Derek Lowe signs with the Braves

Way too much $ for Lowe...

I guess all that is left is for Perez to sign before Sheets’ turn I would guess.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 13, 2009 11:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

As a Dodger fan, I was furious...

when we signed Lowe before the 2005 season to a 4/$36m deal. I thought it was way too much money for a guy coming off a crappy year in Boston. It turned out to be a great deal, with four solid years for Lowe coupled with the market making Lowe’s $9m/yr look like a bargain.

I’m not sure if the market will have the same uptick as before, and of course Lowe is older now, but maybe the move won’t be so bad for the Braves.

-Eric

by Eric Stephen on Jan 13, 2009 12:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

That's going to look bad in two years.

Give me Sheets or give me Offseason Blues Part III.

by Chase Irwin on Jan 13, 2009 12:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mostly, that's a lot of years.

2009? Forget it. It's all about 2010. Go Rangers!

by rooster on Jan 13, 2009 12:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's maybe a year longer than optimal, but that's a pretty good signing... and the fact that it hurts the Mets is just some super sweet vanilla-mint flavored icing on the cake.

The Braves are an OF bat away from looking really, really freaking legit, imo.

Hudson, Vasquez, Lowe, Kawakazukiamuraichio, Jurgens is a pretty nice rotation, and there’s some depth with Hanson and Jo-Jo the idiot circus boy.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I don‘t know you who you are. I don‘t know what you want. If you‘re looking for me to be a man and move to third base for the good of the team, I can tell you, I don't have man parts. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills acquired over a very long career of secretly being a pretty huge douche. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you trade me now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don‘t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will throw a gigantic hissy fit in the media.

by thedirkatron on Jan 13, 2009 12:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Relief

How are the relief pitchers? The rotation is good, and with Vazquez and Lowe, the bullpen probably won’t be overworked.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jan 13, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

hudson probly out the whole year with tommy john though

still theyve put together a pretty decent rotation.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jan 13, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm... Wow. I completely missed that. I knew he had surgery but for whatever reason I never bothered to do any research. Didn't know it was TJS. That does change things a little.

Still, a pretty solid rotation.

Vasquez, Lowe, Japan-Guy, Jurgens and Reyes/Hanson/whoever as the 5th guy.

I’m envious.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I don‘t know you who you are. I don‘t know what you want. If you‘re looking for me to be a man and move to third base for the good of the team, I can tell you, I don't have man parts. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills acquired over a very long career of secretly being a pretty huge douche. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you trade me now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don‘t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will throw a gigantic hissy fit in the media.

by thedirkatron on Jan 13, 2009 2:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You won't be envious

by this time next year says the optimist.

Your 2009 Snow Monkey Ambassador

by Parman on Jan 13, 2009 2:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Campillo

is the likely fifth starter.

by clark on Jan 13, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I have always liked the Braves

for no real reason. I would love to see them get Swisher from the Yanks. I think he could come back strong this year.

by clark on Jan 13, 2009 4:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz, Chipper.

Hard to not like those guys. The Andruw Jones of old was my favorite non-ranger player.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1 for Jo-Jo the idiot circus boy with a pretty new pet.

I guess I should be one to talk.
There's nights that I can't even walk.
There's days I couldn't give a fuck.
And in between is where I'm stuck.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jan 13, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

I don’t see this as too much money, just one more year than I’d have gone.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Jan 13, 2009 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good or bad for or pursuit of Sheets?

I can see it both ways:

Good because it reduces the competition for Sheets (the Braves seemed to be one of the more heavily mentioned teams with regard to signing Sheets).

Bad because it removes an option to dump Millwood and his contract after signing Sheets.

So, do those two opposing viewpoints cancel each other out, leaving us right where we were yesterday?

by WestTxAg06 on Jan 13, 2009 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yep, back to square one.

I thought about the trade Milly market being dead with ATL as soon as I heard the news in the car.

Would the Dodgers be a dark horse for Millwood? And this should also raise the interest of the Mets, right?

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jan 13, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mets...

will sign Oliver Perez now.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 13, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sucks to be them, then. Perez is the suck.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

I don‘t know you who you are. I don‘t know what you want. If you‘re looking for me to be a man and move to third base for the good of the team, I can tell you, I don't have man parts. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills acquired over a very long career of secretly being a pretty huge douche. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you trade me now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don‘t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will throw a gigantic hissy fit in the media.

by thedirkatron on Jan 13, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

K's!!!

by oc on Jan 13, 2009 2:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LAD

McCourt won’t be willing to take on any extra cash this offseason, and what financial room has been made will most likely be used for another go at Manny. If the Rangers trade Millwood to the Dodgers while paying a hefty portion of his contract, I just don’t see that as being a smart move.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Jan 13, 2009 1:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Eh, I forgot what I have been telling everyone.

McCourt does have cash problems.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Jan 13, 2009 1:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

From everything I read

the 2 main teams in the mix for sheets was Atlanta and Texas.

What is the market for Sheets now? I can’t believe there is no market for an ace who of course has an injury history, but still started 31 games last year. AJ Burnett has quite the injury history as well right.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Jan 13, 2009 12:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

and noone would take MY money??

everyone’s a liar.

Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012

by Longhorn on Jan 13, 2009 1:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

not valued enough

Lowe is a very good athlete who seems to be not rated as highly because he is not as flashy with some overpowering stuff. Almost like a modern day Tommy John, he gets the job done in a very professional way.

His cost was high to the Braves though. That’s a lot of coin and for four years somewhat of a risk. Guess they had no choice though.

Oliver Perez will stay with the Mighty Petz who will take it all in 2009.

Mighty Petz, Mighty Petz. Step right up and meet the Petz.

by Romanesq on Jan 13, 2009 1:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So another pitcher signs: who's the next best pitching option left on the free-agent market?

I’d have to think Sheets is next to sign.

by oc on Jan 13, 2009 1:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sheets or Oliver

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 1:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Start writing

in other words.

Give me Sheets or give me Offseason Blues Part III.

by Chase Irwin on Jan 13, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Part 2 was a bust.

by oc on Jan 13, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, Sheets has to be the next to go

Or at least the next guy teams will pursue. I think we’ll see a lot more interest in Sheets now, which probably means we’re going to get outbid.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

it's interesting,

that even in this market, the starting pitchers are still getting top dollar.

by Randy Richardson on Jan 13, 2009 1:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The top players seem to be not so much affected by the market

as the middle and lower tier.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

top players

I figured that Tex, Sabathia, and Manny would get their money. KRod, Fuentes, and Burrell took A LOT less than they could have imagined. That being said, Burnett and Lowe did very well for themselves. Of the top of my head, I can’t think of any starting pitchers that have had to settle for what previously would have been below market value.

by Randy Richardson on Jan 13, 2009 2:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dempster also got good money.

Randy Johnson might have gotten a couple million less than in a previous market. In general, 1 year deals are a couple million less than previous markets.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dempster

Is a top of the rotation starter. So are Burnett and Lowe. Randy is no longer.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was talking about all starting pitchers.

That’s what Randy was talking about.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot about Dempster,

Moyer got a really good contract too, considering his age.

by Randy Richardson on Jan 13, 2009 2:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Moyer

Can’t believe he’ll get $13 mil for his age 46 and 47 seasons.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2009 2:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he played hardball.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 2:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If that's true

Don’t expect us to get Sheets.

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

if the Mets sign Perez

as expected.

There aren’t that many big market teams that are willing to spend that much money on an injury prone FA starter. I would say the Yankees and Angels would have to get involved, but the yanks don’t want another injury concern and I haven’t heard any rumor involving another high dollar team wanting Sheets.

I’m for bringing Sheets here, and I know your sentiment on the issue, and in my heart of hearts I have a hard time believing the rangers would bring him here anyway.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Jan 13, 2009 2:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the only way

the Rangers sign Sheets is if they are able to unload Millwood or Padilla. Or, if because of injury concerns, he falls to something ridiculously low.

by Randy Richardson on Jan 13, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Blalock may do.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 2:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

we should have jumped on sheets before lowe signed

JD should have specifically inquired about Lowe to get a price, seen how high it was, and made Sheets a good offer before the Lowe contract was announced.

I dont’ see how Sheets agent looks at the Lowe contract and settles for 2/20

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Jan 13, 2009 2:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

i can see it only if

sheets’ medical records are really scaring teams away, in which case i wouldnt want us to sign him anyway.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Jan 13, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stained Sheets

I still don’t think we get him, if we do he turns into an injured Chan Ho with less years

by RangerFloppy on Jan 13, 2009 2:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Unlike the Ho

Sheets is actually a very good pitcher. We could have his back and shoulder problems blow up in our face, that’s the risk – but even if that happens whatever innings we do get out of Sheets should be better quality ones that anyone else on our staff could give us.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 3:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Max Ramirez VWL Writeup

Haven’t seen anyone else link this. BA on top VWL performances.

Quote from an unnamed scout:

“That guy is going to be a major league everyday catcher,” the scout continued. “He still needs to improve his catching and throwing, but he’s still young. He can catch, he can block—you can see him getting better. But this kid can hit in the major leagues.”

Mike Grouse Interview - Rangers' Midwest Cross Checker

by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2009 2:55 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's still hard for me to believe

That we seem to value Max the lest of our three catchers right now.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

*least

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 3:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If it makes you feel better,

I value him more than Salty.

by Randy Richardson on Jan 13, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I value them both a lot more than Teagarden, myself.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Max has the highest hitting upside

but I value great defense in a catcher and teagarden will give that to you. And he’ll be an avg offensive catcher. If we can deal Salty, I’m all for it. Although, I think he has great upside and he is still very young.

Wait 'til the year after next

by NothinG on Jan 13, 2009 4:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty certain we'll be fine with whichever of the three we wind up with

But as I said over in the catcher fanpost, I just like the star potential of Salty and Max a lot more than Tea’s defense.

Did Jon Daniels downsize your old position at Dunking Donuts?

by lonestarJon on Jan 13, 2009 4:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you've said it once, there's no need to say it again.

by oc on Jan 13, 2009 4:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't believe...

I’ve heard LSJ talk about how much he likes Salty before.

Do go on LSJ.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Jan 13, 2009 5:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If we keep hearing quotes like that from scouts, then we may.

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Jan 13, 2009 3:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs