The Nationals have signed veteran lefty Shawn Estes to a minor league contract according to the AP (via MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez). Estes will earn $600K and could pocket another $400K in incentives if he makes the club.
Estes, 37 later this month, last pitched in the big leagues back in 2008, when he gave the Padres 43.2 innings of 4.74 ERA ball, though his peripherals were ugly (3.9 K/9, 3.7 BB/9). He spent last season with the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, posting a 3.07 ERA in 13 starts despite similar peripherals. On the bright side, he did hold lefties to a .206 batting average.
hmm…….umm…….ok…..?
I don’t get this one, either. Maybe because he is just a little cheaper than Livo would be? A real head-scratcher.
It’s a minor league deal. No risk. If he stinks, they cut him.
anyone signed to a “minor league deal” is rarely relevant. if they luck out and he doesn’t suck, fine. if not, who cares. i can’t see any relevance to livo.
My connection to Livo was the salary they guaranteed him. I could understand an invitation to Spring Training, but they guaranteed him more than a MLB minumum salary just to try. The only risk is of $600K. Considering that the difference between what the Nats offered Hudson and what the Twins did might be as little as $1M, it tells me that this amount of money is of some consequence to the Nats.
Perhaps they know something others don’t.
“Estes will earn $600K and could pocket another $400K in incentives if he makes the club.”
A little ambiguous, but I think this can be interpreted as that he only gets the $600K if he makes the club, with the incentives to follow. So the Nats may only be guaranteeing the MiLB minimum (about $60K).
Good luck Shawnee regardless of how this plays out, although I’m glad you weren’t able to help out the Dogs last year.
Thank you humbb. I was reading that ambiguous sentence incorrectly, I think. If your interpretation is correct, I am perfectly happy with this transaction. If he indeed gets the $600K for sure, and the $400K in incentives might be available only if he makes the club, I am less content.
hopefully humbb is right (and that’s how i read it).
btw, halfst, i’m sec231 on natsjournal. hi. 😉
Excellent- an old friend. Hard to keep constant identities across sites.
+1/2St.
Basically, yes, he is cheaper. I can’t see Livan taking a minor league deal with the Nationals. Either way, Estes is a veteran arm, he could help, or just fade into oblivion.
I seriously thought this dude retired.
lol the article on Nationals website said he “semi-retired” because he refused to pitch in AAA ball. to others: i dont care that they signed him its just improved depth i just dont get it or see the upside. his strikeouts and walks ratio is horrible and has only 1 good season. normally im optimistic but the confused even me……. sidenote: plus hes 37 i see no upside lol
As bad as the National’s bullpen was last season, you’ve got to like these minor league signings. Rizzo seems content to bring a ton of guys into ST to compete for the bullpen spots. Personally I would have tried for Mahay or Ohman over Estes, but this is how you build a bullpen on the cheap.
NEW CLOSER FOR THE NATS!!!
I know you’re saying this in jest, but seriously?
lol well hearing today that bobby keilty is converting to pitcher i would rather have him closing :p have estes closing is like have derek jeter be the ace pitcher of the yanks but honestly storen would be the closer if estes was the last option and didnt they sign capps for closing?
When everyone always says there’s no risk in minor league deals, that’s not entirely true. Sure, there isn’t much financial risk, but what if the guy makes your roster and ends up being horrible? Look at Livan Hernandez and guys like Russ Ortiz and other pitchers who get a shot with a big league club and just get hammered. Sure, they might make only 5 starts or so, but if the games are over in the 3rd inning, there is a risk.
i thoguht he retired lol?