[Justice-Chron] Squeeze play catches Bags in the middle

true, but what if they take that money and spend it on a good, younger player?

 

The Bagwell saga is starting to remind me of Olajuwon's final days in the league. I guess if I could earn several million for one year I'd be busting my butt too.

 

Both sides have a great point........

If Bags can not throw 1st to 3rd, I don't think he should be on the team.

Maybe in the American League, but not in the National league.

DD

 

[ESPN] Astros ask Bags to Retire

Jeff Bagwell intends to play for the Astros this season, but the team isn't sure that's the best financial decision.

Jeff Bagwell
First Base
Houston Astros

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
GM HR RBI R OBP AVG
39 3 19 11 .358 .250


The first baseman has played his entire career in Houston and leads the franchise in home runs (449) and RBI (1,529), but missed much of last season after shoulder surgery.

"Nothing is going to keep me from attempting to play baseball next season," Bagwell told the Houston Chronicle.

The team, however, wants him to announce he can't play anymore, he and agent Barry Axelrod told the paper. Then the Astros would be able make an insurance claim for $15.6 million of the approximately $17 million he is owed in 2006.

"We're trying to get some objective information," Astros general manager Tim Purpura told the paper. "A healthy Jeff Bagwell is what we want. If he can't be a full-time player, we have to figure out if we can collect on the insurance or not."

To that end, the team has asked Bagwell to visit orthopedist Dr. James Andrews on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., the Chronicle reported. The deadline for the insurance claim is Jan. 31.

Bagwell isn't excited about the trip, and he's not ready to quit playing.

"There's no question in my mind I can hit," he told the paper. "It's whether or not I can throw for a full season. Everything has gone exactly the way I thought it should. I'm getting stronger. Am I able to throw 120 feet? No. Am I making progress? Very much so.

"I'm going to try and play baseball at spring training. There's no getting around that. Unless something major happens, I'll be there."

Link

 

I hope he plays if he wants to... he earned the contract and I'd want to try and play too..

And I don't think his retirement would necessarily improve the team anyways, what are we going to do with his 18 mil this late in teh free agent period?

 

Good, he needs to retire if he is only going to be a shell of his former self. I know he wants to go out and "earn" his money, but it would be best for both himself and the team if he retires.

 

or 17 million that is..

you could say pay roger... but I think we would pay him anyway if he wanted to come back...

 

again, you guys are overestimating how accessable that insurance payout. Bagwell has to almost have to be rolled out onto the field for the insurance company to pay that. they're gonna have to call Jim Adler, the tough smart lawyer to get that money.

another thing, if the team gets that money, Bagwell can never play again, which is the most likely scenario anyway.

 

Considering that espn's only source is the article in the chron, couldn't this have gone into the other thread?

 

You're thinking of next offseason I assume, when AP, Racket & Bags are off the books.

This is utterly ridiculous. He gets paid regardless. He could have retired 2 years ago and still gotten paid. His desire to play baseball again is his sole motivation.

 

ESPN rehashing a local newspaper story and running it on their web site? The hell you say...

 

agreed. Just a crappy situation all around. lose-lose (with the unlikely exception of Bags coming back and playing decently for most of the year) I just hope it doesn't end as ugly as Hakeem's kinda did

 

can we restructure his contract? like in football....so it'll be a less hit against the payroll...?

 

Go ahead and pay Bags and get it over with. No reason to have to drag it out over several years.

 

I hear you...Without knowing the contract, IMO, its either Jeff says I'm done, and the Stros' collect the insurance, or a doctor states, your done, and they collect...Either way, its a bad situation...If the deadline is 1/31/06, the Astros are screwed...the problem is, Jeff thinks he has some gas left, but what if he does this, gets injured during spring training, then what...I doubt the policy would cover it...

A trade to an AL team would be best...

 

Who takes on that contract when the Astros are saying he is done? We'd eat the majority of it and I'd be sick to see Bags play his last year not with the Astros.

 

If we're gonna eat most of the contract then we might as well keep him. Unfortunate situation all around, but at this point McMullet....er, McLain needs to pony up the extra $20 mm to get another good player and just eat Bags contract instead of trying to get the insurance company to pay off.

 

Jeff...if you can't turn a double play, ot throw home, than retire buddy.
Take the $2 million and let the Astros move on!!!!

 

My heart:
I love and respect Bags as much as the next fan and would love to see him come back strong. If anyone has the strength of will and detemination to do it Bags is the man.

My head:
Stick a fork in him he's done.