Verducci On Hamels, Shields, Lowe, Manny
MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com —
Let's take a look at the latest from SI.com's Tom Verducci.
Interesting line: "One journeyman reliever, for instance, turned down a $2 million offer, saying he would retire before taking that kind of money." Many veterans will choose between swallowing their pride and retiring this spring.
Verducci makes a comparison between Cole Hamels and James Shields, who were called up 19 days apart. The extra service time for Hamels gave him Super Two status, meaning he became arbitration-eligible four times ...
Verducci Compares Hamels/Shields
DRaysBay —
The statistical analysis is so-so , but the interesting part is this:
Why is Hamels worth $11,755,100 more than Shields? It all goes back to when they were called up the big leagues. By starting his service time just 19 days earlier, the Phillies allowed Hamels to qualify for arbitration a year earlier -- as a "Super Two" this year. Shields, like most players, would not have been eligible for arbitration until three full service years, or in his case, 2010. Hamels benefited greatly from the leverage of a slightly earlier callup.
By the ...
Rays Set to Persuade Kazmir
DRaysBay —
From Tom Verducci
Tampa Bay will try to convince Scott Kazmir to skip the tournament after he pitched through October last year[...]
I'm sure these discussions are going to involve a Pineapple Express DVD, Cheetos, and usage of a private lava lamp. Like it or not, Kazmir is Rays property, and therefore the Rays should have a say in when and what he pitches in. There's no guarantee that his health alters either way, but there's piece of mind in knowing the Rays are the ones controlling his pitch ...
Starting Pitcher: Mets willing to spend $ on Lowe
MetsBlog.com —
Tom Verducci of SI.com believes the Mets were willing to give $14 million per season to Derek Lowe, before he agreed to sign with the Braves.
…if this is the case, it makes me question the popular notion that Omar Minaya is unwilling to commit more than $12 million to Oliver Perez…
[THE HANGOVER] Sorry, James Shields Is Not Cole Hamels
Rays Index —
... Yesterday Tom Verducci of SI.com showed that James Shields and Cole Hamels have very similar career stats. However, Hamels was called up a little earlier giving him “Super Two” status, thus making Hamels arbitration-eligible a year earlier than Shields. ...
[THE HANGOVER] We All Mourn The Break Up Of Roccessica
Rays Index —
... We forgot to mention during yesterday’s “Hangover” that Tom Verducci says the Rays “will try to convince Scott Kazmir to skip the [World Baseball Classic] tournament after he pitched through October last year.” [SI.com] ...
