Comments on: Ned Colletti has another attack of big-name-itis http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/ In-your-face baseball commentary Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:19:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-2/#comment-54047 Sarah Green Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:51:50 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54047 Here's an interesting Andruw Jones update. In the course of my obsessive refreshing of www.mlbtraderumors.com, I read <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/weblog/2007/12/heading_out_of_nashville.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> from San Diego writer Tom Krasovic, who had been talking with Padres GM Kevin Towers. At first Krasovic appears to praise the Dodgers-Jones deal: "Boras talked about getting a five-year deal for Jones, 30, but the Dodgers bought him for two years. The Dodgers smartened up from last winter, when they guaranteed Juan Pierre $45 million over five years." And yet just a few lines later, Krasovic writes, "It doesn't appear Jones attracted several offers. Other than a $22-million, two-year bid from the Royals, the Dodgers may have been his only other firm bidder." Surely Los Angeles didn't have to kick in another 14.2 million just to beat the lowly Royals? Maybe they've smartened up <em>some</em>...just not a lot. Here’s an interesting Andruw Jones update. In the course of my obsessive refreshing of http://www.mlbtraderumors.com, I read this article from San Diego writer Tom Krasovic, who had been talking with Padres GM Kevin Towers. At first Krasovic appears to praise the Dodgers-Jones deal: “Boras talked about getting a five-year deal for Jones, 30, but the Dodgers bought him for two years. The Dodgers smartened up from last winter, when they guaranteed Juan Pierre $45 million over five years.”

And yet just a few lines later, Krasovic writes, “It doesn’t appear Jones attracted several offers. Other than a $22-million, two-year bid from the Royals, the Dodgers may have been his only other firm bidder.”

Surely Los Angeles didn’t have to kick in another 14.2 million just to beat the lowly Royals? Maybe they’ve smartened up some…just not a lot.

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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54046 Nick Kapur Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:53:51 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54046 Melissa, I DO think there is a reasonable chance that Matt Kemp gets traded, which is one of my big big fears. Kemp is already an awesome player, and he's only 24 or something like that. I mean, it would be one thing if Kemp netted us a Santana or something, but I'm worried Ned Colletti is going to trade him for a second or third tier starter, or Scott Rolen or something, AND maybe throw in Kershaw or another one of our great young players. Melissa, I DO think there is a reasonable chance that Matt Kemp gets traded, which is one of my big big fears. Kemp is already an awesome player, and he’s only 24 or something like that. I mean, it would be one thing if Kemp netted us a Santana or something, but I’m worried Ned Colletti is going to trade him for a second or third tier starter, or Scott Rolen or something, AND maybe throw in Kershaw or another one of our great young players.
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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54045 Paul Moro Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:30:36 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54045 Melissa, that's a good point. Didn't think of the ChiSox when thinking about Pierre, who come to think of it seems like the kind of guy Kenny Williams would acquire (i.e. "crappy" - sorry, Alejandro!). Melissa, that’s a good point. Didn’t think of the ChiSox when thinking about Pierre, who come to think of it seems like the kind of guy Kenny Williams would acquire (i.e. “crappy” – sorry, Alejandro!).
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]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54044 melissa Thu, 06 Dec 2007 21:22:14 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54044 The only good thing about the Dodgers signing Jones would be that they might now move Juan Pierre. The White Sox are looking fairly desperate for a center fielder/lead-off guy and they are looking to deal Joe Crede. It is only a 2 year deal so it shouldn't cripple them financially. The advantage that Boston and New York seem to have is that even when they spend money on a guy who doesn't pan out they still have money to spend elsewhere. It makes their mistakes less noticeable. Nick, There have been rumblings the Dodgers are looking to trade Kemp because of his attitude. Do you think it's likely he'll get moved? The only good thing about the Dodgers signing Jones would be that they might now move Juan Pierre. The White Sox are looking fairly desperate for a center fielder/lead-off guy and they are looking to deal Joe Crede. It is only a 2 year deal so it shouldn’t cripple them financially. The advantage that Boston and New York seem to have is that even when they spend money on a guy who doesn’t pan out they still have money to spend elsewhere. It makes their mistakes less noticeable.
Nick, There have been rumblings the Dodgers are looking to trade Kemp because of his attitude. Do you think it’s likely he’ll get moved?
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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54043 Sarah Green Thu, 06 Dec 2007 20:42:02 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54043 Not necessarily, Nick. The Red Sox have shown they are willing to pay market value. And as a very interesting recent article on SI.com demonstrated, "market value" for even old, crappy baseball players is extremely high. And Manny may be aging, but he is still far from crappy. If Manny can bounce back at all from last year's "abysmal" performance of .296, 20 HR, and 88 RBI (eclipsed somewhat by his postseason heroics), the Red Sox will pony up. What they won't do is give him extra years. Like he has done for Lowell, Varitek, and Damon, Theo Epstein will assign Ramirez a certain value and not go above it---no matter what. One thing Manny will have to do to get a raise is prove he is still durable. The Red Sox don't need a second DH, and for the past two season, Manny has only been able to play about 130 games, after playing in the 150-game range the previous three seasons. Plus, if the Red Sox do move Julian Tavarez (a.k.a. Manny's best friend and "stable pony") as some are speculating, Manny may lose the equanimity he has only recently gained in Boston (this is the man who wanted to bring his Cleveland clubbie to Boston, after all). But if Manny is happy in Boston, reasonably durable in left field, and productive at the plate, I see no reason for the Red Sox not to show him the money. He might even be willing to give them something of a hometown discount. After all, if he plays a couple more years with Boston, they will certainly retire his number as soon as he's inducted into the Hall. Not necessarily, Nick. The Red Sox have shown they are willing to pay market value. And as a very interesting recent article on SI.com demonstrated, “market value” for even old, crappy baseball players is extremely high. And Manny may be aging, but he is still far from crappy. If Manny can bounce back at all from last year’s “abysmal” performance of .296, 20 HR, and 88 RBI (eclipsed somewhat by his postseason heroics), the Red Sox will pony up. What they won’t do is give him extra years. Like he has done for Lowell, Varitek, and Damon, Theo Epstein will assign Ramirez a certain value and not go above it—no matter what. One thing Manny will have to do to get a raise is prove he is still durable. The Red Sox don’t need a second DH, and for the past two season, Manny has only been able to play about 130 games, after playing in the 150-game range the previous three seasons. Plus, if the Red Sox do move Julian Tavarez (a.k.a. Manny’s best friend and “stable pony”) as some are speculating, Manny may lose the equanimity he has only recently gained in Boston (this is the man who wanted to bring his Cleveland clubbie to Boston, after all). But if Manny is happy in Boston, reasonably durable in left field, and productive at the plate, I see no reason for the Red Sox not to show him the money. He might even be willing to give them something of a hometown discount. After all, if he plays a couple more years with Boston, they will certainly retire his number as soon as he’s inducted into the Hall.
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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54042 Nick Kapur Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:05:37 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54042 Yeah, maybe you are right, Paul, but like you say, if that happens, it certainly won't be with the Red Sox. Yeah, maybe you are right, Paul, but like you say, if that happens, it certainly won’t be with the Red Sox.
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]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54041 Paul Moro Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:53:37 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54041 I may be going out on a limb, here, but I actually think that Manny will end up getting over $20m/per in his next contract. Probably won't come from Boston, but someone will pony up. If Torii Hunter can get $18m, Manny can get $20m even as a DH. In two years, who knows how many more obscene contracts will get handed out? I may be going out on a limb, here, but I actually think that Manny will end up getting over $20m/per in his next contract. Probably won’t come from Boston, but someone will pony up. If Torii Hunter can get $18m, Manny can get $20m even as a DH. In two years, who knows how many more obscene contracts will get handed out?
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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54040 Nick Kapur Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:49:15 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54040 Yeah, true, but I would argue that payroll actually matters less to the Red Sox than the Yankees now, because they are going to be shedding payroll in the near future. Clement is coming off the Books finally, and in two years Manny's $20 million will come off as well. Even if they do resign Manny, you'd have to imagine it'd be for less than $20 million. Everyone else is signed long-term at relatively reasonable rates or making the minimum, and projected holes have low-cost top prospects waiting to fill them (eg Buchholz for Schilling after this season). Meanwhile the Yankees are going in the opposite direction - they have holes everywhere and not enough prospects and just had to give out several RIDICULOUS contracts (even by Yankees standards) just to keep the ship afloat. Yeah, true, but I would argue that payroll actually matters less to the Red Sox than the Yankees now, because they are going to be shedding payroll in the near future. Clement is coming off the Books finally, and in two years Manny’s $20 million will come off as well. Even if they do resign Manny, you’d have to imagine it’d be for less than $20 million. Everyone else is signed long-term at relatively reasonable rates or making the minimum, and projected holes have low-cost top prospects waiting to fill them (eg Buchholz for Schilling after this season).

Meanwhile the Yankees are going in the opposite direction – they have holes everywhere and not enough prospects and just had to give out several RIDICULOUS contracts (even by Yankees standards) just to keep the ship afloat.

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]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54039 Sarah Green Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:03:52 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54039 Money matters to everyone. Even the Red Sox. Heck, even the Yankees said they pulled out of the Santana bidding because they had already spent so much on Posada/Pettitte/Rivera! Money matters to everyone. Even the Red Sox. Heck, even the Yankees said they pulled out of the Santana bidding because they had already spent so much on Posada/Pettitte/Rivera!
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]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2007/12/06/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/comment-page-1/#comment-54038 Nick Kapur Thu, 06 Dec 2007 17:14:02 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/ned-colletti-has-another-attack-of-big-name-itis/#comment-54038 Well, including Loney would be a bit extreme. He's the everyday first baseman and Kemp and Kershaw are close approximations of Ellsbury and Lester, so adding in Loney would be something like the Red Sox trading Ellsbury, Lester, and Kevin Youkilis for Santana. If you mean replacing Kemp with Loney, I'd probably do that trade too. Santana is a true ace. Again, assuming money doesn't matter, the way it doesn't matter to the Red Sox. Well, including Loney would be a bit extreme. He’s the everyday first baseman and Kemp and Kershaw are close approximations of Ellsbury and Lester, so adding in Loney would be something like the Red Sox trading Ellsbury, Lester, and Kevin Youkilis for Santana.

If you mean replacing Kemp with Loney, I’d probably do that trade too. Santana is a true ace.

Again, assuming money doesn’t matter, the way it doesn’t matter to the Red Sox.

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