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Extension and fame....

Kevin Correia:

…is going to be 28 in August.

…has a career ERA+ of 105, though most of his best work has come out of the bullpen.

…like most pitchers, has a much better strikeout rate as a reliever than a starter. For Correia, it’s the difference between an average and above-average strikeout rate.

…is already in his arbitration years. He’s only making a little over $1M this season, but he’ll probably be in line to make somewhere between $5M and $8M combined over the next two seasons.

…has Cory Bailey as one of his Baseball Reference comparables. Cory Bailey! I totally forgot about that guy. Bailey was supposed to be John Johnstone before John Johnstone was John Johnstone, but then he wasn’t. But I digress....

Last night was within the range of expected Correia starts. He pitched good, but not great, and got through six innings. You could say that Correia is the very model of a modern average innings-eater (of repertoire slider, change, and hittable-yet-decent heater). He has value to a team when he’s healthy, but he’ll never make the All-Star team. If he’s your ace, you’re in trouble. If he’s your fifth starter, you’re doing quite well for yourself. In cereal terms, Correia is a bowl of Corn Flakes. Tim Lincecum is a bowl of magic Cap'n Crunch that doesn't cut the roof of your mouth all to hell, but I digress....

Correia will never bring back fair value in a trade. Another organization wouldn’t give up a decent and young position player, especially one who is ready to start, for Correia. But if the Giants don’t get a player back who fits that description, why would it be worthwhile to trade Correia at all? He has more value to the Giants than would a utility player or questionable prospect. Not that the Giants should be looking to trade Correia right now, of course. This is all theoryland stuff.

My crazy idea, then: What about a three- or four-year extension for Correia? Buy out his arbitration years, and give him some instant security. A three-year deal shouldn’t cost more than $10M total, and perhaps the Giants could include a fourth-year option. Consider it overpriced mediocrity insurance. The premiums might cost a bit more than the team had planned for, but it could prevent a Carlos Silva-type deal in the future. If Correia never throws another pitch, the contract wouldn’t make a huge difference against future roster building efforts, but if he pitches at a league-average level, he’ll be very cost efficient.

Just a thought. He's a handy guy to have around, but maybe it's a little silly to talk extension with a pitcher who has thrown all of 50 innings after returning from injury.

Poll
Well?
  • Extend him.
  • You're high. We don't need to make this decision now.
  • Cap'n Crunch tastes like sweetened boll weevils. I'm a Corn Pops guy/gal.

  289 votes | Results

0 recs | Comment 27 comments

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This:
He’s a handy guy to have around

Pretty much sums it up. He’s performs well enough for either a 4th or 5th starter role (and better than several 3rd starters in the league, I am sure) and can always go back to the bullpen and long relief if he loses effectiveness as a starter and/or gets replaced by someone younger/better.

Kevin Correia is exactly the type of guy we hope that guys like Jesse English could someday turn into.

Extend him.

Eugeniooooooo!!!!

by FairweatherFan on Jul 3, 2008 12:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Marketing line

Kevin Correia- he’s not Pat Misch.

¿Julio is tourist in San Francisco? Harper's Bizarre!

by hairball on Jul 3, 2008 12:15 PM PDT   0 recs

Barry Zito is a box of Cinamon Toast Crunch you bought from the Vegas Hard Rock on vacation two years ago. You were drunk, hungry and overpaid by a longshot. It might have been somehwat worth it if you actually ate it at the timebut instead you opened it, threw up in there and passed out. Now you found it in an old bag and despite its moldy, mildewy, vomitous, disgustingness you’re shoveling spoonful after spoonful down your gullet because you can’t let that money go to waste.

by hammystyle on Jul 3, 2008 12:28 PM PDT   0 recs

that’s exactly what i thought when i read it.

Dodgers fans eat their young.

by redhornet78 on Jul 3, 2008 2:24 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Dooooooooo it!!

A guy that can be effective or at least league average as a starter or reliever is easily worth 3-4 million per. As that comedian in the trucker cap that isn’t at all funny says, “get er done”

"Forget it Donny, you're out of you're element"-Walter Sobchak

by icanplaythird on Jul 3, 2008 12:30 PM PDT   0 recs

Extend

With Lowry possibly done, Hennessey seemingly done and Misch looking like a AAAA player, the once deep starting pitching ain’t that way anymore. If Lowry comes back healthy next year, he’s a valuable arm in the pen. If Lowry is done as well, he’s a good bridge until guys like MadBum, Alderson and Sosa are ready.

I’d try to sign him for a less than $10 million, I’d try to be in the $8 million.

by AngelWillSaveUs on Jul 3, 2008 12:30 PM PDT   0 recs

Trix

“Silly Rabbit…”

This guy is a major tease. Correia could through a 8 IP no-hitter his next turn and then go 2-7 for the rest of the year. $3M per year is about right for that type of inconsistency. To lock him up to an affordable contract would actually boost his trade value significantly.

BTW, I really hope he’s a lot closer to Derek Lowe than Cory Bailey.

by Rusty the Robot on Jul 3, 2008 12:36 PM PDT   0 recs

OT completely:

if Timmy goes 7 shutout innings today, he will be the ERA leader.

by positiveuphemism on Jul 3, 2008 12:44 PM PDT   0 recs

I see your cereal metaphor...

...and raise you one Cereal Donut metaphor…

capndonut

if correia = cornflakes
then lince = cap’n crunch donut

"ever so cynical yet whimsical giants related signature"

by The Gene Hackman on Jul 3, 2008 12:46 PM PDT   0 recs

Voodoo Donuts!

They also have a bacon maple bar… that equals Matt Cain

by Johnny Disaster on Jul 3, 2008 1:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

You Guys Are Playing A Very Dangerous Game.

If this metaphor gets around, there’s a good chance Tyler Walker eats a couple of our better pitchers. You want to keep playing? Do you?

I'm adopting a true Giant and an awe-inspring gamer: tk. "Atta babe."

by Mayor of 311 on Jul 3, 2008 2:09 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

even worse

the imagined scent could lure Armando back to San Francisco… ye gods.

Idolizing Robb Nen since 2002...

by Smoke on the Water on Jul 4, 2008 12:37 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

lock him up

if only to shame Barry Zito.

Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.

by delorean on Jul 3, 2008 1:02 PM PDT   0 recs

Grant: GREAT line
is the very model of a modern average innings-eater (of repertoire slider, change, and hittable-yet-decent heater).

I immediately cracked up, then sang it to the tune of the song and, with a little jiggering, it actually scans! Freaking Hilarious. Please don’t leave writing about baseball for trivial crap like public policy or politics or science or something.

I'm adopting a true Giant and an awe-inspring gamer: tk. "Atta babe."

by Mayor of 311 on Jul 3, 2008 1:11 PM PDT   0 recs

Extend him, not necessarily right now, but soon. As in before the season ends. We know him already, he’s been valuable in 2 different roles. Once we get more talented SP talent up from the minors he can move back into the pen, where he was good in that role. Plus I’m sure he’d come a lot cheaper then someone who might be on the FA market.

by Hobbes2d on Jul 3, 2008 1:15 PM PDT   0 recs

At this point there seem to be a lot more votes for don’t extend him then extend him. Since only the “extend him” people have commented I think their opinions should be weighted more than the other votes and so “extend him” is actually winning.

I voted to extend him, agree that he’d probably be cheaper than a comparable SP free agent we might pick up.

by paboperfecto on Jul 3, 2008 1:20 PM PDT   0 recs

I voted "high"

I think we have better things to look into than into a 4th or 5th starter.

by positiveuphemism on Jul 3, 2008 1:23 PM PDT   0 recs

Which is why locking him up now is a good thing

One less thing to think/worry about in the off-season. We will eventually need to look into the 4th or 5th starter position, why not get it done with now?

by AngelWillSaveUs on Jul 3, 2008 1:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I see nothing wrong with retaining Correia at the listed price.

"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 Jul 3, 2008 1:25 PM PDT   0 recs

I find myself agreeing with the Baron.

Tentatively adopting Dan Ortmeier. And Boom Goes the Dynamite.

by Andy from DC on Jul 3, 2008 2:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Anagram of "pitcher Kevin Correia"

ACHIEVE TRICKIER PORN

For that reason alone, I say extend him.

Anagram of "Giants pitcher Matt Cain" = TRAGIC MAN, ISN'T PATHETIC

by Stuttering John Tamargo on Jul 3, 2008 1:34 PM PDT   0 recs

Now that you mention it,

... I keep getting spam about “extending up to two inches.” Maybe that’s what Grant meant by extending him?

I'm adopting a true Giant and an awe-inspring gamer: tk. "Atta babe."

by Mayor of 311 on Jul 3, 2008 2:11 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Alone, Correia won't return anything, but in a package deal?

The flexibility of Correia to be that luxury as a 5th starter or solid reliever is going to be of great value to a playoff contending team no matter what—-but I agree with Grant that no playoff team is actually going to give something of value up in return when they could probably find servicaeble Misch-type candidate elsewhere for free.

But I could imagine teams beginning to inquire at the thought of a Randy Winn + Kevin Correia type deal. Hell, I think Castillo’s beginning to reveal a bit of platoon/bench type value…include him.

If a “win now” team knew they could get a second/third baseman with good defense and 15-20HR potential, a solid outfielder (at any position) that flirts with .300 and can steal 20 bags, and ALSO an avg. 5th starter/above avg. reliever, I think it’s reasonable to ask for a high level prospect, if not a major-league ready player blocked by someone else.

by ExcuseMeSwing on Jul 3, 2008 2:39 PM PDT   0 recs

Move over George Costanza

You have just passed your assistant to the assistant GM exam.

by wilriv21 on Jul 3, 2008 2:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Extend Correia! Yes yes yes. I’ve one on record as being a big fan of his. Locking him up makes total sense to me. If he doesn’t remain one of the five best starters on the team when guys like Alderson and Madbum come up, he’d still have value in a trade or in the pen.

More likely, he outpitches even Lincecum and becomes the staff ace. At that point, everyone will refer to the pitching staff as “KC and the Fun Time Band” and we’ll all sing “That’s the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it, uh huh uh huh” every time Correia strikes someone out.

Well, at least it’s better than singing “shake your booty”.

2008 Giants: Scrappy! Scrappy! Joy! Joy!

by Goofus on Jul 3, 2008 3:19 PM PDT   0 recs

Extend him

... but i wonder if the Lowry injury will have the front office thinking twice about extending anybody, before their final arb year.

Castillo hits doubles.

by kennv on Jul 3, 2008 3:28 PM PDT   0 recs

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