A's Offered More Years, Money For Marco Scutaro
by Randy Booth on Dec 4, 2009 7:21 PM EST
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PrintMarco Scutaro didn't want to mention at his press conference today who the "other team" was who offered him a contract, but FoxSports is reporting that it was the Oakland A's, who actually gave him more years and more money:
Scutaro turned down a slightly more lucrative three-year contract from the A's before signing his two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Red Sox, according to major-league sources.
The A's would have used Scutaro at shortstop and made Cliff Pennington their utility man. Scutaro played for the A's from 2004 to '07 before getting traded to the Blue Jays for two minor leaguers.
Clearly, the A's are operating with a measure of financial flexibility. They assumed $1.7 million of infielder Aaron Miles' $2.7 million salary as part of the price for obtaining Jake Fox in a five- player deal with the Cubs on Thursday.
Another case where Billy Beane and Theo Epstein go toe-to-toe for a player. Winner: Theo. Looks like Scutaro really wants to win.
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I'll admit
It does help. Plus when Billy Beane really wants a player back then there is a reason for it.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Everything I look up about him says he's a great clubhouse guy
Add in the reasonable contract demands and that he REALLY wants to be here and I’m convinced the fit for him in a Red Sox uniform is the best we could have done.
I was shocked
At how low he signed for, I thought he was going to get a couple mil more per year than what he got (probably closer to what Oakland offered). He really wants to win and took less money to do so. I may not be impressed with his skill but he seems like a pretty solid guy. Maybe as like-able as Sean Casey.
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
Get that man a Chicken Parm!
Am I the only one who thinks he looks a little like Mirabelli’s cousin or something in that picture? Camera angle…similar smile….
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
Oh boy
You’re right…
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I wonder if he takes naked cuts in front of the mirror
SB Nation's Boston Red Sox community:
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Follow Randy on Twitter: @RCBooth
I know I just was...
SB Nation's Boston Red Sox community:
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that's nice.
I like that. On MLBtraderumors they have some interesting reactions to the trade. Law basically saying the loss of the pick is the worst aspect of the deal (true) and JP Riccardi saying that “Scutaro is one of the best SS, period.” No wonder he was fired…
Really hope that loss gets mitigated.
Sounds like the Cardinals are backing off the Holliday sweepstakes.
USG
and the yanks are cutting payroll
how can we not sign him? i guess the mets might be a pest.
I don't think the Mets are in.
I still worry about the Yankees. There is an obvious but well reasoned article in New York Magazine this week about why the Yankees should dump Damon/Matsui and sign Holliday.
The Yankees have got to know that the team was extremely fortunate last year. By Pythag they were barely a better team than the Sox, and to get there that had remarkable overperformance by nearly all players. Nearly every positionplayer posted #s significantly about career averages, while the pitching numbers were strong without really an underperformer (unless you count Wang who will be gone). Many of these key guys (Damon, Matsui, ARod, Jeter, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera) are aging or flat out old. It will not take much to tip the balance, as much as Sox fans unrealistically feel that the Yankees are far ahead. The smart thing to do is kill 2 birds with one stone: cut ties with 2 old guys, use Posada to DH more, and sign Holliday.
The Yankees are also that team that swoops in and snatches guys up without notice.
See: Teixeira
I know that was Tex’s doing, but the Yankees were always the guys driving up the price.
USG
I know
I’m really worried they are going to snake Lackey.
It would be an aggressive market move that would force the Red Sox to respond by trading prospects AND cash for Halladay. I’d rather give up just cash for Lackey.
I like either Lackey or Halladay
But honestly, I think they’d be luxuries. Assuming Dice and Wake come back healthy, we have five above average guys, two of whom are “aces” and one (Buch) with a damn high ceiling. And then Bowden and Tazawa to step up if someone goes down.
So while I wouldn’t mind another “ace”, I don’t think it’s imperative that we add one. I imagine we’ll sign an OF, maybe trade for another bat, nab a bullpen arm or two, and pick up a low-risk, high reward type – Sheets, Harden, Bedard or Duscherer.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Harden?
I’m pretty high on him right now, wouldn’t mind seeing a healthy Sheets though, could be great for the Sox. It would be interesting to see how the Sox would handle having Lester, Beckett, Dice-K, Buchholz, Wakefield and on of those four, 6 starters? Would they just send Buchholz down to rot for another year?
"We are not normal, We are Legends. People will tell their kids about us." - Deon Butler before Ohio State Game 2008.
The Yankees are gonna sign Holliday
And they could probably add Lackey too if they really wanted.
by Gnick on Dec 5, 2009 2:59 AM EST up reply actions
They've been quiet...a little too quiet
But I wouldn’t bet on anything. Sometimes the Yankees are quiet and swoop in at the last minute ninja style, and other times they’re just simply quiet and don’t do anything.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 5, 2009 3:01 AM EST up reply actions
Posturing.
My guess is that the Yanks have as much intention of going into next season with an outfield of Melky, Gardner and Swisher as the Red Sox do of naming Jeremy Hermida their opening day LF.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
I saw that on MLBTR
It also said it wasn’t a hard figure and could raise to $200 mil. Plus with Nady, Damon, Matsui, and Pettite coming off the books, and a couple of non-tenders they could probably sign at least Holliday and remain at $185 mil.
by Gnick on Dec 5, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions
The 170 mentioned
does not include Nady,Damon, Matsui or Pettitte. With Pettitte that is a minimum of 180. So unless Holliday signs a 5 million dollar contract, that can’t really happen. But as you say, the could still sign Holliday and be in the ballpark of last year’s payroll.
Exactly, Pettite will cost more than he did last year
They’ll add an outfielder, but whether it’s Damon, Hollday, or a guy like Mike Cameron remains to be seen.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 5, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions
If both Harden and Sheets can start off the year healthy then I think both get starting jobs
And I wouldn’t think it would be with us. We essentially need Wake insurance, which is why I think we end up with a Duchscherer or Bedard or Escobar instead.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 5, 2009 3:00 AM EST up reply actions
BTW
Tommy, on another topic not related to Scutaro, I did look into the park factor adjusted OPS+ issue/bet. The number posted on baseball reference is indeed the OPS+ for this year’s park factors. In that regard (the only one I suppose that matter for beer) you win. However it made me look more closely at just how OPS+ is computed. It is really a poor way to correct for park. What is done is to take a correction for the park’s average OBP and Slug. and then takes 100*(OBP/aOBP+Sl/aSL-1). Basically if on average a park suppressed OBP or SLUG then ratio of OBP to adjusted one lifts the factors above 100%.
However this is a really dumb way to do it. First, because a player only plays 1/2 of his games in that park (not all), Second, because there are many different routes to the same slugging and OBP. It can be doubles vs HRs, or hits vs walks, etc. Clearly a more “accurate” way (funny given the crudeness of OPS in the first place) is to adjust said player’s OBP and Slug but each distinct factor. Thus a park may inflate one player’s OBP and deflate another player’s. It turns out that Tex had an atypical Yankee stadium OBP/OPS largely built on HRs (which the stadium inflates) less on doubles (which the stadium deflates) etc. Using the ESPN ParkFactor data, I did this for Tex and Bay. Then took the number, added to each players road OPS and averaged. Tex comes out with a 0.940 adjusted OPS and Bay 0.927. With reference to league average OPS that is 123 to 121 (scale is a bit different than OPS+ in the usual way beacuse even league average would need adjustment). Thus, in a much more accurate sense, their OPS+s were much much closer than baseball reference’s number would lead you to believe.
I know ;).
You should treat me to a beer just for wasting my time with that…
Hopefully he'll do fine until Iglesias is ready.
You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time. ~Jim Bouton, Ball Four, 1970
I don't really understand
the anointing of Iglesias. We know very little about him really. I’m sure the glove is great. The swing looks horrible. Hope he is great but that is a vast projection at this stage.
They gave him 8 mill. for a reason.
He’s a MLB ready defender with a chance to have an MLB ready bat, and he had a good showing against advanced (if unusually pitching-weak) AFL competition.
USG
But
he has never played ball at any level higher than A+-type ball. He could be a complete offensive washout for all we know. It seems silly that the press is penciling him in at SS in 2011.
2012
2 years of Scutaro
But it’s not like they don’t do that for all big-name prospects.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 5, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed.
Let’s see at least a few months of play before we strart planning the major league team around his future.
"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw
Or Lowrie proves he's ready
Lowrie plays utility for 2 years, stays healthy and perhaps he’s the guy not Iglesias (if his bat doesn’t come around sufficiently).
Or, he’s trade bait with Kotchman to snag a guy like Gonzalez.
"simul justus et peccator"
I don't see any deal being based around Lowrie and Kotchman.
Sure, they’re major leaguers, but any deal for Gonzalez would need to include All Star talent.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
especially
since the Pads best position prospect plays first.
Not ideal value
But if Henry doesn’t mind spending the money, in absolute terms this WILL upgrade our offense in the #9 slot from where it was last year and Scutaro should be solid defensively.
And as a two year (plus very cheap mutual option that probably won’t be exercised) the commitment and risk is low.
So, Okay. This works.
line up & rotation
how can you guys be happy with this??
when are the Sox gonna step up and make some real signings???
we will be looking up at the MFY once again.
we don’t have a single player that is the best in the game at their position.
MFY have at least 3.
Mo?
And uh Mo?
Pujols beats Tex (as does Youk, by WAR)
Utley beats Cano (as does Pedroia)
Hanley beats Jetes with his own cologne bottle.
Longoria and Zimmerman beat Arod.
So I guess another Mo would make three.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Zimmerman? I'll throw David Wright into the mix too...
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 5, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
I'll but that.
I was going by last year’s WAR, Wright didn’t have a great season last year, injuries, etc. Arod also finished behind Figgins and Sandoval, but it was closer than the gap between Arod and the other two. Plus, Figgins may have been flukey, and I’m not convinced Sandoval will stay at third. Longoria, Zimmerman and Wright are the young Turks at 3b.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Last year in a my fantasy league, I had a choice between Zimmerman and Alex Gordon
I made the mistake…..
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 6, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
What are you talking about?
The Sox need to fill a hole in LF, find a couple of bullpen arms, set their bench, and find some rotation insurance. The MFY need a LF, DH, two slots in their rotation, etc.
Here’s how the two teams matchup by position:
C – Posada (4.0 WAR) – Martinez (4.9 WAR Cle/Bos)
1B – Texeira (5.1 WAR) – Youkilis (5.6 WAR)
2B – Cano (4.4 WAR) – Pedroia (5.2 WAR)
SS – Jeter (7.4 WAR) – Scutaro (4.5 WAR)
3B – Rodriguez (4.4 WAR) – Lowell (1.2 WAR)
LF – ????????
CF – Cabrera (1.6 WAR) – Ellsbury (1.9 WAR)
RF – Swisher (3.5 WAR) – Drew (4.7 WAR)
SP – Sabathia (6.0 WAR) – Lester (6.2 WAR)
SP – Burnett (3.1 WAR) – Beckett (5.3 WAR)
SP – ? – Buchholz (1.2 WAR)
SP – ? – Matsuzaka (0.5 WAR)
SP – ? – Wakefield (1.9 WAR)
CL – Rivera (2.0 WAR) – Papelbon (1.9 WAR)
I left out DH, where Papi had a 0.7 WAR, and bullpens except closer because most teams need arms.
MFY players likely to improve or keep their value: Sabathia, A-Rod, Teixeira, Cano, Swisher, Hughes, Chamberlain, Burnett.
MFY players likely to decline in value: Jeter, Posada,
Sox players likely to improve or keep their value: VMart, Youk, Pedroia, Drew, Ellsbury, Lowell, Ortiz, Lester, Beckett, Buchholz, Dice-K
Sox players likely to decline in value: Wakefield, Scutaro
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 5, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
Looking at this breakdown
Makes it clear that a lot of the Sox’s success is going to depend on the performance of the back end of the rotation.
by Gnick on Dec 5, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions
Same with the Yanks.
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 5, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Actually ...
Right now, the MFY have more questions in their rotation. Sabathia is legit. Pettitte was their second-best pitcher last season. If they bring him back, he’ll cost a lot more next year. Will Chamberlain and Hughes be starters next year? If so, both have to improve on what they’ve shown as starters. The MFY overpaid for Burnett, who is a decent pitcher but nothing special.
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 5, 2009 8:56 PM EST up reply actions
People are just impatient.
The Yanks finally winning again has brought back bad feelings of being left in the dust in some fans. Especially since they did while spending a ton of money.
DFA Beckett
by South Coast Ghost on Dec 5, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions
Dude, you are the breakdown KING.
Although I’m leaning toward VMart declining in value with him catching so much.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
You still haven't identified your three Yanks who are the best at their position.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Maybe by "best at his position"...
…he meant “most expensive at his position”.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
I wouldn't.
Not anymore. Yes, he’s still a great hitter, and I’m expecting a significant rebound next year. But he’s been a below average fielder for a couple seasons, and he had the same hip procedure Mike Lowell did. Moreover, he’ll be 35 next summer.
I’d take Longoria over Arod, for next year and the future.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
I'd take Longoria, too.
But you could still make an argument.
Galactus does as he pleases. Because Galactus is drunk.
I'm not sure what you mean, wdogg72?
Stats reflect performance. Players who put up consistently good numbers are good players. Who said anything about the NL?
I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.
by Drugs Delaney on Dec 5, 2009 8:47 PM EST up reply actions
A's showing interest in jed lowrie
I’d like to keep jed in a utility role, but Oakland has a couple solid yooung catchers in kurt suzuki, landon powell, and josh donaldson. So maybe a trade matches up. I’d love one of their relievers like wuertz or ziegler too
This will never happen
But I’d like a 3-way trade where we send Lowrie and some others to the A’s, they send an MLB-ready pitcher to the Brewers, and the Brewers ship Mat Gamel our way.
USG
by Ben Buchanan on Dec 5, 2009 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
So Lowell and Kotchman get the shaft?
"Hating the New York Yankees is as American as apple pie, unwed mothers and cheating on your income tax." -- Mike Royko
by sox-inda-south on Dec 6, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions
I don't think Gamel is quite ready yet, personally.
He’d presumably get a call-up or play if Lowell is injured. The point is we’d have someone to put there for sure when Lowell’s gone, barring Gamel suckage.
Kotchman gets the shaft, I guess, but I’m still not sure why we made the deal we did when we did.
USG
my guess is that
laroche was unhappy as a bench player, so they agreed to move him, probably thinking they could get something of value for Kotchman at this point.
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