You may want to mention the deal also includes up to $10 million in incentives...
This deal is pretty shocking. It is, at the very least (including the posting fee), an $18.5M AAV, and as much as $20.1M AAV. I wanted Darvish for the Cubs, but at that rate for someone completely unproven, it’s a risk we simply couldn’t take.
Good luck to the Rangers, I hope it works out. I really want Yu to be the real thing.
of the deal. I would assume everybody knows about the posting fee. I wanted Darvish but not at that price. I’d much rather have Cain or Hamels at that cost, hope we get a chance at signing one of them.
but that is what he is making this year, when he hits the FA market will he make more? Probably. So 6 years 110 mill isn’t out of the question. I have no idea what other pitchers are FA after next year so that might also be a factor
Honestly, I don't really care if he's good or not.
I cared a lot more that the Cubs didn’t sign him than I acutally do if he’s good. The absolute LAST thing this team needed right now is a contract worth $120,000,000.
this team needs many low-risk pieces, betting that a few will play out, rather than tossing all our chips in on one hand. If this was a deal for a guy that’s proven in MLB that’d be a different issue. We know where Theo & Jed stand on this issue.
His agent just came out and said there is no way they’d settle for a Jared Weaver type contract, which was 17.5 million per year. They’re going to come out looking for $22, 23 million per year, and he’ll probably get a 6 year $120 million contract next off season.
Because it's no longer about right "person", it's about right "time"
And this was not the time, to make this kind of move. I don’t care if Darvish is the best pitcher in baseball next year (well, maybe I kinda do), given the way this team is being built, they have no business handing out these types of contracts
They’re just waiting for their time to strike. There’s no way in hell Epstein signs here, or Ricketts signs Epstein, if they weren’t gonna go hard eventually.
Personally, I’m more interested in the Cubs right now than I have been in years. This type of approach is long overdue. I’ll gladly “miss out” on guys like Darvish when I can see that there is a clear plan in place. Anyone that is unhappy right now should take solace in the fact that brighter days are most definitely ahead
The thing is, with good development, good scouting, and good drafting they DO work out.
There is a reason teams like the Braves, Rays, Red Sox, etc consistently have top farm systems and teams like the Astros, and White Sox consistently have bottom farm systems.
Obviously not every prospect works out, but there are reasons the teams above are always churning out top talent for their major league club or major trades. The Cubs are working towards creating a system like that.
The Cubs farm is NOT lacking for higher ceiling guys in the lower minors. There is a reason a lot of experts are predicting the Cubs to make major leaps forward and seeing a lot of those young C+ prospects become B-, B, B+ prospects for 2013. No, we don’t have a Harper or Moore in our system, but we have some potential #2, 3 arms and some potential impact bats.
… that this guy has never thrown a pitch in MLB. Not saying that he won’t be great, but committing $120M over a 6 year deal is a deal that should go to a top ten pitcher.
As much as he may not be Matsuzaka, this is similar pub and fanfare that he received when he came over.
I’m glad its the Rangers money and not the Cubs money.
If you had $500 to your name, and you bought 500 lottery tickets, it’s not a smart investment. If you won, then it would be great for you, but it doens’t change that it wasn’t a smart investment.
If you had 100 grand in the bank, and you bought those 500 lottery tickets, it would still be an unwise investment, but it would make a little more sense for where you were at financially.
Since Darvish would eat up a huge portion of the Cubs budget, he’s a huge unknown as far as whether he’ll find success, and the Cubs aren’t close to contending, I’d say he would’ve been an unwise investment. I’m not guaranteeing he won’t succeed, just saying he didn’t make sense to me, for the Cubs right now.
You may want to mention the deal also includes up to $10 million in incentives...
This deal is pretty shocking. It is, at the very least (including the posting fee), an $18.5M AAV, and as much as $20.1M AAV. I wanted Darvish for the Cubs, but at that rate for someone completely unproven, it’s a risk we simply couldn’t take.
Good luck to the Rangers, I hope it works out. I really want Yu to be the real thing.
bdlugz - January 18, 2012
I didn't see the details
of the deal. I would assume everybody knows about the posting fee. I wanted Darvish but not at that price. I’d much rather have Cain or Hamels at that cost, hope we get a chance at signing one of them.
Cubsfan Waveland - January 18, 2012
Are you talking Matt Cain
Who is making 15 million this year that you are hoping TheoJed will sign during next years off season?
Madison Cub Fan - January 18, 2012
What do you project Cain to get?
More than six years $110 M? Honestly curious
cubzfan - January 18, 2012
Matt Cain has actaully shown the abilty to succeed as a starting picther in the Major Leagues...
for more than one year.
santoswoodenlegs - January 18, 2012
$15M may be close to market for Cain - 2012 is the Giants' buyout of his first FA year
ClarkFan - January 18, 2012
If we got a healthy Matt Cain for 15M a year...
it would be a bargain.
santoswoodenlegs - January 18, 2012
Yeah, but he may not get $20M, and as you said above he has actually gotten outs in MLB
Gotta love his post-season line: 3 starts, 21-1/3 innings, 0 runs.
ClarkFan - January 18, 2012
15 million is probably a good deal for any team
but that is what he is making this year, when he hits the FA market will he make more? Probably. So 6 years 110 mill isn’t out of the question. I have no idea what other pitchers are FA after next year so that might also be a factor
Madison Cub Fan - January 18, 2012
For starters, Greinke and Hamels could also be FAs and several second-tier starters
ClarkFan - January 18, 2012
Ill be buying Rangers spring training tickets
be cool to see him up close.
Hammer - January 18, 2012
im pretty sure he is married ;)
chit0wn - January 18, 2012
Wow that's a big commitment for a guy that's never thrown in the bigs.
Glad we didn’t get him.
dtpollitt - January 18, 2012
You might regret that statement.
I think he’s going to be the real deal. The Rangers could be headed back to the World Series again.
Al Yellon - January 18, 2012
--
and you may regret that…..
Hammer - January 18, 2012
Honestly, I don't really care if he's good or not.
I cared a lot more that the Cubs didn’t sign him than I acutally do if he’s good. The absolute LAST thing this team needed right now is a contract worth $120,000,000.
dtpollitt - January 18, 2012
very true
Hammer - January 18, 2012
If it's for the right person,
why not?
Not Bruce Froemming - January 18, 2012
As demonstrated by this off-season,
this team needs many low-risk pieces, betting that a few will play out, rather than tossing all our chips in on one hand. If this was a deal for a guy that’s proven in MLB that’d be a different issue. We know where Theo & Jed stand on this issue.
dtpollitt - January 18, 2012
You make a valid point.
But I think Darvish was the one exception who would have (and IMO will be) worth every penny.
Al Yellon - January 19, 2012
i would rather sign a proven SP like hamels
i think 16 mill a yr would get it done
Geo4MVP - January 19, 2012
You think 16 million a year gets you Hamels??
His agent just came out and said there is no way they’d settle for a Jared Weaver type contract, which was 17.5 million per year. They’re going to come out looking for $22, 23 million per year, and he’ll probably get a 6 year $120 million contract next off season.
bdlugz - January 19, 2012
Because it's no longer about right "person", it's about right "time"
And this was not the time, to make this kind of move. I don’t care if Darvish is the best pitcher in baseball next year (well, maybe I kinda do), given the way this team is being built, they have no business handing out these types of contracts
Juiceboxjerry - January 19, 2012
The right person
doesn’t always come around on your time schedule.
Not Bruce Froemming - January 19, 2012
The right person will fit your time schedule.
If they don’t fit your schedule, and you can’t adjust the schedule to make sense for them, they aren’t the right person.
bdlugz - January 19, 2012
Don't think so
but agree to disagree.
Not Bruce Froemming - January 24, 2012
Well said
They’re just waiting for their time to strike. There’s no way in hell Epstein signs here, or Ricketts signs Epstein, if they weren’t gonna go hard eventually.
Personally, I’m more interested in the Cubs right now than I have been in years. This type of approach is long overdue. I’ll gladly “miss out” on guys like Darvish when I can see that there is a clear plan in place. Anyone that is unhappy right now should take solace in the fact that brighter days are most definitely ahead
Juiceboxjerry - January 19, 2012
Well, we'll see
If these prospects don’t plan out, then what? Start that process all over again? Break the bank to sign a bunch of free agents? What?
Not Bruce Froemming - January 19, 2012
The thing is, with good development, good scouting, and good drafting they DO work out.
There is a reason teams like the Braves, Rays, Red Sox, etc consistently have top farm systems and teams like the Astros, and White Sox consistently have bottom farm systems.
Obviously not every prospect works out, but there are reasons the teams above are always churning out top talent for their major league club or major trades. The Cubs are working towards creating a system like that.
The Cubs farm is NOT lacking for higher ceiling guys in the lower minors. There is a reason a lot of experts are predicting the Cubs to make major leaps forward and seeing a lot of those young C+ prospects become B-, B, B+ prospects for 2013. No, we don’t have a Harper or Moore in our system, but we have some potential #2, 3 arms and some potential impact bats.
bdlugz - January 19, 2012
And if Darvish doens't pan out...
… then what? The Rangers have obligated themselves to $120M to a guy who has never thrown a pitch in MLB.
dmlichte - January 19, 2012
Two words, many syllables
Kosuke Fukudome.
BeerCub - January 18, 2012
Darvish is younger and probably better, but the "how does his game translate from NPB" issue is still there
ClarkFan - January 19, 2012
Didn't we also think that about Dome?
Madison Cub Fan - January 19, 2012
As noted above
Darvish is younger (six years younger than Fukudome when he came here) and has by far been the best pitcher in NPB for the last five years.
Al Yellon - January 19, 2012
But the point remains..
… that this guy has never thrown a pitch in MLB. Not saying that he won’t be great, but committing $120M over a 6 year deal is a deal that should go to a top ten pitcher.
As much as he may not be Matsuzaka, this is similar pub and fanfare that he received when he came over.
I’m glad its the Rangers money and not the Cubs money.
dmlichte - January 19, 2012
He'll regret that statement?
That’s an odd thing to say.
If you had $500 to your name, and you bought 500 lottery tickets, it’s not a smart investment. If you won, then it would be great for you, but it doens’t change that it wasn’t a smart investment.
If you had 100 grand in the bank, and you bought those 500 lottery tickets, it would still be an unwise investment, but it would make a little more sense for where you were at financially.
Since Darvish would eat up a huge portion of the Cubs budget, he’s a huge unknown as far as whether he’ll find success, and the Cubs aren’t close to contending, I’d say he would’ve been an unwise investment. I’m not guaranteeing he won’t succeed, just saying he didn’t make sense to me, for the Cubs right now.
tomas21 - January 19, 2012
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