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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Buehrle to sign with Marlins

Mark Buehrle and Ozzie Guillen reunited: The free-agent pitcher reportedly will sign a four-year, $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Repoz Posted: December 07, 2011 at 09:58 PM | 69 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: miami, white sox

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1. Bourbon Samurai stays in the fight Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:17 PM (#4009657)

Seems like a lot of Buerhle. But I guess the Marlins have infinite money all of a sudden.

2. asdf1234 Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:18 PM (#4009658)

Buerhle, through age 32: 2476.2 IP, 46.6 WAR (b-r)
Glavine, -32: 2425.2 IP, 41.6 WAR

Was hoping that Buehrle would go to the Cardinals after a decade of hinting and speculation, but I guess he's got to have gas money for that truck of his.

3. Lassus Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:19 PM (#4009661)

Holy Toledo.

Now, is this STILL with a possible Pujols signing? Is there that much money on the books? Damn.

4. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:23 PM (#4009662)

My "dumber-than-Marcel" pitcher projections (using half FIP and half RA for projecting pitcher quality) project Buehrle as a +32 RAR pitcher next year, worthy of a contract a little under $16M.

If Buehrle declines at a rate of 0.5 WAR per season, and salary inflation continues at a rate of 5%, then Buehrle would project to be worth a contract of 4 years, $52M. So I have this as a basically fair contract.

Obviously any number of different assumptions could produce any number of different evaluations, but I think these are pretty reasonable.

5. Yonder Alonso in misguided trousers (cardinal) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:24 PM (#4009663)

Now, is this STILL with a possible Pujols signing? Is there that much money on the books? Damn.

I wouldn't think so, and there's this on MLBTradeRumors--

The Marlins are well down the road with negotiations for Wilson and Mark Buehrle, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark. They're saying that if they sign one of the starters, that will end their Albert Pujols pursuit.

--but the way the Marlins have done things this off-season I wouldn't be surprised to wake up tomorrow morning and see that they also signed Pujols and CJ Wilson and traded Hanley for, like, Cliff Lee or something.

6. Mark Edward Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:28 PM (#4009667)

That's expensive, but not unreasonable. I think he'll age gracefully.

I'm bummed that he's left the Sox, I honestly thought he was a Sox lifer. Probably my favorite player to watch over the last decade. A perfect game, a no-hitter, the ace of the 2005 World Champions.

This was my favorite Buehrle start to see in-person. Opening Day, beautiful weather, classic Buehrle start (game time: 1 hour, 51 minutes).

Now 2 players remain from the 2005 team: Konerko & AJ.

7. Sweatpants Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:28 PM (#4009668)

Buerhle, through age 32: 2476.2 IP, 46.6 WAR (b-r)
Glavine, -32: 2425.2 IP, 41.6 WAR

This made me look at how close they are in wins, and it's pretty close. Glavine's ahead by only 12.

8. Starring RMc as Bradley Scotchman Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:30 PM (#4009671)

Sweet sister Sadie! If this keeps up, the Marlins will go 162-0 next year.

9. This is going to be state of the art wall Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:33 PM (#4009676)

Now 2 players remain from the 2005 team: Konerko & AJ.

A lot has been made of the insular clubhouse atmosphere on the White Sox. The sooner AJ and Kong go (and I thank them, especially Kong, for their contributions) the better IMO.

I too thought Mark was a White Sox lifer. Saddens me that instead we have Alex Rios and Jake "I don't understand my body" Peavy.

10. Zonk Won the Mental Acuity Golf Trophy at his Club Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:34 PM (#4009677)

God, I hate the Marlins...

I mean - I'm a Cubs fan so south side pain should make me schadenfreuderifically happy, as should the thought of Albert leaving the Cardinals - but really, when you get down to it, I think I'd prefer them both having gone home than see them go to the Miami swindler jackasses...

If nothing else, after the fishies buy their 2012 title - the offseason 2012 firesale will be fun.

11. vortex of dissipation Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:37 PM (#4009681)

Does this mean that Buerhle has been posting all along as Jack Keefe?

12. Never Give an Inge (Dave) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:38 PM (#4009682)

So have they basically been saving up a decade's worth of revenue sharing payments in anticipation of this year?

13. Famous Original Joe C Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:39 PM (#4009683)

This made me look at how close they are in wins, and it's pretty close. Glavine's ahead by only 12.

It's an interesting comparison, but if you look at ages 25-32 (Glavine became GLAVINE at 25), Glavine comes out well ahead.

14. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:40 PM (#4009684)

So he ain't retiring?

15. Shock has moved on Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:42 PM (#4009687)

So are the MArlins going to trade all these players at the deadline? What exactly is going on here?

16. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:43 PM (#4009688)

So they've signed Reyes and replaced Vazquez with Buehrle. Assuming Josh Johnson returns to some semblance of his old self that takes them from 30 out to, what, 15 out?

17. Mark Edward Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:50 PM (#4009696)

A lot has been made of the insular clubhouse atmosphere on the White Sox. The sooner AJ and Kong go (and I thank them, especially Kong, for their contributions) the better IMO.

Eh, I don't think they're too much of a problem. If Konerko left the team tomorrow there'd be a gaping hole at 1B. If AJ can be moved this off-season I wouldn't shed tears- I want to see if Flowers can be a worthwhile starting catcher in the majors.

In short, this team isn't mediocre because of the chemistry in the clubhouse; there's just a bunch of mediocre players on this team.

I haven't become as attached as most Sox fans to AJ & Konerko, but if they both left this off-season I could see attendance significantly dropping.

18. Javy Joan Baez (chris h.) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:52 PM (#4009699)

So have they basically been saving up a decade's worth of revenue sharing payments in anticipation of this year?

I've done this in OOTP: trade everyone making more than a couple million PA, get payroll way down, save up money for several seasons (while losing 90-100 games/year) and drafting early and often. As my stud prospects start hitting the majors, I spend boatloads of saved-up cash to fill in the pieces, and build a juggernaut that dominates the league for 5 years or so before my prospects hit FA and eat me alive with salary demands.

That's when it all falls apart, but I just repeat the cycle and tell everyone "Count da ringzzz!" in the meantime.

19. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:52 PM (#4009700)

So are the MArlins going to trade all these players at the deadline? What exactly is going on here?

They have a new ballpark. While there's no defense of the extent of Loria's skinflinting previously, the club really did have a terrible lease on their old park that artificially limited revenues. And then they swindled Miami into giving them a few hundred million dollars in taxpayer money that was just lying around. The Marlins should indeed project to make a lot of money next year and probably into the future, so extra spending is reasonable.

20. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:53 PM (#4009702)

So they've signed Reyes and replaced Vazquez with Buehrle. Assuming Josh Johnson returns to some semblance of his old self that takes them from 30 out to, what, 15 out?

Well, as long as we are making assumptions, let's make one for Hanley, that he returns to his old self.

Reyes and Hanley 10 WAR vs 0.5 for Ramirez and Dobbs last year.
Johnson 5 WAR vs 2.5 last year
Buehrle 3.5 WAR vs 0 for Vasquez

That's 15-16 wins. 90+ wins probably gets them a WC spot.

21. This is going to be state of the art wall Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:54 PM (#4009705)

In short, this team isn't mediocre because of the chemistry in the clubhouse; there's just a bunch of mediocre players on this team.

Of course, the problem is the ostracizing of guys like Swisher and the elevation of guys like Pierre and Vizquel. A big part of the problem was Guillen, and he's gone.

22. DA Baracus Posted: December 07, 2011 at 10:54 PM (#4009706)

So they've signed Reyes and replaced Vazquez with Buehrle. Assuming Josh Johnson returns to some semblance of his old self that takes them from 30 out to, what, 15 out?

You're assuming that they keep Ramirez. (I think that's a fair assumption to make.) That 15 games back would put them 2 games back of a Wild Card spot.

23. tell me when i'm telling 57i66135 Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:00 PM (#4009712)

Sweet sister Sadie! If this keeps up, the Marlins will go 162-0 next year.

144-18. they still have to play the phillies.

24. Lassus Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:04 PM (#4009718)

And then they swindled Miami into giving them a few hundred million dollars in taxpayer money that was just lying around.

Jesus Christ, for anyone who's ever spent any time in the parts of Dade County that aren't South Beach, this is continually awful to hear.

Is Vizquel playing this year, btw?

25. Dale Sams Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:05 PM (#4009719)

I'd better buy those Red Sox-Marlin tickets as soon as they go on sale.

26. Greg Pope Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:08 PM (#4009720)

So have they basically been saving up a decade's worth of revenue sharing payments in anticipation of this year?

If you get 4 free agents in one year, you only have to give up a pick in each of the first four rounds. Sign 4 in 4 separate years and you're giving up 4 first round picks.

27. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#4009725)

On the one hand, the Marlins spending spree is terrible because they have no fans, therefore the net effect is to make tons of other teams' fans unhappy and maybe five thousand people happy. On the other hand, it would be even more infuriating for Loria to continue his Smaug-like hoarding of wealth in this new world where he's gotten two de facto windfalls, one from the taxpayers and the other from no longer having to pay exorbitant rents to Wayne Huizenga.

28. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:27 PM (#4009726)

Is Vizquel playing this year, btw?

The Marlins just signed him to play short and have asked Reyes to move to third and Hanley to move to deep left field.

29. Guapo Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:28 PM (#4009727)

I have a feeling the Nationals will go hard after Oswalt now.

30. Zonk Won the Mental Acuity Golf Trophy at his Club Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:31 PM (#4009729)

I've done this in OOTP: trade everyone making more than a couple million PA, get payroll way down, save up money for several seasons (while losing 90-100 games/year) and drafting early and often. As my stud prospects start hitting the majors, I spend boatloads of saved-up cash to fill in the pieces, and build a juggernaut that dominates the league for 5 years or so before my prospects hit FA and eat me alive with salary demands.

That's when it all falls apart, but I just repeat the cycle and tell everyone "Count da ringzzz!" in the meantime.

Heh - ditto... though -- I don't mess with the down cycle.

Inevitably, by year 3 or 4 -- I've basically got a farm system stocked with ~25% of the top 100 prospects, so I can continuously trade from strength to fill needs. My last OOTP dynasty - I had a nifty 5 year run of 120 win seasons and 11 straight 110+ win seasons. By the time I finally got bored with it (and by that point, it was all about seeing what sorts of numbers and how many HoFers I could squeeze out of my dynasty), I had three 300 game winners in my rotation, two 500 HR and two (different) 3000 hits hitters in my lineup... and rosters at AAA and AA that probably would been able to compete for division titles in the major leagues. I love OOTP - but man, the game sorely needs an upgrade to trading and roster management AI. I've put all sorts of house rules in place, but it's just impossible to NOT fleece it.

31. Mark Edward Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:41 PM (#4009734)

My issue with OOTP is that I can never find a competent scouting director. I'm only in like the 4th year of my dynasty, but most of the hitters I've drafted have been complete busts who can't make it out of A ball. I'm OK developing pitchers, but I can't produce a hitter for the life of me.

32. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:48 PM (#4009736)

Reyes and Hanley 10 WAR vs 0.5 for Ramirez and Dobbs last year.
Johnson 5 WAR vs 2.5 last year
Buehrle 3.5 WAR vs 0 for Vasquez

I don't grant the assumption on Hanley. He was a 3.7 WAR in 2010, so it's not like his 2011 was the beginning of his decline. I'll grant a rebound to 2010 for the sake of argument, but I think assuming he bounces back to 5 is a stretch.

Reyes over Dobbs = 5 WAR
Hanley rebounds = 4 WAR
Johnson rebounds = 3 WAR
Buehrle over Vazquez = 1 WAR (Vazquez was a 2.5 WAR pitcher last year.)

13 WAR, give or take, for a team that finished 30 games out last year.

33. Weeks T. Olive Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:50 PM (#4009738)

I'm OK developing pitchers, but I can't produce a hitter for the life of me.

So you're the Cubs?

34. Tripon Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:50 PM (#4009739)

This is a bit odd that the Marlins became Yankees South. You would think it would be Tampa Bay just because the Steinbrenners live in the same area.

35. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:57 PM (#4009742)

I didn't cry when me own father was hung for stealing a pig, but I'll cry now.

36. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:59 PM (#4009743)

Back tot the Future was right! Well except for the Cubs part.

