The Phillies signed reliever Danys Baez to a two-year, $5.25MM deal today. SI's Jon Heyman first tweeted the agreement on Thursday of last week, while MLB.com's Todd Zolecki added the value today.
Baez, 32, posted a 5.0 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, and 4.02 ERA in 71.6 innings for the Orioles this year. Among free agents with 50 innings, Baez ranked behind only non-tenders Brian Bass and Mike MacDougal in terms of groundball rate. That makes him a good fit for Citizens Bank Park, though the multiyear commitment is questionable. Regardless, it's not nearly as bad as the three-year, $19MM deal the Orioles gave Baez in November of '06. In a September blog post, Stacey Long of Camden Chat reflected on that brutal $41.5MM commitment Mike Flanagan and Jim Duquette made to Baez, Chad Bradford, and Jamie Walker.
Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.
I like this only if it is cheap and we get Kiko or Eyre as well.
I like this only if it is cheap and we get Kiko or Eyre as well.
That’s cheap enough for me! Get KIKO!
That’s cheap enough for me! Get KIKO!
It’s hard to build a bullpen through FA. In fact I don’t know of many(any?) teams that do it successfully for more then a year or two.
I think they will end up wishing they spent the money elsewhere because they won’t get anything better then league average innings from him.
It’s hard to build a bullpen through FA. In fact I don’t know of many(any?) teams that do it successfully for more then a year or two.
I think they will end up wishing they spent the money elsewhere because they won’t get anything better then league average innings from him.
Too much money IMO.
Too much money IMO.
The third dumb move of the offseason for the Phillies…their rival in New York signed Igarashi and Kelvim Escobar for the amount that Baez got. Those two have upside, Baez has none.
The third dumb move of the offseason for the Phillies…their rival in New York signed Igarashi and Kelvim Escobar for the amount that Baez got. Those two have upside, Baez has none.
A lot of money for a middle reliever but considering some of the other ridiculous contracts signed by relievers (Rodney and Lyon come to mind), it could have been worse.
Baez’s upside is that he was fairly effective in his first year back from TJ surgery and this will be 2 years removed. He had his velocity back by the end of 09…perhaps he returns to form in 2010…
A lot of money for a middle reliever but considering some of the other ridiculous contracts signed by relievers (Rodney and Lyon come to mind), it could have been worse.
Baez’s upside is that he was fairly effective in his first year back from TJ surgery and this will be 2 years removed. He had his velocity back by the end of 09…perhaps he returns to form in 2010…
I have to do this:
2010 salaries:
Gload: 1MM
Schneider: 1MM
Baez: 2.5MM (not announced, just taking half)
Durbin: offered arbitration, made 1.63MM last year, sub-replacement level last year
total: ~6MM
Jays ate 6MM of Doc’s salary. This doesn’t really look like the best use of 6MM, especially since the 6MM Toronto sent probably increased the prospect cost Phillies had to give up.
I agree too much money…
Damn, everytime the Phillies sign someone, I always hear, “Oh, he’s too expensive” or “Let’s spend the money elsewhere”. Believe it or not guys, you can’t just give Baez or any other major leaguer 50 bucks and a Snickers bar and expect them to play ball for you, sometimes it costs a little money. The guy had a 4.04 ERA in the AL East which isn’t GREAT, but it’s not terrible either, not to mention he’s 2 years removed from TJ surgery, and typically pitchers hit a peak in their second recovery year, this guy was touching 95 at the end of ’09. The only way I would regret this signing is if Mathieson absolutely lights it up in Spring Training. But if that were to happen, they’d make a spot for him. And with Madson chunking 95-97 himself, we’d have 4 legitimate strikeout pitchers at the back end of the pen, NOT including Romero. I look at it this way, would you rather Baez or Kendrick? I’ll take Baez, especially when I want Kendrick to take the 5th spot in the rotation, please, no more Moyer.
Probably because the Phillies keep overpaying for guys relative to the market.
Sooooo….why is this guy getting a 2-year deal while Kiko Calero is still on the market?
I mean, I haven’t heard anything about his contract demands being too crazy, or even bad at all.
Some GM be smart please??
Wow 41.5 million for THEM? I mean that is a lot for three relievers who aren’t even elite. I think Bradford is good but come on.