2012 free agency

[DPMOmaha]

Maya is going to be here until the bitter end of his contract. 

Sure, but Balester does have some really good stuff, and kinda like Rodriguez, just needs to harness it.  He's under team control for 3 or 4 more years, so to think he's just gonna be discarded is probably unrealistic, especially when he's gonna come pretty cheap.

[HalfSmokes]

While I did not know that was true, I was speaking more about a guarantee in that if he accepts, he's got the deal and the dollar amount.

Declining to seek a contract from somewhere else leaves him open to many factors - less money, a minor league deal, a weaker team, etc. Nothing is guaranteed in that situation.

If the team cuts him before spring training, nothing is guaranteed and most bullpens are more or less formed- then again that a pretty big screw job by the team

[hammondsnats]

what about grady sizemore? 

any interest?

[Vega]

what about grady sizemore? 

any interest?

I think it's already been established that the Actas are going to exercise his option.

[hammondsnats]

I think it's already been established that the Actas are going to exercise his option.

not necessarily.  they have up to three days after the world series to decide whether to pick up the $9 million option for next season.

[HalfSmokes]

I think it's already been established that the Actas are going to exercise his option.

to be fair, every center fielder we speculate on is both currently penciled in as their current teams starter and under contract next year

[Lintyfresh85]

I think it's already been established that the Actas are going to exercise his option.

I don't know who you're listening to... but I'm hearing they'll let him walk, or hobble away from the team this offseason.

[Tyler Durden]

http://firejimbowden.blogspot.com/2011/10/aj-burnett-john-lackey-cj-wilson.html

Anyone else see this article from Fire Jim Bowden?  It throws out a couple of worst case scenarios for CJ Wilson - John Lackey and AJ Burnett.  The Yankees and Red Sox can absorb those kinds of terrible contracts.  Other teams, including teams with very large, but not super sized payrolls, such as the Cubs and Mets cannot afford those kinds of busts. 

I'm not ready to call Werth an Alfonso Soriano level bust just yet, but I definitely am worried about adding a pitcher with only two good years and then giving him $100 million.

If we go after a big time pitcher, we should either wait a year for a better free agent crop or make a trade.  If we want to sign a free agent pitcher this year, I'd rather just sign a second tier guy.  I'm leaning towards Buerhle right now - he and CMW would provide a nice, steady presence with the young guys JZ, Stras, and maybe Detwiler next year (assuming we trade Lannan).

[Vega]

If we're going with a veteran on a short deal, how about Roy Oswalt?

[Lintyfresh85]

If we go after a big time pitcher, we should either wait a year for a better free agent crop or make a trade.  If we want to sign a free agent pitcher this year, I'd rather just sign a second tier guy.  I'm leaning towards Buerhle right now - he and CMW would provide a nice, steady presence with the young guys JZ, Stras, and maybe Detwiler next year (assuming we trade Lannan).

So you're ready to throw in the towel on 2012 without even a pitch being thrown?

[The Chief]

So you're ready to throw in the towel on 2012 without even a pitch being thrown?

How is Buehrle "throwing in the towel"?

[Lintyfresh85]

How is Buehrle "throwing in the towel"?

If we want to sign a free agent pitcher this year, I'd rather just sign a second tier guy.

To me, that seems like he's saying, why try for a good player this year (when we're not ready) when we can just as easily sign an average pitcher for a lower price.

Maybe I read that wrong.



As for my idea of building a team... I always subscribe to signing the best talent you can, when you can. Always be improving should be your goal.

[Vega]

Does anyone else not have much faith in John Lannan? If we sign a free agent, I think that Lannan, Det, and Peacock should compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

[Tyler Durden]

Throwing in the towel would be starting Stras, JZ, plus some combination of young guys like Detwiler and guys already under contract like Lannan or Gorzelanny.

Frankly, I don't want to give CJ Wilson $100 million because there's a decent chance he'll end up being on the Lackey/Burnett end of the spectrum.  I'd only give that kind of money to a pitcher if it is someone who is much closer to a guarantee like Cliff Lee.

Add that to not being able to support two non-performing $100 million contracts (really, only the Red Sox and Yankees can do this), and it doesn't make sense to me to take on the risk of signing Wilson.

Or hell, just throw in the towel on 2012.

[Tyler Durden]

If we're going with a veteran on a short deal, how about Roy Oswalt?

I'd sign him if he'd commit to pitching here for a couple of years at least.  He's a type A free agent and I wouldn't want to give up a draft pick (especially to the Phillies) if it's only for one year. 

[cmdterps44]

Frankly, I don't want to give CJ Wilson $100 million because there's a decent chance he'll end up being on the Lackey/Burnett end of the spectrum.  I'd only give that kind of money to a pitcher if it is someone who is much closer to a guarantee like Cliff Lee.

Everyone has a chance to fall off a cliff. Its a risk that people make with every signing. Not signing a player just because of that doesn't do us any good either.

[Slateman]

I'd like to start their young guys. I'd like to see what they have and how much they develop over the course of a season.

[Bloo]

Does anyone else not have much faith in John Lannan? If we sign a free agent, I think that Lannan, Det, and Peacock should compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

Lannan is to the Nationals as to what Chris Clark was to the Capitals. He was one of the better players when the team was always losing but once better players were developed, he no longer had a place in the lineup. As much as I would to see him be a grind it out #5 pitcher in the future, he has had too many suspects starts(i.e. walking Oswalt) to guarantee a place in the rotation.

[PC]

Because of the possibility Roy Oswalt not coming back to the Phillies, I actually think they'll be in the CJ Wilson hunt too. 

As far as us signing him, I'd rather have Edwin Jackson. 

[MarquisDeSade]

Add that to not being able to support two non-performing $100 million contracts (really, only the Red Sox and Yankees can do this), and it doesn't make sense to me to take on the risk of signing Wilson.

The Mets, Cubs, and Angels would like to have a word with you.

[Lintyfresh85]

As far as us signing him, I'd rather have Edwin Jackson. 

Not sure if for serious.

[blue911]

I'd be more worried about Edwin Jackson being Edwin Jackson than CJ Wilson being John Lackey.

[Evolution33]

Lannan is to the Nationals as to what Chris Clark was to the Capitals. He was one of the better players when the team was always losing but once better players were developed, he no longer had a place in the lineup. As much as I would to see him be a grind it out #5 pitcher in the future, he has had too many suspects starts(i.e. walking Oswalt) to guarantee a place in the rotation.

Because of the possibility Roy Oswalt not coming back to the Phillies, I actually think they'll be in the CJ Wilson hunt too. 

As far as us signing him, I'd rather have Edwin Jackson. 

Seeing these two post back to back was funny to me. John Lannan career ERA+ 103, Edwin Jackson 97

[PC]

I'd be more worried about Edwin Jackson being Edwin Jackson than CJ Wilson being John Lackey.

But Jackson would be bad at a fraction of the cost.

[zimm_da_kid]

Tom Gorzelonny makes me nervous every time he takes the mound, albiet not as bad as Doug Slaten.