Morneau signs with Twins for 4.5 million. What?!

[Jiggy_12]

The AL MVP signs a 1 year deal for only 4.5 million with the Minnesota Twins.

Huh?

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=194631&hubname=

Incredibly cheap price for a player like that.

[ben voyonsdonc]

My guess is (only hypothetical though)...

Morneau really likes playing in Minnesota and realizes that he is on a team with a limited budget. He was willing to sign the relatively small contract to stay where he is and to allow the Twins to have more cash for free agents. If I am right, I think it is a really classy move by a guy who could easily fetch 10 mil a year with almost any other team.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

My guess is (only hypothetical though)...

Morneau really likes playing in Minnesota and realizes that he is on a team with a limited budget. He was willing to sign the relatively small contract to stay where he is and to allow the Twins to have more cash for free agents. If I am right, I think it is a really classy move by a guy who could easily fetch 10 mil a year with almost any other team.

I agree. Very classy move on Morneau's part...finally some people in baseball are not being taken by the MLBPA (Wells being the second, but he's even more financially set).

[ben voyonsdonc]

Hopefully, it might put a little downward pressure on salaries around the league. It is getting beyond ridiculous. Maybe some general managers will use this below market value contract as a precedent...I have my doubts though as for every player that signs below market value the Yanks, Red Sox and their ilk overpay for 5 or 6 washed up players and give further firepower to the agents.

[Sylvanfan]

Well Morneau has what 3 seasons in now, and like 3 more until he can become a free agent. Thats a huge thing to take into account It's a one year deal and if he has another year like last one he probably moves into the 8 million a year range. Minny should have tried to get him on a 5 year deal for like 32 million.

[Flames in 07]

It's just the difference between being RFA and UFA isn't it?

When you are restricted you have no leverage.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

It's just the difference between being RFA and UFA isn't it?

When you are restricted you have no leverage.

He could have went to arbitration. Surely the arbitrator would have awarded him more than that.

[CaramonLS]

Baseball style Arb is very different from any other leagues.

This was Morneau's first arb hearing, in effect the player gets only a fraction of his value, no matter what, even if he is the league MVP.

See, the twins offered 4 million and he asked for 5 initially. Had it been in a full money arb session, you'd likely see those numbers tripled.

Just the way baseball works, I'm not 100% sure of the specifics of how it breaks down, but the first Arb years you only get a fraction of your worth and it spirals up from there.

[ricoFlame]

if he has near the year he had last year statistically, he'll cash in big time. hopefully he put's up the same kinda numbers...just not against the jays.