Premature free agent list is premature?
Whatever, it happens to everyone sometimes.
It's maybe a bit early (not if you're a GM I think) but it's a list of potential 2012 free agents and that makes for fun baseball talk. So...players who will be off this list by then? Players the Giants should target? You know, what do you think?
4 months ago
giantsfansince1981
23 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
No, it’s way too early for the GM’s as well. 2012? Why not 2011, at least?
Juan Carlos Perez, please start hitting.
Cause that’s not what I found on mlbtraderumors this morning. But yes, 2011 list would be interesting too.
I don’t think it’s too early for GMs. In thinking about development and free agency, I think GMs should always think 2-3 years out. I’ve heard speculation that Brian Cashman does this, which I’d believe since he seems smart. I definitely think a good GM will look at free agents at least 1-2 years ahead.
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 18, 2010 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions
To spend more than a few minutes on it would be a waste of time. So much can change in two years. Many of the guys who would be free agents will get signed, some will break out, get hurt, or become ineffective, not to mention all the crazy shit that can happen to your minor league system in that amount of time.
Juan Carlos Perez, please start hitting.
I disagree. I think thinking about the 2011 free agent class this offseason was essential, particularly when one had a fairly underwhelming current free agent class. The further out one goes, the more can change in that time yes, and my reasoning may apply differently depending on the spending ability of the team (Yankees have a greater chance of signing any given free agent), but I think dismissing it is bad baseball management. To run a team well, a GM should always be looking ahead at least 2-3 years in my opinion, gauging minor league talent and deciding where to upgrade through free agency based on that. Things change, but that doesn’t seem like a reason not to think ahead.
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 18, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
The reason to not think ahead that far is that what you think and know now means nothing two years down the line.
Juan Carlos Perez, please start hitting.
Perhaps, but I think if a GM thinks wisely, they’ll make smarter present decisions. It would be silly to think Pujols will be a free agent in two years for example, but quite possible that Adrian Gonzalez will be. I’m definitely not saying GMs should just assume the linked list will be the free agent class and act accordingly. I’m voting for smart foresight (not the same as Ozzie Guillen’s smart baseball).
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 18, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Looking ahead at free agents seems more likely to cause you to make bad decisions. If you get your heart set on Adrian Gonzalez, that encourages you to let the first-base problem fester for a couple of years, with no guarantee that he will even be available at the end of that time. And if he does turn out to be both available and desirable two years from now (unlikely imo), you’ve already emotionally committed to signing him, so you’re more likely to overspend.
I disagree. I think this might happen with a GM looking ahead poorly, but I think that a wise GM will understand the chances and avoid these kinds of mistakes. If a GM knows the first base free agent market may be particularly rich in 1-2 years, the GM can avoid signing first baseman to long-term contracts this year to avoid ending up in a bad contract. I don’t think it’s about setting one’s heart on a particular player, but rather about understanding the options that will/may be available. I think the example you gave would be an example of poor decision making, but I think a GM thinking 1-2 years out would approach it with a better mindset.
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 19, 2010 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions
If you make decisions emotionaly, sure, that's a danger.
OTOH, players with 3-2 years to free agency (ie: when they start to become more expensive in arbitration, but are still more than a one-year rental) are potential trade targets that teams should be aware of.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
But how you spend your money now most certainly does mean a whole lot 2-3 (or 7, fuck) years down the line.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
I disagree, knowing what might/might not be available on the FA market in 2-3 seasons, and what you can expect from your farm system in 2-3 seasons, should have an effect on what your team is willing to spend on this off season.
VAE PVTO DEVS FIO
I saw that story on mlbtraderumors as well — but they’re confused on Matt Cain, right? His team option is for 2011. 2012 he’s unrestricted FA right (as it stands currently)?
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Hmm…methinks you’re right. So Cain will be a free agent outright after 2011. I wonder how much it’ll take to keep him?
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 18, 2010 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Tim gets a new contract that offseason too. And Zito will be due 19.5 million in 2012. So…. yeah.
The Giants Way™"If anybody deserves credit for this year’s turnaround it’s these two people, Brian and Bruce," Neukom said. "The encouraging thing is we think we’re back to playing baseball the way it ought to be played."
Looking forward to the 2013 list because Rowand will finally be on it.
"If we had signed Guerrero or Sheffield, we would have been without Brower, Eyre, Herges, Hermanson,Tomko,Pierzynski, Feliz, Snow,Hammonds, Mohr and Tucker–obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint"--B Sabean
Aye.
"I don’t know why people feel the need to come up with reasons 'why' for everything..." - Missing Barry
by victor frankenstein on Mar 18, 2010 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Not if he signed a new contract in 2011
rewarded by Bow Tie for making a great impression (literally) in the center field wall.
Win the inning.
by Scooter Ellis on Mar 18, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
OTOH, so will Lincecum.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
I’ve heard that’s what Huff thinks about too.
Eagerly anticipating adding to my Giants family.
by giantsfansince1981 on Mar 18, 2010 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- We're Going Streaking! Delmon Young is finally blossoming
- Edwin Jackson is headed to Chicago, but will he stay there?
- Is Bryce Harper using Facebook for contract leverage?
- Say what? Michael Saunders chases homer, creates bleacher chaos
- Twins fans are the opposite of psyched for this Matt Capps trade
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