37. Zonk Won the Mental Acuity Golf Trophy at his Club Posted: December 07, 2011 at 11:59 PM (#4009744)

My issue with OOTP is that I can never find a competent scouting director. I'm only in like the 4th year of my dynasty, but most of the hitters I've drafted have been complete busts who can't make it out of A ball. I'm OK developing pitchers, but I can't produce a hitter for the life of me.

Do you have both 'potential' and 'actual' ratings -- or keep ratings hidden? I think most people say it's a crutch, but I use ratings visible (20 to 80 scale) and I think the key is to pay attention to both, even when drafting -- good prospects with moderately decent actual ratings are better than legendary potential with bottom actuals. I find it's also best to use a scouting director more on the 'neutral' side of preferences -- the extremes on 'value potential' vs. 'value talent' (or whatever it is) tend to skew things too much. Finally, if you use the player attributes/personality traits -- I also tend towards the durable and hard-worker players quite heavily... to the point that I won't draft fragile and/or lazy players, regardless of skill level.

The other thing I do is vastly overspend on player development -- I have extremely expensive minor league coaching staffs (and I'm constantly firing coaches whenever a top flight instructor is available) and I also tend to either double up or even triple the league average on player development. I also micromanage the hell out of promotions/demotions and minor league lineups to ensure my prospects are 'protected' from the AI who sometimes seems to think using a 29 yo organizational soldier ought to be starting ahead of my top hitting prospect. The latest patch has improved this a bit -- I find that the minor league reports about who's ready to be promoted and who should be demoted are almost pointless... I suppose it's actually a GOOD thing from a gameplay perspective, but it really pays to pay attention to the numbers and manually promote/demote players between levels.

38. John DiFool2 Posted: December 08, 2011 at 12:59 AM (#4009771)

I love OOTP - but man, the game sorely needs an upgrade to trading and roster management AI. I've put all sorts of house rules in place, but it's just impossible to NOT fleece it.

Anyone still play BB Mogul anymore? Did they ever fix that silly "contact" rating for pitchers (the game basically existed in an anti-DIPS universe for several iterations)?

39. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:01 AM (#4009773)

Marlins are now allegedly "best bet" to sign Wilson, says Rotoworld.

Maybe the Cubs can pawn off Soriano to them since the wallet seems to be wide open.

40. Lassus Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:06 AM (#4009776)

Oooooh Mark Buehrle batting! That should be fun.

41. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:09 AM (#4009780)

Johnson rebounds = 3 WAR
Buehrle over Vazquez = 1 WAR (Vazquez was a 2.5 WAR pitcher last year.)

Yeah, my bad on Vasquez. I must have looked at batting WAR.

13 WAR, give or take, for a team that finished 30 games out last year.

Plus 1.5-2 upgrading the closer to heath Bell.

And I know YOU don't care about the Wild card, but the fact is it does exist. A 15 win improvement puts the Marlins at 87 wins, and in the thick of it, whether you acknowledge it or not.

42. Bob Evans Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:32 AM (#4009788)

Good luck to m'man Mark in Miami. He sure doesn't strike me as a Miami type of guy, though.

43. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:35 AM (#4009789)

The Marlins outfielders combined for 6.5 WAR last year. 5.7 of that was Mike Stanton. I'm confidant they will get more than 1 WAR from Left and Center next year. Stanton may regress a bit, but he may not. He's only 22. Morrison and Coghlan are 24 and 27, so the chances of them improving are more likely than not. Especially Coghlan. babip of .263 last year compared to .336 and .365 the two previous years. His ISO, K%, BB%, LD%, were all in line with his career norms. He just hit into a lot of bad luck and got sent down.

44. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:47 AM (#4009795)

And I know YOU don't care about the Wild card, but the fact is it does exist. A 15 win improvement puts the Marlins at 87 wins, and in the thick of it, whether you acknowledge it or not.

and

The Marlins outfielders combined for 6.5 WAR last year. 5.7 of that was Mike Stanton. I'm confidant they will get more than 1 WAR from Left and Center next year. Stanton may regress a bit, but he may not. He's only 22. Morrison and Coghlan are 24 and 27, so the chances of them improving are more likely than not. Especially Coghlan. babip of .263 last year compared to .336 and .365 the two previous years. His ISO, K%, BB%, LD%, were all in line with his career norms. He just hit into a lot of bad luck and got sent down.

Right. Two can play this game, see.

Jason Heyward will obviously rebound to his 2010 form. Plus 3 WAR for Atlanta. Dan Uggla's clearly due another 4.something year. Plus 3 WAR for Atlanta. Martin Prado, +2. Freddie Freeman's only 22, so he's obviously going to improve some too. Plus replacing Derek Lowe with Julio Teheran or someone who will be better than Derek Lowe.

Now the Braves have improved by 10-12 WAR, so there!

It's nifty what you can do if you assume best case scenarios for everyone involved.

45. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:48 AM (#4009796)

This doesn't even account for the fact that by most reports, there's a 50/50 chance that Ramirez is going to be traded anyway.

46. Lassus Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:50 AM (#4009797)

Jason Heyward will obviously rebound to his 2010 form.

You misspelled "probably".

47. pkb33 Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:53 AM (#4009800)

If they sign Cullen Jenkins as well they might go undefeated!

Oh, wait...

48. The Interdimensional Council of Rickey!'s Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:57 AM (#4009801)

You misspelled "probably".

You misspelled the point.

49. David Concepcion de la Desviacion Estandar (Dan R) Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:04 AM (#4009806)

Don't finesse pitchers age poorly?

50. Lassus Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:13 AM (#4009810)

You misspelled the point.

Ah, so I did. Dumb.

51. MM1f Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:16 AM (#4009812)

. Especially Coghlan. babip of .263 last year compared to .336 and .365 the two previous years. His ISO, K%, BB%, LD%, were all in line with his career norms. He just hit into a lot of bad luck and got sent down.

Or he has gotten worse and worse every year he has been in the bigs. Coghlan might improve a little, but he is still a weak spot as a starting CF.

I like him though. If I'm the Marlins I go find a speedy flycatcher type to play CF, to make up for Logan Morrison's D in LF, and use Coghlan in a LF/CF/2b/3b utility role.

52. asinwreck Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:19 AM (#4009816)

I'm happy for him. After an incredible set of achievements with the White Sox, he gets a fine contract and doesn't have to experience the mediocrity caused by Kenny Williams utterly mismanaging his assets. Hope he throws another no-hitter or two.

53. Misirlou cut his hair and moved to Rome Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:20 AM (#4009817)

Jason Heyward will obviously rebound to his 2010 form. Plus 3 WAR for Atlanta. Dan Uggla's clearly due another 4.something year. Plus 3 WAR for Atlanta. Martin Prado, +2. Freddie Freeman's only 22, so he's obviously going to improve some too. Plus replacing Derek Lowe with Julio Teheran or someone who will be better than Derek Lowe.

Now the Braves have improved by 10-12 WAR, so there!

That all may well happen. But the Brave's problem is they are unlikely to get 10 WAR from 3 relievers. They also got a lot of value from a 35 year old starter and a 39 year old 3rd baseman. I'll take the under on 17 WAR from Jones, Hudson, Venters, Kimbrel, and O'Flaherty next year.

54. Hugh Jorgan Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:43 AM (#4009825)

It's nifty what you can do if you assume best case scenarios for everyone involved

Interesting premise actually. If you run this for every team....who wins?

55. Dan The Mediocre is one of "the rest" Posted: December 08, 2011 at 02:55 AM (#4009835)

Interesting premise actually. If you run this for every team....who wins?

The Cubs do. Their best case scenario is that other teams are moved to pity and donate their best players.

56. Bob Evans Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:01 AM (#4009838)

experience the mediocrity caused by Kenny Williams utterly mismanaging his assets

I give KW two years, then I start pronouncing his name "Jerry Krause".

57. Karl from NY Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:08 AM (#4009843)

So have they basically been saving up a decade's worth of revenue sharing payments in anticipation of this year?

Yeah, now I'm wondering how far ahead did they plan this? Seems like the Marlins might have noticed quite a while ago that Pujols and Reyes would just happen to be free agents the same year their new stadium comes online, and started stuffing the piggy bank very early.

58. WillYoung Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:36 AM (#4009853)

Burly is such a hypocrite. Always talking about either retiring or staying in the midwest when his contract was up and he instead takes the money in... Miami? I don't mind anybody chasing the money, but my gosh he portrayed himself as such a good-old midwestern for so long, it's amusing to see him taking his talents to South Beach.

59. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: December 08, 2011 at 05:06 AM (#4009900)

I'm sure it's my White Sox hatred bleeding through, but Buehrle has always just LOOKED like a scurvy son of a #####. This doesn't surprise me.

60. Home Run Teal & Black Black Black Gone! Posted: December 08, 2011 at 07:09 AM (#4009941)

100-62 on the season and 18-0 against the Braves. Book it!

61. The Piehole of David Wells

Posted: December 08, 2011 at 07:10 AM (#4009942)

I don't mind anybody chasing the money, but my gosh he portrayed himself as such a good-old midwestern for so long, it's amusing to see him taking his talents to South Beach.

It's entirely possible that he believed he was that good-old mid-western boy until someone offered his agent a shitload of money. Of course, I don't know why anyone over the age of 15 is surprised when people turn out not to be who they said they were.

62. My guest will be Jermaine Allensworth Posted: December 08, 2011 at 07:52 AM (#4009947)

It's entirely possible that he believed he was that good-old mid-western boy until someone offered his agent a shitload of money. Of course, I don't know why anyone over the age of 15 is surprised when people turn out not to be who they said they were.

That, and Ozzie wasn't in Florida until two months ago. Given how tight their families are, that was a game-changer.

63. WillYoung Posted: December 08, 2011 at 01:42 PM (#4009995)

It's entirely possible that he believed he was that good-old mid-western boy until someone offered his agent a shitload of money. Of course, I don't know why anyone over the age of 15 is surprised when people turn out not to be who they said they were.

I'm not surprised. It's just that BTF has had several threads over the years documenting Burly's repeated statements about his desire to retire or stay home, so I just wanted it also pointed out that he was (as expected) entirely full of ####.

64. I am Ted F'ing Williams Posted: December 08, 2011 at 03:56 PM (#4010197)

Could depend on how the contract is structured. If it's font-loaded (Reyes' deal is backloaded) he could just retire after 2 or 3 years and skip a low-paying year. I'm giving Mark the benefit of the doubt here and speculating on why Reyes' deal was backloaded.

In any event, with a new stadium and FA signings Loria is raising the value of the franchise and may be looking to sell in a couple years.

65. SoSH U at work Posted: December 08, 2011 at 04:16 PM (#4010233)

It's just that BTF has had several threads over the years documenting Burly's repeated statements about his desire to retire or stay home, so I just wanted it also pointed out that he was (as expected) entirely full of ####.

Or he changed his mind.

66. Karl from NY Posted: December 08, 2011 at 05:53 PM (#4010412)

In any event, with a new stadium and FA signings Loria is raising the value of the franchise

Is this true? Big FA signings usually look like poison for a would-be franchise buyer, adding gobs of debt to the balance sheet and only uncertain income. For the converse, see the Astros and Dodgers.

67. cardsfanboy

Posted: December 08, 2011 at 06:04 PM (#4010429)

Burly is such a hypocrite. Always talking about either retiring or staying in the midwest when his contract was up and he instead takes the money in... Miami? I don't mind anybody chasing the money, but my gosh he portrayed himself as such a good-old midwestern for so long, it's amusing to see him taking his talents to South Beach.

It's possible he never received an offer from a team he wanted to play for. The Cardinals don't seem interested in acquiring a starting pitcher, and that is the team other than the White Sox that he wanted to play for. I never believe a player that says they are going to retire, it might be a 100% honest comment from them at the time, but when it comes time to actually make the decision, a lot of things can make a difference.

68. Zonk Won the Mental Acuity Golf Trophy at his Club Posted: December 08, 2011 at 06:16 PM (#4010445)

It's possible he never received an offer from a team he wanted to play for.

Hard to believe the Cubs didn't at least put a lowball offer out there or least tell him they'd be interested at a discount.

69. cardsfanboy

Posted: December 08, 2011 at 06:46 PM (#4010501)

Hard to believe the Cubs didn't at least put a lowball offer out there or least tell him they'd be interested at a discount.

He's thoroughly a Cardinal fan, and has transferred his primary allegiance to the White Sox, but if he's honest about playing in a situation that he enjoys, it's likely the Cubs are the last team he wants to play for.

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