"The Mets' signing of RHP Kris Benson to an inflated three-year, $22.5 million contract will cause a ripple effect, hurting the Indians as they pursue RHPs Matt Clement and Jon Lieber and even the Reds as they try to re-sign RHP Paul Wilson. Consider the Benson-Clement comparison. Benson is 47-53 lifetime with a 4.28 ERA and a .740 opponents' OPS. Over the past three seasons, Clement is 35-36 with a 3.80 ERA and .666 opponents' OPS. He also has made 30 or more starts in six consecutive seasons while Benson missed all of 2001 and parts of '02 and '03 with injuries."...

How in the hell can the Mets pay this much jack for Benson - 7.5 Million/year?  This must be a package deal to keep Benson's wife on the media guide.  

Horrible deal for the A's when it comes time for Billy to put numbers on the table for Huddy in January / February/ March.  If Benson gets this much, Huddy has the right to demand twice as much - 15 Million per year.  I know he'll think about taking a "home town discount" in Oakland, but the MLB Players Association and Huddy's Agent will put some pressure on Timmy to test the waters during the offseason of 2005.