A-Rod, Part 2?
The word is Albert Pujols has signed a 10-year/$250 million contract with the Angels. To me, that is a huge mistake by Albert as he will never have what he had in St. Louis. Now he is just another baseball mercenary. Plus, I wonder with the state income taxes in California, how much more is he actually going to make over staying in St. Louis? They reportedly offered over $200 million, so what is the actual difference?
I am listening to the Rule 5 draft and will update this post when it is completed.
UPDATE 10:12 Interesting tidbit from the Rule 5 draft. When they did the roll call and announced each team's 40-man roster space, they announced the Yankees at 38 players. Looking at the roster, I count 39 so I wonder what happened?
UPDATE 10:13 Yankees select Brad Meyers from Washington. They did not lose a player in the first round.
UPDATE 10:22 Yankees have obtained Cesar Cabral from KC. Cabral was selected by KC from the Red Sox in the Rule 5.
UPDATE 10:48 I think my post title was unfair- to A-Rod. Thinking back to when he left the Mariners, he got a contract offer from Texas that absolutely blew away everyone else. I don't think anyone was even close to $200 million, let alone the $252 he got. Plus, he had never won a World Series. Contrast that with Pujols. He had an offer north of $200 million from a franchise where he had won two World Series. I didn't like what A-Rod did, but if you killed him then, or boo him now for his contract machinations, you better boo Pujols too. He left the Cardinals for a lot less money than A-Rod left the Mariners for. (BTW- the difference in Missouri and California tax rates means he will pay about $800,000 a year extra in taxes so add that to the calculations.
UPDATE 11:00AM Joel Sherman is reporting that CJ Wilson is heading to the Angels as well. Let's see, Haren, Weaver, Santana and Wilson in the rotation and Pujols in the lineup- wow.
UPDATE 11:02AM Ok, let's talk about the Yankees' two moves. Brad Meyers is 26 and has been a starter in the Washington system for five years. He put up a 3.48 ERA in 17 games (16 starts) in AAA last year. Basically, for $50,000 the Yankees are going to bring him to camp and see if he can compete for one of the 12 spots on their pitching staff.
Cesar Cabral is more interesting as he is a power lefty arm. He was taken in the Rule 5 last year and returned to Boston. He's only 22 and he hasn't pitched above AA, so the chances he sticks are small. This is an almost identical move to the one the Yankees made last year when they selected Robert Fish in the Rule 5 (BTW, Fish was selected again this year. This time by the Braves.) If Cabral pitches well, the Yankees have their second lefty. If not, they return him to Boston and lose the cash they paid Kansas City for him. (Not sure on the amount, but I can't imagine it was much more than $50,000).
UPDATE 11:10 Joel Sherman is reporting that the Yankees have removed Greg Golson from their 40-man, so that explains how they got to 38.
UPDATE 11:13 Terry Francona just said this on Sportcenter when asked about Pujols being a DH at some point with the Angels: "I know that enters in at some point, but I think it is also a little bit overblown. I mean if you are to the point in your career where you can't play first, they are probably not going to want you to DH either." Does this mean David Ortiz can play first?
UPDATE 11:18 Jack Curry just reported the following: "Cashman wouldn't divulge if Yanks will bid on Darvish. Said history with international pitchers gives them experience in this area" Let's see now. I can think of three pitchers who the Yankees brought in from the international market to the majors: Irabu, Contreras and Igawa. If that's the history he is referring to, I can't see them bidding!
UPDATE 11:22 Just thought of this. Even with Golson coming off the 40-man, the Yankees will need to free up another spot when they "officially" sign Garcia.
Comments
Ten years? Ugh ! All I can do is shake my head and wonder what clubs are thinking when they commit to a depreciating asset for that length of time. Yep, I know that the DH slot is waiting and the contract tails off in payout in the later years (see A-Rod), but still ...
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2011 11:06 AM
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Injuries too. Why wouldn't anybody smart in baseball...wait, I think I have my answer...I'll ask anyway - why wouldn't anybody smart in baseball go to Albert and say - I cannot have a 10 year deal on my books if you fade (truth hurts)down the end, I'll give you $250m for 6 or 7 years and move on. Smarter move for a team and if that then led an agent or a player to say, "$250m divided by 6 year is...help me out I'm just a f'n dumb athlete...ok, thanks, $41m per year, now I want $410m for 10 years, lets talk" - walk away and blast the idiots (agents and players) in the press.
The names don't matter, ARod, Pujols, Tex, Gonzo, whatever, the stupid people are the fans for paying for the seats, parking and concessions.
I used to go to lots of sporting events. Have been to hundreds of baseball games, over a hundred hockey games, more than 50 basketball games, and a few football games in my lifetime. Went to 3 total games this year - all sports combined. Probably less next year with the Thrashers gone from Atlanta. It ain't the sport - its disgust with prices (read contract insanity). Rant over
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2011 11:20 AM
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BL? Good rant, I liked it. :-)
Named stadiums, broadcast rights, etc. I am waiting for the Proctor & Gamble Pavillion to be the new name for the restrooms and the Kohler Wall to be where the sinks are placed.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2011 02:18 PM
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BL
I liked your rant and agree with most of it, but I think you left out the part that digital cable and HDTV's play in all of this. 30 years ago you couldn't see every game on TV and the ones you could came with a mediocre picture. Now you can sit back in your living room and depending on the size of your TV, almost feel like you are at the ballpark. The beers are cheap and easy to get and there are no hassles with parking. I think a lot of people have made the choice to enjoy games that way.
When I was much younger, I put myself on the NY Giants season ticket wait list. It took 23 years, but my name finally came to the top. The problem was, it only came to the top because now you needed to buy a PSL to get Giants tickets. As the nice Giant employee informed me, for "only" $5,000 per seat plus $250 per game, I could be a Giants season ticket holder. As I informed him, for a $10,000 deposit now, plus an annual commitment of $5000, I could buy myself the greatest TV in the world every year and still have plenty left over for snacks. Saying no to that was easy.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2011 02:35 PM
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ok, but at some point don't the people stop going? I guess when I stopped going I was replaced (certainly at Fenway, the Garden, etc - I know I wasn't replaced at Philips Arena with the Thrashers as my seats were empty- I could see them on tv). The TV money seems fake, do the networks really make money? Does it seem possible? I guess Direct TV and Cable companies have us trained to pay significant amounts of money for viewing pleasures and they pay to teams. Just seems like it all is inflated (free market I know) and will ultimately bottom out like the housing market.
btw- just read Keith Olbermann's latest column on his site : http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/
Read the Catfish/Tiant comparison part. I liked both players and am amazed at the perceptions of them to this day. Great comparison.
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 8, 2011 02:45 PM
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I think we are reaching that point. The Yankees certainly don't sell out anymore unless it's the playoffs and I get at least an email a week asking me to become a Rangers ticket holder.
I don't know if the networks make money or not, but the DVR has made live sports the best bet out there for advertisers. Unlike a sitcom or drama, people are going to do everything they can to watch the big game live which means they actually see the commercials.
I enjoyed that article by Olbermann. I like Tiant. I remember once he threw his glove into the 2nd level at Yankee Stadium when he got taken out. I think the problem with the argument is that Tiant didn't have that run of five or so seasons that Hunter had when he was probably the best pitcher in the league. He had brilliant seasons, but they were more scattered. I also think Catfish got the benefit of voters saying he would have won 300 if he had been in the game past 33. I don't agree with that thinking, but I bet it happened in his case.
Posted by: Peter | December 8, 2011 03:41 PM |