The Tigers spent $16.5MM on Joaquin Benoit because they considered him one of the best available relievers. And because a couple other clubs also made three-year offers, anything less would have fallen short. Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski says the Tigers did not like the idea of losing Benoit to one of his other suitors.
"When you want to get the best players at certain positions, you have to be aggressive and prepared to do things," Dombrowski said on a conference call this morning.
The Tigers will use Benoit as a setup man to closer Jose Valverde in 2011. They have considered adding another left-handed reliever to a bullpen that could include southpaws Daniel Schlereth and Brad Thomas, but Dombrowski says it's not a priority because Valverde and Benoit are effective against hitters from both sides of the plate.
The Tigers are not expecting Benoit to post a 1.34 ERA again, but they believe he'll be a top setup man as long as he's healthy. The 33-year-old passed his physical and says his 2010 production shows he's just fine.
"For me last year it was just to see how my arm was going to respond," Benoit said. "Obviously it came back really good."
Dombrowski says the Tigers have been signing players aggressively since they had a number of free agents and were prepared to make offers right away. But they're not done yet.
"We're still in a position where we think we can make a move and solidify the middle of our lineup with someone," Dombrowski said.
“We’re still in a position where we think we can make a move and solidify the middle of our lineup with someone,” Dombrowski said.
Translation: We’re still going to get Adam Dunn.
Translation: We’re going to get Victor Martinez.
Translation: were still getting Dunn and Vmart and making a move for Crawford.
I know it’s VERY early in the free agent signing period but i have a feeling that if we look back after all the dust has settled the Benoit and Buck Deals will probably wind up being the most regrettable!
do relievers deserve big checks?
Nope.
A team plays roughly 1,458 innings. Does a guy that pitches 60 of those innings (or 4.1% of those innings) deserve a big paycheck? Hmmm…let me think about that…
CC, Halladay are making 20 for their 220+ IP. It’s not like he is making 10, just around 5-6 for 60 IP which seems fair to me… not that I would do it.
CC, Halladay are making 20 for their 220+ IP. It’s not like he is making 10, just around 5-6 for 60 IP which seems fair to me… not that I would do it.
Sorry peeps, off topic: My browser is going bonkers every time I log on or refresh on this site, and I keep getting a prompt about “slow scripts.” Is anybody else having a problem with their browser on this site today?
same here.
Fill out the contact form and let them know. I haven’t had it, but if it’s happening to multiple people, they’ll resolve it quickly if it’s on their end.
Yeah, my Firefox wants NO part of this website today.Thanks @: CrisE & notsureif’, and Morneau’ for the suggestion. I’m on it.
Yeah, my Firefox wants NO part of this website today.Thanks @: CrisE & notsureif’, and Morneau’ for the suggestion. I’m on it.
Yes, it would’ve been the worst thing in the world if someone else overpaid for Benoit. Because, you know, he will be the difference in the team winning the division.
Getting Adam Dunn doesn’t make up for the ludicrous contract given to Benoit… They paid for his ceiling and the only way they break even is if he repeats 2010 in ’11-’13. Just a dumb deal.
Getting Adam Dunn doesn’t make up for the ludicrous contract given to Benoit… They paid for his ceiling and the only way they break even is if he repeats 2010 in ’11-’13. Just a dumb deal.
It was a good sign but the tigers really gave him too much. No one else would have given him a 3 year deal considering his past injuries and they probably could have got him for 3-5 million less.
However, it does give you hope as a tigers fan because we know they are going to spend money to fill the posistions and they want to go and buy the best. I just hope they are just as aggressive with everyone else in their list.
It was a good sign but the tigers really gave him too much. No one else would have given him a 3 year deal considering his past injuries and they probably could have got him for 3-5 million less.
However, it does give you hope as a tigers fan because we know they are going to spend money to fill the posistions and they want to go and buy the best. I just hope they are just as aggressive with everyone else in their list.
Isn’t this similar to Lyon’s contract last year? People were saying that was awful, one of the worst in 2010 offseason. So why is this any different? Because of his ridiculous 2010?
I don’t think it is any different. It’s going to be one of the worst of the offseason. Three years for any reliever, especially one coming off a career year at age 32-33, with an injury history like Benoit… is terrible.
Benoit was phenomenal in 2010, and worth 1.5 WAR… he needs to duplicate that level of performance each season to make this contract worthwhile, and that’s just simply not going to happen.
It’s a classic overpay. You’d think Dombrowski would’ve learned from his last round of horrible contracts.
No Dunn or V-Mart to the Tigers. They just filled out their 40 man.
What makes that relevant?
I bet they still sign them both
There’s plenty of room in toledo for them to take on a couple more big signings.
just because a team fills out their 40-man roster, doesn’t mean they can’t sign more players. think before you post.
No Dunn or V-Mart to the Tigers. They just filled out their 40 man.
Yea, reading the arguments here it seems that the half of the best players in the MLB should never have been signed since they are “overpays” and “stupid” contracts.
