That ESPN Insider is dumb. We basically got two good relievers for far less than the previous two we had. So how are we worse ?
But those aren't mutually exclusive. You can let Valverde go and still not overpay for Lyon. There's no rule that you have to overpay for someone. I dunno - Gervacio might be better than both of the people acquired.
a friend of mine in school is great friends with matt lindstrom from the marlins (i guess they grew up together and have been great friends for along time), who told me matt lindstrom was traded to the astros today... i was there when he was on the phone with him. it may not have happened, but i believe my friend, and lindstrom sounded stoked to be going to houston. anyone know anything about this?
Heard from a "source" that Lyons was only looking for 2 years, 9 mil. No wonder he jumped on that deal so fast.
Know anything about what ? It's a foregone conclusion that Lindstrom is indeed headed to Houston... I'm sure he's probably excited as well.
Except 3rd basemen generally should put up stats better than that. For those kind of numbers, you might as well develop some of your own talent. And save some money in the process.
Ehhh....you're right but it was only 4.5 million for 1 year and there is always the chance we could trade him like we did Pudge last year. These moves are nice low risk moves and if Drayton said go ahead and spend 10 million of the 28 million we are saving from letting Val, Hawk and Miggy walk more power to him. Lyons was overpaid but people in the national media are making to much of Wade signing him, I mean its only 5 million a year and only 3 years. At worst Lyons is avg and he works middle relief, Lindstrom sucks and gets let go next offseason and Feliz is over the hill so we trade him or release him and eat a few million. Nothing done yesterday and today is or has crippled the franchise like Lee's signing in 07 plus like someone else pointed out earlier Puma's contract is going to expire soon and Oswalt is not afraid to move on in a trade along with Lee's trade clause becoming limited all in the next year so if or when we suck the teams structure could change dramatically by this time next year. Side note...if everything falls into place and we get one more decent starter this team won't look horrible and the NL Central isn't great. Just saying.... :grin:
Interesting how the Stros moves have been kind of polarizing... The good... http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-wintermeetings121009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns The bad... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/the-worst-signing-of-the-winter
I know $4.5 million doesn't seem like a lot, but this team has a $90MM or so payroll. 3 players consume $47MM of that, meaning you have less than $2MM for each of the remaining 22 players. If you're paying middle relievers or below-average 3Bs $5MM, you're significantly cutting into your ability to to field a competitive team. Once you add Matsui, Lyon, and Feliz for a combined $15MM, you now have $62MM committed to 6 players, with $28MM remaining for 19 players - or $1.5MM per player. And that's not accounting for Wandy getting a much-deserved raise.
True and I would have preferred to allocate the 4.5 million Feliz got to starting pitching, still the moves aren't bad moves and have a potential to be great moves. If Lindstrom becomes what Hawkins was then you save 3 million and if Lyons excels at closing we save 5 million and Feliz well again only one year along with possible trade bait. If Drayton went to Wade and said ok here is 10 million make it last, Wade accomplished it without causing long term damage. Wandy will get a nice raise but remember Bourn is still cheap along with Manzella, Castro and possibly Towles at league minimum. I still say Wade is going to pickup a starter later on this winter when prices hit rock bottom. Sheets will soon realize 12 million ain't happening now that the Rangers signed Harden for 7 million and Myers is still a possibility.
1. Good point. But in today's MLB, it seems the only FA pitchers that teams don't overpay are the Russ Ortiz's and Mike Hampton's. Mediocre pitchers are overpaid, it's just the way the market is. I don't think $5MM is horribly overpaying for a decent bullpen arm, whether he is the 8th or 9th inning guy. 2. Gervacio might be better, but he hasn't proven anything yet. At least the other two guys have some history in the majors to evaluate. I'm sure at some point during the season, we'll see Gervacio work the 8th or 9th. I just think it's too early to assume that he can be that guy without seeing him work in a crunch a few times.
We didn't need to have Lyon, especially after getting Lindstrom. I don't see how Lyon is an upgrade of Arias, and he costs 10 times as much. I though the team should go after a Putz or Cordero with a one year offer to be closers, I didn't want a 3 year deal for a guy that lost his closer role to Chad Qualls.
To get Putz or Cordero would have costed almost as much as Valverde. Once Valverde declined, they went in the direction of saving some money which I completely agree with. I don't think Lyon will ultimately be the closer. I like the comparison to Arias, if he can stay healthy I think he can be a viable option late in games. But to assume Arias, Gervacio, or any of our younger arms could be the late innings guy before the season has started would be foolish. Come trade deadline, if our younger guys prove they can handle the load then Lyon becomes a decent trade chip. That contract is nice for a team making their playoff push and just need an extra arm.
Putz is coming off a bad year and shoulder surgery. Cordero has pretty much missed the last 2 years. Neither is getting Valverde type money.
Not even the Yankees or Red Sox pay middle relievers $5MM/year, even at the peak of the salary market a few years ago. If Lyon's not performing as a closer, who's going to take on a $5MM/contract for him, let alone 3 years of that? The only way the contract remotely makes sense is if he's the closer.
Not entirely true. Farnsworth got 3 years $17 million from the Yankees in the peak market and they dreaded if everyday after he signed it. That contract alone is what made the Yankees decide not to sign FA relievers to big money anymore. Relievers are a crapshoot and are generally not worth serious FA dollars because their performance varies so greatly. Lyon isn't very good and he definitely didn't deserve that contract.
