Kotsay Speaks?
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!
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
if that's the case, sign him already!!
If so,
Since this is also from Slusser, it's interesting
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.
Alternate scenario
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?
Interesting theory
Kotsay
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
I will be psyched if Kotsay stays
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...
Kotsay has a chronic back condition
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.
agree about the length
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...
that's true
I was willing to go 3 more years at 8
2-3 more years
if it was 2 years
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
by novaoakland on Jun 26, 2005 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
On the one hand,
It's like pouring cornstarch on a grave right before it rains...the plot thickens...
jeez
I think you're seeing
Does anybody think
Wouldn't that
The Kotsay saga
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.
Win-win solution:
I wouldn't mind seeing Kotsay traded
by OaktownTribesman on Jun 26, 2005 7:49 PM PDT reply actions

by 























