SIM COMPLETE - 1999 - Free Agency 3

[Jimmy]

Ok I'll rephrase it. You like the deal for HIM? If you were him you would've made that deal?

I would have. From my toilet.

[Clay]

FYI - Feeder leaguers who will be in the draft class are now finalized.

[Dave]

Ok I'll rephrase it. You like the deal for HIM? If you were him you would've made that deal?

I thought that was pretty obviously what I was saying. Yes, I like the deal for him.

[Z]

But it's not overpaying if (a) that's what he's asking for and (b) that's what the market dictates.

We never have and never will have pay checks in line with talent.

(a) Fujii wasn't asking for an eight-year $191M contract. He was asking for a little over $15M per, not $24M per.

(b) How is that what the market dictates? Fujii asked for $15M per, Linty apparently came in with the best offer at $24 M (according to Fujii at the end of the first sim), and Fujii signed. There's no evidence of a bidding war, and no one's ever received a contract like this before.

I'm not saying Linty's an imbecile, or that signing Fujii to a bloated contract is a terrible idea.

I just think Linty could have had Fujii and saved $50M, maybe allowing him to sign Fernando Hernandez too.

[Clay]

(a) Fujii wasn't asking for an eight-year $191M contract. He was asking for a little over $15M per, not $24M per.

(b) How is that what the market dictates? Fujii asked for $15M per, Linty apparently came in with the best offer at $24 M (according to Fujii at the end of the first sim), and Fujii signed. There's no evidence of a bidding war, and no one's ever received a contract like this before.

I'm not saying Linty's an imbecile, or that signing Fujii to a bloated contract is a terrible idea.

I just think Linty could have had Fujii and saved $50M, maybe allowing him to sign Fernando Hernandez too.

When I looked at his demands, they were higher than $15 per before the first FA SIM.

With 16 day FA SIMS, you run the risk of losing if you keep a bidding war window open. He made his best offer in SIM 1. Good strategy if you ask me.

[Dave]

With 16 day FA SIMS, you run the risk of losing if you keep a bidding war window open. He made his best offer in SIM 1. Good strategy if you ask me.

This. The bottom line was, he had the money to spend to ensure that he got what he believes to be a very good player. Why even get into a bidding war and if you're already committed to spending that much money, why even risk losing him over a matter of a few millions.

[Z]

When I looked at his demands, they were higher than $15 per before the first FA SIM.

With 16 day FA SIMS, you run the risk of losing if you keep a bidding war window open. He made his best offer in SIM 1. Good strategy if you ask me.

Oh, I agree on that. That's why I made Carbajal the offer I did. It just seems to me like Linty shot a few million too many loads every year.

[Clay]

Oh, I agree on that. That's why I made Carbajal the offer I did. It just seems to me like Linty shot a few million too many loads every year.

Well, we'll never know because he didn't allow a bidding war.

[Jistic]

Well from my perspective I couldn't do this deal. Cali has a budget less than mine, a similar record last year, now a payroll that's 25 million higher. I couldn't pay a player 20+ mil per year that won't even reach his potential for 2-3 years in this situation, still with a risk that he may not reach that potential. If his potential actually drops....heart attack time.

If he was say 27 and already fully developed and I felt he was the absolute missing piece then ok you take your shot. WAY too risky to handcuff my team financially. Not only are your options limited roster wise, but you can forget about any sort of decent development or scouting budget.

For the league I love it though. Adds flavor and conversation to the BLB.

[Jimmy]

I believe we were all saying similar things when Dallas signed Kinsey in '94. I was especially pissed since he was my player. Or the conversations you guys had when "Doorbell" was resigned.

Maybe we need a new award for the GM who takes the biggest risk. We already have best and worst. The Schlitz award?

[Clay]

I believe we were all saying similar things when Dallas signed Kinsey in '94. I was especially pissed since he was my player. Or the conversations you guys had when "Doorbell" was resigned.

Maybe we need a new award for the GM who takes the biggest risk. We already have best and worst. The Schlitz award?

Too subjective. Risk is super hard to define. But I think many factor that in in their JA Wright vote.

[BradZ]

These INTL guys are going to be fascinating to watch going forward. We "wanted" Fujii. We put in an offer during FA 1 that was structured almost identically to CAL's ultimate deal, only at about 70% of that value . . . .and it made me sick to my stomach to upload the file with that offer. If he pans out, CAL should have the best OF in the BLB for quite a while.

[Clay]

I think Linty is laying the groundwork to move his team overseas.

[funclown]

Been sort of neat watching the overall team payroll shoot up this season. Was to be expected I guess without the salary cap.

Pawtucket coming in a strong #19 passed by Windy City. Never thought I'd see the day.

[Lintyfresh85]

Fujii was asking me for 20 million a year.

I went just over that as I figured others would, as well. Clearly he played me.

But I'm happy as hell to have him!