Signing a Free Agent SP
by OPS2000 on Oct 22, 2009 3:18 AM PDT
75 comments
With Braden & Anderson as "proven" starters and Cahill, Gio & Mazzaro having their ups and downs, it seems signing at least one SP to solidify the rotation is the way to go for next season.
On the free agent market, we have among others:
- Justin Duchscherer
- Rich Harden
- Tim Hudson
- Brett Tomko
- Brad Penny
- Erik Bedard
- Aroldis Chapman
- Randy Johnson
- Jason Marquis
- Sheets/Lackey/Wolf/Pavano/Pineiro
- AND Vincente Padilla !
I don't think Duchscherer, Harden or Hudson will happen. Brad Penny seems the most logical option to me. Decent numbers (http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=535&position=P), which can be aquired at a reasonable price. The worrying thing would be that Oakland failed to sign him to a multi year deal after being released by Boston this season.
Alternatively you could think of trading away some clogged prospect positions like 1B & 2B for someone who underperformed ERA-wise (http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=1&season=2009&month=0 , sort on E-F) last season, but gets groundballs and low BB like Ricky Nolasco or Mike Pelfrey.
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I think Tomko would be a cheap 3/4 starter
Marquis might be fairly realistic; Johnson is too old; Bedard is too injury-prone.
by chillicothe20 on Oct 22, 2009 3:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Early numbers suggested/whispered
4/$40
His stuff showed no slippage from his pre-TJ days.
Have a salt shaker handy before taking those numbers as gospel.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Oct 22, 2009 7:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd take that...
Huddy
Anderson
Braden
Cahill
Gonzalez
That’s not bad at all.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Oct 22, 2009 7:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Eh
3/30, fine. 4 years for a mid-30s pitcher? Pass.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 10:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
How's about 3 plus an option?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Oct 22, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's strictly better than 3 unless the buyout is huge
so yes… unless you mean a player option or something.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marquis will be valued higher by NL teams because of his hitting ability.
Tomko wouldn’t last an entire season in the rotation. He’s just not that good.
I’d go for Wolf for Hudson.
"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra
by brenarlo on Oct 22, 2009 7:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Marquis has made it painfully obvious
He wants to play for the Mets.
Wade Hines
by Wader on Oct 22, 2009 7:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
funny thing about Marquis
Every single team he has played for has made the playoffs. When the rox were way out I was like “they have Marquis, watch them storm into the WC” and they did haha
by PL78 on Oct 22, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Need 1 vet
just someone to throw in the middle of the order for stability would be nice.
If we could pick up Nolasco that would be great, but with his strong second half recovery he might be out of Beane’s price range.
Penny/Wolf would probably do well with a 1-2 year deal in a pitchers park.
It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.
by ru155 on Oct 22, 2009 8:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Let's get one thing out of the way
Ricky Nolasco is NOT a free agent. I would suggest that no one worry about obtaining him, because it’s not going to happen (except through a trade).
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's the idea
that Beane would have to give up too much to get him (via trade).
It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.
by ru155 on Oct 22, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Misread the OP
Sorry.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd go for one of the injured
By injured I mean: Harden, Duke, Hudson, Bedard, Sheets. All 5 have shown they are successsful when healthy and are likely to be cheaper or better than mediocrities like Marquis, Wolf, Pavano, Pineiro and Tomko.
Hudson is probably the best of the five injured because he’s the most likely to be healthy. He’ll also probably be the most expensive. Duke is the most likely to return. Harden the least (based on info from Urban, he had some disagreements with Oakland). Bedard and Sheets are ideas worth exploring the price tag on.
I am not fully against exploring into Unit, Chapman, Lackey or Penny if they’re cheap enough. Lackey almost certainly will get too expensive too fast. Unit or Penny could be worth a shot if they don’t draw much interest. Chapman is very intriguing to say the least.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
by vignette17 on Oct 22, 2009 8:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree with this, although I don't think there's much point in Penny or RJ
With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory. ----Hero Defector Montgomery
by mikeA on Oct 22, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would
offer Duke arbitration. I believe he is a type B. So, if he accepts, we have our vet. If he doesn’t than we have a supp pick.
by equation9 on Oct 22, 2009 8:59 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Duke would accept before the offer was even done being tendered.
Unless I’m mistaken, arby contracts can still be no less than 80% of the previous year’s salary.
Duke made $3.9M last year, meaning the lowest amount he’d be eligible for via arbitration is $3.12M
Between physical injury and the depression issue, however unfortunate they may be on a personal level, in baseball terms it makes very little sense to offer better than $3M guaranteed money to Duchscherer next season.
I’d much rather see a nontender, and then resign him to a low base salary deal with pretty sizeable escalators for IP.
Call it $1M base salary, plus $500K escalators for 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200 IP. Max him out at 4.5M if he actually starts a full season worth of games.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd be surprised if he made less than $3M
He’s worth more than that if he can pitch half a season. I don’t think he’d accept that arb offer unless he wants to stay with the A’s. In any case, it would be a good deal.
With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory. ----Hero Defector Montgomery
by mikeA on Oct 22, 2009 9:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Word is
Nationals are definitely considering him for their rotation.
It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.
by ru155 on Oct 22, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Says who?
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Oct 22, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
MLBTradeRumors.com
linked to a Washington Post interview w/ their GM that Duke was among their targets for a veteran pitcher.
I don’t feel like looking for it.
It's just more exciting with Billy Beane running the team.
by ru155 on Oct 23, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I did feel like looking for it,
so I just read through all the MLB Trade Rumors stories for Duchscherer, and I didn’t see anything connecting him to the Nationals.
Google isn’t locating any Washington Post interview with Rizzo for me either. The only recent interviews I find are with National Journal and with ESPN, and neither of them mention Duchscherer.
I wonder if maybe “Word” got his signals confused.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 23, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If the A's competition for Duke's services is the Nationals,
I like Oakland’s chances of re-signing him.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 23, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hate to keep beating this drum, but arbitration awards are NOT GUARANTEED MONEY
The guaranteed money portion is 1/6 of the award.
Also, the 80% rule does not apply to free agents. Not that it matters, since he’d easily command more than $3M on the open market anyway…
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right, they could just cut him and then only pay a portion of it.
But the 80% rule, is Duke technically a FA? According to Cots, he doesn’t have 6 years of service time.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
cots hasn't been updated yet.
"Since other people actually read these threads, though, probably best that your particular brand of wrongness not go completely unchallenged." - PT
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 22, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Which means that he is a FA
"Since other people actually read these threads, though, probably best that your particular brand of wrongness not go completely unchallenged." - PT
There are differing opinions on me. According to Iglew "DFA is PT with a sense of humor. PT is DFA with introspective self-doubt. I like them both" but according to sirbed Im "The Stats Killer"
by designatedforassignment on Oct 22, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duh. :headsmack:
His MLB service was 5.051 at the beginning of 2009. How many service days did he actually get?
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He got a full service year
He didn’t spend any time in the minors this season.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 12:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't he moved to the 60 day DL at some point?
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
Players on the 60-day DL accrue service time.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Oct 22, 2009 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bring the band back together
I agree with Huddy. Might be able to get him a little cheaper then 4/10.
by StewCrew on Oct 22, 2009 9:12 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Several catagories
Pipe dream/Not in the budget:
Lackey, Marquis, Wolf, Chapman, Pavano, and Huddy (He decline 12mil/year, clearly wants multiyear security at least 3years. Chapman, too many $$, too many ???. Everyone else pitched will enough to be out of A’s pay scale.
Good NL guy, Crappy AL guy :
Penny, Padilla, R Johnson, Pinero.
All four have pretty good stuff, they just don’t thrive pitching to 9 hitters. Plus one of them is flat out kooky…
High risk/ High reward/ Bargin Basement.
