Does he REALLY need that much money that badly?

[matskralc]

Rodriguez on the verge of agreement with Tigers
By RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
January 29, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- Ivan Rodriguez is close to moving from the World Series champions to a team coming off one of the worst seasons in major league history.

Rodriguez and the Detroit Tigers were on the verge of agreeing to a $40 million, four-year contract, The Associated Press learned Wednesday night.

The 10-time All-Star catcher was to be examined in Texas on Thursday by Dr. Andrew Dossett, two baseball sources told the AP on the condition of anonymity. Dossett is the spine consultant to the Rangers and has treated Rodriguez for many years.

If all goes well in the exam, the agreement between the free agent and Detroit could be announced Friday, one of the sources said.

The deal contains a team option for 2008 that could make the contract worth $50 million over five years, one of the sources said.

Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

``We've been working diligently with the Tigers on this matter,'' said Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras. ``We're having further meetings on Thursday.''

Rodriguez, 32, spent his first 12 seasons with the Rangers, then became a free agent and signed a $10 million, one-year deal with the Marlins.

Rodriguez hit .313 last season with 16 homers and 85 RBIs, and he was MVP of the NL championship series win over the Chicago Cubs.

After helping lead the Marlins past the New York Yankees in the World Series last season, he was never offered more than two guaranteed years by Florida. Baltimore and Seattle also were said to be interested in Rodriguez.

With the Tigers, he would join one of the greatest turnaround efforts in baseball history. Detroit went 43-119 last season, setting the American League record for losses.

The Tigers won five of their last six games to avoid tying the post-1900 major league record of 120 losses, set by the 1962 New York Mets.

Detroit, which moved into Comerica Park in 2000, has finished with a losing record in 10 straight seasons and drew 1.37 million fans at home last season, 27th among the 30 major league teams.

Trying to invigorate the team, the Tigers have reached agreements with second baseman Fernando Vina, outfielder Rondell White and right-hander Jason Johnson.

Since winning their second Series title in seven seasons, the Marlins have either traded away or lost as free agents several of their key players, including Derrek Lee, Mark Redman, Juan Encarnacion, Ugueth Urbina and Braden Looper.

Florida has signed closer Armando Benitez and on Wednesday added left-hander Darren Oliver, agreeing to a $750,000, one-year contract.

Like Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Comerica Park is a tough place for hitters.

Rodriguez is a 10-time Gold Glove winner behind the plate and won the 1999 AL MVP award.

[draven085]

Pudge is a still a pretty good player, but he won't be by the end of this deal. Why don't baseball executives realize that catchers get old fast once they hit their mid 30s?

[dougaiton]

Originally posted by matskralc
The deal contains a team option for 2008 that could make the contract worth $50 million over five years, one of the sources said.

Ooh, a $10 million option for a 37 year old catcher who managed a whopping 16 homers when he was 32! That's the kind of dealing that makes those Tigers such sharks in the free agent market - always planning for the future.

[matskralc]

Originally posted by draven085
Why don't baseball executives realize that catchers get old fast once they hit their mid 30s?

Well apparently, everyone else who expressed interest in him DID figure that out, especially after hearing his demands. I guess the Tigers didn't get the memo.

[draven085]

Does it surprise anyone that two of the most poorly managed teams in MLB signed the two big, old, free-agent catchers this offseason? If the Brewers we're cutting payroll I guarantee they would've been in on both of these guys.

[matskralc]

Meanwhile, the Pirates can't even give away their big, not-quite-as-old catcher. For the future, Littlefield needs to get Detroit, Baltimore, Milwaukee, and I guess the Yankees on speed-dial, ASAP.

[ctorg]

What a dumb move!

[BleedingCubbyBlue]

In defense of the Tigers, they needed to do something. If they didn't agree to 4 years, Pudge would have gone elsewhere for 2 years or so.

[ctorg]

So what? This is a team that needs to totally rework itself with younger players so it can contend in the future, not a team that should weigh itself down with $10M a year contracts for aging players.

[BleedingCubbyBlue]

Originally posted by ctorg
So what? This is a team that needs to totally rework itself with younger players so it can contend in the future, not a team that should weigh itself down with $10M a year contracts for aging players.

I agree with that, but I'm guessing they are lookinhg for something to jump start the team and maybe start winning again. I think they were crazy to go with 4 years, but without a big signing, they were n danger of repeating last year.

[Gastric ReFlux]

This is a good deal for the Tigers. They'll be getting veteraln leadership in a guy who knows how to win games, as well as handle a pitching staff. This could be just the spark they need to get them over 50 wins.

[sixto]

This is a huge and underexamined aspect of free agency - a lot of guys are overpaid because low-end teams have more money than they know what to do with. You have to admit, after the slop the Tigers ran out there, they need something to make the fans excited again, and signing the defending world champion catcher, which means a lot to your average fan, is possibly worth $40 million in the long run in Detroit. It would not be worth it in most cities, which is why he has to take this deal.

A Jason Kendall trade would not put 100 season-ticket holders in the Comerica seats this season. But Pudge might bring in 500 or more. Personally I'm very interested in what the Tigers will do this coming season.

(Edited for clarity)

[Crapshoot]

Sixto is correct. Plus, Pudge went about this in a reasonable way- he signed a one year deal after coming off a shaky season, and went ahead and proved himself as one of the best catchers in the game, and won the proverbial world series. He worked on fixing the complaints about him, that he didn't handle pitchers well, and so forth. From his POv, I wouldn't want to take a pay cut either...

[BleedingCubbyBlue]

Originally posted by sixto
This is a huge and underexamined aspect of free agency - a lot of guys are overpaid because low-end teams have more money than they know what to do with. You have to admit, after the slop the Tigers ran out there, they need something to make the fans excited again, and signing the defending world champion catcher, which means a lot to your average fan, is possibly worth $40 million in the long run in Detroit. It would not be worth it in most cities, which is why he has to take this deal.

A Jason Kendall trade would not put 100 season-ticket holders in the Comerica seats this season. But Pudge might bring in 500 or more. Personally I'm very interested in what the Tigers will do this coming season.

(Edited for clarity)

Exactly.

[BleedingCubbyBlue]

Somewhat OT, I heard he has a 2,500 lb. bronze statue of HIMSELF in his backyard. Heard it on ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago this morning.

[dougaiton]

Originally posted by sixto
A Jason Kendall trade would not put 100 season-ticket holders in the Comerica seats this season. But Pudge might bring in 500 or more.

Of course, does 500 season tickets equal the 8 million more than signing Ben Davis? Considering those 500+ season tickets aren't going to make a drop in the ocean compared to Pudge's salary. Moreover, say, I don't know, the Tigers had signed these guys instead of Vina and Pudge: Hitchcock, Valdes, Santiago, Melusky, Boone (ugh...), Burkhart, D'Amico, Fick, Jeremy Giambi and Kenny Lofton, and put out a team that might have won 70+ games. How many more season ticket sales might that have resulted in?

Every team has a finite amount of money. This deal would have no chance of recouping the money plugged into it, IMO.

[holyroller]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!11

Man, these Tigers are quick!

[kingcharlesxii]

Originally posted by dougaiton
Moreover, say, I don't know, the Tigers had signed these guys instead of Vina and Pudge: Hitchcock, Valdes, Santiago, Melusky, Boone (ugh...), Burkhart, D'Amico, Fick, Jeremy Giambi and Kenny Lofton, and put out a team that might have won 70+ games. How many more season ticket sales might that have resulted in?

Every team has a finite amount of money. This deal would have no chance of recouping the money plugged into it, IMO.

Of course you're assuming that all of those FAs were willing to play in Detroit when I'm sure most if not all of them weren't willing.

[SoxWin]

Exactly. With Pudge there, and assuming they win 70 games, Detroit becomes a lot more attractive to FA's down the road and you don't have to overpay to bring them in.

If 4 years is what it takes, then I'd do it too. I'd also ask if he'd be into changing positions to 2B or 3B in the next couple of seasons.

[KurtBevacqua]

I have no problem with this. The guy got his ring, ensured his place at Cooperstown, now he gets offered this ridiculous contract, why not cash in? Let's face it, a 32 year old catcher with a big injury history is not likely to give a team 4 good years behind the plate, yet they still want to pay him that kind of money. To me it's a classic example of why the Tigers are so bad. They simply have a dumb front office.

This reminds me of the Indians letting Thome go. Sure, if they wanted to kick in that extra year guaranteed they'd have kept him, but they knew with his back problems and current age it was highly unlikely he would have been worth the bucks for that extra season. Good on the Phillies if he wins them a ring, but in Cleveland he would just have been over priced. Now Detroit is sucked into this trap. By the time the team can realistically be any good again Pudge will be on the slippery slope towards retirement, laughing all the way to the bank because someone paid him much more than he should have gotten.