Popoffmatic Trouble?...WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-Small part?...not seen here.
Jamey Newberg, author of the Newberg Report
I’d probably tell Milton he owes it to himself to survey the free agency landscape and we don’t want to stand in the way of that, but we do want him here. Have him shop the league and figure out what his value is on a multi-year deal, and then sit down to knock out a deal with him to stay. If someone out there wants to Gagné him and offer three or four guaranteed years, I probably wish him the best and take the supplemental first as compensation (he’s evidently projected to be a Type B free agent). But even though the disincentive to other clubs would be reduced by virtue of his Type B status - signing a Type B doesn’t cost you a draft pick (it only results in the award of a supplemental first to his previous team) - I’d be surprised if someone committed three years or more to him, given the injury risk.
“I think a two-year deal heavy on appearance incentives is a fair contract, but I want a club option for a third year (he’s only 30 years old, younger than Marlon Byrd). Maybe two years at a guaranteed $15 million, with $500,000 for reaching 502 plate appearances (the number necessary to qualify for the batting title - he’s at 470 right now in 2008), and another $500,000 for every 50 plate appearances he makes after that. As for the 2011 option year, when Bradley will be 33, maybe another $7.5 million (same incentives built in) with a buyout of something like $2 million.
“But all of this depends on how strongly I feel about Max Ramirez or Justin Smoak (or Chris Davis, to make room for Smoak) settling in as a designated hitter for this team by 2010. I’m not counting on Bradley to be an everyday defender again.”
Repoz
Posted: September 15, 2008 at 12:22 PM |
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1. Craig in MN Posted: September 15, 2008 at 02:39 PM (#2941920)Of course if a couple of those guys get signed as position players elsewhere, that could thin things out somewhat. But it seems pretty likely that a team willing to be patient might find some good value in the DH market. I personally hope the Twins play that out and sign one of them to give them some hitting depth.
That looks like a terrible contract he signed to, incidentally. Three team options, each for over twice as much money as any of the actual guaranteed years? That's an NFL contract.
Add Burrell and Dunn to the mix as they will look more and more DHish as the years roll by.
Which teams would sign/add a DH this offseason? Chicago. Tampa is rumored to want Ibanez. Yankees, Angels, Texas, Twins, Oakland could all make the case to sign one if conditions are right, but they shouldn't bet the farm to acquire one. The rest of the league either doesn't need a DH or is in a spot where a high-priced DH won't likely help them compete.
??? He's signed through 2013. Awesome!
Jim Thome has a 2009 option for $13 million that vests automatically if he gets 564 plate appearances in 2008. He's currently at 543 plate appearances, so unless something unexpected happens in the next week or so, the White Sox won't be looking for a DH.
This is a good offseason to want a DH, no doubt. Pitching is probably still going to be insanely expensive, but there's a ton of power hitters on the market, and that will probably knock down the price a bit.
This looks like the best FA pool in a long time. There's an tremendous amount of talent out there.
I didn't realize that was a vesting option. Thome and the White Sox are off the board.
He has the skills to play the position but is so fragile that it's a bad idea to try it. He has had a very hard time staying in the Texas lineup even as a DH.
I don't understand how free agents are classified (A vs B etc)... but they guy is leading the league in OPS, how can he not have the highest rating?
The ratings are based around certain numbers for the last 3 years, and playing time is a large factor so it isn't a total surprise that Bradley doesn't make Type A status since he has missed so many PAs.
I feel ollllld.
The Rangers are going to have to trade Salty, me thinks. Should be an interesting offseason for them.
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