Bedard, Sheets, Tomko, Duke, Harden.
Sheets – probably will stay with Tex, who already paid for 1 year (but $$ could be issue for them)
Harden – Not sure how he feels about a return and probably too pricey for partial year.
Bedard – Maybe, would love a good bargin….
Tomko – Eh, Plan B?
Duke – arby award 3/4 mill – could win 12 to 15 games or get supp pick. Cmon, this should be route we go….
We all know Billy loves a good bargin…
by equation9 on Oct 22, 2009 10:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
according to Byg Urb
Harden doesn’t want to return to Oakland (see bottom of the article)
Of course, this is based only on Urban’s suspicions, since he hasn’t talked to Harden about it recently, but it sounds pretty plausible to me.
by colin on Oct 22, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't he pretty pissed off when he left?
Misdiagnosed injuries, etc.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
by nevermoor on Oct 22, 2009 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
bargain
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Oct 22, 2009 11:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't get it
Why do people continue to lump Tomko with Bedard/Sheets/Duke/Harden? The latter are good. The former is a replacement pitcher. I know people loved Saarloos when he was with the team. But no one really cared when he was traded. Tomko’s worse.
"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton
by vignette17 on Oct 22, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Did too.
I hated that Saarloos had one really awesome season as the A’s 5th starter and then never got the chance to duplicate it.
Fuck you, Esteban Loaiza. :(
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uhh...
Saarloos struck out more guys than he walked during that “awesome” season. Same with the season after that. It’s not too hard to figure out why he hasn’t had an awesome season since…
by swatnick on Oct 22, 2009 10:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uhhh
He had 53Ks to 54BBs in 159 innings, and he had a ridiculous 2.5:1 GB/FB ratio.
Not too worried about a high K rate from your 5th starter when every ball hit off him gets pounded into the ground.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 23, 2009 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You should have been worried
that is really bad, as shown by the rest of his career….
With stout hearts, and with enthusiasm for the contest, let us go forward to victory. ----Hero Defector Montgomery
by mikeA on Oct 23, 2009 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh now you're going to play the tired
“rest of his career” card!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 23, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
One more name -
Josh Towers.
If the A’s aren’t going to win next year, at least let’s make it entertaining, huh?
by bobnothing on Oct 22, 2009 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Tomko
lumped into that slot because he is a bargin. Not that he is great. Everyone in that catagory, has dent in them, some more prominent than others. I still think offer Duke arby is the way to go.
by equation9 on Oct 22, 2009 12:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Sheets
would probably be the cheapest option, though he would be the highest risk too.
I am good with Hudson on a 3 year deal, Bedard on a 2 year deal or even Pavano on a 1 year incentive laced deal, Tomko may be a good option as well.
"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win!!!"
by nocal81 on Oct 22, 2009 1:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Bedard has made 15 starts per season the last 2 years.
Why are people talking about him as if he’s an upper echelon pitcher? He’s broken.
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 22, 2009 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I Am Not Sure
Anyone is talking about any of these pitchers as “Upper echelon” we are looking for a 2-4 starter not a dominant pitcher.
"Cannot play with them. Cannot win with them. Cannot coach with them. Can't do it. I want winners. I want people that want to win!!!"
by nocal81 on Oct 22, 2009 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Because IF healthy, he IS an upper echolon pitcher
Didn’t you cut Harden the same kind of slack when contemplating the IF/IS question?
by LowcountryJoe on Oct 22, 2009 7:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't touch Duke or Harden...
…for any amount of money, regardless how little. Have we really not “been there done that”… for literally years… and learned our lesson?
If Hudson hated the lack of offense when he was here… then yeah, he’s gonna be so impressed with what we have now to support him. Not! Ain’t happening.
Tomko was great for us down the stretch, but think “John Mabry” and let him go.
In 2008 I was watching a team that was rebuilding. In 2009 I feel like I'm watching a team that just sucks.
by UncleLeo on Oct 22, 2009 3:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
IMHO
A top-of-the-order, lower risk pitcher with recent success in the AL is the only way to go if the team’s management decides to go. If someone like that cannot be signed, the kids should get the ball instead and the signing money be spent elsewhere. I see two on that list: Duke (top-of-the-order?) and Slingblade.
by LowcountryJoe on Oct 22, 2009 7:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure how you're defining low risk
Are you talking fiscal, ‘cause Duke missed all of 2009 and his medical record doesn’t suggest low risk.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Oct 22, 2009 8:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
low risk in the sense that it is not pitching-arm related.
by LowcountryJoe on Oct 23, 2009 2:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Duke's back?
Woo hoo!!!!!!!!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 23, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be really silly to bat your pitcher at the top of the order,
especially in the AL.
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Oct 22, 2009 11:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hmm
I don’t see the A’s signing any of these guys. I’d like to see us bring Tomko back. We could use him out of the pen if Duke, Gio, and Vin are healthy and effective, and once you look past his flukily low strand rate in 08 he’s been pretty serviceable the last few years. His HR tendencies are also pretty well suited for pitching in Oakland.
by swatnick on Oct 22, 2009 10:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Tomko
Wasn’t he shutdown at the end of the year? Any word on his injury? It must have been pretty serious. The guy was fighting for a 2010 MLB contract.
by Colorado Fan on Oct 23, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brett Myers pls
kthanxbye.
Also, Bedard if the price/risk is low enough.
Is this the real life-
Is this just fantasy-
Caught in a landslide-
No escape from reality-
by Daniel777 on Oct 23, 2009 3:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
he's a pile of human garbage
no thanks.
by PL78 on Oct 23, 2009 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd probably phrase that more decorously, but
I agree with the sentiment: Do Not Want.
"Go ahead and overachieve, you scrappy Brett-Favre-colored walk-takers." —Rev Halofan
by iglew on Oct 23, 2009 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, really:
He’s a neatly assembled array of garbage. Let’s be fair to the guy!
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 23, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
well he did beat his wife
"If you hit .440 with 20 bombs, you don't have to do s---. You don't have to bring a glove to practice, just hit and leave whenever you want. You can bring a 40 and smoke a cigarette and call me from the parking lot asking me what time the game is, and I'll tell you. You can even say 'F--- you, Steve!' Actually, don't say that, that wouldn't be very nice." -Steve Friend, Head Coach, Chabot College Gladiators Baseball
by flipgatey3 on Oct 25, 2009 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
See, he beats things.
That’s what you want in a pitcher.
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
by Nico on Oct 25, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I thought that was "did she deserve it"
They call their best player "Kung Fu Panda" and they complain that people aren’t taking them or the game seriously enough? -Nick
by mikev on Oct 26, 2009 7:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of broken pitchers...
Mulder will be available after sitting out the ‘09 season. I recall reading he felt he was ready a few times during the course of the season. Could be a good low-risk move. Not sure how much he has left, but couldn’t hurt to sign him to an incentive laden deal. However, if I had to guess today, I’d say he reunites with Peterson and signs with the Brewers.
"just a beating heart ... plasma that we'll put into our uniform." - Billy Beane
by athleticsBB4life on Oct 23, 2009 7:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I just thought that if they wanted to take on Zito’s contract, any team could have the big three next year haha
by PL78 on Oct 23, 2009 11:39 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tim Hudson, please.
Welcome back to ME, motherf^&*er.
Duke would also be a fine choice.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
by jeepers on Oct 23, 2009 2:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll take Duke or Huddy!
That would be sweet to have both back but it won’t happen…..unless Beane trades some of the young lower tear pitching for a hitter, and then signs two vets for the rotation.
Highly unlikely, though.
Zeigler to Geren…."A-Rod? He’s my bitch." -alox
by mrod on Oct 26, 2009 4:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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