Kotsay Speaks?

by LoveDemAs on Jun 26, 2005 6:53 AM PDT

From http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/06/26/SPGM9DDRRV1.DTL

Briefly: Center fielder Mark Kotsay said no official proposals have been exchanged with the A's on a two-year contract extension; the talks have been "hypothetical,'' he said. National reports that Kotsay is looking for $8-$9 million per season are too high, according to Kotsay, who is making $7 million this year and has a player option for $7 million next year. He's believed to be seeking roughly similar numbers.

$7mil for two years? Heck yeah Billy! Sign him up!

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Comments

Good news.

That is good news indeed.

by Larry E on Jun 26, 2005 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

if that's the case, sign him already!!

(might there be some other sticking point besides the money and the years?)

by OaklandSi on Jun 26, 2005 9:03 AM PDT reply actions

If so,

give him whichever hooker he wants. Translation: I think it's about the money and the years.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 9:10 AM PDT reply actions

Since this is also from Slusser, it's interesting

that it seems to be her vs. National Media, with Susan giving the lone positive prognosis for the likelihood of Kotsay remaining an A.

That's probably because Kots himself has apparently been her main source -- and I think that whoever said in an earlier thread that Kotsay and his agent are doing a good cop/bad cop performance is right on the money. Kotsay is in an optimal bargaining position, with the stankees madly pursuing him while trailing huge clouds of cash, and yet he says he's not looking for much of a raise? Even if scoring the huge bucks is not his top priority, it certainly is for both his agent and the players' union.

So it seems likely that either a) his agent is asking for more than Kotsay is indicating, or b) Billy is confident that he can retain Kotsay at the current price, and has not yet started formal negotiations because he's trawling the trade waters to see just how much he could get in return.

It's pretty interesting to watch this drama unfold among all its various participants...even if it is torturous to sit around fearing we'll lose our beloved CF.

by sarajune13 on Jun 26, 2005 9:28 AM PDT reply actions

Alternate scenario

Billy is confident that he can retain Kotsay at the current price, and has not yet started formal negotiations because he's trawling the trade waters to see just how much he could get in return.

Is it possible that Beane is trying to get someone else to commit on a trade for Kotsay, then he'll say, "Look, Kotsay is finally willing to go where I need him to on the extention, so I'm not trading him any more...but, say, I've got this 26-year old outfielder in AAA with Major League experience whom Bobby Cox calls the greatest defensive LF he's ever seen, and he'd be a hell of a lot better in CF for you than your current guy -- what if we tweak the deal and we give you 2-Buck Chuck instead?"

This is pure speculation, of course, but it would be just like Beane to do this, and can anyone doubt that the Yankees would start CT in CF ever day if they had him on the roster?

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jun 26, 2005 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Interesting theory

But seeing as how CT handled the "pressure" of being traded for Hudson, or changing teams, or whatever it was, how do you think he'd do in NY? And how much do we really hope a team would give up for someone who established such a dramatic potential for failure. I still think he could be a good player, but maybe his stock is a little on the low side at the momentito.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Kotsay

Does it seem to anyone else like Kots is a little annoyed with his agent? Or they aren't exactly on the same page?

Seems like Kots is ready to sign on the dotted line, while the agent would love to get him out of Oakland

by Alien @ Athletics Nation on Jun 26, 2005 9:58 AM PDT reply actions

more likely, they're playing good cop bad cop

probably everything we read or hear in the media on both sides is posturing.

by OaklandSi on Jun 26, 2005 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

I will be psyched if Kotsay stays

but I still have a tough time seeing why. If your buddy had an injury risk that could cost him a career, wouldn't you push him to take as many years as possible guaranteed?

Conversely, the A's can't take that risk. Kotsay can likely get such a deal elsewhere, particularly if he's an All-Star.

C'mon, Mark, prove me wrong! :) Maybe the A's could sign him to a longish extension with lots of performance bonuses?

Still having a hard time seeing it...

by Apricot on Jun 26, 2005 10:05 AM PDT reply actions

Kotsay has a chronic back condition

that is not degenerative. If he stays in good shape and takes care of it there is no reason to assume that it will cost him lots of time on the DL.

Any player can get injured, of course. And I wouldn't give him a four year extension at $9 million. However, as he is 29 and should remain productive as an outfielder for a decent number of years, a two year extension beyond 2006 at @$7-8 per year is not unreasonable.

Yeah, Kendall's contract is an elephant that limits the A's flexibility. However, most of the A's players will be making very little $$ over the next few years...and I expect Kendall to be gone by 2007, when most of his contract will be paid by the Pirates and he'll be easier to trade.

by OaklandSi on Jun 26, 2005 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions

agree about the length

to me it's all about the years. 2-years at $9M fine. 3-yrs... starting to push it. 4-yrs, no.

A quick Google search revealed:
The Padres had mixed opinions about Mark Kotsay's projected durability as a center fielder. Traded by the Padres in November, Kotsay has already sat out games because of upper-back spasms and, more recently, patellar tendinitis, a condition that can linger.

Which confirms your idea that the back will probably not go out in a catastrophe, though as a non-specialist, one is always warned about how back problems never go away, you can only control the decline...

by Apricot on Jun 26, 2005 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions

that's true

however, since he left the Padres Kotsay has become a practitioner of Pilates. that has greatly improved his strength and flexibility. As someone whose back once hurt so bad that I spent a month in bed on valium (no, it wasn't fun, especially not the withdrawal when I stopped taking it) -- and who has never had a recurrence but have religiously practiced stretching, relaxation and flexibility techniques since then -- I believe that Kotsay is probably in better shape now than when he was with the Padres.

by OaklandSi on Jun 26, 2005 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions

I was willing to go 3 more years at 8

so this works for me.

by novaoakland on Jun 26, 2005 10:43 AM PDT reply actions

2-3 more years

If this would happen I assume he would decline his option and next year would be the first year his extension would kick in?

I'm the guy with the Carney/Jared Lansford jersey

by gojohn10 on Jun 26, 2005 10:57 AM PDT reply actions

if it was 2 years

then i would assume they pick up next year's option plus 2 more? that seems like it would be more acceptable to kotsay.

i really really hope this works out.

by nycfan @ Athletics Nation on Jun 26, 2005 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Yes 3 more after this was my impression

Of his comments.

by novaoakland on Jun 26, 2005 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions

On the one hand,

I am of the opinion that the concerns about Kotsay's long-term health are exaggerated. Dans l'autre main, if there is one thing that has driven BB's decisions about who to keep, it is health.

It's like pouring cornstarch on a grave right before it rains...the plot thickens...

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 11:43 AM PDT reply actions

jeez

Man, I love Kotsay. I really do. But this guy is hitting .275 with 5 hr this year. I mean yeah his defense is good, I think the best defensive CF I've seen in my days in Oakland. But are we really ready to give 8m to this guy? I'm not. And if we are, I guess it kinda makes me wonder how we didn't have money for Hudson...

by SeanR on Jun 26, 2005 11:57 AM PDT reply actions

I think you're seeing

Kotsay's avg at a low-point. He is, IMO, a legitmate .290-.300 hitter. But if we give him 7-8mil/yr money, it's for the defense and leadership he brings the team. Whether those are things worth paying for is strictly a matter of opinion.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 11:59 AM PDT reply actions

Does anybody think

that maybe BB might work out a deal to trade Kotsay and then re-sign him in the offseason? Maybe convince Kots that the prospects we get in return will help a title run next season. I could see Billy trying to "have his cake and eat it too", so to speak. If Kots is a BB guy, I could see it happening.

by gatling on Jun 26, 2005 12:53 PM PDT reply actions

Wouldn't that

be downright yummy? I keep waiting for that to happen (Huddy, Miggy...), but so far no luck. If Kotsay really wants to stay and he really wants to win, there's really no better plan.

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 1:09 PM PDT reply actions

How many runs has Kotsay saved our pitching staff?

by beta103 on Jun 26, 2005 2:35 PM PDT reply actions

The Kotsay saga

is a little odd.

First, we have Kotsay's agent saying, on the record, that he is unlikely to sign an extension with the A's.

Then we get these little notebook items from Slusser saying an extension is likely, that he wants about $7 million a year (which is what he's scheduled to make next year). The dollar amount is not attributed to Kotsay, but it's pretty obvious that he is Slusser's source.

So what gives? I understand the good cop-bad cop explanation, but the comments from Kotsay and his agent aren't really on the same page. If anything, it seems like Kotsay is undermining his own agent's negotiating position. I don't know if that's because he is annoyed with the agent, but Kotsay appears to be signaling that he is willing and eager to sign an extension. We know his family is in Tahoe, and he's previously mentioned a desire to settle down someplace. So maybe really does want to stay, and is willing to take less (anything less than $8 million a year is below Kotsay's market value, I think).

I say "appears" because players usually want to be seen as good guys during contract negotiations, and let the agent take the fall.

It's all very interesting, and might be quite promising.

by bear88 on Jun 26, 2005 2:54 PM PDT reply actions

Win-win solution:

Kotsay should fire his agent, save the commission, and sign an extension for $7/million gross, $7/million net!

Nico

by Nico on Jun 26, 2005 4:00 PM PDT reply actions

I wouldn't mind seeing Kotsay traded

We've survived so many players leaving, there's no reason to think Kotsay's departure would be any worse, if Beane can find a capable replacement for him. That said, if Kotsay isn't looking to break the bank, nor looking for a ridiculously long-term deal into the next decade, I would love to see him man CF for our next dynasty scheduled to begin in 2006.

by OaktownTribesman on Jun 26, 2005 7:49 PM PDT reply actions