MLB Offseason 2014

[jacksonianmarch]

If he stays healthy, Headley could be a steal. Excellent defense, solid offense. He's had some serious surgeries to both knees in the past, but besides that no red flags. He also may get injected with some bad steroids by A-rod while he is sleeping.

 

The reason for the difference in contracts is that Pablo is three years younger, and brings more market and PR value. I'd prefer Headley myself, but we'll see.

 

The reason why Panda got more money is his post season play, plain and simple. If he hit to his career OPS after Sept 30th, he'd have gotten 4yrs and $40 mil.

[Northern Star]

Remember when Wil Myers was some kind of untouchable uberprospect? Now he's suddenly on his third team and sporting a .258 career BA.

[Spudboy]

He did break his wrist along the way.

 

I'll miss the Fenway chants of Meyers.

[Northern Star]

So Matt Kemp has arthritis and the Padres let the deal go through? This probably won't end well.

[Northern Star]

Speaking of Padres, not sure their approach is best.

[Northern Star]

The Brewers are offering a "timeless ticket." Pony up a grand and you get a bronze ticket engraved with your name, in a wooden display box which allows you "guaranteed" entry to ANY Brewers game in the future. Opening Day, World Series, it's all up for grabs. You also get nine vouchers for nine regular season games of your choice. So at $100/game you better hope the top tickets haven't sold out when you try to redeem, if you want to get any value out of it. Not to mention sinking $1,000 upfront and then, what, sitting on your ass for years waiting for the Brewers to make the Series? Pass.

[a700hitter]

The Brewers are offering a "timeless ticket." Pony up a grand and you get a bronze ticket engraved with your name, in a wooden display box which allows you "guaranteed" entry to ANY Brewers game in the future. Opening Day, World Series, it's all up for grabs. You also get nine vouchers for nine regular season games of your choice. So at $100/game you better hope the top tickets haven't sold out when you try to redeem, if you want to get any value out of it. Not to mention sinking $1,000 upfront and then, what, sitting on your ass for years waiting for the Brewers to make the Series? Pass.

You can also reuse it every September to beat yourself on the head when they get eliminated from playoff contention and you realize that you will be spending another winter in Milwaukee.

[Northern Star]

You can also reuse it every September to beat yourself on the head when they get eliminated from playoff contention and you realize that you will be spending another winter in Milwaukee.

 

Well played.

[Palodios]

I made a side trip to Milwaukee to see the Brewers face Kershaw last year. Miller Park isn't a bad place to spend a game, but it is designed for tailgating.

 

That deal is insane though -- Could you imagine using it for 10 high cost games in 20 years? Game 7s, World Series games, opening day. It'd be worth it if they ever make it to the WS again.

[Northern Star]

I made a side trip to Milwaukee to see the Brewers face Kershaw last year. Miller Park isn't a bad place to spend a game, but it is designed for tailgating.

 

That deal is insane though -- Could you imagine using it for 10 high cost games in 20 years? Game 7s, World Series games, opening day. It'd be worth it if they ever make it to the WS again.

 

no, you can only use one for the playoffs or opening day. The other nine are for regular season games only.

[Northern Star]

Nationals rotation will be nasty if they get Scherzer.

[BSN07]

I've been saying the Nats were a Dark Horse for him all off season. The Nats have money to be a top 5 spender in the league and are now showing it. Reports are 7 year deal but not $ figures yet.

[BSN07]

I thought he would get marginally more than Tanaka did and initial reports were saying 7/180's. Now a recent report says it could be 200M+ with big deferrals. Absolutely happy the Sox passed on this. That is madness for a guy that has averaged 5 and 2/3 IP per start in his career. I understand he's good but seriously?

[Palodios]

I thought he would get marginally more than Tanaka did and initial reports were saying 7/180's. Now a recent report says it could be 200M+ with big deferrals. Absolutely happy the Sox passed on this. That is madness for a guy that has averaged 5 and 2/3 IP per start in his career. I understand he's good but seriously?

