More on Kotsay (sorry): possibly good news (yay!)

by sarajune13 on Jun 23, 2005 8:23 AM PDT

Much as I cringe at stuffing the diary list with yet another Kotsay-centric entry, I thought that this happy bit from Susan Slusser's latest article was worthy of posting:

"General manager Billy Beane said Wednesday that he won't comment on negotiations to extend Kotsay's contract, as per his usual policy. Kotsay said a day earlier that he expects the two sides to exchange proposals by the end of this week. If there is no agreement in the next month, Kotsay could be traded before the July 31 deadline, but it appears more likely that terms will be reached on an extension that would keep Kotsay in Oakland through 2008."

Woohoo! Let's hope she has the most accurate info of all that's floating out there.

Here's the link:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/23/SPG47DDGVF1.DTL

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Comments

woo hoo!

by xbhaskarx on Jun 23, 2005 8:42 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Kotsay

I have heard the Kotsay rumors like everyone else, but let me offer my opinion. First off, Mark Kotsay is 29 years old and has played 5-6 years in the bigs. His career average is in the .280 range. He had a tremendous year last season and over the last 1.5 years has been the team MVP. Being that his is 29 and has played a number of seasons it is safe to assume that he is nothing more than what he has done thus far in his career. He is not a .320 hitter, he is a .280 hitter. Moreover, we see that he is gravating towards that this season. His value now is as high as it will ever be. Deal him! Get all that you can for him. The prospects that he will yield in a trade are far more valuable than the production (offensively and defensively) that he will offer @ $10mm per year. He is a heck of a defender and slightly above average offensively, but this team and organization is built to complete in 2007/2008. Let the kids develope and grow into the players that the A's think they can become.

by ChickWalker on Jun 24, 2005 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Yay!

Best news I've heard all day (sigh)

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Jun 23, 2005 8:46 AM PDT reply actions

hopehopehopehope*

(don't apologize... unless you just got our hopes up for nothing... LOL)

by Poppy on Jun 23, 2005 8:48 AM PDT reply actions

<weeping>

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 8:48 AM PDT reply actions

there, there

I hope this is true.

by Sharon on Jun 23, 2005 8:59 AM PDT up reply actions

ditto... I'm prepared just in case

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions

I wonder...

...how it "appears more likely that terms will be reached..."

Does Kotsay have it tattooed to his head? Is Billy walking around the clubhouse house with a big ass smile glued to his face? Did Huston write a letter convincing Kots to stay?

Is Slusser also so madly in love with Kotsay that she can't bring herself to imagine life without him?

by Sharon on Jun 23, 2005 9:15 AM PDT up reply actions

They must've got my letter...

Dear Mr. Beane,

Sign Kotsay NOW or DIE!! I'm not kidding this time.

Love,
Jennifer

Oh, and Street's coming back on Saturday? WOO HOO! Great! Will I get to see the game? Hell NO! GRRR!!! FOX!!! GRRRR!!!

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions

That's weird.

Sending letters like that to yourself.

by Sharon on Jun 23, 2005 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

It was actually a Post-It.

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions

thats awesome

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Jun 23, 2005 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions

Did you steal his cell phone?

To keep him from trading Kotsay...

by Sharon on Jun 23, 2005 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Who told you?

Yeah, I have it.

I've been calling the Brewers to see if they have Prince Fielder in a can.

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Did you also call ...

... the 1985 Chicago Bears and ask if their Refrigerator was running?

by monkeyball on Jun 23, 2005 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm laughing so hard it hurts.

by Jennifer on Jun 23, 2005 12:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Monkeyball and Jen

are my comedy dream team.

Picker of Nits since '63. Or so I thought until I discovered AN. Now I feel like a nitpiker.

by McFood on Jun 23, 2005 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions

LA-DEEEE!

Just like Martin & Lewis ...

by monkeyball on Jun 23, 2005 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions

BBeane

Makes me nervous when he sits down to discuss numbers. I think his system and his staff are great at identifying talent. I think that Beane is adroit at handling the interpersonal relatioships in dealing with GMs, but I am not as impressed with his ability to negotiate. I think we paid Hatte 2.5 million when the market would have given him 2. I think we overpaid for Dye, I think we overpaid for RIncon, and I think that Kotsay is next. I think Kotsay is worth 6.5-7 million a year, but I suspect we will overpay for him a bit.

Perhaps though, this observation is erroneous. Perhaps it was Paul Depodesta who paid 9 million a year for a pitcher who I believe was well worht that amount, but who had no other bids on the table after a horrendous year. I would have thought that Paul could have paid a couple million less and still had his man.

If Kotsay is going to play for us, I want a knee/back/losing a step/no-pop discount.

I believe you Barry.

by mikedaviswhereareyou on Jun 23, 2005 8:49 AM PDT reply actions

Kotsay

seems like the kind of guy who would give a bit of a home town discount but I don't think that we will be able to get him for 6.5 mil.

"Chavvy's always been very intense about winning. People who think otherwise have no clue."--Barry Zito

by Athletics fan and runner on Jun 23, 2005 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions

Please Please Please

Let this come true.

by peanut gallery on Jun 23, 2005 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

Price Setter

Johny Damon is going to set the price for free agent CFers this offseason. If he comes to an agreement with the Sox before July 31st, his salary will be the standard from which Kotsay can then bargain. Damon is apparently looking for 10 mil a year. Kotsay, in turn, will probably be looking to get around 8 a year. Fat chance the A's would do that with Herrera possibly only a couple years or less away and A host of cheaper solutions as well the possibility of putting a guy like Ethier in center.

by nacknet1 on Jun 23, 2005 9:19 AM PDT reply actions

Through 2008?

If true, that really limits the risk to the A's.

That's a two-year extension from the end of his current deal (the last year of which he could void, of course).

The bottom line is that Kotsay is the best player on the team, and a leader by example to a host of young players who have spoken admiringly of him. If his demands are reasonable, somewhere between $7 and $8.5 million a year, you pay him. I would even consider him at $9 million a year.

The A's have one advantage - his Tahoe home - that we rarely have with other players. My impression is that he'd like to stay and settle down with one team for a few years, especially if that team is near his family.

by bear88 on Jun 23, 2005 9:41 AM PDT reply actions

Username: Slusser ???????????

Maybe AN Member, "Slusser" can elaborate a bit more. I would love to know why she feels this way!

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 23, 2005 10:00 AM PDT reply actions

Slusser

Yes, Slusser is an AN member, but she's paid by the Chronicle, not by AN, so any real scoops she has I would expect her to publish in the Chronicle.

She doesn't seem like the type to just make stuff up (unlike her colleagues the columnists). So I will guess she heard something from someone that she can't quote or attribute. But if she could say more about her info, I think she would have done so in the Chron.

by matthias on Jun 23, 2005 10:06 AM PDT up reply actions

Wow

she's old school her user ID # is 124.

Looking for a new sig, mourning the release of Andy Painter.

by secret ASian man on Jun 23, 2005 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions

User ID #'s

Are there ID #'s? I didn't know that.

Also, I checked out "My Profile", and it appears that there is a way of seeing who else is online at the same time as you?

Just wondering how these things can be checked - I'm pretty web-unsavvy.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 23, 2005 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions

If you put the clickerthing

on your user name, (don't click, just put it on top so it's highlighted), it should show a link at the bottom of the webpage with the last part saying "uid:your number".

For example, yours says:

"http://www.athleticsnation.com/user/uid:207"

"But why is the rum gone??"

MySpace! Clicky clicky.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jun 23, 2005 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions

"the clickerthing"?

:-D

by Poppy on Jun 23, 2005 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks

Thank you, 584

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 28, 2005 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions

And...

...Billy Beane is paid by the Oakland Athletics...

Just trying to get a little inside scoop that typical Chronicle readers might ignore.

Let's Go Oak-Land!

by Colorado Fan on Jun 23, 2005 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions

I can dig it.

Hopefully the numbers will make Kotsay, Beane, A's ownership and A's Nation happy. Or at least two of those four... :)

Pants! Pants! Sing the praises of pants!

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Jun 23, 2005 10:24 AM PDT reply actions

Doesn't make up for bobbleball last night

BUT DAMN IT SURE DOES MAKE A GIRL HAPPY IF IT'S TRUE!!!
KEEP KOTSAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Swisherfor05ROY on Jun 23, 2005 10:44 AM PDT reply actions

Yup

Kotsay is easily woth 8-9 mill a year, easpecially if we can lock him up for the next 3-4 years. Too bad we blew that game last night..............twice!!!! Go get em'Sarloos!

by mrod on Jun 23, 2005 10:49 AM PDT reply actions

Kotsay for 9 mil a year??? in Oakland????

The guy is a tremendous fielder, yes, and a great influence in the clubhouse, but what he brings to the table offensively, especially on a club like the A's that isn't going to take full advantage of his speed and baserunning abilities, isn't worth $9 million a year. He had a great year at the plate last year, but I think we all know he's more likely to post .270 - .300 BA numbers for the next couple years than he is to post .300 - .330. And his lack of power on a team that is already power anemic means his financial value is even lower. Realistically Kotsay is a 6 to 8 mil a year type of player. He's not worth risking our ability to sign other key contributors to team for.

by nacknet1 on Jun 23, 2005 10:55 AM PDT reply actions

If Johnny Damon is the standard this winter...

for FA CFs.
At this point who who we rathewr have in centerfield? Damon or Kotsay?

I don't foresee Durazo and Dotel returning for what they are making. Hatte is in the same position. Does this free up enough money to sign Kotsay and do we have enough young guys to replace the aforementioned players.

I think we do. Johnson looks good at first. Garcia may be Dotel's replacement in the pen. Hatteberg's spot will be filled with another multi-tasking IF-OF type.

