The wonderful world of general managers, you can lead a horse to water edition

December 10th, 2006 → 10:24 am @ // No Comments

In today’s edition of the Times‘s “Keeping Score” column, Alan Schwarz has this nugget:

“Major League Baseball has devoted resources to educating club officials on how to make better decisions on contracts. One step was emphasizing how most players in their early 30s, though known commodities, quickly lose their productivity and value. More subtle is the message that purchasing extra years to hedge against market inflation — particularly with pitchers — may be outweighed by added risk. The player can become injured or simply not be as good as expected, leaving the club saddled with a payroll-draining deal or the drag of paying another club millions to take the player off its hands.”

Bill Stoneman and Dayton Moore must have slept through that seminar.


Post Categories: 2006 Hot Stove Season & general managers

3 Comments → “The wonderful world of general managers, you can lead a horse to water edition”


  1. sharrock

    17 years ago

    The Dodgers signed one of the smartest contracts this year with Jason Schmidt. Just 3 seasons and they have the cash to pay a slight premium for the shorter contract. That makes the 5 years for Juan Pierre even more confusing.

    All that money and years the Orioles threw at bullpen spare parts proves once again that Angelos is running a joke of an organization.

    Over the last 10 or 15 seasons, how many long pitcher contracts have worked out?

    Reply

  2. redsoxtimes

    17 years ago

    Just to be fair, Theo may have slept through that seminar as well. Both Drew and Lugo fit the “early 30s, though known commodities, quickly lose their productivity and value” bill.

    Its a broad brush, but sometimes thats what you paint with.

    Tim
    Red Sox Times

    Reply

  3. Nordberg

    17 years ago

    You left out Jim Hendry.
    $68 million to Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly?
    He’d have been better with Fergie Jenkins.

    Reply

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