 

 

Scherzer made money off his last three years (3.24 ERA, 6.50 IP per start) than his career numbers (3.58 ERA, 6.00 IP per start). I would have understood 150, but 210 seems far too much.

[seabeachfred]

Scherzer made money off his last three years (3.24 ERA, 6.50 IP per start) than his career numbers (3.58 ERA, 6.00 IP per start). I would have understood 150, but 210 seems far too much.

 

It seemed unrealistic we would ever get him and for that kind of money and years you have to give credit to the Sox for passing on him. Still, let no one be talked into drinking the Kool-Aid. We need that No. 1 pitcher if we want to get to the WS this year. Getting him wouldn't necessarily guarantee that we would get there but it would make our chances better. Not getting a No. 1 is a guarantee we'll never see the Fall Classic in 2015 in my opinion. Hope I hear something along these lines in the next few weeks.

[Northern Star]

Scherzer made money off his last three years (3.24 ERA, 6.50 IP per start) than his career numbers (3.58 ERA, 6.00 IP per start). I would have understood 150, but 210 seems far too much.

 

Especially since only one season has been below 3.00 era. Ridiculous what $210 mil buys nowadays. However, he's probably going to see improvement going over to the National League. But really, a very good player being paid like the best ace of all time. Ridiculous.

[BSN07]

This is why I was calling all the people wanting to go grab Scherzer crazy. Boras gets what he wants for his top tier clients. He priced Scherzer out of Boston the day they turned down Detroits offer haha

[cp176]

This is why I was calling all the people wanting to go grab Scherzer crazy. Boras gets what he wants for his top tier clients. He priced Scherzer out of Boston the day they turned down Detroits offer haha

 

They are all over paid. Guess that it is what the current market can stand though. The message I take out of this is that if you want to run with the big dogs you better have the ability to pay. Maybe the Sox are just flat broke. Ticket prices going up and up. It seems foolish but good pitching is expensive and great pitching even more so. Oh - I don't think that the Sox are broke just yet.

[Northern Star]

So I just found out they pay him $15mil for 14 years. Nice flexibility up front, but what about after he's gone and you're stuck paying him for nothing? Can't believe people are acting like this is a good thing. Deferred money of significant amount is always an albatross.

 

Also, what's this come out to, $150,000 per inning or so?

[Spudboy]

So I just found out they pay him $15mil for 14 years. Nice flexibility up front, but what about after he's gone and you're stuck paying him for nothing? Can't believe people are acting like this is a good thing. Deferred money of significant amount is always an albatross.

 

Also, what's this come out to, $150,000 per inning or so?

 

I'm with you. It is insane. The cost of pitching is getting way out of hand.

[a700hitter]

I'm with you. It is insane. The cost of pitching is getting way out of hand.

If the Nat's can afford it, the Red Sox can too. The Nats after winning their division were outdrawn by the last place Red Sox by about 400,000 in attendance.

[Spudboy]

If the Nat's can afford it, the Red Sox can too. The Nats after winning their division were outdrawn by the last place Red Sox by about 400,000 in attendance.

 

I'm not commenting on each team's ability to spend big bucks. I am just saying that the price ( no pun ) for pitching has become exorbitant. The ass clowns that decided to pay Scherzer millions for years after he retires have made a huge mistake. That was just bad business. The type of business that governments run.

 

I guess I should be happy that my team has the money to play this game. And to some extent, I am.

 

However these recent salaries are ridiculous. It is highly unlikely that any pitcher will perform up to a 7 year deal, let alone for many years after his playing is done. It sets a bad precedent. And before long there will be other deals like this.

 

The big revenue from television will evaporate eventually. A la carte cable is growing almost each day. It will be interesting to see how that effects players wages.

[BSN07]

I'm not commenting on each team's ability to spend big bucks. I am just saying that the price ( no pun ) for pitching has become exorbitant. The ass clowns that decided to pay Scherzer millions for years after he retires have made a huge mistake. That was just bad business. The type of business that governments run.

 

I guess I should be happy that my team has the money to play this game. And to some extent, I am.

 

However these recent salaries are ridiculous. It is highly unlikely that any pitcher will perform up to a 7 year deal, let alone for many years after his playing is done. It sets a bad precedent. And before long there will be other deals like this.

 

The big revenue from television will evaporate eventually. A la carte cable is growing almost each day. It will be interesting to see how that effects players wages.

 

Most of the teams spending the big bucks tv deals run longer then the contracts they are giving out. They will have time to tell if the money is going to dry up with tv deals and then will adjust the payroll accordingly imo. These teams give out these deals because they can afford to. When TB starts giving out this type of deal then it may be time to worry.

[Palodios]

I'm not commenting on each team's ability to spend big bucks. I am just saying that the price ( no pun ) for pitching has become exorbitant. The ass clowns that decided to pay Scherzer millions for years after he retires have made a huge mistake. That was just bad business. The type of business that governments run.

 

It is money manipulation. Instead of paying 28 million every year, they are paying 14 million each year, and 14 million 7 years from that year. 7 years later, that money is worth much less -- it makes the contract look like a 180 million dollar contract instead of a 210 million contract. I also want to point out that the MLB grew 13% last year.

[a700hitter]

I'm not commenting on each team's ability to spend big bucks. I am just saying that the price ( no pun ) for pitching has become exorbitant. The ass clowns that decided to pay Scherzer millions for years after he retires have made a huge mistake. That was just bad business. The type of business that governments run.

 

I guess I should be happy that my team has the money to play this game. And to some extent, I am.

 

However these recent salaries are ridiculous. It is highly unlikely that any pitcher will perform up to a 7 year deal, let alone for many years after his playing is done. It sets a bad precedent. And before long there will be other deals like this.

 

The big revenue from television will evaporate eventually. A la carte cable is growing almost each day. It will be interesting to see how that effects players wages.

I got what you were saying. Unfortunately, the big contracts are a reality for pitchers. Luckily, we have team that can compete in that environment. I don't undersatnd their thinking this year to run with 4 very uncertain commodities in the rotation-- Buch, Masterson, Miley and Kelly. When 80% of your rotation is a question mark, you need to get very lucky.

[a700hitter]

It is money manipulation. Instead of paying 28 million every year, they are paying 14 million each year, and 14 million 7 years from that year. 7 years later, that money is worth much less -- it makes the contract look like a 180 million dollar contract instead of a 210 million contract. I also want to point out that the MLB grew 13% last year.

I wonder what the present value is for this stream of payments.

[iortiz]

I wonder what the present value is for this stream of payments.

 

Well if the the cash flow is 15 M/14 Y (210 M), and the discount rate is around 10% in the next 14 Y (which is high IMO), the Net Present Value will be 110 M.

Edited January 21, 2015 by iortiz

[a700hitter]

Well if the the cash flow is 15 M/14 Y (210 M), and the discount rate is around 10% in the next 14 Y (which is high IMO), the Net Present Value will be 110 M.

A reasonable price tag IMO. I think you were right about the Red Sox offering him $200 million after Lester signed with the Cubs. $200 million over 7 years would have gotten it done easily -- maybe even $190.

[cp176]

I'm with you. It is insane. The cost of pitching is getting way out of hand.

 

100% agree - I think that salaries in general are incredibly over the top. They won't be coming down either. Owners have reached a point where if they sign a player for 5,6, or 7 years, I think they expect to get just about half of those years in good service. With ticket prices going up, and people paying the price, it must be worth it to them. I will always be a Sox fan - I can afford to be in Fenway whenever they play I have chosen not to just on general principle.

[Bellhorn04]

A reasonable price tag IMO. I think you were right about the Red Sox offering him $200 million after Lester signed with the Cubs. $200 million over 7 years would have gotten it done easily -- maybe even $190.

 

Seems like a safe bet that Scherzer would have taken 7/$190 over 14/$210.