On Gagne

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 12, 2006 3:16 PM CST in News

Nothing like sitting in depositions, and having your Blackberry go off to inform you of a big signing, when you are away from your blog...and a reminder of how glad I am to have zywica on board, for just these sorts of occasions...

Apparently a $6 million base, with another possible $5 million in incentives.

This confuses me, really. I don't understand why Gagne is such a priority, unless it is to facilitate an Otsuka trade. And even then, Gagne seems like a pretty huge roll of the dice, considering how long he's been out of commission.

At this point, you have to figure that the pen looks something like this:

Gagne
Otsuka
Littleton
Francisco
Benoit
Mahay
Wilson

But you also have Rick Bauer, Scott Feldman, Mike Wood, Francisco Cruceta, John Rheinecker, John Koronka, and probably some others I can't think of offhand Update [2006-12-12 16:49:38 by Adam J. Morris]: such as Nick Masset and Kam Loe.

And this also assumes that Josh Rupe goes to the rotation, rather than staying in the pen.

I know the new C.W. is that a one year deal is never a bad deal, but...I guess I just don't get this. It is $6 million spent on an area where you already have such a glut of talent that you were looking to deal people anyway.

I guess it makes it more viable for you to package a couple of relievers for Jon Lieber or someone like that. And if Gagne is great this summer, and you still have Otsuka, it allows you to put together a more attractive trade package with those guys come the trade deadline.

But still...I don't know. Unless you are flipping Otsuka for a starting pitcher, I just don't see that this deal does that much.

And even if you flip Otsuka, it means that you are counting on a guy who hasn't been healthy for a couple of years. And Gagne probably won't even garner you a draft pick if he leaves after 2007, since he missed almost all of 2006.

I don't know. I'm not fired up about this signing. I'm not disappointed. It just seems...weird. It opens you up to do some other things down the road, which is always nice, but it doesn't seem to make this team any better for 2007.

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Comments

AJM

I am with you also. I think you can't really assess this move until we see what happens with Aki.

Jon Miller says Vicente Padilla with a thick accent.

by Agreen07 on Dec 12, 2006 3:20 PM CST reply actions

Would the Rockies

want to trade Jason Jennings for Aki?

Jon Miller says Vicente Padilla with a thick accent.

by Agreen07 on Dec 12, 2006 3:20 PM CST reply actions

i dont know

but if we could sign him to an extension then the deal would look much better

by myoungfan11 on Dec 12, 2006 3:22 PM CST up reply actions

I see the trade

as buying our young relievers one more year to mature, and have a closer emerge. Plus Aki is more than likely to be dealt.

by i hit straight ball very much on Dec 12, 2006 3:22 PM CST reply actions

Also, what hasn't been brought up much...

is what Gagne could teach the younger guys.

by mtex on Dec 12, 2006 3:25 PM CST up reply actions

I disagree

Assuming he's healthy, Gagne definitely makes the team better. $8 million better? I don't know about that, but certainly better.

by Dustin on Dec 12, 2006 3:22 PM CST reply actions

texas rangers site

says 6 million. so 6 million better? Yeah I say so.

by NYTXFAN on Dec 12, 2006 5:07 PM CST up reply actions

you forgot...

Kameron Loe?

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Dec 12, 2006 3:23 PM CST reply actions

If we dont find a trade

this deal is an absurd move.

However, trading relief for starting position players may be better than signing a 5 year deal with a position player with lots of question marks.

Hopefully we find some trade partners to solidify our rotation and lineup.

Iraq "could be considered a Civil War" - Colin Powell.

by DJCahill on Dec 12, 2006 3:25 PM CST reply actions

I would have a whole lot more problem

if this were someone who wasn't really a closer type. Most of these guys are 6th/7th/maybe 8th inning options, but it's somewhat questionable what you'd do to close if you deal Otsuka. This is a pretty high stakes gamble, but it's another possibility.

Also, I think I said this earlier, but I'm just a sucker for high upside guys. Like I'm always the guy who'd take a shot at Prior right now, even though he hasn't pitched well in a year or two. And if you hit on this, you could have something special in your bullpen this year.

I'm not a huge fan of it per se, but it doesn't make me take pause or be disillusioned or anything.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 12, 2006 3:25 PM CST reply actions

What about

Masset? I would prefer Masset to be the 5th starter if he does well in spring training.

"Chip" aka ortonius hillmanius amorius

by ortonius on Dec 12, 2006 3:31 PM CST reply actions

payroll

adam, think you could give an update on our payroll now that a couple of signings have taken place. Im inerested in seeing how much money we have to spend now that 6 million is going to gagne.

rage against the gold club

by erikj07 on Dec 12, 2006 3:54 PM CST reply actions

true dat.

by mtex on Dec 12, 2006 4:00 PM CST up reply actions

About $60 million

for signed players plus A-Rod. Somewhere in that area.

by Lucas on Dec 12, 2006 4:12 PM CST up reply actions

Payroll

Was meaning to do that last night, after the Lofton deal, but I fell asleep.

I'll probably do one tonight.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 12, 2006 4:11 PM CST up reply actions

Payroll

I have us at about $74 million, although I haven't seen the exact 2006 salaries for Padilla, Lofton and Gagne.

by BurntOrange on Dec 12, 2006 4:55 PM CST up reply actions

Well

Money spent is the downside. Upside could result in a dominant bullpen as opposed to the "solid" one we were looking at.

If Gagne pitches like Gagne 02-04 (doubtful) then we just got a bunch better without even considering the trade pieces that we now have.

If he can't get healthy then you are out nothin but money. Good signing.

"I feel like I have an idea about what we can do to keep the A's from beating us so much." Ron Washington

by hubcityraider on Dec 12, 2006 4:29 PM CST reply actions

x

I have to imagine there's more to come. On its own it's a little strange and potentially a bad way to allocate their budgetary resources.

And Blackberry? Here in San Francisco we're all hardcore Treo users, and think all other devices are second class.

by alon91 on Dec 12, 2006 4:32 PM CST reply actions

Jon Lieber

Please, JD, do better than that. I know, I'm a broken record on this count.

by t ball on Dec 12, 2006 4:32 PM CST reply actions

Yeah

Lieber is about the last guy I'd like to get to fill that third spot. Not that there are that many options left, but it would just be a little depressing if he's the big finale to the offseason of bit parts (Cat/Lofton/Gagne).

by Brett Perryman on Dec 12, 2006 4:58 PM CST up reply actions

Commitment to mediocrity

Seems to be the theme of this offseason....

by BurntOrange on Dec 12, 2006 5:04 PM CST up reply actions

I wouldn't call..

1 year deals a commitment to mediocrity

by chase1971 on Dec 12, 2006 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

Avoiding long term contracts

seems to be the only way to avoid a committment to mediocrity this year.

Iraq "could be considered a Civil War" - Colin Powell.

by DJCahill on Dec 12, 2006 5:50 PM CST up reply actions

JD Drew please sit on my face

Seems to be your theme this offseason...

"The Indians deserved it." LSB's resident humanitarian and motivational speaker, Sharky

by Brian Thomas on Dec 12, 2006 7:08 PM CST up reply actions

i believe

this is a great signing. it makes our bullpen stronger, gives us more options come trading deadline or even a trade now. Also I think everyone should KNOW... Gagne is on record saying, and he said this before we even acknowledged him, that he wants to play in texas because he has a home here. I believe I read that from Ben Maller on MSN.com. So lets say he has a great year and now 2007 offseason is happening. I think we have a great shot to resign him if we go that route. I also think oatsuka will be setting up for him come mid season.

by NYTXFAN on Dec 12, 2006 5:17 PM CST reply actions