Diamondbacks Bullpen

shoewizard · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:33 am Post subject:

Well, either way, RJ's cost no longer justifies the reward.

Even IF he were willing to come back here, and IF the organization was inclined to try to trade for him, and IF the Yankees really do want to move him, the cost is just prohibitive.

This team can't afford to pay him 16 million and they can't afford to pay the Yankees the prospects it would take to get them to pick up of the lions share of his salary.

If RJ were a free agent this season, and we were talking about a one year deal for 8-10 million, sure, give it a shot. But not under these circumstances and likely trade paremeters.

dirtygary · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:39 am Post subject:

Agreed. The numbers don't work. And yeah, he's giving up a lot of HR's, Mr. Snappy ain't what he used to be, and the endurance is not there either. He's an $8M pitcher.

I always thought the Yankees were goin for the wrong guy. They shoulda gone after Beltran.
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The pen is mightier than the sword, if that pen is shot out of a gun

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1186

I agree. I tried to talk myself into it all night last night and other than nostalgia, it just doesn't make sense.

qudjy1 · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1123

I just think this idea of randy being traded is silly.

Who wants a 5 era, 43 YO, 16M pitcher coming off surgery again?

Counsell · MLB Rookie Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 220

Agreed. When you put together his huge salary, age, physical problems, and diminished effectiveness, you have a player who shouldn't really be traded, but instead GIVEN AWAY in return for salary relief.

The only team that can afford him is the Yankees, and that's exactly why he'll stay there.

So Randy should have been more careful what he wished for (back in 2004).

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1186

The issue has hit mlbtraderumors.com

Their article seems to state that trading RJ would make a lot more sense mid-season <which it does>.

I could see a lot more teams lining up to eat 3 mos of his salary once he's shown what he has to offer the first 3 mos <pending on what it is he has to offer>. That would give Hughes a little more time in the minors and allow the Yanks to see how solid the rest of their rotation is and/or find out what's up with Roger.

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1186

Interesting quote from the mlbtraderumors.com comments on the article:

Aaron · Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

I'm plowing through his 2006 gamelog right now. Pretty depressing actually. He had a horrid playoff start vs. the Tigers (5 2/3 IP, 5 ER) and the list is littered with very subpar outings. I knew he had a bad 2006, but this is really crystalizing it for me.

That said, he pitched a lot of great games as well. His inconsistency is off the charts. He screams #3 starter at this point.

My call for picking up all of his salary yesterday was ill-advised. Still though I'd really like the team to look into ways of making this happening. If we could get away with paying say $10MM of his salary without giving up anything vital I'd take that chance. Like I said, I'd rather Randy on a one-year deal than Mulder. If he tanks then we are done with it at the end of the season. If he pitches well re re-sign him for a year. If he's willing maybe even try him out of the bullpen. I think it's worth the limited gamble.

Him leaving the team worked out great for us. We have Chris Young, Juan Cruz, and Jose Vizcaino to show for him (as well as Shawn Green's 2007 salary - that part not so great). It worked out great for him because no one else would have extended his contract for those dollars like that. No need for anyone to feel slighted.

diamondbacker · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/12/19/predictions2007/index.html

In it:

Tom Glavine will win his 300th game in late August. That will prompt the media to ask whether Glavine is the last of the 300-game winners, just as they did when Clemens won his 300th in 2003 and when Greg Maddux won his 300th in '04, and as they will again in '08 when Randy Johnson wins his 300th (with the Diamondbacks).

I'm assuming his contract runs out after 07, so what about 08? If anything, he could be a mentor the the Gonzos, Nippert, Owings, etc., and give us some more fan support.

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:13 pm Post subject:

What about bringing RJ back as a closer?
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Zephon · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:19 pm Post subject:

the real question is, does RJ even want to close? probably not.
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-Zephon

B. O. N. D. · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:00 pm Post subject:

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1186

I'm a huge RJ fan but really doubt his "mentoring" skills.

McCray · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

levski · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1766

RJ can still be a very effective starter, especially if his back is OK next year. Why ask him to be a closer if he can still give you 200+ innings of very good to excellent production as a starter? What's the point?

And, I agree that RJ would probably retire before he becomes a closer

NJ-DBACKS-FAN · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject:

diamondbacker · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject:

I didn't really mean mentoring, per se, but rather RJ leading the young guns by example with his "gamer" competitive attitude, even without his best stuff. He's another "counter-Melvin," IMO.

Aaron · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 6:55 pm Post subject:

tmar · Veteran Presence Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 1186

Then he'd better stay in NY.

McCray · Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:55 pm Post subject: