A few posts back, it was suggested that a poor team should pony up $5 million for each of the nine quality free agents that remain unemployed. The suggestion was to instantly build a fairly cheap and respectable team instead of sending out untested, unready young players or giving Jay Payton one more chance to prove he is not a major league player. Well, it seems the Diamondbacks, though not really a poor team, have adopted a variation of this strategy. See here,
The Diamondbacks' variation is to have the $5 million they have left in available payroll and line up the free agents. The first one who takes it gets the money. Hey Wolf, do you want it? No? Next? Garland, do you want it? No? Next? Pedro? Looper?
Brilliant! Apparently, these remaining free agents are playing chicken with the present market and you know what happens with a game of chicken? Someone is going to hit the dashboard. Arizona seems to be a nice place. Kurt Warner is currently enjoying the place. Randy Johnson lives there. Wouldn't $5 million in this economy be a worthwhile stopping point in the stream of life.
The Diamondbacks are not pioneers in this area. The Mets went through the same process with their search for a closer. Their message: "Hey, we're in the market. You guys are the market. We're sending out three offers. The first one we hear back from, it's yours." K-Rod heard the bells tolling and took less than he anticipated. Smart guy that.
But you can understand the remaining free agent bewilderment. It's like the Jews being led out of Egypt by Moses (played in reverse by Boras) and wondering what in the heck were they doing out in the desert. Like those lost souls, the remaining free agents might have to understand that drinking water that comes out of a rock and eating manna might be what keeps them alive until the time when you can talk about milk and honey. Take what you can get, people. It's better than watching your millions slip away in the stock market.
On the other hand, what is Pat Burrell thinking when he has to sign with the Bay Rays for $5 million while Adam LaRoche signs with Pittsburgh for a little over $7 million. Whuh? But Burrell is no dummy. This is the hand that is dealt. Take what you can get. Tampa at least has a fun young team and, gosh, the beaches are right there too.
This has been the weirdest Hot Stove League ever and interesting as all get out. Well, interesting as long as your name isn't Abreu, Sheets or Randy Wolf.
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