GMs' meetings: The folly of spending big on setup guys
I'm catching up reading the World Series program out here - let me know if you want me to give it away in a contest, when I'm done with it - and there's a two-page spread with one-line bios of each player from the two teams.
What struck me the most was the relievers. Not Brad Lidge. We already know plenty about him. But in reading about some of the guys who built the bridge from the starter for Lidge, you get a feel for how volatile relievers can be. Here are the writeups, with the pitchers' 2008 earnings from the Phillies inserted and their career stats linked:
Clay Condrey ($420,000): Right-handed reliever Condrey made a career-high 56 appearances this season and boasted a solid 3.26 ERA.
Chad Durbin ($900,000): Signed as a free agent before the season, Durbin poasted a stellar 2.87 ERA over 87.2 innings for the Phillies.
Scott Eyre ($950,000): The veteran left-hander arrived in Philly in August and won three games, striking out 18 batters in 14.1 innings.
J.A. Happ (about $390,000): Happ, a 6-foot-6 rookie with a low-90s fastball, posted a 3.69 ERA in eight Big League apperances this year.
Ryan Madson (pictured above - $1.4 million salary): Madson finished the season with a 3.05 ERA in 76 appearances and established himself as an elite set-up man.
J.C. Romero ($3.25 million): In his first full season in Philadelphia, left-handed relief specialist Romero led the team with 81 appearances.
So the only guys making signficant money were Romero and the closer Lidge ($6.35 million). Romero was released by the Red Sox in 2007. Lidge was in and out of the closer's role for the Astros in '07.
The Cubs designated Eyre for assignment in August of '08. Condrey and Durbin had done little of note in their careers prior to this season. Madson turned things around in '07, so he has two good years running.
Not a long-term, consistently successful reliever in the bunch of middle relievers. The Mets should keep that in mind when shopping this winter. They have to sign a closer, and they have two decent options in Brian Fuentes and Francisco Rodriguez. But to start throwing money at a Juan Cruz, or a Joe Beimel, could be a mistake. Minaya knows all too well the risk of investing big bucks in a non-elite reliever.
So what should the Mets do about their bullpen, then? It's much, much easier said than done, but try to strike gold on the Durbins and the Eyres of the world while maintaining roster and payroll flexibility.
"I think we are probably dealing with semantics here. Jake has not approved a trade or potential trade to any team. The list was intended only to give the Padres some guidance on which teams Jake would consider. It is neither a definitive list nor an all-inclusive list. We are not adding or deleting teams as the process goes along. The list was provided for a singular purpose and there has been no subsequent discussion involving any pending trade and no request to Jake for approval of any team. I assume that will come if and when a proposed trade develops."
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Comments (17)
The combine salaries for the Phillies bullpen this year is $13.66 million with Lidge having the highest salary at $6.5 million. Perhaps the Mets will get creative and find a the right mix for the bullpen.
Ken, I know you don't go in for any type of ass-kissery, but thanks for the constant updates.
Correction, Lidge made $6.35 million this year. And the combine salaries of the Phillies bullpen made $1.34 million less than what Mariano Rivera made this year at $15 million. 7 relievers on the Phillies combine made less than Rivera.
I agree with B-walk ("ass-kissery"?). It's almost a live blog feel.
Thanks for the rapid and repeated updates.
ESPN has a piece on the agent's desire to have large signing bonuses paid pre- 12/31 in order to avoid any tax increaees passed by the 111th Congress. This may in some way speed up the signing process for premuim talent.
And Selig better be careful - if he pleads economic distress in a voice any louder than he just did, each team must disclose its books to the MLBPA as part of negotiation of the next CBA.
To the contrary, I LOVE ass-kissery! Smooch away! ;)
Only a few days in California and you've gone Sally Field ("you like me, you really like me" on us. Now you'll go soft on the Derek Jeter fielding stats becuase you need a club invite in LA.
The Royals may have clinched the worst GM position - a club with poor OBP is trying to add Jeff Francoeur as its # 1 priority.
Ken, the White Sox are looking to trade Nick Swisher. Swisher had a disappointing year for the White Sox this year batting .219, 24 HRs and 69 RBIs. He is owe $22.05 million over the next 3 years. Swisher is 28 years old, is a patient hitter who is a switch-hitter and is a versatile player who can play both 1st base and the outfield. Do you think the Yanks will be interested in Swisher?
The Yankees have to cut Marte loose. Are they trying to work something out with him where they decline the option and then sign him to a new two year deal? I hope not.
The Yankees desperately need a new start. Do not bring back any of the players with expiring contracts. I would let Pettitte walk, too. Moose can have another year if he wants it. That's it for the entire group.
Cashman has to come up with some longterm answers/strategy and drop this stopgap nonsense.
I see in the Boston papers that Boras is telling people that Varitek should get the same type of contract Jorge Posada got because even though he can't hit or more, his intangibles are more important than anything right now. I suppose he could get that contract if there was any type of demand for Varitek, but nobody else can use him except for Boston, so maybe Scott ought to be rethinking his strategy before he prices his client out of the sport.
I wonder if now that Giambi's trainer/possible pusher has been named the trainer of Oakland if Giambi could be headed back there for a fond farewell?
I see all the commissioners are claiming economic distress right now and the only tangible evidence so far is attendance was down in baseball some last season and the NBA and hockey have dropped off considerably. Obviously attendances are going to drop some more next year in baseball, counteracted by huge increases in Tampa, NY and Philadelphia, which may make it seem less bad as it will actually be. But I bet the real hit comes in concessions and memorabilia. People may have money to pay for tickets, but why would they waste money on T-shirts hats and "authentic facsimile" autographed items? I already know that I won't be re-upping for this MLB Insiders Club I wasted $28 on to get a free team blanket and mag subscription. How many others drop out of that scam?
Good question on Swisher, Dennis. I'll find out.
Sandy...
I am voting for (oh...wait that was yesterday)...make that HOPING for an amicable agreement between the Red Sox and Varitek.
There is nothing I would love to see more than Captain Intangible behind the plate for the BoSox next year.
Can't hit, can't throw anyone out, calls a marginal game when given the responsibility, and is the only player in baseball who needs his position stitched to his jersey so he can remember what position to go play every inning.
I'll wager Boras carries a tape of Varitek's throwdown with A-Rod from a few years back to every contract negotiation as a demonstration of the only tangible proof of his intangibles.
505- the "C" on Varitek's uniform stands for Can't Hit, Can't Throw and Can't Run.
I should have read all the links before I posted before. Ken's been busy!! Anyway I didn't see this unless Dennis linked it somewhere, but Joel Sherman says that the Mets are interested in either Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson. I know Ken has already written down below somewhere that Tampa has always liked Aaron Heilman, but it would take more than that, perhaps an outfield prospect, to get either one of those two and I believe Jackson would be an out and out mistake. His record wasn't awful last season but it wasn't that good either, but compared to anything he had accomplished previously, I think that was a fluke and he will regress back to that level next season. I don't think the Rays will trade Sonnanstine.
I hope the Sawx sign Varitek too 505, because they are looking towards texas for something better in Laird.
Very clever, Ken. "Maybe the Yankees' seven-year drought has nothing to do with Joe Torre, and everything to do with George W. Bush". You're doing a bang-up job. SMOOCH :)
The Yankees haven't won since that great Cub fan Hillary Clinton was elected to the Senate. If you know anything about grand conspiracies, you truly have to believe this is the reason.
I enjoyed reading this post, Ken, but you may have enhanced my point about the need for the Mets NOT to go after K-Rod or Fuentes. More often than not, the seventh and eighth innings feature more high-leverage situations than in the ninth. Therefore, why is it out of the question to pay for quality relief during those situations? Of course, I have always supported the concept that one or two-year bargains should be hunted down and signed, but why would the Mets brass be insulting their fans if they did not pay a boatload of cash for a K-Rod to pitch in, on average, less critical situations?
JE, I'm old-school when it comes to this stuff. Pitchers want defined roles, and th emost important role is to serve as the last line of defense in the ninth inning, IMHO.
It's great to pay for quality relief for the seventh and eighth. But as you know, it is so difficult to find someone who can do that year after year (and who doesn't get promoted to closer, a la K-Rod). Hence my plea for the Mets to get more creative.