Jason Werth

Tech Tee · Dec 6, 2010

Jason! How could you!
 
Ugh.

solarpowered · Dec 6, 2010

It's a bummer, but not a surprise.
 
What's surprising to me is that he ended up in Washington. I'd heard rumors of him going to the Angels back at the end of the season.

the kenyan · Dec 6, 2010

solarpowered · Dec 6, 2010

After hearing the details of the deal, I'm kinda sad that Werth would make such a financially driven decision -- especially since he's going to a team that won't have such a strong chance of going to the World Series. I think I heard that the Phillies were offering him slightly less money, but not as many years. I guess he wanted the security of the years.

Tech Tee · Dec 6, 2010

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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by solarpowered <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967488"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> After hearing the details of the deal, I'm kinda sad that Werth would make such a financially driven decision -- especially since he's going to a team that won't have such a strong chance of going to the World Series. I think I heard that the Phillies were offering him slightly less money, but not as many years. I guess he wanted the security of the years. 
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I understand from his standpoint. Monitarily, I mean, $18 Million a year, for 7 years. At the end, he'll be 39. Who would pay $18 Million for a 39 year old guy?
 
But, the Nats are stuck with him now. Because if he wants to move, no one is going to pay that much for him in 5 years to buy out his contract.
 
And, also, there comes a point where more money doesn't matter. I mean, if he got $10 Mil for 7 years instead of $18 Mil for 7 years, who the hell cares? Well, I guess his ego cares.

Tech Tee · Dec 6, 2010

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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by the kenyan <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967487"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> <img alt="http://bsaidso.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/facepalm_picard2.jpg?w=360&h=240" src="http://bsaidso.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/facepalm_picard2.jpg?w=360&h=240" style="">
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You're only upset because he didn't choose Boston.

RandMart · Dec 6, 2010

Let's hope Goat-Boy does just as well in Washington as McNabb has been doing

jcumming · Dec 6, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tech Tee <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967496"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> And, also, there comes a point where more money doesn't matter. I mean, if he got $10 Mil for 7 years instead of $18 Mil for 7 years, who the hell cares? Well, I guess his ego cares.
 
 

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I presume you are kidding. I'm old as the hills and remember the days when players kept score by AVG, or HRs, or RBI, but that has been long gone. Now players keep score by how much they make. And while to the normal person there is virtually no difference between them earning $14,500,000 per year and $15,000,000 per year...I mean really, what's a half million bucks other than chump change??...to a player it could put them 2 or 3 places higher up the ladder.
 
There still is the old "hometown discount" if you really like where you play (but honestly I'm sure most don't give a flyin' fadoo) and the "wanna play for a champion" which usually doesn't work out...ask Doc Halladay, but pretty much it's just "SHOW ME THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$"

mmoonptdeux · Dec 6, 2010

Another ex-Phillie (Pat Burrell) just did give the old hometown discount to San Francisco (1 year, $1 million; he was born & raised in the Bay Area), but yeah, those are pretty rare these days. In contrast, Juan Uribe (who batted only .222 in the second half of the season & .150 in the postseason, but made his hits count) just gave the heave ho to the Giants for the cash (3 yr/$20 mil) to the ducking Fodgers down south
 
I read an optimistic report on the Nats' pitching, but they still don't seem to have the horses to make a title run, even if Strasburg back anywhere close to where he was pre-injury. Ironically, Werth's contract is the same as someone that has become a source of irritation for many Giants fans - Barry Zito. Maybe Werth will become the Nats' Zito (except he'll be playing more games)
 

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by jcumming <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967554"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> <div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tech Tee <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967496"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> And, also, there comes a point where more money doesn't matter. I mean, if he got $10 Mil for 7 years instead of $18 Mil for 7 years, who the hell cares? Well, I guess his ego cares. 

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I presume you are kidding. I'm old as the hills and remember the days when players kept score by AVG, or HRs, or RBI, but that has been long gone. Now players keep score by how much they make. And while to the normal person there is virtually no difference between them earning $14,500,000 per year and $15,000,000 per year...I mean really, what's a half million bucks other than chump change??...to a player it could put them 2 or 3 places higher up the ladder.
 
There still is the old "hometown discount" if you really like where you play (but honestly I'm sure most don't give a flyin' fadoo) and the "wanna play for a champion" which usually doesn't work out...ask Doc Halladay, but pretty much it's just "SHOW ME THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$" 

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gatorbob · Dec 6, 2010

I often wonder about this too. Why do guys take a little more money to go to a crappy team? Yeah, ego plays a part of it. But I also have heard rumors that the player's union puts a lot of pressure on guys to take the biggest offer, no matter who it's from. I recall these rumors to be loudest back from when Jim Thome signed with the Phillies. Supposedly he really wanted to stay in Cleveland, but Cleveland couldn't come close to the Phillies' offer. Thome was even (supposedly) willing to accept a lot less money because he like Cleveland so much. But the union wouldn't let him. 
 
The union would allow a player to take a slight "hometown discount". But not as big as the one Thome needed. Of course, this talk was all off-the-record, so I have no idea how true it is. But I've heard it for other players as well... Like they say, where there's smoke, there's fire...
 
With Werth, it seems a little backwards. The Phillies have more money than the Nats. But I guess the Phillies just didn't think he was worth that much. And frankly, I don't blame them. Werth is a nice player. A really nice player. But not $18M nice. He was a nice fit in the Phillies lineup, where he meshed in with Rollins and Utley and Howard and Victorino, etc. But he'll stick out like a sore thumb on the Nats. I think his numbers are going to plummet...
 
Anyway, more importantly, the Red Sox finally completed the deal for Adrian Gonzalez. This deserves a thumbs up!
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/65066/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Chuck_Norris_Approves.gif" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15337" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15337/width/387/height/251" style="; width: 387px; height: 251px"></a>

gatorbob · Dec 6, 2010

jcumming · Dec 6, 2010

It will be interesting to see where Zack Greinke goes.
 
Time for the Royals to rebuild. ;-)

gatorbob · Dec 6, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by jcumming <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967602"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a> It will be interesting to see where Zack Greinke goes.
 
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 Well, just follow the ol' flow chart for free agent pitchers:
 
1) Do the Yankees need pitching?
 If 'yes', then the top pitcher signs with the Yanks.
 If 'no'. then:
 
2) Do the Red Sox need pitching?
 If 'yes', then he signs with the Red Sox.
 If 'no', then:
 
3) Do the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, Cubs or Phillies need pitching?
 If 'yes', then he signs with one of them.
 If 'no', then he probably sucks.

jcumming · Dec 6, 2010

Yabut Zach Greinke is a different sort of a duck....and it requires a trade. He's a bit of a fragile sort and didn't do so well with the spotlight on him after the Cy Young. I'm thinking Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park may have lights a tad too bright for him. Then again the Yankees don't give a flyin' fadoo if they blow $50million or $60 million on a mistake, but the others do....and may not want to trade away some future stars.
 
Stay tuned

Grizzly · Dec 6, 2010

Well, If Zach can hold out a couple of years he may have the team catch up to him. That said, a couple prospects for Greinke and KC wouldn't be hurting either. This must be tearing Techgoddess up. 
 
Thing is that Zach needs a bit of a support network that the KC organization is providing. Will other teams be as ready for that?

jcumming · Dec 6, 2010

Since Greinke has said he will drop his right of refusal to be traded to half the teams in MLB I'm thinking he'd be happy to leave. However that may depend upon the new team offering him a $50 kajillion contract.

the kenyan · Dec 6, 2010

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<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by GatorBob <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967598"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> <a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/65048/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="yo1__1291659151_5722.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15334" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15334/width/539/height/322" style="; width: 539px; height: 322px"></a>
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Tech Tee · Dec 7, 2010

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With Werth, it seems a little backwards. The Phillies have more money than the Nats. But I guess the Phillies just didn't think he was worth that much. And frankly, I don't blame them. Werth is a nice player. A really nice player. But not $18M nice. He was a nice fit in the Phillies lineup, where he meshed in with Rollins and Utley and Howard and Victorino, etc. But he'll stick out like a sore thumb on the Nats. I think his numbers are going to plummet...
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 I thought that I heard that to pay Werth what he wanted (or thought he could get) would have put them over the salary cap. Not sure where I heard that though, or even what the cap is.
 
As for being worth that much. Well, in 7 years, will he still be worth $18 mil? I doubt it.
 
The money is just ridiculous. Werth will be making more a year than 1/2 of the entire Pittsburgh 2010 salary for the whole team ($34 Mil). Not that you can actually call the Pirates a Major League Baseball team. But, I guess in this day and age, it's all about money.

jcumming · Dec 7, 2010

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Tech Tee <a href="/forum/thread/71507/jason-werth#post_1967739"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I thought that I heard that to pay Werth what he wanted (or thought he could get) would have put them over the salary cap. Not sure where I heard that though, or even what the cap is.
 
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 The salary cap is whatever the New York Yankees are willing to pay...which I suppose is somewhere around $500 million....or maybe $700 million if they find a good backup shortstop for Jeter.

gatorbob · Dec 7, 2010

Of course, it's not a salary "cap". There's a luxury tax, and any team with a payroll over a certain amount has to pay like a 40% tax on any salaries that go over the limit. Until now, I think the Yankees are the only team that have ever paid it. And they pay quite a bit. I think the tax threshhold is about $170M now. (It goes up every year). The Yankees payroll is around $210M. So that means the $40M they are over is subject to a 40% tax. And 40% of $40M is $16M. 
 
I don't think any other team has ever paid the tax other than the Yankees. Maybe the Red Sox have paid a little, since they were close to $170M this year. But if so, they paid like 40% of a million or two, which is chump change, relatively. 
 
I know the Phillies are near the top in terms of payroll, but I didn't realize that they were that close to the tax threshhold...

Jason Werth

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