Jayson Werth signs w/ Nationals for 7y/$126m

[houston-nat]

By the way, did anyone catch Tom Verducci's article over at SI about how accurate Scott Boras' projections of players' future stats have been? Turns out that with A-Rod and Derek Jeter, Boras was right on the money.

Boras projection for A-Rod 2001-2011: .310/.376/.570
Actual performance, A-Rod 2001-2010: .303/.387/.571
Boras projection for Jeter 2001-2009: .323/.396/.469
Actual performance, Jeter 2001-2009: .317/.388/.459

The guy isn't lying about the value of his players. He's just making sure you know it and pay for it.

[MarquisDeSade]

By the way, did anyone catch Tom Verducci's article over at SI about how accurate Scott Boras' projections of players' future stats have been? Turns out that with A-Rod and Derek Jeter, Boras was right on the money.

Boras projection for A-Rod 2001-2011: .310/.376/.570
Actual performance, A-Rod 2001-2010: .303/.387/.571
Boras projection for Jeter 2001-2009: .323/.396/.469
Actual performance, Jeter 2001-2009: .317/.388/.459

The guy isn't lying about the value of his players. He's just making sure you know it and pay for it.

This could be done in 20 minutes in STATA.  Not really sure that's worth handing out ridiculous contracts for though.

[Coladar]

Thanks for the warning. I won't read the other 7 pages.

This is a good signing. So what if they had to overpay a little. That is what current non-contending teams have to do to lure quality free agents.

From the content in news conference I had a feeling that is why Rizzo let Dunn go. I assume the following link is here somewhere but just in case it's not or if you are just starting on this page:

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101205&content_id=16258252&vkey=news_was&c_id=was

I'm sorry, but all this talk about being negative and just over signing a little. Yes, we all are going to be very happy the next three or four years. But if you believe paying $18 mil for a 39 year old OF is just a little, you must believe the Yankees got the deal of a lifetime with Jeter. That's the problem most are having. Combine Werth hitting 15 fewer HRs than Dunn, K of about 150 per season, and Dunn signing for 1/3 the total contract, only four years, still leaving the hole at first with Pena the likely filler... There's too much there for any rational person to expect everyone to be thrilled. No one is mad we have Werth. They are upset at the details.

What, the Red Sox offered only four years to Werth? Four versus seven is way more than a little overpaying.

[houston-nat]

I mean, if it were me, I definitely would have gone 6/90ish.

[PANatsFan]

I mean, if it were me, I definitely would have gone 6/90ish.

It sounds like Papa Teddy and Rizzo met with Boras and said "tell us what the other guys bid, we will beat it."

[zoom]

Think there is any chance they talked about another Boras represented corner outfielder?

[MarquisDeSade]

It sounds like Papa Teddy and Rizzo met with Boras and said "tell us what the other guys bid, we will beat it."

Can't wait to see how many other bad contracts we can rack up thanks to Boras.

[John]

I'm sorry, but all this talk about being negative and just over signing a little. Yes, we all are going to be very happy the next three or four years. But if you believe paying $18 mil for a 39 year old OF is just a little, you must believe the Yankees got the deal of a lifetime with Jeter. That's the problem most are having. Combine Werth hitting 15 fewer HRs than Dunn, K of about 150 per season, and Dunn signing for 1/3 the total contract, only four years, still leaving the hole at first with Pena the likely filler... There's too much there for any rational person to expect everyone to be thrilled. No one is mad we have Werth. They are upset at the details.

What, the Red Sox offered only four years to Werth? Four versus seven is way more than a little overpaying.

While this is way off topic (but since you brought it up) the contract that will  burn the Yankees more than Jeter's is A-Roid's.
They should have let Jeter go. No way he gets close to their original offer of 15 per for 3 years. They may regret it but they have money to burn.

I see no reason why Werth can't be productive for the next 6 years. I think there is a good chance he will help them get into the post-season which will make this signing even better.
In another 3 years the market will likely go up again so along with the chance of seeing baseball into October I'm predicting the Nats will get their money's Werth.

[mitlen]

Now we can move on to LAI

Seven years seriously, how freaking stupid are they?

Awesome news.  But the seven years thing will come back to bite us.

nag, nag, nag ...

[EdStroud]

Hey did you guys get the e-mail about the ticket prices going up? 

[cmdterps44]

nag, nag, nag ...

You think seven years is a good thing? He's already had his moment of excitement. Now he's just commenting on the contract itself. Seven years for a 31 year old on an NL team is pretty absurd. It's still great that we signed him though. It was a necessary move to show that we are willing to contend and hopefully showing other free agents we mean business. (hopefully...)

[OldNatsFan]

Great signing by Rizzo. I was very p.o.'d by the Redskins game and then I hear this. I am stoked!

[hammondsnats]

edge > anyone in our 2006-10 outfield.

[TylerDC]

Of course we have to overpay as we aren't the high prestige, desirable place Boston would be. That being said, it's awesome to see we actually are willing to spend to improve the team.

[EdStroud]

I know...I know..I know it's not Werth anything saying

Was this Werth the wait or Hope he's Werth his weight
Finally something that is Werth something.
Anything Werth doing is Werth over doing.
If a picture is Werth a 1000 words then is an outfielder Werth 126mil?
Was letting Dunn walk Werth the pain?
Do you know Jayson's self Werth?
A free agent Werth fighting for.
Hope that he's Werth every penny.
If he goes down to the minors for a rehab will it be in Fort Werth?
Enough I'm off to IHOP for pancakes and Mrs. Butter Werth syrup

[ZIM4MVP]

Looks like Bosox worked things out with Gonzalez, presser tomorrow

[The Chief]

^^^ @ Ed

[Potomac Cannons]

Ahem...thank you very much.  A good defender who could well shift to 1B once his best years are done (or be traded to the AL to DH) and a significant bat.

Thank you fangraphs for the insightful read concerning the contract value:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/a-jayson-werth-article-without-a-pun-in-the-headline/

Not surprised to see the Nats do the right thing, despite needing to overpay and guarantee the extra year, and still have the "fans" finding an excuse to nag.

All the asshats that talked about not renewing your season tickets, you know exactly where to shove this news.

[Dave B]

Fantastic news. I dont care if it is not the best use of money. As of this morning we needed better players and we got one. We still need more

[NatsDad14]

Ahem...thank you very much.  A good defender who could well shift to 1B once his best years are done (or be traded to the AL to DH) and a significant bat.

Thank you fangraphs for the insightful read concerning the contract value:

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/a-jayson-werth-article-without-a-pun-in-the-headline/

Not surprised to see the Nats do the right thing, despite needing to overpay and guarantee the extra year, and still have the "fans" finding an excuse to nag.

All the asshats that talked about not renewing your season tickets, you know exactly where to shove this news.

Wasn't Potomac Cannons the one who made excuses for Rizzo because Dunn could turn into a stiff in the 4th year of his deal. Why the double standard?

[PebbleBall]

Love the signing, hate the price.  It will be worth it though if it really does help them in free agency.  I'll feel a whole lot better about it if they make another big pick-up.  A big spending team can handle the contract, but if the idea for the Nats is that they still want to keep payroll down and they're just making an exception for a guy they love, this contract could screw them.

Who knows, but this week got a lot more interesting.

[mitlen]

You think seven years is a good thing? He's already had his moment of excitement. Now he's just commenting on the contract itself. Seven years for a 31 year old on an NL team is pretty absurd. It's still great that we signed him though. It was a necessary move to show that we are willing to contend and hopefully showing other free agents we mean business. (hopefully...)

No I don't but geezus, do we ever quit nagging?   Of course on the bright side, an old sergeant used to say, "If the troops ain't nagin', they ain't happy."   

[cmdterps44]

No I don't but geezus, do we ever quit nagging?

You're right on that part but it's still true.

[The Chief]

No I don't but geezus, do we ever quit nagging?

I don't know, ask all the people nagging about the "nagging".  They're the ones doing the real nagging, IMO

[Kevrock]

Man, as a fan I'm excited. Werth is a really really good player, can't wait to see him in our lineup and roaming our OF.

Is it baseball season yet?