Yesterday, we discussed the best winter deals. Now, it's time to focus on the bone-headed moves.
Christina Kahrl of Baseball Prospectus, the panelist I was most impressed with at the MIT Analytics Conference, wrote about this a few days back. Luckily, we disagree on many of the "worst" contracts.
Worst One-Year Contract
Kahrl: Trevor Hoffman, $6m, Milwaukee Brewers
Banter: Jon Garland, $7.25m, Arizona Diamondbacks - Garland is known as an "innings eater." Is that a good thing in this case? His career ERA is 4.47, his career WHIP is 1.38, and he doesn't strike anyone out (4.7 K/9). For a team that pinched pennies this winter, this deal makes no sense.
Honorable Mention: Manny Ramirez, $25m, LA Dodgers - By giving Manny a player option for 2010, what motivation does he have to produce?
Worst Two-Year Contract
Kahrl: Willy Taveras, $6.25m, Cincinnati Reds
Banter: Edgar Renteria, $18.5m, San Francisco Giants - This should not even be a debate. The Renteria deal is inexcusable.
Honorable Mention: Kyle Farnsworth, $9.25m, Kansas City Royals - Um? Huh? Farnsworth used to be known as a hard thrower. Now, he's known as a guy with an arrow-straight fastball who surrenders losts of homeruns. Another team that pinched pennies in the wrong places this winter.
Worst Three-Year Contract
Kahrl: Raul Ibanez, $30m, Philadelphia Phillies
Banter: Casey Blake, $17.5m, LA Dodgers - Another head-scratcher in Hollwood, Blake has very similar stats to Jeffrey Hammonds. Enough said.
Honorable Mention: Juan Rivera, $12m, LA Angels - Three years for a guy that has never been an impact player makes no sense. This $12m could have been sent elsewhere.
Worst Offseason Contract
Kahrl: A.J. Burnett, 5-years/$82.5m, New York Yankees
Banter: C.C. Sabathia, 7-years, $181m, New York Yankees - Have fun with a 350lb. Sabathia in the middle of July for the next seven years.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jesus this column is lazier than the last. Why in the F did MLBTR waste my time by linking this retarded site?
ReplyDeleteAnd not that she's infallible, but if your arguing with Kahrl, you're most likely the one that's wrong. Just saying.
There's no need to be rude about it, it was a decent read.
ReplyDeleteAs a Mets fan I'd like to say as shitty as that Raul Ibanez signing was it won't even up nearly as bad as Oliver Perez will for the Mets. Omar Minaya was willing to be creative when it came to the bullpen this year singing K-Rod and making multiple trades to shore up the bullpen. And then he addresses the rotation by bringing back the 4th best guy from last years staff at 12 million per for 3 years, a deal that made absolutely no sense.
I agree with every word of the top comment
ReplyDeleteI disagree with every word of the above comment.
ReplyDeletewhere is the kyle farnsworth deal? as a dodger fan i agree the blake deal was great but how can you say mannys was bad?
ReplyDeletewasnt* - for blakes deal
ReplyDeleteWhew, I can smell the bias in this column. A good writer is forthright. Look at how this writer said "Have fun with a 350lb. Sabathia in the middle of July for the next seven years." There is so many things wrong with this statement. First of all, you're almost giving off that you do not like the Yankees; definitely not an endearing quality for a column that is supposed to be focused toward the entire MLB. Plus, you are too lazy to look up that he weighs under 300. He didn't sign for 7/181, anyway. IT WAS 7/161.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to be serious in your columns try not to be so flawed that you let an 8th grader, such as I, pick up on your blatant errors. In your own words, Enough said.
Hey 8th grader, in the above appositive you should have used "me" instead of "I".
ReplyDeleteI find it ludicrous when people try to appear erudite, yet are really just being pedantic.