All in all, we have the depth to take on $9M per yr. if that's what it will take to keep Kotsay.

by Gerard on Jun 23, 2005 11:19 AM PDT reply actions

Prediction:

3 years(next year is voided from the old deal)...25 mil.

Every team needs a few guys with big f*ckin' stones who ain't afraid to flash 'em - Huddy

by FabulousG on Jun 23, 2005 11:35 AM PDT reply actions

Also...Remember....

The Jermaine Dye deal...wasn't it 32 mil for 3 years?..This would be a bargain by comparison if Kots avoids injury.

Every team needs a few guys with big f*ckin' stones who ain't afraid to flash 'em - Huddy

by FabulousG on Jun 23, 2005 11:37 AM PDT reply actions

Please, Billy, sign Kotsay

Please. Pretty please.

The miserable have no other medicine but only hope. ~William Shakespeare

by AsGirl on Jun 23, 2005 1:05 PM PDT reply actions

Por favor?

It wouldn't hurt to say it in another language.... :)

"But why is the rum gone??"

MySpace! Clicky clicky.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jun 23, 2005 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Donde esta

la casa de Pepe?

See what 4 years of High School Spanish gets you? One friggin' sentence.

But let me apply it to the current situation.

Donde will be la casa de Kotsay?

Picker of Nits since '63. Or so I thought until I discovered AN. Now I feel like a nitpiker.

by McFood on Jun 23, 2005 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions

La casa de Pepe....

esta en Livermore.

Pepe is my dad's nicknam. :)

"But why is the rum gone??"

MySpace! Clicky clicky.

by GreenNGoldGirl on Jun 23, 2005 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

budweiser es para usted

see what growing up in New York City gets you?

by Apricot on Jun 23, 2005 4:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Ah, es tan formal

?no somos tu amigos?

The next time I slap a guy's ass, can we all just assume it's because I wish I was a baseball player?

by devo on Jun 23, 2005 5:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Bitte, Herr Beane?

Kotsay oder Zito. Ich will frohlich sein. Danke schön!

Pants! Pants! Sing the praises of pants!

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Jun 24, 2005 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Before Damon

I doubt damon will sign before July 31st so we can sign Kotsay before Damon's deal prices him out of our reach.

by Larry E on Jun 23, 2005 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

Bust out the concerns

Kotsay will be my hero if he signs here I will be delighted froever and 2 years does not sound too bad and if we keep Zito for another year it will be even better.

You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club wont be worth a dime.-Babe Ruth

by doublehustle22 on Jun 23, 2005 11:16 PM PDT reply actions

While Kotsay

is a very good defensive CF he is really just an average hitter. I'm not so sure about keeping him honestly. I think a lot of AN'ers might want to keep him around becuase he's the best we have. Signing him will prevent us from going after what we REALLY need, and that is a big right handed power hitter. Of course I'd like to see him stay, but at what cost? I'm worried the cost will not yeild the gains in this case.
We obviously need Kotsay if we have any chance in 05, but his offense his not what we need at this point. His defense may save us some runs and win a few games, but his offense and lack of power may cost us even more games.
I don't want to rain on some of your parades, but if Kotsay is going to be our "big" signing of the year, you all know that will be just about the only "big" signing will see. Hey if we keep Kotsay and then spend even more money I am 100% behind keeping him. We still do not know about the new ownership and how they will allocate money.

by Unuscione on Jun 24, 2005 5:13 AM PDT reply actions

Trade value

As was mentioned in another thread the big issue is what Kotsay might bring in trade. If the rumors are true, Steinbrenner thinks Kotsay is the missing piece he needs to win a championship this year (which might be true by the way), and two of the other richest clubs are in a bidding war for with him.

This is the best possible trading situation for a GM of a low payroll team.

I think Beane has to think seriously about taking advantage of this opportunity. If he does make a trade I expect it to be for somebody who can make a big impact now and is signed for a couple more years, and maybe some good prospects as well.

by matthias on Jun 24, 2005 7:56 AM PDT reply actions

I think

The problem is the lack of blue-chip sure fire prospects or even good young, 1-3 year players on the Cubs, Red Sox, and Yankees. The Red Sox have some pieces, but I doubt that they will part with them.

Fearing Mecir since 2000.

by salb918 on Jun 24, 2005 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Ken Rosenthal just on ESPN radio....

Said he talked to Kotsay's agent Wednesday and the agent thinks that an extention is very unlikely.....Rosenthal thinks the A's will deal him him before the deadline because they know he will walk if they dont.

Bring back Hammer.

by OaktownPower on Jun 24, 2005 9:46 AM PDT reply actions

Huh...

From Jerry Crasnick's ESPN chat:

Andrew, New York: If available, who is a better fit for the Yankees: Mike Cameron or Mark Kotsay?

Jerry Crasnick: (11:10 AM ET ) Andrew,
At this point, I'd say Kotsay, although either one would be a significant upgrade. I still think that Kotsay will sign a contract extension and stay in Oakland.

Who knows? I quit. :P

by Jennifer on Jun 24, 2005 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions