Rays Sign Longoria for 9 years

by xanthan on Apr 18, 2008 10:36 AM PDT Comment 63 comments

The first 6 years covered are his arbitration years and the final three are option years that will most likely buy out 1-2 FA years.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2008/04/rays-to-make-ma.html

The Rays have signed 3B Evan Longoria to a long-term deal that could be worth more than $44-million over nine years. The first six years are guaranteed for $17.5-million and the Rays hold a one-year option for 2014 and a two-year option for 2015-16.

Thats a very nice deal both for Longoria and even more so for the Rays. He would have been 27/28 heading into FA by the time his arb years were done. If he plays as well most think he's capable of, the Rays saved themselves some nice coin by buying out a couple of his FA years like this.

A Giants question: When is it time to do something like this with Lincecum? I hope that the Giants act sooner than later because the longer you wait, the more difficult things could get. The team should try to buy out a couple of FA years if they can while giving Lincecum some security.

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I saw that and was like, “whoa.” It’s a nice deal, but you’d think they’d want to wait more than 6 games before locking a player up like this.

Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.

by jponry on Apr 18, 2008 10:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Longoria is legit and he’ll hit, I’m sure of it. I think its a pretty sweet deal, considering what players make on the FA market these days.

Like Evan said below, even if Longoria is only an average player, this deal is still pretty OK and his upside is way beyond average.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Apr 18, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, they’re not even committing to the $44 million. More than half the deal is in options.

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Evan

Evan, you seem to know so much about this deal. Are you actually Evan LONGORIA? :)

by sharksrog on Apr 18, 2008 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish! I’m counting on him to bring glory to the name, however. We need it after last year’s film.

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 11:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I assume you mean this one...

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can’t be this one:

SAVE_US.RAY
Get yer Nattowear

by Natto on Apr 18, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Giants immediately need to do this with Josh Sharpless!! Actually, I thought the same thing about Lincecum when I read about this signing. The Giants should also add a complete no trade clause, with the thought of protecting Giants’ fans from the offseason temptations of their idiotic GM.

Brian Sabean's new dad: Firm believer in corporal punishment

by rxmeister on Apr 18, 2008 10:48 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

if you’re Lincecum, do you want a no-trade clause?

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're Lincecum

“How many no – trade clauses would you like , son?”

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow. Less than five million a year. Longoria could fall far short of expectations and that would still be a great deal for Tampa.

Lincecum has a much greater chance of being useless in six years than Longoria does, unfortunately. But I’d still sign him to that deal in a heartbeat.

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 10:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure I'd say that it's a great deal due to that...

...After all, for half the guaranteed years, he’s getting paid nearly five-six times what he would normally be getting paid.

SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!

by BruteSentiment on Apr 18, 2008 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, if he’s a total and complete bust, the Rays will have made a bad deal. But consider salary inflation, and how much it will cost to sign even a humdrum third basemen as a free agent six years from now. I mean, Pedro Feliz just signed a deal for about the annual salary that Longoria’s going to be making over the next nine years.

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

2008 – $500,000
2009 – $550,000
2010 – $950,000
2011 – $2-million
2012 – $4.5-million
2013 – $6-million
2014 – $7.5-million or $3-million buyout
2015 – $11-million or $1-million buyout of two-year option.
2016 – $11.5-million

Over the first three years, he’s getting about 250K per year over what he would be normally paid. If he turns into the player most scouts think he’s going to turn into, than years 4-7 are a bargain, and years 8-9 are below market rate. If he becomes an average player, this is still an ok deal as long as the Rays don’t exercise the options. If he’s a complete bust then they wasted about 15 million dollars over 6 years.

All in all this looks like a great deal to me.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Based on the numbers that Cookyman has posted

this is a bargain. They’re paying him the 1st 3 years what they would basically pay him anyways.

And then the arb years: $2M, $4.5M, $6M and then another $4m if they do not pick up his options. In terms of FA value, ie a player gets 40% of his FA value in his 1st arb year, 60% in his 2nd, 80% in his 3rd, that is $5M, $7.5M, $7.5M, with another $4M, with a $5M FA value, tacked on if they do not pick up his optiontotal of $25M /3 . That is what a slightly above league average player gets today. In 2008. In 2011-2013 it is almost certainly going to be more.

So, they are valuing him at basically, league average, not over the entire deal, but only the last 3 guaranteed years. If he becomes league average in years 4-6, they get what they are paying him.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Apr 18, 2008 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rays claim Dan Johnson, too

per MLBTraderumors.com

by Goat on Apr 18, 2008 10:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

ARRRRGHHHH

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sabean wants that #1 draft pick and will do anything to get it. I’m more and more convinced of it.

by Evan on Apr 18, 2008 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No ,

Sabean wants that #1 draft pick and will do ~~anything~~ nothing to get it.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or

Sabean wants that #1 draft pick and will do ~~anything~~ nothing and get it.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That prospect of the Tigers being even worse than the Giants and getting the #1 overall pick is becoming clearer and clearer. I’m scared.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 18, 2008 12:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Tigers

The Tigers won’t finish behind the Giants. And even with the 26th or 27th draft pick last season, the Tigers managed to land the guy (Rick Porcello) rated #2 overall by many if not most analysts. The Giants could have had BOTH Porcello and Tim Alderson, currently the two most likely candidates to be the first high school players from the 2007 draft to reach the majors.

by sharksrog on Apr 20, 2008 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate Sabean

good move by the Rays as Carlos Pena just hurt his hammy

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saw this

What is the waiver order during the season? Is it possible the Rays had a shot at him before the Giants? I agree, I would have liked to seen them pick him up and DFA Richie, going with Ort/Johnson platoon at 1B.

by AngelWillSaveUs on Apr 18, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Ray’s did have a shot at Johnson before the Giants’. It goes in reverse order of the standings by league.

by tyrannoman on Apr 18, 2008 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Awesome deal for the Rays. A bit risky, but still great.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

actually, I think there is very little risk here.

it is a waiver pickup, after all. That’s what makes this a good deal for them.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we're talking about the same deal...

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whats the risk?

That he blows out an arm or something and never plays again? If so, the Rays are out $17M which while it might suck, won’t cripple their franchise. These long term deals like this rarely cripple an organization.

Think of it like this, if Longoria totally busts, they’ll be paying him for 6 years of what Barry Zito will make in 1 year to be a league average (we pray and hope) pitcher.

Most of the remaining money is in the option years, which the team could decline if he is injured or sucks.

http://www.baycityball.com

by xanthan on Apr 18, 2008 11:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, I said a bit risky. Maybe I should have gone with “teeny bit”. Anyway, like I said, I agree that this is a great deal for the Rays.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're right, I was talking about the Dan Johnson move.

but, I don’t think the Longoria move is much riskier. In 5 years, the avg salary should be about $4M (see my post below) so they may be getting him basically near market prices. If he turns out to be Rocco Baldelli and injures himself blowing his nose every spring training, then it is a waste of money, but the salary is that of an average player, not the stud that they project him to be. If he is a stud All-Star type player, they’re laughing all the way to the bank.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, I agree. This is a terrific, mega-awesome deal. There is some small risk involved for Rays, since he still hasn’t proven he can handle the majors, But that barely effects the terrificness and/or mega-awesomeness of the deal.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

fair enough

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baldelli got screwed in life.

That mitochondrial disorder of his may prematurely end his career.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

When?

When, you ask, is the time for the Giants to sign up Tim Lincecum long-term as the Rays did with Evan Longoria? Well, the time is (was) a year ago when I suggested the Giants wrap him up for a decade.

How is it that a team such as the Rays can make the Giants look bad? And why are the Giants so reactive rather than being pro-active?

In order to be great, one needs to take prudent risks.

IMO signing Lincecum a year ago would have been a prudent risk.

IMO risking $7 million on Rick Porcello in last year’s draft would have been a prudent risk.

IMO risking $126 million on Barry Zito must have been Peter Magowan’s idea. If it had been Brian Sabean’s idea, how in the world could Peter have re-signed Brian last summer?

by sharksrog on Apr 18, 2008 11:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

i can't believe there's been no Eva Longoria joke yet

what’s wrong with you people?

Billy Hayes: Nine more big-league plate appearances than you.

by delorean on Apr 18, 2008 11:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We're done with hot actress jokes.

This site is now all cock, all the time.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 18, 2008 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

TK hurry come look

Our day has come!

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 18, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't come outta that kitchen

without plates of cinnamon/peanutbutter/chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies.
And a gallon of moo juice.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

F that noise, the cookies are for us.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 18, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mmmmmmmmmmm cookies

by wilriv21 on Apr 18, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not

We’re not quite THAT desperate.

by sharksrog on Apr 20, 2008 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lincecum

What they really need to do is sign him to a similar deal that Matt Cain signed a year ago:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/03/02/SPGFPODSCD1.DTL

4 years for $9million with vested options for the two season after would be an awesome deal for him

by confusitron on Apr 18, 2008 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Why would Tim sign a similar deal to Matt’s? I can assure you his agent wouldn’t recommend he do so.

by sharksrog on Apr 20, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

this sets a crazy precedence, bad for us

as a team that relies so much on free agents to fill our offensive needs, this will take many of the young, good players out of the market. this just jacks up the cost for any of the players that DO make it to free agency, or it limits how many players get to that point under the age of 30.

now i’m hoping our youth movement is real, that we are going to build from with-in, but i can also see sabes signing 35 year old free agents again because “they are the only available talent”.

and i agree, lock up lincecum now!

Dodgers fans eat their young.

by redhornet78 on Apr 18, 2008 11:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

By that same note

This is really, really good for small market teams, and could help to slowly close the payroll gap over the next decade or so. And the smaller the payroll gap gets, the closer MLB gets to being able to implement a league-wide competetive economic system (whether or not they actually WOULD).

I say awesome!

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Apr 18, 2008 12:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lock Up Lincecum???

I will no longer lol here , but lul.

Aaron "Swag" Rowand

by victor frankenstein on Apr 18, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't Timmy's agent Scott Boras?

WIth a talent like Lincecum, Boras may advise strongly against any contract thay buys out arbitratons years. He’s not exactly shy about taking his players onto the open market.

by tyrannoman on Apr 18, 2008 11:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t Timmy’s agent Scott Boras?

No.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

And thank god for that.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 18, 2008 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re confusing him with our second ace.

You deserve to be struck out, when your first name's a verb.

by Cookyman on Apr 18, 2008 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry about that, then.

I couldn’t remember off the top of my head.

by tyrannoman on Apr 18, 2008 11:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking about the length of deals now versus the length of deals in previous times. What brought it to mind was me re-reading The Dreyfus Affair for the billionth time. For much of the first part of the book the main character, the team’s star shortstop, is negotating a new contract before his current contract ends. The money figures aren’t what stood out to me—in the book his agent is pushing for 7.5 million over three years.

Three years is not the length of deal we see anymore. We’re seeing much longer term contracts for FAs and that. 5 years seems to be the starting point. This book was written for a future based on the 1990s. I can tell that much, and not just from the allusions to Los Angeles-esque excess and indulgences in which the main character lives his life. It’s also already outdated in the way the teams negotiate with their players.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Apr 18, 2008 11:36 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Lock him up asap

though, i think there is more risk with inking pitchers to long term deals than there is with hitters, these prices are basically insane, so its hard to go wrong.

For exampe, in 5 years, the avg salary will, in all probability, be over the $3.15M it is now. (this number has increased approximately 25% over the past 5 years, so it would be nearly $4M if it increased at the same rate.) With a pitcher like Linc, it would be a prudent move to sign him long term like Longoria. (As I’ve stated here before, if the Giants think Linc is a long term health risk because of his motion, they shouldn’t have drafted him.)

In 6 years, if Longoria is the star he is projected to be, $3+M per year will be well under market value, so I assume he’d renegotiate before then. If Linc were locked up to a similar deal, he’d probably end up doing the same. It certainly takes much of the risk out by doing a deal now, though.

Bonds stands alone.

by nostocksjustbonds on Apr 18, 2008 11:42 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs