Rangers - Signed Padilla, Gagne

Texas Rangers - Signed P Vicente Padilla to a 3-year, $33.75 million; signed P Eric Gagne to a 1-year, $6 million contract.

$11 million doesn’t buy as much as it used to!  If there’s a silver lining, the value of free agents going up so quickly again means that those 6 years of non-stagflation are worth even more, which helps teams that focus on player development.  You can sign a lot of foreign free agents for $33 million, after all.  Padilla’s better than a lot of the pitchers that are signing in this range this offseason - he’s never had a season that would be below average for a starter - and with him throwing innings again, the only concern is whether he can keep his drinking under control.

Gagne may be done, but for a few years, he was one of the very best relievers in baseball, and given the market, it’s worth taking a flier.  Gagne can get his salary up to $11 million with incentives, which is a good thing - unlike a lot of players, if Gagne’s healthy enough to pitch that much, he’ll be worth it.

2007 ZiPS Projection -  Eric Gagne If His Arm Were Actually Attached Properly
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            W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
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Projection  6   2  55   0   62   50   18   5  15  74  2.61
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Opt. (15%)  8   1  61   0   70   51   16   4  15  88  2.06

Pes. (15%)  4   2  46   0   50   44   19   5  14  57  3.42
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2007 ZiPS Projection -  Vicente Padilla
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            W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
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Projection 11  11  29  29  168  173   85  21  61 122  4.55 

2008       11  10  28  28  163  167   81  20  59 116  4.47

2009       10  10  26  26  153  158   77  20  54 109  4.53
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Opt. (15%) 15   9  32  32  191  183   79  19  60 140  3.72  

Pes. (15%)  7  11  24  24  136  152   83  22  56  94  5.49 
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