Should the Rangers be in on Saito?
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 11, 2008 8:12 PM CST
Email
PrintSupposedly, the Los Angeles Dodgers are threatening to non-tender Takashi Saito, who has been one of the best relievers in the N.L. the past three years, but who missed the last couple of months of 2008 with an elbow problem.
Saito, according to the article, is looking at up to $3.5 million in arbitration, and the Dodgers don't want to offer that. And Saito turns 39 in February, so it isn't like he's got a ton of years left.
Still...given that the team is kicking the tires on a variety of reliever options who would require a one year commitment, and given that Saito is the type of high-K power arm the Rangers seem to be seeking, wouldn't he make sense?
If the Dodgers are going to non-tender him anyway, why not offer them someone like Evan Reed or Ben Harrison, and take your chances with him in arbitration?
Is $3.5 million for Saito really that ridiculous?
31 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Injury
I guess it depends on how bad his injury is. My guess is that he’s not as healthy as he (or his agent) says. If he was, there’s no doubt the Dodgers would pony up that amount. This sounds somewhat familiar to the Aki situation. There’s some speculation that Saito won’t be ready for the start of the season, too, so what amount of guaranteed money would you give him?
Um yeah 3 plus mil is to much to take a chance for a 39 yr old reliever,
why even ask that. That 3.5 mil could go to someone else useful
The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ
a player that isn't hurt?
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Dec 11, 2008 8:54 PM CST up reply actions
Well, last year...
…there were arguments that we should spent $6 million on a RF who was hurt.
And the year before that, we shouldn’t sign a closer who is hurt.
The Dodgers are, according to that story, offering him a contract…they just don’t want to pay him what they think he’ll get in arbitration. So they, it appears, at least think he’s worth signing. And they would have a better handle on his situation than anyone.
by Adam J. Morris on Dec 11, 2008 9:08 PM CST up reply actions
Well if he's healthy
I think it’s a good idea — why not?
But, I have my doubts.
I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles
by Dirk Diggler on Dec 11, 2008 10:25 PM CST up reply actions
I have my doubts that he's healty, too
However
1) It’s not my 3.5 million, most of which was just saved by shipping Gerry anyhow
2) It’s not an albatross, it’s just one year. If we aren’t going to sign anybody else, why not?
3) If he pulls a Gagne/Eddie you can ship him off at the ASB for more prospects
"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"
If healthy
You do it. The guy is dominant and we need bullpen help. Age is an issue, but it’s only 1 season.
Wait 'til the year after next
the dodgers
already lost about half of their pitching staff, and a huge amount of their payroll this offseason. the only reason they would not bring back a guy like Saito for a measly 3.5M is if they were completely sure he was not going to make a positive impact for them next season.
do arbitrators
take injury risk, or 2 months missed from the last season into account?
"Never go with a hippie to a second location."
I would think so
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
CBA
Quote:
The criteria will be the quality of the Player’s contribution
to his Club during the past season (including but not limited to his
overall performance, special qualities of leadership and public
appeal), the length and consistency of his career contribution, the
record of the Player’s past compensation, comparative baseball
salaries (see paragraph (13) below for confidential salary data),
the existence of any physical or mental defects on the part of the
Player, and the recent performance record of the Club including
but not limited to its League standing and attendance as an indication
of public acceptance.
x
As long as it’s a mediocre prospect then I don’t see why not.
Saito has a healthy amount of upside and, on a cheap one year contract, virtually no risk. He’s not going to be part of the next really good Rangers team, and if he was blocking any prospects you wanted to develop then maybe you pass, but that’s not the case in our bullpen. Plus we all know that teams traditionally overvalue closers (see Gange, Eric) although I have been wondering if that trend is reversing a bit these days.
Saito
He’s a good setup guy even if he is getting older, but i’d rather see that money spent elsewhere.
but its not like i’d be upset if they did get him.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
here's a question
if the Rangers sign Sheets and forfeit their second round pick, is anyone against then signing a guy like Juan Cruz if he is still available towards the end of the FA feeding frenzy? We would forfeit a third rounder for him, I think, which isn’t horrible value on a type A free agent, and I think he is worth a two or three year deal. in his last three years in Arizona he’s carried a WHIP under 1.3 and well over a K/IP. he solidifies the back end of our bullpen without giving up anything via trade.
If we can deal Blalock and Millwood, taking on the salaries of Sheets and Cruz should not be too inhibitive, and if all we give up for a potential front end starter and dominant late inning guy are a second and third round pick, that has to be a success. Plus, we can then be more aggressive when we pick in the first and compensatory rounds, as well as in LA.
sorry, also on that
looking through the contracts signed so far this offseason, and realizing that his type A status might scare off some suiters, I think it is not unreasonable to think we could get Cruz for something like 2/7 or 3/10.
Draft
That is exactly what led to our farm system being so depleted in the early – mid part of the decade. If you give up your 2nd and 3rd round picks then you have to sit for almost 100 draft picks before picking again in the 4th round. Thats alot of potentially quality prospects you lose out on. Unless the guy is an absolute can’t miss or will fix a serious problem area in your club I don’t want to give up that many draft picks. And with relievers being so up and down and unreliable a Juan Cruz on top of a ben Sheets would do more harm than good in the long run IMO.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
i agree to an extent
but second and third round guys are not sure things. remember we will have a first round pick and a 1C for Bradley, and we can then reallocate the money that would have gone to the 2 and 3 picks in either being more aggressive with our first two picks or in LA.
Would you rather trade a minor leaguer who has already established himself as a prospect to address these needs, or would you rather simply forfeit a pick who could just as easily be KC Herren as it could be Robbie Ross? i don’t get why people want to trade three and four incredibly valuable pieces on the farm to get a guy like Grienke when you could simply forfeit a second and third round pick and get guys like Sheets and Cruz.
Well
With previous regimes i could see your point. But under Daniels we have done a hell of a job in the drafts. Im fine giving up a 2nd round pick for Sheets but a reliever like Cruz I wouldn’t.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
we are talking about a third round pick here
with all of the compensatory picks, this pick is now back in the triple digits. it all depends on the team’s evaluation of Cruz. I personally think he can be a dominant late inning guy for the next three years. his last three years have been very consistent, he has never had serious injury problems, and he has the stuff to close. i would trade a third round pick for that.
I wouldn't whine
over giving up a pick for Cruz, but he’s always been kind of a favorite of mine too. As you said, we have to look at where picks actually fall. Extra picks are great, and they did well in this range in the 2008 draft, but I think I could live with it for Cruz if the deal isnt’ ridciulous.
by Brett Perryman on Dec 12, 2008 5:59 PM CST up reply actions
Yes.
Well worth it in the mold of low-risk / high reward.
This is an exciting time in my life.
The LSB CPP's are in full bloom.
by inactive lsb user on Dec 12, 2008 6:04 PM CST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The Citi Field All-Star game has finally been made official for 2013
- Brett Lawrie receives four-game suspension, fined for ‘aggressive actions’ toward umpire
- PNC Park security guard loses finger in struggle with fan during Pirates game
- Create-a-Caption: Partying like it’s 1988
- The Ron Washington puppet is watching you while you sleep — and has possibly jinxed the Rangers
