Off-Season Signings

[Guest Edgy DC]

I would've gone after Pettitte for one plus an option (compared to what I think the tag is on Zito). Would've taken him for two guaranateed.

That doesn't mean I'm certain that the Mets would've gotten him for the same amount the Yankees did.

[Guest silverdsl]

I have mixed feelings about the Yankees re-signing Pettitte. On one hand, I'd rather Pettitte for a year or two than be locked in to Lilly long-term. However, I'm not overly thrilled that it's $16 million per year. It also continues to bother me that a month ago Pettitte said that if he had to make a decision about his career he would opt to retire. The Yankees are going to be depending on Pettitte to be a big-game pitcher and I'm not entirely comfortable with someone who recently seemed to have lost their desire to pitch.

One things for sure is that you can't recapture the magic of the past - some fans think re-signing Pettitte is going to make it like 1996-2001 all over again, and that's not going to happen with the addition of just one player.

[Guest Edgy DC]

If Pettitte gives them two years, he has a good chance at passing both his old pitching coach and his new one, among other Yankee stars, on the team's all time win list.

1. White Ford 236
2. Red Ruffing 231
3. Lefty Gomez 189
4. Ron Guidry 170
5. Bob Shawkey 168
6. Mel Stottlemyre 164
7. Herb Pennock 162
8. Waite Hoyt 157
9. Andy Pettitte 149
10. Allie Reynolds 131

[Guest iramets]

I used to drive a white Ford.

I think Pettitte's contract establishes a new expectations level--a victory per million.

Pettitte's signed for 16 mil, and I think the Yankees will be happy if he wins 16 games.

The Mets will take 16 wins from Zito gladly, and the Royals will settle for 11 Gil Meche W's, I'm sure.

Of course you never have quite enough, and will always take more, but I think the numbers of wins is now approximately equal to the number of millions.

Gosh, I hope Brian Bannister can win his half a game for KC this year.

[Frayed Knot]

Of course the kicker is that the 40% lux-tax kicks in and turns Pettitte into an approx $22.4mil acquisition - or nearly $45 over two years.
But, the team isn't tied up for multi-years and if the Yanx don't care what they're paying the fans shouldn't care too much either. After all, Pettitte merely becomes their 12th current $10mil+/yr player (and I believe 6th at $15mil or more) so it's not like it's this deal that'll throw everything outta whack.
And then it allows the Japanese pitcher they just shelled out $25mil for the posting fee and the $10mil/yr Carl Pavano fight it out for the 5th starter's slot.

The other fun part about this was his agents claiming that "everyone knows" that Andy won't activate the player option for year 2 if he gets hurt and unable to pitch at full effectiveness.
Yeah ... OK.



I remember making a prediction back when Kevin Brown first signed that 7yr/$105mil contract w/the Dodgers that he would NOT win 105 games over the length of that deal (that same $1mil per win standard).
I won that one by a lot -- he reached 72 in the final year and then retired.

[nymr83]

http://www.irisharts.org/Images/Seaver.jpgSince wins are a team thing in the first place its pretty hard to say how many wins you should expect/count on out of a pitcher. I'd expect any pitcher with Yankee run support to win 15 games, if he doesn't he's had a bad year. The Royals, on the other hand, would have a hard time making sure Roy Oswalt wins 15, nevermind Gil Meche.

[MFS62]

hail hail

Later

[Guest Edgy DC]

That 4141 is one rugged bad-ass marine.

[Elster88]

Cower before Super Seaver.

[Guest sharpie]

Miguel Batista to the Mariners. 3 years/$24 million.

[metirish]

The Rangers reportedly have lured a second player from the Dodgers in as many days.

Le Journal de Montreal reports that former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with Texas. The Rangers reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year, $6 million contract with former Dodgers center fielder Kenny Lofton on Monday.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

ESPN is reporting that Jose Cruz, Jr. has agreed to a one year deal with the San Diego Padres for an undisclosed amount.

I remember when he first came up with the Mariners in the late 1990's. Many writers and analysts touted him as a future star, but despite his pedigree, he has never fulfilled the hype.

[MFS62]

OOPS!

http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=535&Itemid=42

Later

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Perhaps, opting out of his Dodger deal wasn't so smart.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That's stunning.

[Frayed Knot]

Stunning perhaps, but that 'Biz of Baseball' (whoever they are) report is also a bit misleading.

Baseball Prospectus colleague, Will Carroll is reporting on BP Unfiltered that JD Drew has failed his physical with the Red Sox.

No he isn't.
Carroll's piece (he tackles all the medical issues for BP) is adding detail onto a Boston Herald report as to why the Sox are delaying officially announcing the Drew signing. Carroll has learned there are questions about his shoulder - but also adds that it's unlikely to scuttle the deal.

A bit less dramatic than the headline of DREW FAILS PHYSICAL

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, you know, the priest's eyebrows shot up the day of my baptism when my mom told him that my middle name was Sucker. But I guess the old lady had some foresight.

[Frayed Knot]

I just wish that these 3rd hand "news sources" (which, of course, aren't sources at all) would at least repeat the info they're stealing correctly if that's what they're going to do.
Neither the Boston Herald nor BP said anything about Drew flunking or the contract being canceled.

It's like whenever I read the words, "Rotoworld is reporting"; my first reaction is, 'no they're not'.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

MLB.com on Drew's shoulder.

Report: Drew to get second opinion
Red Sox concerned about shoulder; deal not yet finalized
By Mike Petraglia / Special to MLB.com

BOSTON -- Monday could be a pivotal day in the effort to finalize J.D. Drew's five-year contract with the Red Sox.
The Boston Globe reported Sunday that according to a Major League source familiar with Drew's background, the star outfielder is scheduled to have a second opinion after concerns arose last week about his shoulder during a team-mandated physical.

The club and Drew's agent, Scott Boras, reached agreement on a five-year contract worth a reported $70 million on Dec. 6. Both sides have maintained that only language issues have kept the deal from being finalized.

According to the paper, it's not known whether the physical issue could cause the deal to fall through or just require revision of the guarantees in the contract.

Another possibility includes the Red Sox shortening the length of the contract or putting more incentives based on Drew's playing time.

The Red Sox are declining comment for now. Drew also declined comment when reached at his Georgia home by the Globe.

Drew's career has been plagued by a number of injuries over his career, including patellar tendinitis in his knee while playing for the Cardinals. He has also been forced to overcome injuries to his back, wrist and shoulder.

[Guest attgig]

Pad's are close to signing the younger giles.


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2701521

[Guest Edgy DC]

Platoon-quality outfielder Jayson Werth (out all of 2006) goes to Philadelphia.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And Ryan Klesko to San Francisco.

These look like the sort of bargains that would be available to the Mets now if they didn't move quickly on Alou.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Ugh.

Alou.

That reminds me of why I'm not yet eagerly anticipating 2007. They need to make a transaction that I'll get at least a little bit excited about. I think that this is the first time in a while that we've gotten this far into the offseason without that happening.

[Guest Edgy DC]

That may be good, no?

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

Only in that I'm not rabidly anticipating Opening Day, which is still kind of far off.

[Guest sharpie]

I'd take Alou over Klesko any day.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sort of my point, though clearly not stated well.

I've seen offseasons loaded with backpage-exploding deals --- such as in 1991-1992 and 2001-2002. I'll take one where the team has been building long enough for the coming season, that they are only motivated to do some fine-tuning.

[stevejrogers]

True, but why not have an 84-85 as well with a little splash with Hojo and getting a big gift in Carter before the holidays even started!

BTW, the 85-86 one also was quite pedestrian. Granted we really didn't have a need for a big name the way certain media members and fans seem to think we do now, but did Bob Ojeda and Tim Teufel really wet your whistle in terms of heading into 1986?

Oh wow! A lefty to augment the staff, great! Hey Wally really ought to have a decent platoon partner!

Yes the returning team was the whistle wetter heading into the 86 season, but still, sometimes the best offseason moves aren't the big deals.

Conversley though, I would like a move for a Zito as it would help the team in the long run, but not because I want to "win the offseason" Gee that sounds like a term a Yankee fan would use! Or maybe a Yankee owner =

FWIW, Klesko has Giambi written all over him, and not in the productive ex-roider who may still be on roids way

[Guest attgig]

would've been nice to get giles though... seems like a better candidate for 2b than valentin.

[Guest sharpie]

Chris Woodward pulls a Kurt Abbott and goes to the Braves.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2704070