Morning Prowl: Bad Contracts, Low Readings, Twitter, and April in the D

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 4, 2009 9:30 AM EST in News Comment 6 comments

How many bad contracts are the Detroit Tigers carrying? Tim Dierkes named what he believes to be the 45 worst deals in baseball, and five Tigers are on the list: Gary Sheffield, Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson, and Brandon Inge.

I'm on board with at least three of those. The Willis and Robertson deals are awful, and scare off any potential trade partner. Sheffield's contract is similarly problematic, but at least he's given the Tigers some production. Inge's looks terrible now, but if I recall correctly, that was a below-market deal for a starting third baseman at the time. And I don't think Bondo should be on this list. Locking up a key part of the future long-term was a smart move.

After taking a look at that list, Rob Neyer thinks Dave Dombrowski needs to take some criticism for the situation he's created. Especially if he got so much credit for the team he built up until last season.

(Hat tip to Blake, who chimed in on this subject, as well.)

While we're talking about contracts, Ken Davidoff noted the huge amount of money that the New York Yankees are on the hook for in 2012. He then expanded his scope to the other teams in baseball. The Tigers might be high on the list, but fans are probably happy with the players they're committed to.

Is the radar gun at Joker Marchant Stadium clocking lower readings than it should be? Jim Leyland and Nate Robertson think so.

Take 75 North lists 12 minor leaguers who need to produce if they want to continue having a future in the Tigers' organization.

Curtis Granderson got a taste of how dedicated Yankees fans are in their hatred of Red Sox players. (Team USA colors be damned.)

If you want and need more Jason Beck, MLB.com's Tigers beat writer is now on Twitter. (It's the sensation sweeping the nation!)

So are you a little bit curious to hear what the new "April in the D" song will sound like on FOX Sports Detroit? A winner has been declared and will perform the song at WRIF's Opening Day party at the Fillmore (formerly the State Theatre).

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I agree with your Article

Bondo is a 4.00 E.R.A guy or potentially 4.00 E.R.A and that is respectable. DD should be taking resposiblity. This year free agency was a gold mine and Tigers could not be buyers because of bad contracts.

by Barry2 on Mar 4, 2009 10:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sheffield’s contract may have handcuffed them the most. Look at the help they could’ve gotten for the outfield and DH spots (Abreu, Dunn, Bradley), and at much cheaper prices.

But having to pay Willis and Robertson likely prevented them from going after a top-tier closer or starting pitcher, as well.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 4, 2009 11:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really have a problem with the dollar amounts in the Robertson deal and I generally think that contract gets a bad rap. He was paid under $5M last season and will stand to make only $7M in ‘09. Even if all he gives us is average production, he’s a huge bargain. What I don’t like about it is that it was unnecessary. He wouldn’t have been a free agent until after the ’09 season.

The Sheffield contract is bad but it seems to me that it’s one of those things that is easy to criticize when you don’t actually have to run a team. I think Sheff was basically promised an extension when he was traded and not granting him one was probably just not a distraction that DD wanted to deal with. And – like Bonderman – I think it’s unfair to call his contract “bad” when his decline in production stemmed from a freak accident, not a Griffey-like allergy to remaining healthy.

I agree that Inge’s contract isn’t all that expensive, it’s just too expensive for him, it’s excessively long and probably unneccessary at the time it was offered. He would have been a FA after the ‘08 season and there’s no doubt in my mind that even if he had been resigned it wouldn’t have been for $6M+. Guy makes more than Polanco for Pete’s sake.

There’s no defending Willis’s contract. None.

I think Dierkes unfairly judges Bonderman’s contract (probably because he knows a lot less about baseball than he thinks he does) but the other 4 are pretty bad. We have $37 Million tied up in their contracts in ‘09 and I guarantee that money could have been better allocated this past offseason. There are aspects of the contracts that are defensible but overall it just seems unneccessary to lock up 3 non-stars two and three seasons away from free agency and one ageing superstar just because he’s a pain in the ass.

by MacRae on Mar 5, 2009 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

CBS

Just got home, popped on the CBS evening news to hear all about the good Senator’s of Michigan threw in 3.8 Meeeelion of PORK to “save” Tiger Stadium. Check it.

by Zappatista on Mar 4, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that kind of snuck out there into the news cycle over the weekend. Sen. Levin included an earmark for Tiger Stadium. Not sure what more to say about it. If this helps the cause, great. If not, well…

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Mar 4, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs