MLB Free Agency Thread.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I bet they are dancing in the streets, are you freaking kidding me? This is one of the richest contracts doled out in baseball history.

LOL, the point is lots of media have said they believe Wells would of received more if he went to free agency.'

Edit, I have added the link.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=188513&hubname=

few interesting points:

"The Associated press reported that the extension calls for a $25.5-million signing bonus, payable in three $8.5-million instalments each March 1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He will receive a salary of just $500,000 in 2008 and $1.5 million in 2009, but his salary jumps to $12.5 million in 2010 and $23 million in 2011. Wells receives $21 million in each of the final three seasons. "

"Some speculated that as a free agent the bidding for him could reach up to $200 million over 10 years. But with a market-value offer in hand Wells opted to remain in a situation where he was happy rather than try to break the bank. "

[Saint Troy]

Thanks for backing me up Flambers. Caramon, Wells was going to get more next offseason, every baseball columnist writing a column on Wells basically took it for granted he was going to wait, and get a 20mill per year offer next FA. I know it's a rich market, but get used to it, teams aren't going to be rolling back salaries anytime soon. I know you can't stand Ricciardi, but Wells was an asset the Jays couldn't really afford to lose without getting back a can't miss arm, that wasn't going to happen, so good on the Jays brass for getting it done.

[Antithesis]

Is it possible that Wells is one of those athletes who say they are happy where they are and mean it?

The deal works out to an average of $18 million a season ... I'm sure that the Players' Association would understand his stated desire to stay in Toronto, especially given the average salaries (not the term obviously) are not all that different.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

Thanks for backing me up Flambers. Caramon, Wells was going to get more next offseason, every baseball columnist writing a column on Wells basically took it for granted he was going to wait, and get a 20mill per year offer next FA. I know it's a rich market, but get used to it, teams aren't going to be rolling back salaries anytime soon. I know you can't stand Ricciardi, but Wells was an asset the Jays couldn't really afford to lose without getting back a can't miss arm, that wasn't going to happen, so good on the Jays brass for getting it done.

We'll see. Teams seem to be rolling in money this off season, I liken this season to what we saw last year in Hockey and Defensemen, such as Kubina for 5+.

Yes, baseball has a salary cap, but most of these teams can't keep up their current level of spending. We'll see another bit of a reverison just like we saw around the same era as the Delgado contract.

MLB can't afford to have 4-5 CFs making around that kind of money, which is what Wells did by signing that contract.

[Antithesis]

ESPN's MLB Insider rumor area lists the Blue Jays as being one of many teams interested in Jeff Suppan though they list the Jays with a '?' beside the team name.

The article says the Cardinals have offered him $18mil over 3 years but that he is balking at signing for that. Wonder if the Jays truly are interested and if they have the money left to push here.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

ESPN's MLB Insider rumor area lists the Blue Jays as being one of many teams interested in Jeff Suppan though they list the Jays with a '?' beside the team name.

The article says the Cardinals have offered him $18mil over 3 years but that he is balking at signing for that. Wonder if the Jays truly are interested and if they have the money left to push here.

They should have, Vernon's deal doesn't kick in until after this coming season.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

They should have, Vernon's deal doesn't kick in until after this coming season.

Exactly. That said a mutiple year deal for pitcher would have to be considered long and hard given the Jays fiancial comitments in the next couple of seasons.

[Gord Wappel]

The Jays will have a real powerful batting line-up:

I guess that they trade one of of Johnson or Rios (too bad - I like those guys but I don't see any other options) for a 3 or 4 spot pitcher and take a gamble that Lind can keep hitting close to what he did last year and learn to field in the major leagues in a hurry.

A bigger gamble would be to wait for spring training and hope for pleasant pitching surprises (a Towers rebound, a prospect breakthrough, Marcum improvement, everyone else stays healthy).

It would be a shame to dump good future prospects just to finish above .500 but still out of the playoffs.

[Antithesis]

Well, I think I read somewhere that not only does Wells' extension not kick in until after the upcoming season (of course) the deal is heavily backloaded ... like he earns about the same salary in year 1 and 2 as he does now ... so a 3 year deal may not be out of the question.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Well, I think I read somewhere that not only does Wells' extension not kick in until after the upcoming season (of course) the deal is heavily backloaded ... like he earns about the same salary in year 1 and 2 as he does now ... so a 3 year deal may not be out of the question.

• 7 years, $126 million, beginning in 2008. Includes a $25.5 million signing bonus, to be paid in $8.5 million installments in each of the first three years of the contract
  • 2008 - $0.5 million + $8.5 million bonus
  • 2009 - $1.5 million + $8.5 million bonus
  • 2010 - $12.5 million + $8.5 million bonus
  • 2011 - $23.0 million
  • 2012 - $21.0 million
  • 2013 - $21.0 million
  • 2014 - $21.0 million.

[Sylvanfan]

So with the last 4 years being at an average of 21.5 per season, I suspect he won't be using that out clause on that contract.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So with the last 4 years being at an average of 21.5 per season, I suspect he won't be using that out clause on that contract.

Unless perhaps Texas, or someone else, is willing to give him that much or more. Especially if the Jays have been unable to add the quality pitching that they need.

But I would say that the Jays have done a good job of making it a very tough decision for him to opt out.

[Flickered Flame]

Here is a chart showing how much each team has dished out this offseason. Hard to believe that the Cubs have dished out almost $300 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/featur...e=teamspending

[Schrempsky43]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Here is a chart showing how much each team has dished out this offseason. Hard to believe that the Cubs have dished out almost $300 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/featur...e=teamspending

That is unreal...

MLB really needs to get a hard cap. Team's like Pittsburgh have no chance at all. Rich owner's don't mind the Tax becuase they are rich. Instead of paying a luxury tax if a team goes over a cap he should have draft picks taken away. The more you go over the more you loose. Teams like the Yanks should have their 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th round draft picks taken away from them. It is the only way for teams like Pittsburgh to compete. Either that or make the luxury tax at like 500 % to actuall sway owners from overspending.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Schrempsky43

That is unreal...

MLB really needs to get a hard cap. Team's like Pittsburgh have no chance at all. Rich owner's don't mind the Tax becuase they are rich. Instead of paying a luxury tax if a team goes over a cap he should have draft picks taken away. The more you go over the more you loose. Teams like the Yanks should have their 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th round draft picks taken away from them. It is the only way for teams like Pittsburgh to compete. Either that or make the luxury tax at like 500 % to actuall sway owners from overspending.

I believe even with a threat of taking picks away the big payroll teams would still spend. The only way is for a hard cap to be implemented but unfortanetely I don't see that happening anytime soon. As they just extended the CBA a little while ago if I remember correctly.

As for the Yank's they have a rich owner for sure but they make a pile of money as well. Their TV revenue is massive...

[Schrempsky43]

Originally Posted by flambers

I believe even with a threat of taking picks away the big payroll teams would still spend. The only way is for a hard cap to be implemented but unfortanetely I don't see that happening anytime soon. As they just extended the CBA a little while ago if I remember correctly.

As for the Yank's they have a rich owner for sure but they make a pile of money as well. Their TV revenue is massive...

I dunno.. if you take away a teams best 4 young players every year.. for 5 years. Their best 20 young players.. You're not going to stay up the top for long. The point is the cap was put in MLB for a reason. No point on even having a cap if you can overspend..

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Schrempsky43

I dunno.. if you take away a teams best 4 young players every year.. for 5 years. Their best 20 young players.. You're not going to stay up the top for long. The point is the cap was put in MLB for a reason. No point on even having a cap if you can overspend..

There is no hard cap in MLB, there is a Luxery Tax system which is allot different.

As for the draft picks I guess long term it would have an effect but when you look at the big teams like the RedSox or Yankees they seem to build through Free Agency (tough to find allot of players on either team that were drafted)

[Schrempsky43]

Originally Posted by flambers

There is no hard cap in MLB, there is a Luxery Tax system which is allot different.

As for the draft picks I guess long term it would have an effect but when you look at the big teams like the RedSox or Yankees they seem to build through Free Agency (tough to find allot of players on either team that were drafted)

Yes and what they also do is trade away draft picks to poor teams that can't afford players that are going to get the big contract.... the typical big market teams trade away their youth and picks for players that are developt from teams that can no longer afford them. If the yanks have no youth or picks(draft tax) they can't rely on trading away their youth for established players.

Teams looking to trade away players like wells for prospects won't trade with the big market teams because they have no prime prospects or 1st-4th rounders.. they will be trading with teams that have the elite prospects and draft picks..

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Schrempsky43

Yes and what they also do is trade away draft picks to poor teams that can't afford players that are going to get the big contract.... the typical big market teams trade away their youth and picks for players that are developt from teams that can no longer afford them. If the yanks have no youth or picks(draft tax) they can't rely on trading away their youth for established players.

Okay, I am sure this would be a change to the system but remember when a team signs a player through Free Agency they automatically give up high picks. For example the Blue Jays will receive picks for the loss of Lilly and Cat. I believe both cases they are first rounders.

I do understand your email but if you want a system that will stop the spending I believe an NFL like system has to be implemented (Hard Cap with big time Revenue sharing).

[flambers]

What I mean by a Hard Cap is there is no over spending. All contracts are sent to the league and the league ensures the team is under the cap.

... but I don't think this will ever happen