Friday, January 09, 2004
ANOTHER CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS?
Maels Rodriguez and Yobal Duenas were declared free agents by MLB this week after leaving Cuban in October. Rodriguez is the prize out of the two. He is 24 and throws 100 mph from the right side.
Roger Jongewaard, Seattle's vice president for player personnel in the Seattle Times states that...
"I saw him in (the World Cup) in Winnipeg," Jongewaard said. "When he's right, this guy comes in and throws a true 100 miles per hour."
However, there are questions about Rodriguez's arm and back, and Cuban baseball officials have said he lost 15 mph off his fastball. "But you never know," Jongewaard said. "The Cubans may be spreading the rumor to make it tough for him to defect."
After leaving Cuban, Rodriguez said...
"I'm going to demonstrate that I can still throw 100," Rodriguez said Thursday on Miami Spanish-language radio station WQBA-AM. "These are things that they invent to cut a little off the careers of some athletes."
According to Baseball America, Rodriguez's agent,
Vilar said a half-dozen teams, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Mariners and Rangers, are interested in him. Vilar has used the four-year $32 million contract the Yankees gave fellow defector Jose Contreras in December 2002 as a measuring stick for Rodriguez' asking price.
Rodriguez is a reliever; Contreras is a starter. The market for a reliever is vastly different than one for a starter. Vilar can and should not use Contreras’ contract as a “measuring stick for Rodriguez.” Top free agent starting pitchers are still signing lucrative contracts similar to Contreras’ like Colon, Escobar, and Pettitte, but relief pitchers are finding a different market place. This season’s top free agent relief pitcher, Keith Foulke signed for $24 million over four years plus incentives that could make his deal comparable to Contreras’. But Foulke is and has been one of the top relief pitchers in the game. No team will offer a similar deal to Rodriguez, not even the MFY. It is ridiculous for Vilar to compare Contreras or Foulke to his client. Baez and Looper would be better. The three are all hard throwing relief pitchers with question marks. Baez and Looper both signed for $6.5 million over two seasons. Rodriguez will sign a similar contract, possibly with the Mets, O’s or Rangers. The Sox, MFY, and M’s pens are fairly well stocked and ready. Vilar is just trying to drive up the market for his client, which is his job, but he is loosing credibility with unreasonable comparisons.
Just Charge It
Further proof that the Bee-more Co's do not have a clue. Three years and about $21 million for a pitcher with weight problems, a shaky shoulder and average strike out stats is foolish. Are they aware that Carlos Beltran, Eric Chavez, and Jose Vidro are all likely to be free agents and possibly Kerry Wood, Pedro, Lowe, Nomar after the 2004 season? Why waste good money on marginal talent?
Maels Rodriguez and Yobal Duenas were declared free agents by MLB this week after leaving Cuban in October. Rodriguez is the prize out of the two. He is 24 and throws 100 mph from the right side.
Roger Jongewaard, Seattle's vice president for player personnel in the Seattle Times states that...
"I saw him in (the World Cup) in Winnipeg," Jongewaard said. "When he's right, this guy comes in and throws a true 100 miles per hour."
However, there are questions about Rodriguez's arm and back, and Cuban baseball officials have said he lost 15 mph off his fastball. "But you never know," Jongewaard said. "The Cubans may be spreading the rumor to make it tough for him to defect."
After leaving Cuban, Rodriguez said...
"I'm going to demonstrate that I can still throw 100," Rodriguez said Thursday on Miami Spanish-language radio station WQBA-AM. "These are things that they invent to cut a little off the careers of some athletes."
According to Baseball America, Rodriguez's agent,
Vilar said a half-dozen teams, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Mariners and Rangers, are interested in him. Vilar has used the four-year $32 million contract the Yankees gave fellow defector Jose Contreras in December 2002 as a measuring stick for Rodriguez' asking price.
Rodriguez is a reliever; Contreras is a starter. The market for a reliever is vastly different than one for a starter. Vilar can and should not use Contreras’ contract as a “measuring stick for Rodriguez.” Top free agent starting pitchers are still signing lucrative contracts similar to Contreras’ like Colon, Escobar, and Pettitte, but relief pitchers are finding a different market place. This season’s top free agent relief pitcher, Keith Foulke signed for $24 million over four years plus incentives that could make his deal comparable to Contreras’. But Foulke is and has been one of the top relief pitchers in the game. No team will offer a similar deal to Rodriguez, not even the MFY. It is ridiculous for Vilar to compare Contreras or Foulke to his client. Baez and Looper would be better. The three are all hard throwing relief pitchers with question marks. Baez and Looper both signed for $6.5 million over two seasons. Rodriguez will sign a similar contract, possibly with the Mets, O’s or Rangers. The Sox, MFY, and M’s pens are fairly well stocked and ready. Vilar is just trying to drive up the market for his client, which is his job, but he is loosing credibility with unreasonable comparisons.
Just Charge It
Further proof that the Bee-more Co's do not have a clue. Three years and about $21 million for a pitcher with weight problems, a shaky shoulder and average strike out stats is foolish. Are they aware that Carlos Beltran, Eric Chavez, and Jose Vidro are all likely to be free agents and possibly Kerry Wood, Pedro, Lowe, Nomar after the 2004 season? Why waste good money on marginal talent?
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Thank you - Red Sox!
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