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Texas Rangers Vastly Overpay for Mr. Contract Year, Adrian Beltre

Believe it or not, this swing produced one of Adrian Beltre’s 28 homers, a total amassed which helped make him a very rich man.

All the Texas Rangers had to do was look at when Adrian Beltre‘s trend, focusing on when the highs and lows took place, and a boatload of money could have been saved. The Seattle Mariners know this amazing trend all too well, as they were on the expensive and bad end.

In 2003, his sixth season in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 25-year-old third baseman played in all but three games, hit .240 with an equally awful .290 on-base-percentage, clubbed 23 homers and drove in a respectable 80 runs. Not a bad year production-wise.

The Dodgers would have liked him to produce more with greater plate discipline given his major league experience, but he had improved over his previous campaign, so they would expect increased numbers the following season, in 2004, the final year of his contract with the team. There was an increase as Los Angeles had hoped, but how much of an increase surprised everyone and even cast a suspicious cloud over the Dominican.

In his memorable 2004 season, Beltre was off the charts. He played in 156 games—two fewer than in 2003—but somehow increased his batting average an astonishing 94 points, to .334, and his on-base-percentage 98 points. He socked 25 more homers, narrowly missing out on 50 for the season and drove in 41 more RBI. It’s hard to find another hitter with such an increase in production in just a year’s time. What Beltre did was hard to believe, and, coincidentally, came at the perfect time.

Having just approached his prime, though already with seven years experience, Beltre entered the offseason as one of the top assets on the free-agent market. Some teams didn’t quite understand the enormous change in production from 2003 to 2004 and were hesitant to give him the big bucks a 48-homer, 121-RBI season warranted. The Mariners showed him the money, and he took it, signing a five-year, $64 million deal. Seattle thought they were getting one of the best hitters in the game, a player who could at least crush 35 homers per season, plate a bunch of runs and hit for a high-average. That player they did not get.

Seattle received an expensive disappointment instead. The Mariners would have been fools to expect him to duplicate one of the best year’s ever over a sustained period of time, but they did, at least, hope he could be the star in the middle of their lineup; someone they could count on to produce consistently. To put it lightly, he was but a shade of his 2004 self.

In 2005, while playing in the same amount of games as he did during his historic season, Beltre hit only 19 homers, drove in 87 runs and batted just .255 with a .303 on-base percentage. He had his moment throughout his career with the Mariners, but his best season with the team, in 2007, consisted of a .276 batting average, 26 homers, 99 RBI and a .319 on-base-percentage. He was durable, but his highest hit-total came in 2006, amassing 34 less than his 200-hit campaign in 2004.

He lasted the length of his deal, which surprised me. His final season with the team was cut short due to injury, but in 111 games, he hit only eight homers and drove in 47. This was how he entered his second free-agency period, and the teams were not lining up at his doorstep. No one was going to give a 29-year-old coming off such an awful season and, overall, an underwhelming stint with the Mariners, a multi-year contract.

Beltre would have to take whatever he could get. The Boston Red Sox showed some interest and wisely offered him a one-year, $10 million deal. He accepted. Boston hoped he would rebound, but a revitalization in Beantown wasn’t expected entering the 2010 season. Then, just as in 2004, he mashes the hell out of the ball, earning himself another extraordinary payday—one even more lucrative than before.

With Boston he had 189 hits, his most since 2004. He hit 28 homers—his most since 2004. He drove in 102 runs—his most since 2004. He hit .321 with a .365 on-base-percentage–again—his highest marks since 2004—and socked a career-high 49 doubles. Now 31 and ranked the third-best free agent on the market, he entered the free-agency period looking for an upgrade on the money he received from the Mariners.

After Oakland was given the cold shoulder and after Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim pulled out of the sweepstakes, Texas became his lone suitor, ready to spend. And even with two years and $24 million left on third baseman Michael Young’s deal, they showed Beltre the money he was looking for, offering him a contract spanning six years and worth an astronomical $96 million. He and his representatives accepted, and the deal is believed to be near completion.

The Rangers, which will either move Young to second base or plug him in as their designated hitter, are emptying the bank, just as the Mariners did, based off one good year. More and more contracts of this lucrative nature are handed out to players in their 30s, and some are justifiable. But this is not. In giving him this money, they are hoping he can do as much damage with them as he did with Boston. The same was said for Seattle and look how that turned out. Texas evidently didn’t take much notice.

(Photo: Zimbio)

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Vick Scrutinized and a Bias Against Bagwell’s Hall of Fame Candidacy

Material for articles is never-ending. There is always something to write about when it comes to the world of sports.

Even on a quiet news day, a player or team can be analyzed. That’s what makes sportswriting in particular great.

On this day, three unrelated topics came to mind, two of which I would have known little to nothing about had I not hopped on twitter.

I was going to write solely about the Boston Red Sox, making the case that Jed Lowrie should start over Marco Scutaro at shortstop while also relaying the importance of a healthy Jacoby Ellsbury. That topic I will cover at a later date.

For the time being, two interesting opinions–to say the least–caught my eye, and I feel compelled to counter.

 

Carlson vs Vick and Obama

First, Fox commentator and vehement animal rights activist Tucker Carlson said Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick “should have been executed” for dogfighting.

Carlson just wants to get in the news, and his goal his attained by voicing such an opinion about one of the more popular and controversial athletes.

Dogfighting is a serious crime. Vick committed murder. And maybe 18 months in prison wasn’t enough. But Carlson has the viewpoint that correlates with the capital punishment theory of “kill, then you should be killed.” There is nothing to that.

What makes Carlson’s comment hard to comprehend is that he also says he “fervently believes in second chances.” Doesn’t this belief imply that to have a second chance one must have done something heinous?

What also makes his comment ludicrous is its timing, as it comes after President Barack Obama called Eagles owner Jeffrey Laurie and applauded his signing of Vick. Leave it to uber-conservative Fox pundits to make the most of an opportunity to criticize the President, as Carlson does take the time to attack Obama, saying, “The idea the president of the United States would be getting behind someone who murdered dogs is beyond the pale.”

