After weeks of negotiations, the Marlins finally signed 1B Carlos Delgado to a 4-year, $52 million contract today (richest in club history, by the way).
I have to say, this is probably the closest I've ever paid attention to a contract negotiation- It was down to four teams (O's, Rangers, Mets, Marlins), then the Rangers and Mets dropped out, then the Mets were back in, repeat as necessary. I thought for sure one of the big-money teams would get him, because, quite frankly, I didn't think the Marlins had the dough. Apparently, they'll only pay him $4 million this year, which makes me a little nervous for the rest of the backloaded years (I'm sure they'll re-negotiate).
I'm ecstatic that we got him, as I really think our team is shaping up to be one of our best ever, but I don't think we're going to win the division, as some are now thinking. I've learned my lesson- I'm picking the Braves until they DON'T win it.
What it does is give Florida a hell of a lineup. It's really just a question of whether or not the pitching holds up, particularly the bullpen.
I suspect making a move like this was as much about getting support for the stadium project as it was about winning ballgames, but the two are pretty intertwined anyway.
The part that scared me is the one talking head on SportsCenter who declared Florida as possibly the best team in the NL right now. Not to say I'm not looking forward to this season, but predictions like that never end well. But, the whole offseason the team was saying they needed to go out and get a big left-handed bat and they did.
""Get out of my face, or you'll see what I'm like!"
As a Mets fan, I'm actually a bit relieved that the Mets didn't get him. Don't get me wrong, Delgado is a great addition to any team, but two big contracts in one off-season are more than enough. I'd rather they build around the guys they signed through scouting & trades, rather than get into the mindset that throwing money at a player is always the way to build a winner.
I'm actually happier with the apparent trade for Mientkiewicz than I was with the $50+ million pursuit of Delgado...
Apparently, they'll only pay him $4 million this year, which makes me a little nervous for the rest of the backloaded years (I'm sure they'll re-negotiate).
Apparently you're new to baseball contracts? No chance in the world Delgado renegotiates that deal, and it's going to be a huge albatross from the franchise when he's 36 and being paid $16 mil a year while guys like D-Train come up for contracts.
The thing that really bugs me - because bad contracts are a dime a dozen and all - is I thought the Marlins and city/state/county/whoever were about $70 million away on a new stadium deal. I think this money would've been a lot better served closing that gap.
Originally posted by TheCubsFan The thing that really bugs me - because bad contracts are a dime a dozen and all - is I thought the Marlins and city/state/county/whoever were about $70 million away on a new stadium deal. I think this money would've been a lot better served closing that gap.
It's about $60M in state funds that they're waiting on approval for, which should be decided on when the state legislature comes back into full session in March.
(edited by Blanket Jackson on 26.1.05 1212) ""Get out of my face, or you'll see what I'm like!"
Apparently, they'll only pay him $4 million this year, which makes me a little nervous for the rest of the backloaded years (I'm sure they'll re-negotiate).
Apparently you're new to baseball contracts? No chance in the world Delgado renegotiates that deal, and it's going to be a huge albatross from the franchise when he's 36 and being paid $16 mil a year while guys like D-Train come up for contracts.
I'm not saying they'll re-negotiate to LOWER the number, just maybe spread it out over a couple of years- they've done it before with other players.
I can't believe that the O's missed out on ANOTHER free agent. Actually, I can. What with the utter incompetence of the front office combined with the tight walleted Peter Angelos. I don't know why I'm so bitter, because I didn't even want Delgado (though I think that I'm probably undervaluing his skills). It's just the point that we're doomed to another being a third place team, at best. Maybe we'll get Mags Ordonez. Then again, I shouldn't get my hopes up. I just can't believe we got outbid by the Marlins.
Marlins finally took advantage of the no state income tax in Florida loophole that allows close to equal money to be a large difference between that of a high state income tax state like New York. I'd worry somewhat about Delgado after he wouldn't agree to waive his no trade last summer to go to a contender. When a guy has never made the playoffs and then refuses to get into a pennant race, that raises some red flags. I have to agree with geemoney: Until I see the Braves in the grave, you can't pick against them winning the division. See last season when they were in the casket getting lowered before waking up as an example. Peter Angelos this off-season might have cemented his place as the worst owner in the majors. How the Orioles come up empty this off-season, outside of Kline, is amazing. Forget Delgado, how the O's don't sign any starting pitching is confounding. The only thing that might save the O's is if somehow Angelos can get banned from the game like Steinbrenner did in '90. That began the Yankee turnaround, and that might be the only thing that could cause an Oriole turnaround.
Originally posted by redsoxnationPeter Angelos this off-season might have cemented his place as the worst owner in the majors. How the Orioles come up empty this off-season, outside of Kline, is amazing. Forget Delgado, how the O's don't sign any starting pitching is confounding.
Yup. See I'm not annoyed about Delgado because as good of a hitter as Delgado still is right now (and he's still pretty good) he's going to decline and I didn't think adding a slugger was what the team needed anyway. They needed to ink Pavano or at least two other guys (Lowe and Millwood, something) to even consider themselves possible contenders by, gee, 2007?
The only thing that might save the O's is if somehow Angelos can get banned from the game like Steinbrenner did in '90. That began the Yankee turnaround, and that might be the only thing that could cause an Oriole turnaround.
Angelos doesn't deserve any banning, and there are worse owners really. He tried to get Delgado and Pavano, he just wasn't going to overpay for Delgado (which Florida did) and the Yankees outbid for Pavano. What can you do? It's a shit team that has no chance of contending in the near future playing against the Yanks and Red Sox.
I think being surprised that the Orioles can't land top-tier free agents after not being anywhere close to a contender for the last seven years is pretty weird. They're a second-rate organization. Those two wonderful Davey Johnson years and the Weaver era are long gone.
Originally posted by ScottChrist I think being surprised that the Orioles can't land top-tier free agents after not being anywhere close to a contender for the last seven years is pretty weird. They're a second-rate organization. Those two wonderful Davey Johnson years and the Weaver era are long gone.
It's not like the Marlins are any better of an organization that the O's are. Sure, they've won two World Series since 1997, and that counts for a lot, but they've never finsihed above .500 except for those years and last year, I have been told (EDIT: I'm usually pretty good on these stats. I thought that they might have been over .500 last year but I was too lazy to check). I can understand why the Red Sox, Yankees, and other winners get free agents, but losing to the Marlins (and Rangers and Mets) is surprising to me.
The bottom line in most cases is that money talks. If Angelos ever decides to pony up, then we'll have a winner and some good free agents. If not, it's hello fourth place.
Originally posted by ScottChrist I think being surprised that the Orioles can't land top-tier free agents after not being anywhere close to a contender for the last seven years is pretty weird. They're a second-rate organization. Those two wonderful Davey Johnson years and the Weaver era are long gone.
It's not like the Marlins are any better of an organization that the O's are. Sure, they've won two World Series since 1997, and that counts for a lot, but they've never finsihed above .500 except for those years.
They were 83-79 last year.
(edited by geemoney on 27.1.05 1737) College, Sports and More!: Experience It
Originally posted by BigSteveIt's not like the Marlins are any better of an organization that the O's are.
They won the World Series two years ago, have a lot of talent in place (including actual starting pitchers!), play in a division they can conceivably win this season, and finished four games over .500 last year. And I also can't stress enough that they overpaid for Delgado, especially in a couple years as thecubsfan said when he's $16 million for a 36-year old slugger. I wouldn't have wanted Delgado at that price so Angelos failing to "pony up" and pay out the ass for someone that might've been worth a handful of wins at best to his team doesn't really bother me.
Delgado wouldn't have helped Baltimore finish better than third. They signed 3 big name free agents last year and it didn't do much for them. Unless they get two good starting pitchers they are just wasting their money.
Delgado's contract isn't that bad. Compare it to Sexson's deal and Delgado isn't coming off an injury like that.
Florida will be very good next year. Lo Duca is a solid catcher, Leiter will be solid, and Mota will be a good closer. They should win 90 games.