We have 4 players making about $55 mil next season. I believe Wandy, Bourn and Pence are all due for raises. That would be 7 players making between $65-70 mil with 18 more players needed just to complete the 25-man. The economy is still bad and revenues are down so I don't think it's a given that McClane will spend over $100 mil on opening day payroll for just the 2nd time in club history. I think a more reasonable expectation is around $90 mil given all these factors. If you add in Tejada at around $7 mil, you now have 5 players making $62 mil with 20 players still needed, 3 of those players being due significant raises. Who knows what Drayton will be willing to spend but if money is tight, I'd rather spend limited resources on pitching and take the hit, offensively. Agree/disagree?
I'd like to have pitching, but I would live with calling up some of the AAA guys and seeing what they can do. Particularly if it meant spending more money in 2011. I just don't think the starters we need will be there for a price we can pay.
I think that Drayton knows that he has to keep the payroll near, if not exactly at the level it is now. If he drops payroll, then obviously Miggy will be gone. I just don't think that is the case.
These are the players most similar to Tejada statistically, depending if you're thinking he'd play SS or 3B: SS: Stephen Drew, Clint Barmes, Craig Counsell 3B: Jorge Cantu, Pedro Feliz Would you pay any of them $7MM? I think if he signs for anything than $3-$4MM per year (and he likely will, somewhere), people are paying for his name and reputation rather than his actual performance.
I hope you're right. My thought is that the minimum we need to do to look like contenders is upgrade the left side of our infield, offensively, and get a quality 3rd starter... however we do it.
Like you said, these things happen. Not the Rays or anyone, really, thought he would be anything near this good. They called him an "above-average utility man" when they acquired him. Awesome for the guy, as Hun says, credit's all to him. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9798434/Rays'-Zobrist-adds-punch-to-all-around-game
source [rquoter] Source: Hawkins claimed, Astros pull him back The Astros pulled back reliever LaTroy Hawkins after he was claimed on waivers, according to a major-league source. It is not known which team claimed Hawkins, but a number of clubs were interested in him as a late-inning bullpen option. The Astros' move means that Hawkins, a potential free agent, cannot be traded for the rest of the season. Hawkins, 36, has a 2.03 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and .645 opponents' OPS. The Astros want to re-sign him, knowing they could lose closer Jose Valverde in free agency, weakening their bullpen. Hawkins has enjoyed his time in Houston and is open to returning, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking. [/rquoter]
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TGjrj-Ff6d8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TGjrj-Ff6d8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> If they clear waivers, then you can trade the player to any team after the trade deadline. If a team claims them on waivers, maybe that team really, really needs that player and is willing to overpay to get the player. If no deal is made, you just pull the player back, and you can't waive them again for the rest of the year. It doesn't hurt anything to put them on waivers. There is absolutely no cost or downside. Most teams run a whole bunch of players through waivers every year just to see what will happen. It's like buying a lotto ticket. 1 in 1,000,000 times you hit the jackpot.
I'll add to what Ottomaton was saying, and that sometimes you get lucky and can get get out of a sizeable contract because someone tries to block a player. See Alex Rios.
I wonder if Carlos Lee was ever run through waivers. I imagine he would be, but would any one claim him/his contract?
