OT: Braun, Kazmir, Longoria, et al

by booyahcaveman on May 15, 2008 5:55 PM CDT

Braun at 8 yrs, 45 mil

Kazmir 3 yrs, 28.5 mil

Longoria roughly 9 yrs, 44 mil

I know that each player has drawbacks. Where do you play Braun? Can Kazmir stay healthy? Has Longoria showed enough in the majors? But, these deals seem terrific to me. On this thought, when should the Rangers consider locking Hamilton up to a contract similar to these? Is it worth waiting to make sure he will be healthy or do wait until he proves his health but his price goes up? If you did the deal today what would be a fair offer that would be accepted?

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Veterans

With all these teams rushing to sign their young players, the price of veterans could fall on the open market. It’ll be interesting to see how this winter plays out.

by Excel Hearts Choi on May 15, 2008 6:03 PM CDT 0 recs

On the contrary

The teams signing their young players (Tampa Bay, Milwaukee) are teams that normally don’t compete in the veterans market anyway.

If anything, lower-income teams keeping their good young players means that big budget clubs will no longer be able to wrestle them away in their arbitration years, forcing the Yankees and Mets of the world to pony up for veterans more often

by JBImaknee on May 15, 2008 6:15 PM CDT up 0 recs

Braun

I think he will eventually move to RF because of his arm. The Brewers have a logjam at several position and I expect them to address these issues at some point during this season.

Bill Hall is blocking Mat Gamel at 3B although Gamel might profile better at 1B or in the OF. They have Matt LaPorta crushing the ball in the minors but unless he is traded to an AL team, his future destination is in LF. They also have Corey Hart who is currently playing RF but could technically move to CF although that might give the Brewers the worst defensive OF in the game. (LaPorta, Hart, Braun)

All in all, not the worst problem to have.

Dalton

by jparks77 on May 15, 2008 6:13 PM CDT 0 recs

Hamilton

Wouldn’t be suprised if talks are ongoing as we speak. The question coming into the season was was it a flash in the pan type thing. I think that has obviously been answered. I would think before next season starts Hamilton has a long term deal in place. As for the future, I think once we decide what our catching situation is we will lock one of those guys(Salty, Teagarden, or Ramirez) down in the next couple years. 1B could be locked down in the next 3 years. We already have 2B locked down. We should have a long term answer at SS in the next 3 years. Murphy could be alongside Hamilton

by bigsteve on May 15, 2008 7:25 PM CDT 0 recs

oops

...Murphy could be alongside Hamilton this winter in getting a long term deal with Boggs doing the same next year possibly. So our positional players should be getting taken care of rather quickly. It will be the young pitchers that will be interesting how they shake things out.

by bigsteve on May 15, 2008 7:26 PM CDT up 0 recs

Boggs?

A little bit premature to talk about that, no?

by Mahon on May 15, 2008 8:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

Next year

I did say next year right? The way he has played so far and based on the comments made recently it doesn’t look like he is headed back to OKC anytime soon. If he continues to have a strong season this year and next year then I could see him getting locked up toward the end of next year if not after next year.

by bigsteve on May 15, 2008 9:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

Lock up Font now!

At this rate, will there be a single free agent in 2012-2014? Teams are going to have to build through draft, international signings and development by default.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 15, 2008 7:52 PM CDT 0 recs

Not sure about the other two...

...but Kazmir isn’t in just his second season. He also has full seasons behind him. Hamilton didn’t play all last season, so it would be premature to lock him up this season. I could see something like this going on partway into next season, if he stays healthy and productive this season and starts off next year in similar fashion.

by Inkara1 on May 15, 2008 7:55 PM CDT 0 recs

Hamilton

Although he was injured he has a full year of service time from last season. While I wouldn’t be opposed to waiting until after this season or even into next there is a very good chance that he is a Super 2 after this season if he keeps up his current pace. Locking him up now will only save us in the long term

by bigsteve on May 15, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up 0 recs