin Jackson obtained following the 2011 season. Jackson, after all, had youth and durability on his side when the Nationals signed him last winter. However, pitchers such as Joe Saunders ($6MM), Roy Oswalt ($5MM), Paul Maholm ($4.75MM) and Erik Bedard ($4.5MM) signed one-year deals worth $5MM or so. That would represent a raise for Villanueva, who’s earning $2.28MM this year, without exposing the signing team to much risk.
Villanueva figures to draw lots of interest from teams interested in signing him for one year. I also expect some teams will have interest in multiyear deals given Villanueva’s recent success as a member of the Blue Jays’ rotation. One thing is certain: his last few starts will be scouted heavily as teams attempt to determine whether Villanueva is headed for sustainable success as an MLB starter or simply having a career year.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Sounds like the Phillies Kyle Kendrick. Signed 2 year 7.5mil extension this offseason. I think something along those lines would be his value.
While I don’t disagree with what AA had to say.. I just find it odd that he would voice his opinion publicly. like that. CV has every right to be upset.
I just dont see what was so bad about what AA said other than the notion he maybe shouldn’t have said anything at all…
he shouldn’t have said anything at all.
GM AA is trying to temper Villaneuva’s exciting when he reaches free agency.
I think when GM AA offers Villaneuva a ‘small’ contract, he doesn’t want him to be offended by such a small offer.
There’s some game theory involved. It would be strange for GM AA to speak his mind without some sort of benefit.
AA isn’t a mastermind he didn’t make those comments to lower his perceived value, you guys give him WAY too much credit.
Well there are really only two ways to perceive GM AA.
1) GM AA’s remarks were strategically made to lower CV’s value
2) GM AA made those remarks simply because he wanted to talk smack, which would hurt him in the backlash.
I disagree, he had none of those intentions in mind. I think his answer was simply a matter of himself asking, “Will the risk be worth the reward?” in terms of signing him as a full-time starter for multiple years.
All GMs are suppose to ask themselves, “Will the risk be worth the reward?”
It doesn’t explain why GM AA made those comments explicitly known to the public.
According to Fangraphs, Villanueva has pitched to a $5.1 million dollar contract this year. I would say anything from 4-6 mill per year is in range for Carlos. I would only offer him 2-3 years because like AA mentions, we do not know his true durability. The great thing about Carlos is even if he does not work out as a full-time starter, you can count on him as a long man out of the pen. I wouldn’t say this decision is on the level of risky extensions like EE and Bautista in terms of the unknown, but AA needs to make a decision before he gets away. And I’m sure AA’s words do not help keep Carlos in the door any longer.
Poor Carlos is about to get his bubble burst when he enters the free agent market. I doubt he gets more than a one year deal. In fact, he might have to agree to a team option.
Last year, Jason Marquis received $3mil for one year. Kevin Millwood received $1mil for one year. I can’t find anything higher for a starting pitcher who has his durability in doubt.
I will be surprised if Carlos does any better. Teams pay free agents on established performance. Not potential. Only draft picks and amateur free agents get paid on potential.
Twins gave Marquis that deal and they have a rotation full of likewise rubbish throwers. Doubt they make that mistake again and will be cleaning house of that type of SP as after all these years of going in that direction? Figured out the Pavano/Marquis/Blackburn/Baker’s of the world are not going to get the job done.
I think you just described the characteristics of the “market maker” Villanueva needs to drive up his value.
It shocks me when teams give LT deals to people like that. Most of the time they are highly volatile. Nothing but pin point control and have nothing to fall back on if they lose it from one game to the next, or series of months as is the case of people like Marquis. It’s like them throwing BP when they cannot control, say their slider, or sinker from game to game and then have to rely on an 88mph FB.
This might explain why Villanueva has suffered arm strain a few times in his career. Mustering all his strength to throw 88 when his exceptional command drops down to average command.
I didnt find what AA said to be that condescending.,, he applauded CV for his efforts this season, but he makes a valid point. The guy has never pitched 200 innings or started more than 20 games in a season in his career. While his comments may have been a little tongue in cheek, they certainly werent unwarranted. Had AA not complimented him, I could see the reaction being negative, but he had nothing but nice things to say about CV… I think he just took it as slander. His choice.
Baltimore already had a better season than super GM out in Toronto, much to everyone’s surprise, and they are running out of excuses if they don’t put something together soon.
Not sure why they wouldn’t want to keep Villanueva around unless they plan to bring in two more pitchers, one of which of the high quality variety. Pretty silly things to say about the pitcher considering he’s never had a chance to go 200 innings or start a full season. He’s been great thus far and many other pitchers have became starters, it’s very possible for him to sustain a success.
all kinds of wrong.
there is no reason to pay someone for 90 starts in the next 3 seasons because they made 14 this year. You are buying way too high
the reality is, that best case scenario, CV is fighting out for the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation with happ and alvarez. So why would you make that kind of commitment when you have players under contract already who can offer the same level of performance??
and not sure what you mean by running out of excuses, the jays never made claims that 2012 was their year, it was an average team who was riddled with injuries. The notion that they should have already been in the playoffs or won a WS by now is laughable. Its that kind of shortsightedness that left the jays mediocre for so long in the first place.
They are in a good spot financially, they literally have no bad contracts and no financially commitments weighing them down. They have a maturing top 5 farm system and *when healthy have a devastating offensive line up that excels defensively.
This wasn’t their year, but no one said it HAD to be
It makes little sense to cause animosity and hurt feelings with the only pitcher who has been worth a grain of salt this year in the jays rotation… It’s all for the sake of being cheap and trying to nickel and dime the guy for what a mere 5 mill ? Jesus the are paying Lind the massive bum that much to whine about his back and strike out ! I dont see what going public and cutting the guy down does except ensure he isn’t going to sign with the jays after you bad mouthed him when free agent pitching is what you are going to need this offseason
2/11 + mutual option 6; 500k buyout. #5 starter battle with Happ. I think that should be OK.
Worst case scenario for 2013: morrow, ?, romero, happy, villa
Beast case: ?, morrow, ?, romero, happy/villa
– Morrow/Romero should make for a fine #2/#3 tandem.
– Happ/CV should make for a fine #4/#5 tandem.
– The Blue Jays need a real ace to anchor the rotation
Everyone else needs to play at their capabilities. The 2011 Romero would have made for a fine #2 starter on almost any rotation.
have been thinking what apparently others have, too: some kind of package for various combo of Choo, Masterson/Jiminez all the way to including Asdrubul. there;s a fit in terms of potential of prospects (jays) for potential of prime (Choo etc). but injuries have hurt Jays even in this, since a Drabek or Hutchison would have been carrots. Moises Sierra? Alvarez?
Seems pretty obvious AA is negotiating. I’m fine with 2 years at $5M/per, but only Anthopoulos knows how much wiggle room he has and only those guys and the agents know exactly what CV thinks he’s worth.
After looking at his stats since being in Milwaukee and now in Toronto, he’s actually a pretty good gamble. I’d flash him about 16m on a 4 year deal. Or 3 years for 18m tops right now.
As a Brewers fan, it is against my religion to consider offering Carlos a multiyear.