OT: Pirates and Polanco talking again ??

[COOL MAN]

I honestly wouldn't have expected to see this after talks on a long-term deal (which I thought was actually for something more like $75 million over 10 years) fell apart last season. Maybe I'm wrong about those numbers.

But perhaps his Agent......who appears to be this Beverly Hills Sports Council outfit.....still likes the idea of long term security for their young players under the assumption they can still earn monster money on the next deal (which would put Polanco in his early 30's). I myself will be surprised if Polanco signs this time; that is, unless he's been looking in the mirror everyday wondering how in the hell he turned down a guaranteed $50-75 million without having accomplished essentially anything as a major leaguer.

I also wonder if the Pirates.....who I believe have been thinking about offering McCutcheon his jackpot (which you have to figure would be roughly on the order of Joey Votto's wacky deal).....would be willing to sweeten Polanco's offer to an average $10 million/season in order to make it happen.

This post was edited on 3/31 2:40 PM by COOL MAN

Linky

 

[hangovEER]

Question is, can the Pirates afford either deal? They aren't the most profitable organization in the world and already have a couple guys under sizeable contracts. I wonder what their ceiling is for high-stake players like Cutch? The Reds painted themselves into a corner by giving Votto the world (see where that's gotten them) and THEN giving Homer Bailey a ridiculous long-term deal last year. Now, they are having to dump player salaries (Mat Latos), since they want to be able to re-sign Cueto to a 3-4 year deal, that will probably have to be in the 8-9M/year range itself. Both Votto and Bailey IMMEDIATELY started having injury issues AFTER getting their deals. Something stinks in the Ohio River.

 

[steeleer]

As far as I'm concerned, they made a promise when they were penny pinching that they would spend the money when we are a contender. If that wasn't a bold-faced lie then they need to sign both if Polanco is what everyone says he is.


The only out I would give them is if they trade Cutch for a #1 starter and a can't miss OF prospect

The payroll is up, but it is still in the bottom 25% IIRC. They also made over $40mil this past season. There is money to spend.

 

[COOL MAN]

Originally posted by hangovEER:
Question is, can the Pirates afford either deal? They aren't the most profitable organization in the world and already have a couple guys under sizeable contracts. I wonder what their ceiling is for high-stake players like Cutch? The Reds painted themselves into a corner by giving Votto the world (see where that's gotten them) and THEN giving Homer Bailey a ridiculous long-term deal last year. Now, they are having to dump player salaries (Mat Latos), since they want to be able to re-sign Cueto to a 3-4 year deal, that will probably have to be in the 8-9M/year range itself. Both Votto and Bailey IMMEDIATELY started having injury issues AFTER getting their deals. Something stinks in the Ohio River.

$8-9 million/season for Johnny Cueto, who ESPN rates as the 4th best RH starter in all of baseball ??

I'm pretty sure he's already making $10 million/season, and I promise you.....no matter who signs him.....Cueto will sign a contract way above the average $17.5 million/season that Homer Bailey (who can't carry his jock) signed last year. The only reason Bailey earned a contract like that had nothing to do with how good he is (or has been).

It's simply because the Reds, while they'll surely give it the old college try, know there's no way they're going to outbid the Yanks......or Red Sox.....or Angels.....or Mets.....or Cubs.....who whoever else gets serious when it's Cueto's turn to hit the jackpot. And since they'll therefore need something roughly akin to a top of the rotation guy to take his place on Opening Day a year from now, Bailey (as the home-grown kid) made the most sense to pay......even though nobody really has a clue if he's that kind of guy.

But what's particularly depressing is the notion that $17.5 million/season will likely be nominal for a #2-3 MLB starter in the next few years.

 

[ThePunish-EER]

No, 17.5 million will not be par for a #3 starter lol.

This post was edited on 4/1 5:25 PM by ThePunish-EER