Obama called Laurie initially to discuss the Eagles aggressive plan to bring renewable energy to their stadium, Lincoln Financial Field. The Vick segment of the one-on-one conversation, in hindsight, may have been best kept between the two, considering how many of Fox’s vultures, not just Carlson, immediately feasted the comments.

He was just the latest to criticize the President, who wasn’t condoning dogfighting. Given Vick’s play this season, Obama only acknowledged Laurie’s part in Vick’s redemption in a talk surrounding another topic entirely.

According to Laurie, the President said, “So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance … It’s never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail.”

According to Carlson, those like Vick deserving of a second chance should be sent straight to the gallows.

 

Graziano vs Bagwell

Ballots are being casted for the Major League Hall of Fame, with inductees to be announced next week. AOL’s Dan Graziano was outspoken about one candidate in particular, giving his reason for leaving former Houston Astros slugger Jeff Bagwell off his ballot.

That reason? Suspicion of steroid use by this member of the Astros’ Killer B’s.

Statistically, Graziano said Bagwell is Hall of Fame worthy. But because he played during the Steroid Era, hit hundreds of homers, and was muscular this writer feels compelled to let his opinion enter into his voting.

Perplexing stance, to say the least.

That said, he has the right to his opinion. He can believe Bagwell did steroids. But I cannot respect his leaving Bagwell out based on a hunch. Put that opinion in an article and leave it at that.

Bagwell spent 15 years with Houston, his career ending in 2005, making this his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame. Graziano is right in saying he is Hall of Fame worthy based upon his statistics; after all, Bagwell was a .297 career hitter with 449 homers, 2,314 hits, a .408 on-base percentage, and more than 1,500 rbis and runs.

Bagwell first denied steroid use in 2004 in an interview with the Houston Chronicle and gives another pretty adamant explanation for why he didn’t do steroids in an interview with ESPN:

“I never used (steroids), and I’ll tell you exactly why: If I could hit between 30 and 40 home runs every year and drive in 120 runs, why did I need to do anything else?” he said. “I was pretty happy with what I was doing, and that’s the God’s honest truth. All of a sudden guys were starting to hit 60 or 70 home runs and people were like, ‘Dude, if you took (PEDs), you could do it too.’ And I was like, ‘I’m good where I’m at. I just want to do what I can do.’

“I wasn’t trying to do anything crazy. I hit six homers in the minor leagues. Six home runs. I hit 15, 18 and 21 in Houston, and then I hit 39 in 1994 when I started working with Rudy Jaramillo and he helped me to understand my swing and I actually learned how to hit. And I was like, ‘I don’t need anything more. I’m good.’ When I walked on the field I thought I was the best player on the field, and I didn’t need anything more than that. It was never an ego thing with me, and I think at some point, it became ego to some people.

“I know a lot of people are saying, ‘His body got bigger.’ Well, if you’re eating 30 pounds of meat every single day and you’re working out and bench pressing, you’re going to get bigger. You can go to every single trainer and they’ll say, ‘He was the first here and last to leave, and that dude worked his ass off.’”

After what has become of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds’ reputation, former players would be foolish to deny using steroids when they did. Because of this, as well as his detailed and emotional comments, I believe Bagwell.

Can’t a differential in home-runs year to year be because of vast, clean improvement and not syringes? In my mind, he hit the weight room, got stronger that way, and had a tremendous career without steroids.

Admittedly, he said his only regret was working out too much.

So, given how I feel about this situation, what does including biases in Hall of Fame voting do for a writer’s and voter’s credibility? I like and respect Graziano. I think he’s a good writer and I agree with many of his opinions. But casting a vote based off suspicion? That’s not right.

It’s similar to refusing to vote for a player because of their attitude and is a watered down version of refusing to vote a player into the Hall of Fame based on the color of his skin, which has also been done in the past.

Such prejudices can still be intertwined and go relatively unnoticed. Per Graziano, making a case for a potential Hall of Famer’s exclusion or inclusion doesn’t have to purely be based on statistics.

I find this to be terribly wrong and saddening, but Graziano said “writers vote because [the] Hall of Fame deems us best qualified to do so.” When I asked if a voter could, hypothetically, refuse to vote for Pedro Martinez because of his or her prejudice against him, Graziano responded, “Theoretically, yes.” It doesn’t matter if it’s speculative, based on dislike, or because of racism; opinion fused into a vote isn’t justifiable.

Rafael Palmeiro, who is also on this year’s ballot, did steroids and should be left out of the Hall of Fame, despite collecting over 550 homers and 3,000 hits.

But Bagwell hasn’t done anything wrong. And just as sourcing should be credible, voting should back up fact.

The only facts associated with Bagwell are his amazing statistics.

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Brandon Webb: If Healthy, He Could Serve as Cliff Lee’s Replacement in Texas

Considering what ace left-hander Cliff Lee accomplished for the Texas Rangers last season, losing him to the Philadelphia Phillies had to be difficult to stomach for a franchise that reached the World Series.

But despite lacking one of the best pitchers in baseball, the Rangers signed a potential replacement on a one-year deal.

In August of 2009, Brandon Webb had shoulder debridement surgery, which essentially cleans out loose debris and inflamed tissue. He failed to make a start this past season, still rehabilitating his damaged shoulder.

Even if he wasn’t at full strength entering the heart of the free-agency period, he would be a risk worth taking. But then agent Jonathan Maurer announced during the Winter Meetings that his 31-year-old client was healthy and preparing as he normally would for Spring Training.

The number of suitors increased with this news. The Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Rangers all expressed serious interest in the former Cy Young award winner.

Before the surgery that shelved him for over a year, Webb, as this aforementioned accolade suggests, was one of the better pitchers in the game. He went 22-7 to win in 2008 and had an 82-27 record with a 3.27 ERA, 1,065 strikeouts and 15 complete games in his seven years with the Diamondbacks.

He continuously confused the opposition with a dazzling repertoire built around a sharp sinker and a fastball thrown in the high 90s.

The movement on his pitches is said to be unchanged, but the velocity on his fastball has dipped post-surgery as demonstrated in various tryouts. Historically tremendous at inducing ground balls, a great speed disparity is needed between his fastball and sinker.

He’s never been a power pitcher, but he can’t be the pitcher he was if he’s barely touching 90 on the gun. If he can maintain a fastball in the mid-90s to complement his biting sinker, a lot of ground balls will be gobbled up by Texas’s excellent infielders and the Rangers will get an ace.

Last year, Texas signed oft-injured Rich Harden to a one-year deal. He was a low-risk, high-reward signing. Once an ace for the Oakland Athletics, Harden failed to pan out with the Rangers, throwing only 92 innings with a 5-5 record and a ghastly 5.38 ERA.

Webb is this year’s version for Texas, as the team takes a wise chance on a former star.

He joins C.J. Wilson, who won 15 games in 2010 as Lee’s sidekick, Colby Lewis and presumably Tommy Hunter and Derrick Holland in the rotation.

Hunter went 13-4 last season with a 3.73 ERA and was particularly effective at home.

Holland, 24, made 10 solid starts and worked well out of the bullpen in the postseason. If manager Ron Washington isn’t confident in either Hunter or Holland, he could turn to Neftali Feliz. Feliz won the American League Rookie of the Year award compiling 40 saves.

The Rangers have said they will extend his outings during spring training and then evaluate if he should remain in the bullpen or make up the back end of the rotation.

If Feliz does join the rotation and pitches well, the Rangers will still need Webb to perform. Losing Lee leaves a gaping hole. Wilson is capable of filling his shoes as the team’s No. 1 starter, but a fully recovered Webb could duplicate his production.

This team wants to return to the World Series, with a different ending in mind. It has been proven that pitching wins championships. The Rangers have the offense to support a solid staff, but their staff needs to be solid. An effective Webb would transform a rotation with some question marks into a formidable one to be reckoned with.

Webb is taking a risk though. He is joining a team with a hitter-friendly park, which isn’t an ideal situation for a pitcher trying to restore his value. Still, Texas knows what kind of pitcher he can be in spite of their stadium’s offensive-minded layout. He knows he can be that pitcher.

If their confidence in him and his confidence in himself pays off, the Rangers will be a dangerous team once more come playoff time.

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Gilbert Arenas: Focus on the Athlete, Not Who Is Behind the Mask

Professional athletes aren’t role models. With that said, I looked up to Ken Griffey Jr. and Chipper Jones as a child. Griffey was the face of the Seattle Mariners, had a contagious smile, turned down steroids, has never done anything to hurt his reputation, has done a tremendous amount of charity work, and, as far as I know from reading various stories, a good father to his kids and a good husband. Kids, like me in the 1990′s, looked up to him.

Similarly, Jones was the face of the Atlanta Braves, a gifted hitter. Prior a Giants-Braves game in San Francisco, I stood not 20 feet away from Jones, who was on the dugout steps. It was well before the contest, and the environment was a relatively quiet one. I yelled and yelled for an autograph, but he didn’t acknowledge me. At the time–in 1999, the final year of Candlestick Park–I didn’t think anything of it. I was nine. I was disappointed, but, to my recollection, thought he was just focused on the upcoming game. He could have been. Or he may have been listening to what a teammate had to say instead. Or, he could have been giving me the cold shoulder, a possibly poor personality and attitude rearing their ugly heads. I still followed Jones. He was still one of my favorite players. I didn’t hold the lack of a response and autograph against him.

He has never done anything in the public light that would back up such a presumptive attitude. Even if he had, I would try to focus on the athlete, not the person. Some athletes unethically enhance their performance. After their playing days are over and sometimes during their careers, some are gambling fools and criminals–child and spousal abusers, dog-killers, rapists, drug traffickers, adulterers, murderers. That’s the truth, and that is why focusing on what they do on the basketball court, baseball diamond, football field, ice rink, and golf course is so important. Because of their play, they make us want to buy their poster, their jersey, their shoe, their brand. Clubbing homers, catching, throwing, or intercepting passes, making baskets, or hitting long drives should be sole reasons behind of this infatuation, consumption, and the feeling one gets when watching their favorite player. Why? Because the person behind the athlete is often not someone children want to be.

Michael Vick killed dogs. A married Kobe Bryant had what was deemed consensual sex with a 19-year-old. What these people did will not be forgotten, but their careers aren’t tarnished because of it. As of a week ago, Vick was the leader in Pro-Bowl voting–which is significant because the fans vote–and is considered to be a strong candidate for the Most Valuable Player award. Bryant is still married to his wife and has a large fan-base.

They may think they are invincible outside of sport, given the money they make and their standing professionally, but in no way should their troubles in life leak into their perception of what they do best. It’s hard to look past dog-fighting and alleged rape, but considering so many athletes have problems pushing those atrocities aside has to be done to continue to enjoy the games and athletes.

On Christmas Eve of 2009, Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pulled a gun on teammate Javaris Crittenton in the locker-room. Crittenton answered by drawing a firearm of his own. This standoff was due to a bet that had gone unsettled. Arenas was suspended for the rest of the 2009-2010 season, as was Crittenton. Arenas, with a much higher profile and larger following than Crittenton despite having played in just 15 games the previous two seasons due to injury, received most of the news. His reputation was hurt by this. He was a fan favorite in Washington, nicknamed “Hibachi”, in reference to the Japanese heating device which translates to a “bowl of fire”, and, ironically, “Agent Zero”, in reference to his number with the Wizards. Before his knees betrayed him, he hit game-winners. His attitude was an entertaining one. He was their franchise player. But, with that incident, his image in the eyes of the Washington franchise soured. Upon returning from suspension he had transformed from a celebrated talent into a mentor to their new face of the franchise, John Wall. He was also a bad contract and a player who admittedly wanted to teach Wall all he could then move on from the organization.