While I agree and understand that a team should be seeking maximum value from each contract, there will be situations where teams overpay. A middle relief pitcher (and future closer) probably isn’t it (though I’m guessing people’s panties wouldn’t be in such a bunch if Benoit was closing this year). That said, as long as this sizable contract doesn’t prevent the Tigers from pursuing top talent, then who cares.
Who would I rather have? Someone I overpay by 30% that gives me 15% above average performance or someone that I pay exact market value for and gives me average performance? In some cases, you want the former.
I totally agree. I’d rather them overpay talent that skimp out on contracts with mediocre players. Very well put.
Dombrowski is a self-imposed lame-duck GM and isn’t going to do the Tigers any solids on his way out of Detroit to his next team. He’s doing his best to ensure his successor, Al Avila, will fail–signing Inge and Peralta to multi-year deals and now this signing.
2 years for one and 3 for a gold glove third basemen was no where near the dumbest thing he’s ever done. Read the post above yours and that sums up dombrowskis mentality. Look at the 3rd base FA market this year and even the next couple of years and the Inge deal will make some sense. Inge and peralta were both slightly overpaid, but they were at the top of two short lists of quality players for their respective positions. Inge will be the highest payed number 9 hitter in the AL, but his glove will make that contract seem less stupid.
Inge has been on the decline the last two years on defense…the numbers show this pretty clearly. Peralta is a shortstop in the lineup card only not on ability. This may be one of the worst defensive Infields in baseball in 2011. I understand why they re-signed them, but I think they are mistaken by the demand both players actually would have had on the open market. Even with this WEAK SS class, Peralta probably ranks around Orlando Cabrera and Inge is essentially in the Pedro Feliz mold. Too much money and years for those types of players.
You make it sound like Inge and Peralta are signed for 4 or 5 years. They’re essentially signed for this year and next. They can buy out the third year of either contract if they feel like they aren’t going to produce in their third year. They really aren’t bad contracts, and you can’t call this one a bad contract until Benoit actually pitches in a Tigers uniform.
Dombrowski is a self-imposed lame-duck GM and isn’t going to do the Tigers any solids on his way out of Detroit to his next team. He’s doing his best to ensure his successor, Al Avila, will fail–signing Inge and Peralta to multi-year deals and now this signing.
I wonder if the Benoit signing hints at using Ryan Perry as trade bait for a bat? The Dbacks need a closer and the Tigers need an OF power bat. Upton? (Not straight up, obviously.)
Interesting thought. Although a back end of Perry-Benoit-Valverde is a pretty damn good back end. This might be the trade DD makes this offseason, considering Upton is locked up, very affordable, and could be a middle-of-the-lineup bat. Although I feel like a package would need to be built around Perry and Jacob Turner. It would be a good acquisition for Detroit I’d imagine.
While I’d love to see Upton in an ol english D, his asking price is astronomical. It would gut the farm, as if it isn’t already enough.
very true. but I feel a package around Perry + Turner is a reasonable one if KT brings down his asking price. I guess getting rid of Turner would pretty much get rid of the farm by itself though.
I think DD paying Benoit says 2 things. 1) The Tigers bullpen has been shady the last couple of years and they’re aggresively trying to change it. 2) Valverde’s contract is up after this year and if Benoit continues his dominance they then have a closer for $5.5 mil a year which is discount price in this era. This move also allows the Tigers to continue their developing of their endless list of promising young relievers while not having to put them in high pressure situations.
I completely agree that this signing was made with the idea that Benoit will be the team’s closer in 2012 and ’13. Not sure it’ll pan out that way — injury risk, numbers should regress — but if it does, the signing looks a lot better.
Awesome post, taking pressure off of Perry, Schlereth etc is just gonna make the BP even better. Watch out if Zumaya can actually stay healthy. Best BP in the majors if that happens.
Not so sure about that, but I get what you’re saying. It would still certainly be a great bullpen if Zumaya could actually stay healthy, which won’t happen, because we all know that he can’t stay healthy even staying home and playing guitar hero.
I think youre all forgetting that Valverde’s contract has an option for a 3rd year, so its not automatic that he’s gone after 2011.
Just so everybody knows Baseball America posted Tigers top ten prospects list today. I’ll give you top five:
1.) Turner
2.) Castellanos
3.) Oliver
4.) Martinez
5.) Fields
Very surprised Castellanos is above Oliver, not like it matters but really?
Dave Dombrowski. Do you know how many ugly suits and mock turtlenecks you coulda bought for 5.5 mill a yr????
Dave Dombrowski. Do you know how many ugly suits and mock turtlenecks you coulda bought for 5.5 mill a yr????
Dave Dongbrowski is a stiff negotiator, but he really blew this one… These signings can be pretty messy, but hopefully for the Tigers he doesn’t have to pull out on this one. This deal has the signs of being to too much and too many, hopefully it’s not too hard for Tigers fans to swallow.