Class of 1984: Free Agents

[Clay]

So why do you think those two together will be asking for less than that? From the experience I have had with players in that class they'd want closer to $40 million than 30.
Also, the $49 mil doesn't include arbitration awards, which according to Markus are factored into the money available to resign guys.

Because I am the interim Manager and I know what they are asking.

[Clay]

I think Clay is pulling your leg here, hoping to reduce the competition in the FA market this winter. The only team nearer than 5 games of a playoff spot in the IL that does not include key free agents is Windy City.

Baltimore

Graham Tandy - .275, 20 HRs, 74 RBIs
Nick Latham - .302, 23 HRs, 71 RBIs

Philly, 40% of their rotation

Jack Watson 11-6, 3.19
Doroteo Coto 9-7, 2.63

not to mention

Desi Rochs who is having an off year at .251, 11HRs, 49 RBIs but that is pretty decent for a middle infielder.

And where would Washington be without

Jerry Fortin .293, 21 HRs, 55 RBIs

For the low budget teams shopping in the bargain basement there is Davenport

Quinto Rivena 10-1, 1.49
Joe Hernandez .296/.364/.453

These two guys have absolutely saved my season with Rivena making up for what has otherwise been an off year in the bullpen and Hernandez stepping up after the season ending injury to center fielder Frank Paradis.

Let's look at the other side of the coin...

Dallas winning this year because of their farm as their biggest FA acquisition has not even laced up the cleats this season...

Virginia has spent 10's of millions on FA and still hasn't been .500...

Syracuse... Pawtucket... all spent major money without winning...

I'm not saying that adding FA's isn't a necessary evil, but there's never been a high price FA that has put a Championship team over the top.

[Lintyfresh85]

Because I am the interim Manager and I know what they are asking.

If your only job is to keep lineups straight...

Why are you looking at contracts demands for potential free agents?

[BradleyB]

If your only job is to keep lineups straight...

Why are you looking at contracts demands for potential free agents?

[Clay]

If your only job is to keep lineups straight...

Why are you looking at contracts demands for potential free agents?

I'm not making front office moves, but in the best interest of the league being able to arm the new owner with as much knowledge as possible in the two weeks before the off-season will be integral to the entire league. For an unwitting owner to lose their best two players due to the time of year they are taking over would be almost like having elective contraction.

Plus, more importantly, me knowing their demands, which I shared publically, is harmless as (a) it doesn't help my team in any way shape or form and (b) even if they do go to FA, their demands will change.

Look... me helping out with LL is the best interest of the league. I'm not touching his minors except for one or two necessary moves in order to have enough players at AA to field a team... I'm not using his scouts to look at my team or any other. I'm not reading his emails. I'm not reassigning his scouts.

That being said, if anyone has an issue with it... I don't need to do it anymore.

[BradleyB]

I'm not making front office moves, but in the best interest of the league being able to arm the new owner with as much knowledge as possible in the two weeks before the off-season will be integral to the entire league. For an unwitting owner to lose their best two players due to the time of year they are taking over would be almost like having elective contraction.

Plus, more importantly, me knowing their demands, which I shared publically, is harmless as (a) it doesn't help my team in any way shape or form and (b) even if they do go to FA, their demands will change.

Look... me helping out with LL is the best interest of the league. I'm not touching his minors except for one or two necessary moves in order to have enough players at AA to field a team... I'm not using his scouts to look at my team or any other. I'm not reading his emails. I'm not reassigning his scouts.

That being said, if anyone has an issue with it... I don't need to do it anymore.

i was messing around clay. sorry.

[rubisco43]

So, looks like slim pickings this year... outside of the two Los Lunas studs that is.

Kind of sad to see Fonkert get resigned by Hyundai so quickly. I was going to offer him something along the lines of 8 million a year and hoped it would stick.

Screw that, he'll take the 17 million a year deal to stick around with a much better team.

Who you guys thinking will break the bank this offseason?

Any good steals out there on the market as well?

no way you would've had him for 8. he was asking for 19/year... i brought him down to 17+bonuses.

[Riverman]

Let's look at the other side of the coin...

Dallas winning this year because of their farm as their biggest FA acquisition has not even laced up the cleats this season...

Virginia has spent 10's of millions on FA and still hasn't been .500...

Syracuse... Pawtucket... all spent major money without winning...

I'm not saying that adding FA's isn't a necessary evil, but there's never been a high price FA that has put a Championship team over the top.

Well, I certainly never meant to imply that one couldn't make bad FA signings or that you could ignore other parts of the game like good trades, good drafting and smart decisions regarding resigning your own potential FAs. Only that it is a very important part of the game and one that figures to become more important as time goes on. The days where owners could trade for star players for pretty close to nothing are long gone. Smart FA signings, in my opinion, are a critical resource for an expansion team that wants to compete within a 5-10 season range.

Also, if you are going to bring up Dallas it is pretty hard to understand why you didn't mention Albors (VORP over 30 this season so far) or Sato (2.14 ERA in 63 innings out of the pen). To me, these guys have done their share to make Dallas the team that they are.

[Delandis]

If its any consolation, for me to get back in the black at least Tandy and/or Latham will have to go at the end of this year so get you checkbooks ready.

Well everyone except Linty, Matt and Z anyway.

[Lintyfresh85]

Clay... I was joking...

It's not like you could actually do anything with the knowledge.

[Delandis]

Clay had a long day out with the kids the other day, ya'll. Cut him some slack. He's still in Big Daddy Clay mode.

[Riverman]

I'm not making front office moves, but in the best interest of the league being able to arm the new owner with as much knowledge as possible in the two weeks before the off-season will be integral to the entire league. For an unwitting owner to lose their best two players due to the time of year they are taking over would be almost like having elective contraction.

Plus, more importantly, me knowing their demands, which I shared publically, is harmless as (a) it doesn't help my team in any way shape or form and (b) even if they do go to FA, their demands will change.

Look... me helping out with LL is the best interest of the league. I'm not touching his minors except for one or two necessary moves in order to have enough players at AA to field a team... I'm not using his scouts to look at my team or any other. I'm not reading his emails. I'm not reassigning his scouts.

That being said, if anyone has an issue with it... I don't need to do it anymore.

Good point; the new LL owner is going to have some critical decisions to make very early in his tenure. I hope you can help him along.

[Pat]

Clay... I was joking...

It's not like you could actually do anything with the knowledge.

Knowledge is power.

[Riverman]

Clay had a long day out with the kids the other day, ya'll. Cut him some slack. He's still in Big Daddy Clay mode.

You stay out of this. It'd be a slow day without someone to pick on and with Clay out there leading with his chin, he makes by far the easiest target.

[Delandis]

You stay out of this. It'd be a slow day without someone to pick on and with Clay out there leading with his chin, he makes by far the easiest target.

You are right. Clay, you know done ****ed up, right?