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Saturday, February 23, 2008

Nats’ Bowden on Zimmerman: ‘We’re not going to change the pay scale of Major League Baseball’

Strategic stances forming at...The Battle of Segway.

In rare public comments on contract talks, Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden set the parameters for negotiations with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman by mentioning four young players of similar stature who signed long-term deals over the past two years.

“If Ryan is willing to sign a contract that is similar to what all the other good young players are signing for ... if he’s willing to do a ‘market signing,’ we are prepared to do that with him,’’ Bowden said Saturday at spring training. “We’re not going set all new markets with him. We’re not going to change the pay scale of Major League Baseball for one player.’’

..."There have been so many signings - whether you look at Tulowitzki or Cano or McCann or Sizemore - so many that are all in the same range, and our organization is prepared to do that,’’ Bowden said.

“We are prepared to do that, like everybody else,’’ he continued. “And we have communicated that to’’ Zimmerman’s agent.

The remarks were unusual for their candor - and because they were unprompted. After speaking to reporters about two other players, Bowden brought up Zimmerman. The GM said the Nationals have “made several offers,’’ and acknowledged: “At this point, no, we’re not close.’’

Repoz Posted: February 23, 2008 at 04:17 PM | 11 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralWashington

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   1. Cowboy Popup Posted: February 23, 2008 at 06:04 PM (#2698177)
Oh, he was definitely drunk.
   2. The Mets make Russlan sad Posted: February 23, 2008 at 06:47 PM (#2698223)
It's probably easy for me to say this, but if I were a player, I wouldn't sign a long-term deal. Just look at how much Howard got and what Wright and Reyes got. I know guys who hit homers make more money but man, there's a lot of money to be made in arbitration.
   3. AJMacaroni Posted: February 23, 2008 at 06:52 PM (#2698224)
Reporter: You're losing blood, aren't you?

Bowden: Probably, my socks are wet.
   4. Brian White Posted: February 23, 2008 at 07:31 PM (#2698252)
I know guys who hit homers make more money but man, there's a lot of money to be made in arbitration.

Well, there's also a lot of earnings to be lost if he fractures his leg in 47 places and can't come back, or if he goes all Eric Hinske and peaks at age 24.

When players like McCann or Tulowitzki sign a deal after one MLB season, they've given up some future potential earnings, while getting rid of a large amount of risk. It's not necessarily a bad transaction. Besides, once you sign that contract, you're set for life.
   5. Walt Davis Posted: February 23, 2008 at 08:20 PM (#2698276)
Unless Zimmerman is Brooks Robinson with the glove, he's really not in position to break the bank -- a 113 OPS+. Granted, through age 22 which is lovely, but he's a step behind Sizemore and Cano offensively and not a C/SS like Tulo and McCann. I doubt he's going to do substantially better than them in arb, if at all. He should probably suck it up and accept 5/$30. :-)
   6. Walt Davis Posted: February 23, 2008 at 08:21 PM (#2698277)
And I'm sorry to report there's a 2nd Ryan Zimmerman in Tampa's system. I hope he never makes it -- between this and the two Brauns, my brain is simply not going to be able to cope.
   7. Alex_Lewis Posted: February 23, 2008 at 09:02 PM (#2698298)
Sign him, SF!
   8. Chris Needham Posted: February 23, 2008 at 09:55 PM (#2698324)
Unless Zimmerman is Brooks Robinson with the glove,

Pretty damn close... If he has a 1B who doesn't have the range of a wounded elephant seal or the hands of the Venus de Milo...
   9. OCF Posted: February 23, 2008 at 10:01 PM (#2698327)
And I'm sorry to report there's a 2nd Ryan Zimmerman in Tampa's system. I hope he never makes it -- between this and the two Brauns, my brain is simply not going to be able to cope.

Did you survive Alex Gonzalez?
   10. Dan Posted: February 24, 2008 at 01:03 AM (#2698423)
I would definitely go for the long-term deal if I were a player. I'd much rather have a 100% chance of earning 30 million than an 80% of 45 million, I think. I mean, once you sign that contract, you're set for life, even if you never play another game because of injury or suckitude.

Edit: Not to mention the fact that you also get an immediate increase in your salary, instead of making 300k a year for a few more years and then suddenly increasing your salary in arbitration, meaning that you can live more affluently in the short term.
   11. Walt Davis Posted: February 24, 2008 at 03:04 PM (#2698683)
Did you survive Alex Gonzalez?

You see, they both stank, so I didn't have to pay attention. Somewhere out there I've got a lovely little riff on how to tell the difference between the two.

And when both players are good -- I'm not sure we've had a case like this actually -- I'll pay enough attention to remember which is which.

But when one is good and the other is trivial (like the two Brauns), it makes my head hurt.
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