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Trying something new here... don't kill the messenger. For entertainment purposes only....
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After the first two plus weeks of Free Agency, a few notable players have found new homes in the BLB. At Shavermetrics, we normally only take the time to break down teams during Spring Training, however, as an service, we’ve decided to take a look at notable signing of off-season and how they may impact the 2001 season.
New Faces, New Places
Denver Bulls: Signed free agent CF Rex Knight to a 3-year contract worth a total of $36,000,000.
There was a lot of talk at the beginning of the off-season where Rex Knight may land. Many “experts” pegged his career as close to over after a sub-.200 2000 including yet another disappointing playoff run. At 36, the #3 overall pick in the 1983 draft appears to have lost his stick and is nearly invisible against LHP.
Denver, coming off of a 117-loss season, has gaping holes all over the field. While it would be tough to pick just one, few could argue OF and pop are close to the top of the list. They have money to spend and the name won’t hurt ticket and jersey sales (though even a true Knight fan would be hard pressed to own all of his recent jerseys).
SHAVERMETRICS FINAL ANALYSIS: While ‘Thrifty’ technically makes the OF better, can play some D still, will flash some power against RHP and should actually improve the Bulls SHAVERMETRICS number… his nickname does not match the contract. I think $12 for this year can easily be justified. Next season will be much tougher and 2003 will basically be dead money. Add to this deal the inability to hit lefties in a lefty-heavy BLB, he’s an all but untradeable piece.
Mississippi Storm: Signed free agent 1B Finley Kinsey to a 2-year contract worth a total of $21,000,000.
When you pay for Finley Kinsey, you know exactly what you’re paying for. He’s a big left-handed bat that can leave the yard 20 times a season. He may be one of the greatest defensive liabilities among BLB All-Stars in league history. And, while he has decent speed, he not a real threat on the bases either. The other thing he does amongst the best ever is sign contracts. Kinsey knows how to make money and he found another $21.0 in Mississippi ($9 in 01/$12 in 02).
Though they always seem to be in the early conversation, Mississippi has missed the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. They’ve played below expectations for the last few seasons and could use an injection of new talent to right the ship. Unfortunately, I’m not sure spending more money on a bat when you already have $36.0+ per locked down on Dodson, Dixon and Rojas is the right call.
SHAVERMETRICS FINAL ANALYSIS: This move won’t move the SM needle for the Storm. The really sharp resigning of Sutton this week actually was a much better move. This one does nothing for the team besides add a few runs. What they do with the rest of their off-season will tell the real tale.
WELCOME BACK
We don’t want to only give ink to players on the move. Here are three extensions that caught our eye this week:
Windy City Playboys: Signed SP Jamie Herberholz to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $42,850,000.
Bought out some arbitration, but locked out a legit SP who could end up a top 1-2-3 type on a staff while paying him #5 money.
Philadelphia Freedom: Signed C Victor Alvarez to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $70,600,000.
Wasted no time locking up Alvarez before his gear even got here from Los Angeles. The price of Catchers in the BLB seems to skyrocket so quickly in this league. Locking down a 27 year old through his prime years is likely a smart savings for the Freedom.
Philadelphia Freedom: Signed LF Tom Swanson to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $28,800,000.
Arbitration be damned. People will likely look back at this deal and throw a retroactive JA Wright to Brad. In a couple of seasons, $4.8 is going to be highway robbery for Swanson.
JUST PASSING THROUGH
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent RF Hugh Gentry to a 3-year contract worth a total of $15,400,000.
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent 1B Dani Muñóz to a 3-year contract worth a total of $15,795,000.
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent 1B Joshua Poling to a 3-year contract worth a total of $17,330,000.
If Vegas was taking odds on “Will Any Of These Players Be On The Muckdogs Roster on September 1st?” I’d put a dozen mortgage payments on NO. Batavia has started basically renting players to sell for picks later. Awful baseball will continue in Batavia for the foreseeable future. Pray for their fans.
***
After the first two plus weeks of Free Agency, a few notable players have found new homes in the BLB. At Shavermetrics, we normally only take the time to break down teams during Spring Training, however, as an service, we’ve decided to take a look at notable signing of off-season and how they may impact the 2001 season.
New Faces, New Places
Denver Bulls: Signed free agent CF Rex Knight to a 3-year contract worth a total of $36,000,000.
There was a lot of talk at the beginning of the off-season where Rex Knight may land. Many “experts” pegged his career as close to over after a sub-.200 2000 including yet another disappointing playoff run. At 36, the #3 overall pick in the 1983 draft appears to have lost his stick and is nearly invisible against LHP.
Denver, coming off of a 117-loss season, has gaping holes all over the field. While it would be tough to pick just one, few could argue OF and pop are close to the top of the list. They have money to spend and the name won’t hurt ticket and jersey sales (though even a true Knight fan would be hard pressed to own all of his recent jerseys).
SHAVERMETRICS FINAL ANALYSIS: While ‘Thrifty’ technically makes the OF better, can play some D still, will flash some power against RHP and should actually improve the Bulls SHAVERMETRICS number… his nickname does not match the contract. I think $12 for this year can easily be justified. Next season will be much tougher and 2003 will basically be dead money. Add to this deal the inability to hit lefties in a lefty-heavy BLB, he’s an all but untradeable piece.
Mississippi Storm: Signed free agent 1B Finley Kinsey to a 2-year contract worth a total of $21,000,000.
When you pay for Finley Kinsey, you know exactly what you’re paying for. He’s a big left-handed bat that can leave the yard 20 times a season. He may be one of the greatest defensive liabilities among BLB All-Stars in league history. And, while he has decent speed, he not a real threat on the bases either. The other thing he does amongst the best ever is sign contracts. Kinsey knows how to make money and he found another $21.0 in Mississippi ($9 in 01/$12 in 02).
Though they always seem to be in the early conversation, Mississippi has missed the playoffs in six consecutive seasons. They’ve played below expectations for the last few seasons and could use an injection of new talent to right the ship. Unfortunately, I’m not sure spending more money on a bat when you already have $36.0+ per locked down on Dodson, Dixon and Rojas is the right call.
SHAVERMETRICS FINAL ANALYSIS: This move won’t move the SM needle for the Storm. The really sharp resigning of Sutton this week actually was a much better move. This one does nothing for the team besides add a few runs. What they do with the rest of their off-season will tell the real tale.
WELCOME BACK
We don’t want to only give ink to players on the move. Here are three extensions that caught our eye this week:
Windy City Playboys: Signed SP Jamie Herberholz to a 5-year contract extension worth a total of $42,850,000.
Bought out some arbitration, but locked out a legit SP who could end up a top 1-2-3 type on a staff while paying him #5 money.
Philadelphia Freedom: Signed C Victor Alvarez to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $70,600,000.
Wasted no time locking up Alvarez before his gear even got here from Los Angeles. The price of Catchers in the BLB seems to skyrocket so quickly in this league. Locking down a 27 year old through his prime years is likely a smart savings for the Freedom.
Philadelphia Freedom: Signed LF Tom Swanson to a 6-year contract extension worth a total of $28,800,000.
Arbitration be damned. People will likely look back at this deal and throw a retroactive JA Wright to Brad. In a couple of seasons, $4.8 is going to be highway robbery for Swanson.
JUST PASSING THROUGH
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent RF Hugh Gentry to a 3-year contract worth a total of $15,400,000.
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent 1B Dani Muñóz to a 3-year contract worth a total of $15,795,000.
Batavia Muckdogs: Signed free agent 1B Joshua Poling to a 3-year contract worth a total of $17,330,000.
If Vegas was taking odds on “Will Any Of These Players Be On The Muckdogs Roster on September 1st?” I’d put a dozen mortgage payments on NO. Batavia has started basically renting players to sell for picks later. Awful baseball will continue in Batavia for the foreseeable future. Pray for their fans.
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