Bear
04-23-2008, 12:50 PM
Special to FOXSports.com
April 23, 2008
The way the accountants justify Toronto's release of Frank Thomas — paying him $8 million to not play this season — is that they save themselves a summer full of headaches and $10 million.
Thomas had a vesting option for 2009 worth $10 million. He needed 1,000 plate appearance between last year and this year, and he already had 696. The Jays had no intention of bringing him back next year, and they figured as the season went along and Thomas' playing time dwindled, a major clubhouse distraction could develop.
So instead of trying to save face, Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi was willing to admit that the signing of Thomas a year ago wasn't wise and sent Thomas packing.
There are other deals out there that teams have to wonder about, and some of these players are still on active rosters. Here are a dozen remaining deals that teams can choke on:
BUYER BEWARE
Barry Zito
Signed 7-year, $126 million contract with Giants, with option for 2014 prior to 2007; 6 years, $116 million remaining, including $7 million buyout on the $18 million option.
Is 11-17 with a 4.52 ERA in 39 games, 38 starts, including first four starts this season. Only 29, but velocity and command wavered in final two years before free agency, although he did work 200-plus innings each of final six years in Oakland, and was 16-10 in his final season with the A's.
A.J. Burnett
Signed 5-year, $55 million deal with Blue Jays prior to 2006; 3 years, $36 million remaining.
Burnett can opt out of the deal after this season if he wants. He made 46 starts his first two years, winning 10 games each time. Is that what $11 million a year gets a team? The Blue Jays must have thought so. Burnett has made 30 starts only once in his career. He's never won more than 12 games in a season. He was 49-50 lifetime when he signed with the Blue Jays.
Brandon Inge
Signed for 4 years, $24 million with Tigers prior to 2007; 3 years, $19.1 million remaining.
Something doesn't compute. One year there is such a strong belief in Inge as the third baseman that he is given a four-year deal to keep him from being a free agent. The next off-season, Migeul Cabrera is acquired and given an eight-year, $152.3 million deal. Inge is left in a bench role while the Tigers troll for takers to unload Inge.
DODGER BLUES
Jason Schmidt
Signed 3-year, $47 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2007; 2 years, $34.5 million remaining, including $10.5 million signing bonus spread out over this year, 2009 and 2010.
He made six starts and was 1-4 for the Dodgers last year before undergoing shoulder surgery. And the Dodgers were surprised? Schmidt has battled shoulder problems throughout his career. Dodgers GM Ned Coletti used to be the assistant general manager in San Francisco, and medical adviser Stan Conte was the Giants trainer in the five-plus years that Schmidt was in San Francisco. As Bill Engvall would say, "Here's your sign.''
Juan Pierre
Signed 5-year, $44 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2007; 4 years, $36.5 million remaining.
So the Dodgers got upset because Pierre didn't walk very often and had one of the weakest arms in the big leagues? Were they scouting him before they signed him with their eyes closed? Juan Pierre is what he is: He is a workaholic, he is an aggressive hitter who can make contact and has the speed to get 200 hits and hit .300. The dumbest complaint yet is that he led the majors in outs. He also is among the leaders, each year, in plate appearances. It's not like he suddenly changed when he got to Tinseltown.
Andruw Jones
Signed 2-year, $36.2 million contract with Dodgers prior to this season.
Agent Scott Boras finds pawns every year. This year it was the Dodgers with Jones, and he was even willing to hold out for an extra $100,000 a year so the annual average value would exceed the $18 million of Torii Hunter with the Angels. Scouts were concerned about his bulking up a year ago. He has to have his speed to play his defense, because he is not an impact offensive player. He's hit .300 once in 11 full big-league seasons, never struck out less than 100 times in a season and when the home runs dropped to 26 and RBI fell below 100 in Atlanta last year, why would anyone think he would be rejuvenated in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium?
YOU WANT WHO?
Matt Morris
Signed 3-year, $27 million deal with Pirates prior to 2006 season; one-year, $10.5 million remaining.
The Giants were desperate to get out of the contract. They had talks with several contenders at the deadline last year in which they were going to eat half of what remained on Morris' contract. Then the Pirates stepped in, offering to take the entire contract and even threw in outfielder Rajai Davis. The Giants didn't hesitate. Is it any wonder that general manager Dave Littlefield was fired at the end of last season?
Esteban Loaiza
Signed 3-year, $21.375 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2006; 1 year, $7.325 million remaining.
Oakland signed Loaiza and was begging someone to take his contract off its hands. In late August last year, general manager Billy Beane went fishing and placed Loaiza on waivers. Much to his surprise, the Dodgers actually placed a claim. They not only had to pick up the $1.17 million of salary Loaiza was owed last year, but the $7 million he is owed this year and the $375,000 buyout to get out of his $7.25 million option for next year. He's pitched in nine games for the Dodgers so far. He's 2-6 with a 6.75 ERA.
Randy Johnson
Signed 2-year, $26 million extension with Diamondbacks as part of Johnson approving a trade from the Yankees prior to 2007; 1 year, $18.5 million remaining, including $8.5 million in signing bonuses to be paid $500,000 this year and $4 million each in 2009 and 2010.
He made only 10 starts last year, but should anyone be surprised? One of the most intimidating left-handers of all time, his fastball doesn't have the extra hop anymore. Then again, he is 44, and when the Diamondbacks brought him back not only was he coming off a season with the highest ERA of his career (5.01), but he also had undergone the second back surgery of his career. Ten starts into last year, the decision was made he needed a third back surgery.
AT LEAST THE END IS IN SIGHT
Mike Hampton
Signed 8-year, $121 million contract with Braves prior to 2001; 1 year, $15 million remaining, plus a $6 million buyout on the $20 million option for 2009.
Three teams picked up parts of his salary. Colorado, which originally signed the contract, paid $49 million, including the buyout, which is prefunded. He pitched two years with the Rockies, making the All-Star team in 2001 when he started the season 9-2. He was 12-26 in the remainder of his Rockies career.
Florida, with which he never spent a day, paid $23.5 million. Atlanta, which has had his services for six years, paid $48.5 million total — only $5.5 million the first three years combined, but the full $43 million the final three years. He is 32-20 with Atlanta, but hasn't pitched in nearly three years because of assorted injuries, including two elbow surgeries and currently a pulled groin.
Carl Pavano
Signed 4-year, $52 million contract with Yankees prior to 2005 season; 1 year, $12.95 million remaining.
A history of injuries continued for Pavano after signing with the Yankees, who were fooled into thinking Pavano was finally healthy after he was 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA and career-high 222 1/3 innings pitched with Florida in 2004. Wishful thinking. Even with that season, Pavano was only 57-58 in his big-league career. In three-plus seasons with the Yankees, back problems and elbow surgery have limited him a 5-6 record, 4.77 ERA, 19 appearances and 111 1/3 innings.
Richie Sexson
Signed 4-year, $50 million contract with Mariners prior to 2005; 1 year, $14 million remaining.
General manager Billy Bavasi never has offered up an understandable explanation of why the Mariners wanted to bring the one-dimensional Sexson into the wide-opens spaces of Safeco Field. He clogged up the lineup, has grown frustrated with the power demands and has been adequate, at best, defensively.
Zito aside the Giants seem to have made fewer mistakes than the Dodgers.:bugeye:
April 23, 2008
The way the accountants justify Toronto's release of Frank Thomas — paying him $8 million to not play this season — is that they save themselves a summer full of headaches and $10 million.
Thomas had a vesting option for 2009 worth $10 million. He needed 1,000 plate appearance between last year and this year, and he already had 696. The Jays had no intention of bringing him back next year, and they figured as the season went along and Thomas' playing time dwindled, a major clubhouse distraction could develop.
So instead of trying to save face, Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi was willing to admit that the signing of Thomas a year ago wasn't wise and sent Thomas packing.
There are other deals out there that teams have to wonder about, and some of these players are still on active rosters. Here are a dozen remaining deals that teams can choke on:
BUYER BEWARE
Barry Zito
Signed 7-year, $126 million contract with Giants, with option for 2014 prior to 2007; 6 years, $116 million remaining, including $7 million buyout on the $18 million option.
Is 11-17 with a 4.52 ERA in 39 games, 38 starts, including first four starts this season. Only 29, but velocity and command wavered in final two years before free agency, although he did work 200-plus innings each of final six years in Oakland, and was 16-10 in his final season with the A's.
A.J. Burnett
Signed 5-year, $55 million deal with Blue Jays prior to 2006; 3 years, $36 million remaining.
Burnett can opt out of the deal after this season if he wants. He made 46 starts his first two years, winning 10 games each time. Is that what $11 million a year gets a team? The Blue Jays must have thought so. Burnett has made 30 starts only once in his career. He's never won more than 12 games in a season. He was 49-50 lifetime when he signed with the Blue Jays.
Brandon Inge
Signed for 4 years, $24 million with Tigers prior to 2007; 3 years, $19.1 million remaining.
Something doesn't compute. One year there is such a strong belief in Inge as the third baseman that he is given a four-year deal to keep him from being a free agent. The next off-season, Migeul Cabrera is acquired and given an eight-year, $152.3 million deal. Inge is left in a bench role while the Tigers troll for takers to unload Inge.
DODGER BLUES
Jason Schmidt
Signed 3-year, $47 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2007; 2 years, $34.5 million remaining, including $10.5 million signing bonus spread out over this year, 2009 and 2010.
He made six starts and was 1-4 for the Dodgers last year before undergoing shoulder surgery. And the Dodgers were surprised? Schmidt has battled shoulder problems throughout his career. Dodgers GM Ned Coletti used to be the assistant general manager in San Francisco, and medical adviser Stan Conte was the Giants trainer in the five-plus years that Schmidt was in San Francisco. As Bill Engvall would say, "Here's your sign.''
Juan Pierre
Signed 5-year, $44 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2007; 4 years, $36.5 million remaining.
So the Dodgers got upset because Pierre didn't walk very often and had one of the weakest arms in the big leagues? Were they scouting him before they signed him with their eyes closed? Juan Pierre is what he is: He is a workaholic, he is an aggressive hitter who can make contact and has the speed to get 200 hits and hit .300. The dumbest complaint yet is that he led the majors in outs. He also is among the leaders, each year, in plate appearances. It's not like he suddenly changed when he got to Tinseltown.
Andruw Jones
Signed 2-year, $36.2 million contract with Dodgers prior to this season.
Agent Scott Boras finds pawns every year. This year it was the Dodgers with Jones, and he was even willing to hold out for an extra $100,000 a year so the annual average value would exceed the $18 million of Torii Hunter with the Angels. Scouts were concerned about his bulking up a year ago. He has to have his speed to play his defense, because he is not an impact offensive player. He's hit .300 once in 11 full big-league seasons, never struck out less than 100 times in a season and when the home runs dropped to 26 and RBI fell below 100 in Atlanta last year, why would anyone think he would be rejuvenated in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium?
YOU WANT WHO?
Matt Morris
Signed 3-year, $27 million deal with Pirates prior to 2006 season; one-year, $10.5 million remaining.
The Giants were desperate to get out of the contract. They had talks with several contenders at the deadline last year in which they were going to eat half of what remained on Morris' contract. Then the Pirates stepped in, offering to take the entire contract and even threw in outfielder Rajai Davis. The Giants didn't hesitate. Is it any wonder that general manager Dave Littlefield was fired at the end of last season?
Esteban Loaiza
Signed 3-year, $21.375 million contract with Dodgers prior to 2006; 1 year, $7.325 million remaining.
Oakland signed Loaiza and was begging someone to take his contract off its hands. In late August last year, general manager Billy Beane went fishing and placed Loaiza on waivers. Much to his surprise, the Dodgers actually placed a claim. They not only had to pick up the $1.17 million of salary Loaiza was owed last year, but the $7 million he is owed this year and the $375,000 buyout to get out of his $7.25 million option for next year. He's pitched in nine games for the Dodgers so far. He's 2-6 with a 6.75 ERA.
Randy Johnson
Signed 2-year, $26 million extension with Diamondbacks as part of Johnson approving a trade from the Yankees prior to 2007; 1 year, $18.5 million remaining, including $8.5 million in signing bonuses to be paid $500,000 this year and $4 million each in 2009 and 2010.
He made only 10 starts last year, but should anyone be surprised? One of the most intimidating left-handers of all time, his fastball doesn't have the extra hop anymore. Then again, he is 44, and when the Diamondbacks brought him back not only was he coming off a season with the highest ERA of his career (5.01), but he also had undergone the second back surgery of his career. Ten starts into last year, the decision was made he needed a third back surgery.
AT LEAST THE END IS IN SIGHT
Mike Hampton
Signed 8-year, $121 million contract with Braves prior to 2001; 1 year, $15 million remaining, plus a $6 million buyout on the $20 million option for 2009.
Three teams picked up parts of his salary. Colorado, which originally signed the contract, paid $49 million, including the buyout, which is prefunded. He pitched two years with the Rockies, making the All-Star team in 2001 when he started the season 9-2. He was 12-26 in the remainder of his Rockies career.
Florida, with which he never spent a day, paid $23.5 million. Atlanta, which has had his services for six years, paid $48.5 million total — only $5.5 million the first three years combined, but the full $43 million the final three years. He is 32-20 with Atlanta, but hasn't pitched in nearly three years because of assorted injuries, including two elbow surgeries and currently a pulled groin.
Carl Pavano
Signed 4-year, $52 million contract with Yankees prior to 2005 season; 1 year, $12.95 million remaining.
A history of injuries continued for Pavano after signing with the Yankees, who were fooled into thinking Pavano was finally healthy after he was 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA and career-high 222 1/3 innings pitched with Florida in 2004. Wishful thinking. Even with that season, Pavano was only 57-58 in his big-league career. In three-plus seasons with the Yankees, back problems and elbow surgery have limited him a 5-6 record, 4.77 ERA, 19 appearances and 111 1/3 innings.
Richie Sexson
Signed 4-year, $50 million contract with Mariners prior to 2005; 1 year, $14 million remaining.
General manager Billy Bavasi never has offered up an understandable explanation of why the Mariners wanted to bring the one-dimensional Sexson into the wide-opens spaces of Safeco Field. He clogged up the lineup, has grown frustrated with the power demands and has been adequate, at best, defensively.
Zito aside the Giants seem to have made fewer mistakes than the Dodgers.:bugeye: