ESPN.com's Buster Olney points out that Orlando Hudson would likely benefit from hitting in front of Joe Mauer. Those hitting before Mauer saw lots of fastballs last year and Hudson hits the heater well. Here are Olney's rumors:
- An AL scout calls the Justin Verlander deal a "solid sign for the club." An NL GM calls Verlander a "top-of-the-rotation type, long term." An NL scout says it's a "great signing" for the Tigers if the righty stays healthy.
- Despite concerns about Russell Branyan's back, one current coach says the slugger looks good in workouts.
- Some within the industry believe Erik Bedard could miss months of the upcoming season. The lefty is close to signing with the Mariners.
“An AL scout calls the Justin Verlander deal a “solid sign for the club.” An NL GM calls Verlander a “top-of-the-rotation type, long term.” An NL scout says it’s a “great signing” for the Tigers if the righty stays healthy.”
I personally don’t think he will stay healthy all contract but the Tigers were not in a position where they could imagine a future without Verlander.
I don’t like the way his contract is structured either. If I were Dave D I’d have increased his 2010, 2011 years and decreased his 20M from 12-14.
Current Contract:2010:$6.75M, 11:$12.75M, 12:$20M, 13:$20M, 14:$20M
How I would have structured it:10:12.75, 11:17, 12:20, 12:10.08, 13:10.08, 14:10.08
Good for Verlander and All fans of Tigers baseball.
“I personally don’t think he will stay healthy all contract…”
Why?
Also, your salary structure has two 2012s. Besides, Verlander and his agent probably aren’t interested in a front-loaded contract. Sure, you and I and most teams probably prefer them, but that doesn’t mean players should or will agree to them.
I feel sorry for guys like Branyan and Hudson. Just a few years ago, hitting free agency coming off seasons like theirs would have been the ticket to a massive payday, the kind of payday where not only would *they* never have to work again, but neither would their kids, their grandkids, their favorite aunts and uncles… Coming off a 31 homer season would easily have gotten Branyan 20-30mil not so long ago.
These days, the market being the way it is, it’s not even a guarantee of a job.
I realize to a large extent, this is a market correction. Once upon a time, sluggers with narrow skill sets were overpaid; veteran middle infielders with good reps had an all too easy time crowding potentially productive young players out of jobs.
But just thinking in human terms: wow, crap timing. I feel sorry for them.
Yes, Branyan hit 31 homers last year, but that was a career best from a 33-year-old journeyman who a) has never played a full season, and b) who had his season cut short with a back injury. Why should that lead to his grandkids not having to work?
see Marco Scutaro
1. Scutaro has much more defensive value and can play in the middle infield, 3B, and the OF corners in a pinch. Branyan has evolved into a 1B/DH, which are much easier positions to fill, either cheaply of from within.
2. Scutaro has played 140+ games each of the last two seasons, plus 137 games in 2004. He’s also had at least 379 in each of the last six seasons, including 592 and 680 in the last two seasons. Branyan’s career best was 134 games with the Reds and Indians in 2002. Last season’s 504 plate appearances were his highest total since 2002 (435).
3. Scutaro has never been on the DL in his career, and has been listed as day-to-day only three times, missing a total of 16 games. Branyan has been on the 15-day DL 4 times, the 60-day once, and day-to-day 12 times, and has missed 250 games. His career year was cut short when he required back surgery, which has been an ongoing issue with Branyan since 2005.
4. Scutaro signed for 2/$12.5M, which is about half of what Branyan is asking for.
Other than that, totally comparable.
And really, no parent should ever have the goal of making enough money so their kids don’t have to work. The world have enough Kardashians….
The readers in the audience will have noticed I gave better reasons why Branyan and Hudson didn’t deserve big paydays than even those who slagged me. My point was, from their point of view: WOW, terrible timing.
Seriously? we’re sad for mediocre athletes not being able to support three generations of families now?
I lol’d
Wow. Olney continues to amaze me.
My kid sister “would likely benefit” from hitting in front of Joe Mauer.