His Wizards career came to an end a week ago, when he was traded to the Orlando Magic for a player with a similarly bad contract, Rashard Lewis. Wall lost someone to look up to. Fellow teammate Nick Young also lost a mentor and a very good friend. Despite hitting teammates hard, the trade was a good one for Arenas. He needed a fresh start, a second chance. And, as shown by Vick’s rise back to the top in particular, our society built around second chances. Still remarkably just 28, he has rejuvenated the new-look Magic. The gun incident is in the past. If he can turn Orlando into a true championship contender is what’s on the minds of many when the topic of Arenas is approached.

When he was healthy and in good standing with the Wizards, I enjoyed watching him play. Injuries happen. Unfortunate incidents happen, too. Players like Arenas wear a uniform and perform for an organization and a fan-base. That’s their job, and they are paid handsomely. They are athletes, not role models.

To be a role model every aspect of their lifestyle must be respected. It has to be a person one would ideally want to be like. And it should come to the surprise of no one that few athletes can possibly fit the bill of a role model. So, given this fact, enjoy the baseball players who once relied on syringes rather than talent. Enjoy Vick. Enjoy Arenas. Enjoy them for who they are when they are wearing their metaphorical and literal masks. If too much stock is put into their personal lives and if one focuses too much on instances like mine with Jones, then it’s difficult to be a fan of the athlete and their talents–and that would be a shame.

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Red Sox Turn Lone Weakness into Strength, Look To Be Team To Beat in AL

The Boston Red Sox have had the best offseason of any team. They acquired and signed hitting to bolster an already sturdy lineup. They have a balanced rotation, with four pitchers that could win more than 15 games. But their bullpen needed work.

If this was done by ever-aggressive General Manager Theo Epstein, the team would be set as the best the American League—and perhaps baseball—has to offer.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon was inconsistent this past season and the middle-relievers weren’t all too dependable. Epstein recognized this, as four recent signings can transform an already dangerous team into one much more feared.

First, Matt Albers, formerly of the Baltimore Orioles, was signed to a one-year contract. The 27-year-old spent three seasons with the Orioles after being traded from the Houston Astros in the deal that sent star shortstop Miguel Tejada packing. He was once a highly touted prospect in the Astros organization but couldn’t translate his success on the farm to the majors.

As one of the many reasons why Baltimore’s bullpen has been poor the past few seasons, the big right-hander had a 4.50 ERA and allowed 13 baserunners per nine innings with the team.

Albers isn’t a headline-grabbing signing, but he should provide the depth Boston needs. He won’t be a setup man, but since he has been a starter before the team could use him in long-relief as well as a specialist against right-handers. In whichever capacity they decide to use him he provides versatility, as does the next pitcher signed by Epstein, 25-year-old Andrew Miller.

He was signed by the team this past season but non-tendered on December 2nd. Once a heralded prospect in the Detroit Tigers organization and thought highly enough to be the centerpiece of a deal that netted the Tigers Miguel Cabrera in 2007, Miller struggled against major league hitting.

With the Florida Marlins he was primarily used as a starting pitcher and struggled to a 10-20 record accompanied by a dreadful 6.41 ERA. Despite his record, ERA, high walk-rate, and overall ineffectiveness, the Red Sox are focusing on his youth and repertoire and see plenty of potential for success. Since he has been a starter for most of his career Boston could use him primarily as a long-man out of their bullpen.

Sound familiar? Albers and Miller were similarly regarded when working their way through the minors, parts of big trades, struggled to succeed, and now find themselves on one of baseball’s better teams with an opportunity to earn a significant role. Both can be retained well past this year, too.

Miller will be arbitration-eligible after 2011, while Albers, who does not yet have four years of major-league service, can be kept around for the 2012 and 2013 seasons if they so choose. The two are well under 30 and are low-risk, high-reward signings.

Their roles are not set in stone, but the Red Sox know how they are going to use their newest arrivals. Former Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks was signed to a two-year contract worth $12 million and not long after Dan Wheeler agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million.

Jenks, 29, had 173 saves and a respectable 3.40 ERA in five seasons with the White Sox, though this past season was his worst with the franchise. He has a powerful arm, possesses far better control than Miller and Albers, and collected four saves in the 2005 playoffs for Chicago, a postseason run that ended in a World Series championship.

Wheeler has been similarly successful and postseason-tested throughout his career. The 33-year-old, who is returning to his hometown, pitched brilliantly for the Tampa Bay Rays as a setup man over the past three-and-a-half seasons. He was particularly difficult against left-handed hitters in 2010, allowing them to only bat .196.

There is little doubt he will be used in that capacity, though he isn’t chopped liver against right-handers either, giving the Red Sox plenty of options.

The quartet is thrilled to be joining the Red Sox, but being from the Boston area Wheeler was especially happy to join the team:

“I’m very excited. I guess there’s always been a little part of me that’s always wanted to wear the Red Sox uniform, there’s no question about that. The first goal was to make it [to the Majors], now that I’m going to have a chance to put that actual uniform on, I’m real excited about it.”

Boston can shorten the game now with these four pitchers in the fold. They have the offense. They have the starting pitching. Now, with Wheeler, Jenks, Albers, and Miller complimenting Papelbon, Daniel Bard, and Hideki Okajima, Boston has the ideal team on paper. Epstein is far from done, too.

For the first time his team’s payroll is more than that of the New York Yankees. He means business at the helm of the new Evil Empire. So, it should come to the surprise of few that he’s still scouring the market for relievers, particularly interested in left-handers. Considering how Boston’s offseason has gone to date, Epstein—the modern-day George Steinbrenner—will get who he desires.

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New York Yankees, Texas Rangers Try To Move on As Cliff Lee Rejoins Phillies

After Cliff Lee signed a five-year, $120 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies late Monday night, Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels immediately responded to his decision: “Let’s give the guy some credit. How many people criticize players for running after the last dollar?” Daniels was disappointed. How could he not be? But Lee called him personally to break the news to him. Daniels said when he saw “his name on the caller ID I kind of anticipated that it probably was not an acceptance call.” But I’m sure he appreciated that Lee told him. And I’m sure that made the pill easier to swallow.

In contrast, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was informed of Lee’s decision by his now immensely flush agent, Darek Braunecker, which says something in itself. It shows Lee really didn’t want to go to the Yankees. If he considered the Yankees a serious contender he would have also thanked them for their interest. Instead, New York offered him their six-year deal last week, upped it to a bold seven years and never heard back.

Their aggressiveness drew nothing more than a figurative shrug from Lee. The pain ran deep. Cashman didn’t say it hurt. In fact, he didn’t immediately issue a response. He didn’t have it in him to do what Daniels did. He told the media he would wait until Tuesday to comment on Lee.

With a sleepless night behind him he came to grips with reality, though his tone was full of disappointment:

“I think that New York was not something he didn’t want to go to. If I had to speculate, he’s worked hard to put himself in position to be a free agent. Texas, Philadelphia, New York, we all had a lot to offer. We were in an environment to compete for him at a very fair, highly competitive level as a fre agent and Philadelpia [sic] secured him. It’s as simple as that. The fact that he is going to Philadelphia proves how much he enjoyed Philly. Could Cliff Lee have made a difference for us? He may have…”

When asked about what’s next for his Yankees, he said, “I do stress Plan B is patience. It’s not like we’re in a rush to do anything.”

New York didn’t go out and get the next best thing, but, contrary to Cashman’s statement, they certainly weren’t patient after missing out on Lee. They intensified talks with catcher Russell Martin, who was also wooed by the Red Sox, and signed him away from their rival. Martin, 27, previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and regressed after a promising start to his career. He hit .285 from 2006-2008, averaging 14 homers and 74 RBI per season. But, batting injuries, he batted only .248 this past season. Despite struggling he is a low-risk, high-reward signing given his prior success.

Signing catching depth is great for New York, but what about the pitching staff? They went out on a limb and signed Mark Prior to a minor-league deal. Yes, that Mark Prior, who was originally drafted by New York, won 18 games with the Chicago Cubs in the Steve Bartman year of 2003 and proceeded to fade into obscurity largely due to a flurry of shoulder and elbow injuries.

Having last pitched in the major leagues in 2006 with the San Diego Padres, Prior rehabbed, worked out for teams and, this past season, pitched for the Orange County Flyers of the Independent League, an affiliate of the Rangers organization. There, he made nine relief appearances and struck out 22 batters in 11 innings while allowing just one run.

His performance with the Flyers caught New York’s eye. If he makes it to the big club he will be reunited with Larry Rothschild, his pitching coach with Chicago. It’s hard to believe that Prior is only 30 years old after all he has been through. He is two years younger than Lee. He was once as good as Lee. And, given his increased velocity and improved mechanics, he could pay dividends for the Yankees, whether it is in the rotation or out of the bullpen. I can’t help but hope he succeeds, albeit on Boston’s rival.

New York hopes Martin and Prior pan out, but they would survive if they didn’t. Without Andy Pettitte, however, they would have difficulty staying afloat. He was 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 2010 with the team and has always delivered in big games for the Yankees. Due to his effectiveness, reputation and presence, they will beg and plead the 38-year-old left-hander to forgo retirement for another year. They will throw all kinds of money his way, but the possibility of him returning isn’t likely. Evidently, as reported by Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, it appears signing Lee would have been his lone incentive to return:

“Someone who spoke with Andy Pettitte last week said that the lefty told him this: If the Yankees get Lee, then he would come back. If not, then he would stay home. That essentially matches what [the NY Post‘s] Joel Sherman reported last week.”

If Pettitte did indeed say this and if he does retire, New York is in trouble. They watched Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford go to Boston and Lee take his talents to Philadelphia. Safe to say, Yankee fans would die a little more inside if Pettitte elected to relax in his Houston home, hand in his glove for some golf clubs and bask in his millions. Without him, CC Sabathia would be their only dependable starter. Phil Hughes would slot in behind him, but he was inconsistent after a strong start to 2010, finishing with an ERA over four. A.J. Burnett is a crapshoot, while unproven Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova round out the starting five. Because of such uncertainty, I expect them to be aggressive on the trade market.

They could go after Zack Greinke, as the Rangers are expected to do, but with the way the offseason has gone for these two teams a mystery team will undoubtedly swoop in and snatch him up too. While they brace for that and continue to scour the trade and free-agent market, Lee is “excited” to be a Phillie again, to join a rotation that already had three aces. Little did Texas and New York know they would add a fourth as late as early Monday evening, but the two American League powers must move on. Though depressed, the Yankees went about their business. Now the Rangers have to do the same.

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Carl Crawford Officially Signs with Boston Red Sox, Cliff Lee Deicision Awaits

It wasn’t a dream. Carl Crawford, who reached an agreement with the Boston Red Sox late Wednesday night, officially signed a seven-year, $142 million deal on Friday, making him the highest-paid outfielder in baseball, and was formally introduced Saturday morning.

No baseball player, or any athlete, should be making that much money. But, putting my opinions on the “business” aspect of the game aside, this is a sensible, aggressive move by a team generating the most noise this offseason.

Battling a cold, Crawford put on his Red Sox jersey and cap, then hoarsely spoke to the media about joining the team.

On staying in the division: “That was important to me, I feel like the American League East is so exciting and the fans are so passionate. I really wanted to stay in the AL East. When I got the call the Red Sox were interested, I really was excited about it.”

On playing in Fenway as a Red Sox:

“I’m definitely ready for that. That’s the one thing that attracted me here. You know it’s going to be sold out, and you know there’s going to be excitement, you know there’s going to be a lot of screaming and hollering and that’s something that gets you up and keeps you going, so that’s definitely one of the things that attracted me here. Instead of getting booed, now they can boo somebody else. I took my share of torture in left field.”

As their left-fielder, he said hopes to join Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski and Jim Rice, four greats who dealt with the Green Monster on a daily basis and tormented opposing pitchers. With his array of talents, there is no reason to believe he won’t.

Manager Terry Francona said Jacoby Ellsbury will be their leadoff hitter when he is deemed fully healthy, and Crawford didn’t seem to mind. “Whatever he [Francona] wants to do with me is fine,” he said.

In my opinion, I think Boston would be best off hitting Crawford third. They could set the table with Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, put Crawford in run-producing spot. There he could drive in runs and also get on base and score in front of Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz.

With J.D. Drew, Jarrod Satalamacchia, and Marco Scutaro rounding out the batting order, Boston’s lineup would feature contact hitters throughout. It would also be lefty, righty, lefty, lefty, righty, lefty, lefty, righty, righty, giving them a nice balance from both sides of the plate that would no doubt strike fear into the hearts of every opposition.

Their defense would be even more impressive with Crawford’s addition. According to Ultimate Zone Rating, which is an advanced fielding metric, the left fielder ranked as the third-most valuable defensive player in the game last year at any position. Having played in Fenway many times before, he should have no trouble playing ricochets off he 38-foot behemoth.

His contract breakdown is as follows: he will receive $14 million in 2011, $19 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013 and an increase in $250,000 thereafter. There is a limited no-trade clause attached to the deal. He picks two teams, the Red Sox one. Which does Boston choose? The Yankees, of course.

Speaking of the Red Sox’ bitter rival, New York is waiting for Cliff Lee‘s decision. Lee, a 32-year-old southpaw deemed to be amongst the best pitchers in baseball, is weighing his options. The Texas Rangers, his former team, has met with him multiple times at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas, while the Yankees have as well.

Both teams have given him a menu of offers, with New York being the only of the two to offer him a firm seven years. The Rangers appear willing to go seven, but on their terms, meaning the seventh would likely be an option or incentive-based.

Lee’s representatives have been insistent that his client receive a contract spanning seven years, which I find ludicrous considering Lee’s age. But, given the Yankees have answered that demand, it’s a good sign for Texas that he’s yet to respond to New York.

As the New York Times’ Michael S. Schmidt and Richard Sandomir document, Bob Simpson, an energy executive who had a hand in purchasing the Rangers as a member of Nolan Ryan’s group, could help Texas meet Lee’s extraordinary asking price.

He made his money in the natural gas industry along with Rangers co-owner Ray Davis, and if he is willing to reach into his deep pockets, Lee could be back with Texas before Santa comes to town.

Considering a seven-year contract would cost the Rangers $160 million or thereabouts, the $23 million Lee would receive annually would amount to more than a third of their 2010 payroll, which stood at $65 million.

Crawford, three years younger with far less risk attached, didn’t command seven years. When the Red Sox entered the bidding, that’s the team he saw himself playing for. Lee is playing a game with his strongest suitors, hampering them from doing anything else this offseason until his decision is made.

The term ‘decision’ is familiar when it comes to choosing a team. It is reminiscent to that of LeBron James’ hoopla, only slightly so. There isn’t a television special–at least not yet, anyway. Unless he goes down that road, there won’t be an analyst—in James’ case, Jim Gray—who will be paid $500,000 to build suspense and ask the ultimate question.

He is just keeping two teams on their heels, and it’s driving fans, like me crazy. Do you want to pay income tax in New York and play in biggest market or do you want to stay closer to home and play with a team you bonded with during a magical run that culminated in a trip to the World Series?

Do you want to play for the Rangers, a low-key, youthful team that would be built to win for years with him in the fold, or the Yankees, a team that puts unparalleled pressure on its players, is in a large market, has unlimited pocketbooks, and is far from young? The environments are complete opposites. It can’t be that hard to choose.

This drawn out process is without a doubt intentional. He wants to keep the baseball world on pins and needles. And as the best free-agent left, baseball’s eyes are on him. The suspense out there to build for some of sports’ elite is too difficult to pass up. And it ends up becoming tiresome and reputation-damaging.

As one Leo Brutus fittingly said via Twitter, “Cliff Lee is going to the Miami Heat. Wow. Didn’t see that coming.”

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Crawford officially signs with Red Sox, Cliff Lee yet to make decision

t wasn’t a dream. Carl Crawford, who reached an agreement with the Boston Red Sox late Wednesday night, officially signed a seven-year, $142 million deal on Friday, making him the highest-paid outfielder in baseball, and was formally introduced Saturday morning. No baseball player, or any athlete, should be making that much money. But, putting my opinions on the “business” aspect of the game aside, this is a sensible, aggressive move by a team generating the most noise this offseason.

Battling a cold, Crawford put on his Red Sox jersey and cap, then hoarsely spoke to the media about joining the team.

On staying in the division: “That was important to me, I feel like the American League East is so exciting and the fans are so passionate. I really wanted to stay in the AL East. When I got the call the Red Sox were interested, I really was excited about it.”

On playing in Fenway as a Red Sox:

“I’m definitely ready for that. That’s the one thing that attracted me here. You know it’s going to be sold out, and you know there’s going to be excitement, you know there’s going to be a lot of screaming and hollering and that’s something that gets you up and keeps you going, so that’s definitely one of the things that attracted me here. Instead of getting booed, now they can boo somebody else. I took my share of torture in left field.”

As their left-fielder, he said hopes to join Manny Ramirez, Ted Williams, Carl Yastremski, and Jim Rice, four greats who dealt with the Green Monster on a daily basis and tormented opposing pitchers. With his array of talents, there is no reason to believe he won’t.

Manager Terry Francona said Jacoby Ellsbury will be their leadoff hitter when he is deemed fully healthy, and Crawford didn’t seem to mind. “Whatever he [Francona] wants to do with me is fine,” he said.

In my opinion, I think Boston would be best off hitting Crawford third. They could set the table with Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, put Crawford in run-producing spot. There he could drive in runs and also get on base and score in front of Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, and David Ortiz. With J.D. Drew, Jared Satalamacchia, and Marco Scutaro rounding out the batting order, Boston’s lineup would feature contact hitters throughout. It would also be lefty, righty, lefty, lefty, righty, lefty, lefty, righty, righty, giving them a nice balance from both sides of the plate that would no doubt strike fear into the hearts of every opposition.

Their defense would be even more impressive with Crawford’s addition. According to Ultimate Zone Rating, an advanced fielding metric, the left fielder ranked as the third-most valuable defensive player in the game last year at any position. Having played in Fenway many times before, he should have no trouble playing ricochets off the 38-foot behemoth.

His contract breakdown is as follows: he will receive $14 million in 2011, $19 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013, and an increase in $250,000 thereafter. There is a limited no-trade clause attached to the deal. He picks two teams; the Red Sox one. Which does Boston choose? The Yankees, of course.

 

Speaking of the Red Sox’ bitter rival, New York is waiting for Cliff Lee‘s decision. Lee, a 32-year-old southpaw deemed to be amongst the best pitchers in baseball, is weighing his options. The Texas Rangers, his former team, has met with him multiple times at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Yankees have as well. Both teams have given him a menu of offers, with New York being the only of the two to offer him a firm seven years.

The Rangers appear willing to go seven, but on their terms, meaning the seventh would likely be an option or incentive-based. Lee’s representatives have been insistent that his client receive a contract spanning seven years, which I find ludicrous considering Lee’s age. But, given that the Yankees have answered that demand, it’s a good sign for Texas that he’s yet to respond to New York.

As the New York Times’ Michael S. Schmidt and Richard Sandomir document, Bob Simpson, an energy executive who had a hand in purchasing the Rangers as a member of Nolan Ryan’s group, could help Texas meet Lee’s extraordinary asking price. He made his money in the natural gas industry along with Rangers co-owner Ray Davis, and if he is willing to reach into his deep pockets, Lee could be back with Texas before Santa comes to town.

Considering a seven-year contract would cost the Rangers $160 million or thereabouts, the $23 million Lee would receive annually would amount to more than a third of their 2010 payroll, which stood at $65 million. Crawford, three years younger with far less risk attached, didn’t command seven years. When the Red Sox entered the bidding, that’s the team he saw himself playing for. Lee is playing a game with his strongest suitors, hampering them from doing anything else this offseason until his decision is made.

The term “decision” is familiar when it comes to choosing a team. It is reminiscent to that of LeBron James’ hoopla, only slightly so. There isn’t a television special—at least not yet, anyway. Unless he goes down that road, there won’t be an analyst—in James’ case, Jim Gray—who will be paid $500,000 to build suspense and ask the ultimate question.

He is just keeping two teams on their heels, and it’s driving fans like me crazy. Do you want to pay income tax in New York and play in biggest market, or do you want to stay closer to home and play with a team you bonded with during a magical run that culminated in a trip to the World Series?

Do you want to play for the Rangers, a low-key, youthful team that would be built to win for years with him in the fold, or the Yankees, a team that puts unparalleled pressure on its players, is in a large market, has unlimited pocketbooks, and is far from young?

The environments are complete opposites. It can’t be that hard to choose.

This drawn-out process is without a doubt intentional. He wants to keep the baseball world on pins and needles. And as the best free-agent left, baseball’s eyes are on him. The suspense out there to build for some of sports’ elite is too difficult to pass up. And it ends up becoming tiresome and reputation-damaging. As one Leo Brutus fittingly said via Twitter, “Cliff Lee is going to the Miami Heat. Wow. Didn’t see that coming.”

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com


Boston Red Sox Sign Carl Crawford To a 7-Year Deal

The Boston Red Sox finished in third place in the American League East this past season. As their offseason moves suggest, they weren’t too happy about that. First, they trade for Adrian Gonzalez, one of the best power hitters in baseball, and, as of Wednesday, December 8th at 8:41 Pacific Time, then they signed one of the fastest players in baseball, Carl Crawford to a seven-year, $142 million deal. As a result, I’m on cloud nine and thousands of Red Sox fans back in Boston are beside themselves in a euphoric state.

Seven years and $142 million, more than $20 million annually for the 29-year-old Crawford. I thought he was going to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or the New York Yankees. I knew Boston was in the running, but had no idea they were even discussing anything with him. I refresh mlbtraderumors.com religiously and check Twitter countless times and I didn’t even know the team had any conversations with his agent or met with him. Since the news broke some have written on the social networking site that they expected Boston to land him, but to many others and me, this news is surprising.

Crawford is now the highest-paid outfielder in baseball. He was given the ninth-biggest contract in the history of the sport. Whether he is currently worth the contract he received is irrelevant. This is Carl Crawford, who is a career .296 hitter and has averaged 185 hits and 51 stolen bases over eight seasons. He batted .309 with 19 homers, 90 RBI and 100 runs this past season with the Tampa Bay Rays.

He is the quintessential five-tool player. And pairing him with a healthy Jacoby Ellsbury atop the Red Sox order will be terrifying for opposing pitching.

“I don’t know another player who looks so much like myself. It’s crazy sometimes,” Crawford said of Ellsbury before the season. “I think he’s almost exactly like me. When I see him, I see myself.”

From 2008 to 2009, Ellsbury hit .290 and stole 120 bases. If he can return to his 2009 form in particular, when he swiped 70 bags, his speed combined with Crawford’s will be difficult to quell. They can indeed be mirror images of each other, which is a very intriguing thought.

Barring an unexpected trade or signing, Boston’s lineup will consist of this duo, former MVP Dustin Pedroia, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, Marco Scutaro and Jared Saltalamacchia. It’s safe to say their offense will be one of baseball’s most potent.

Crawford’s enormous deal combined with the deal Boston will probably give Gonzalez in the coming months makes them the new evil empire. I don’t approve of all the money in baseball, but the game is becoming more and more of business. Sadly, it’s something that has to be accepted.

The Red Sox knew they could afford Crawford so they gave him a deal they thought no team would match. This was the case with the Washington Nationals and Jayson Werth. Crawford’s contract is ridiculous, as is Werth’s, but overspending is the norm.

There is little doubt that Werth’s deal greatly influenced the Red Sox signing Crawford. The team had interest in Werth, so when he signed elsewhere for $126 million, Crawford’s price skyrocketed and they quickly turned to him as their top priority. But they put him atop their list in a quiet manner. A couple of days ago general manager Theo Epstein said Boston was looking to sign or acquire a right-handed bat who could play the corner outfield positions. He even hinted that the team might stick with what they have and focus solely on obtaining bullpen help.

Their move for Crawford caught most by surprise because there wasn’t even a hint of talks between the two parties leaked through sources to the press.

Gonzalez wasn’t enough of a splash. In wooing the speedster, Epstein has bolstered his team exponentially, and his offseason dealings are similar to New York’s successful 2008 winter of CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira. The Yankees spent $341 million on their duo. Boston, with Gonzalez reportedly close to agreeing to an eight-year, $164 million deal, has spent $296 million for theirs, upgrading an offense that was injury-riddled but still the American League’s second-best this past season.

Crawford’s signing couldn’t have come at a better time. The Yankees are in a three-team race for the services of 32-year-old left-handed starting pitcher Cliff Lee, the best arm on the free-agent market, with his former team, the Texas Rangers and the aforementioned Nationals. For New York, Crawford was second on their list behind Lee. Given this, Boston knew they wouldn’t break off talks with Lee to solely focus on acquiring offense they don’t necessarily need.

The Red Sox didn’t want to wait for Lee’s decision. They didn’t want him to sign with Texas or Washington and get into a bidding war for Crawford. Therefore, they signed him without even giving the Yankees an opportunity to make an offer. It was a brilliant tactical move. Now, unless Lee suddenly takes the Rangers six-year offer or goes to the Nationals, it is widely assumed New York will increase their six-year, $140 million proposal in an effort to blow him away and counter Boston’s move. It’s always a game of chess between these two rivals.

If New York signs Lee, that’s fine by me. Sure, he would greatly improve a shaky Yankee rotation, but Boston now exemplifies a team built to win a championship. Their offense will be deadly. Their defense will solid, with speed at all three outfield positions and defensive specialists throughout the infield. And their starting rotation is filled with talented youth and proven veterans. No American League team will be as feared as the Red Sox.

Bringing Crawford aboard supports this bold statement. He is a hitting machine, will steal a tremendous amount of bases and should crush his fair share of homers in compact Fenway Park. The investment is an astronomical one on Boston’s part, but it puts them in control of the American League East. With the offense their $142 million man will add to an already dangerous lineup, the sky is the limit for the aggressive Red Sox.

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Washington Nationals: Jayson Not Werth the Money They Gave Him

Jayson Werth just received $126 million. This is yet another sign of the Apocalypse.

Jayson Werth, one of baseball’s top free-agents, is coming off the best season of his career. The 31-year-old outfielder hit .298 with 27 homers, 85 rbi’s and a .388 on-base percentage.

Those numbers are solid, but certainly not worth the money the Washington Nationals just gave him.

How much money exactly? Over the next seven years, Werth will make $126 million. ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported, “The Nationals offer to Werth was so far above everyone else that Boras didn’t even ask other interested teams if they wanted to match it.”

That’s called overpaying.

When news broke on the deal, Stark said, “The words I’ve heard most so far [from those at the Winter Meetings]: ‘stunned’ and ‘shocked.’” Others at the Winter Meetings, like Stark, were flabbergasted.

Seven years, four more than Washington had previously given a free-agent, and $126 million, $4 million more than the Nationals were bought for in 2002. All of this for a guy who wasn’t even the best player on the Philadelphia Phillies; he wasn’t even one of the top 10 players in baseball.

Starting pitcher Barry Zito received this exact contract in 2006. Since, he has gone 40-57 with an ERA near five as a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Then, two weeks later, outfielder Vernon Wells signed the same deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Since, he has reached base a measly 32 percent of the time and has averaged only 20 homers per season. Werth could be down the same road.

But that’s not my reason for mentioning Zito and Wells, though the decline in production is telling. When those two were signed, they were in their mid-20s. Werth is turning 32 in May. Zito was 27 when he signed; Wells was 26.

Though neither Zito or Wells has lived up to the contract (as if anyone could swinging a bat or throwing a ball), their respective teams had reason to believe the longterm deals were ones worth giving.

But this amount of money and years thrown at Werth, is just pure idiocy.

I get that the Nationals wanted to make a big splash. They, just like the Boston Red Sox when they traded for Adrian Gonzalez, wanted to make up for their inability to sign Mark Teixeira two years ago.

Yet, to be aggressive in this sense is hard to fathom. I can somewhat understand giving a 26-year-old such length and money. But Werth is no spring chicken, even only started to receive regular playing time at 28.

This startling move crosses Werth off the Red Sox list of desired free-agents, among other teams’ lists. Now, Werth’s other suitors can turn their attention to Carl Crawford, the other top outfielder on the open market, if they so desire. But, with this deal given to Werth–this astronomical, incomprehensible, and ill-advised deal–the price for Crawford, two years younger and far more versatile, just skyrocketed.

The dollar in baseball just changed drastically, and certainly not for the better.

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