1) Pat Burrell – Tampa Bay Rays (2 years, $16 million)
I love this signing for a number of reasons. First, that’s a bargain for a 30-home run hitter, and Burrell’s no one-year wonder. He’s hit 32, 29, 30 and 33 homers since 2005. That’s consistency. The second reason I sweat this signing: it’s gives the Rays a 2-through-6 that’s as formidable as any team’s in the game. Upton, Crawford, Longoria, Pena, Burrell is as legit as it comes. Kudos, Rays.
2) Francisco Rodriquez – NY Mets (3 years, $37 million)
I realize there’s a lot of concern with the amount of innings he’s pitched as well as is aggressive arm action, but $37 mill over three years is a good deal for a premier closer – especially for a team that desperately needed a solid bookend to the bullpen. That’s why this signing is No. 2, not so much as the player and dollars, but because the team that needed a closer the most got the best one at far less than what he was projected to earn.
3) Mark Teixeira – NY Yankees (8 years, $180 million)
This signing is far more important than people think. This wasn’t just the Yanks stealing him from the Red Sox, it was filling a need. Before signing Tex, the Yanks’ offense – believe it or not – looked ordinary for their standards. Just look at the before and afters:
Before Tex:
1) Damon
2) Jeter
3) Matsui
4) A-Rod
5) Swisher
6) Posada
7) Nady
8) Cano
9) Cabrera
After Tex:
1) Damon
2) Jeter
3) Teixeira
4) A-Rod
5) Matusi
6) Posada
7) Swisher
8) Nady
9) Cano
It’s amazing how one premier slugger can balance out a lineup (sigh, don’t even get me started).
4) Jason Giambi – Oakland A’s (1 year, $5.25 million)
Forget the steroids, age or injury concerns. The man hit 32 homers last season with a .373 on-base percentage that was higher than Burrell, Derek Lee, Derek Jeter, Booby Abreu, Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton, Jim Thome, Adrian Gonzalez and Vladimir Guerrero. To sign him for just one year at $20 million less than what he made last year is absurd. Holliday-Giambi-Chavez is straight.
5) C.C. Sabathia – NY Yankees (7 years, $161 million)
Let’s face it: he was priority No. 1 for the Yanks. They had a terrible starting staff last year and they needed a bona fide horse to mount at the top of their rotation. The weight could be a problem, but people have been saying that for year with C.C. He actually was pitching great in the last month or so with the Indians, so his resurrection wasn’t just a product of the AAA, I mean the NL. He’s an emotional guy who sometimes puts too much pressure on himself, so I envision a rocky start, but he’ll settle down and be mowing down teams by mid-May.
I love this signing for a number of reasons. First, that’s a bargain for a 30-home run hitter, and Burrell’s no one-year wonder. He’s hit 32, 29, 30 and 33 homers since 2005. That’s consistency. The second reason I sweat this signing: it’s gives the Rays a 2-through-6 that’s as formidable as any team’s in the game. Upton, Crawford, Longoria, Pena, Burrell is as legit as it comes. Kudos, Rays.
2) Francisco Rodriquez – NY Mets (3 years, $37 million)
I realize there’s a lot of concern with the amount of innings he’s pitched as well as is aggressive arm action, but $37 mill over three years is a good deal for a premier closer – especially for a team that desperately needed a solid bookend to the bullpen. That’s why this signing is No. 2, not so much as the player and dollars, but because the team that needed a closer the most got the best one at far less than what he was projected to earn.
3) Mark Teixeira – NY Yankees (8 years, $180 million)
This signing is far more important than people think. This wasn’t just the Yanks stealing him from the Red Sox, it was filling a need. Before signing Tex, the Yanks’ offense – believe it or not – looked ordinary for their standards. Just look at the before and afters:
Before Tex:
1) Damon
2) Jeter
3) Matsui
4) A-Rod
5) Swisher
6) Posada
7) Nady
8) Cano
9) Cabrera
After Tex:
1) Damon
2) Jeter
3) Teixeira
4) A-Rod
5) Matusi
6) Posada
7) Swisher
8) Nady
9) Cano
It’s amazing how one premier slugger can balance out a lineup (sigh, don’t even get me started).
4) Jason Giambi – Oakland A’s (1 year, $5.25 million)
Forget the steroids, age or injury concerns. The man hit 32 homers last season with a .373 on-base percentage that was higher than Burrell, Derek Lee, Derek Jeter, Booby Abreu, Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton, Jim Thome, Adrian Gonzalez and Vladimir Guerrero. To sign him for just one year at $20 million less than what he made last year is absurd. Holliday-Giambi-Chavez is straight.
5) C.C. Sabathia – NY Yankees (7 years, $161 million)
Let’s face it: he was priority No. 1 for the Yanks. They had a terrible starting staff last year and they needed a bona fide horse to mount at the top of their rotation. The weight could be a problem, but people have been saying that for year with C.C. He actually was pitching great in the last month or so with the Indians, so his resurrection wasn’t just a product of the AAA, I mean the NL. He’s an emotional guy who sometimes puts too much pressure on himself, so I envision a rocky start, but he’ll settle down and be mowing down teams by mid-May.
Coming tomorrow: Top 5 Worst Free Agent Signings of the offseason.
-Nick
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