Franchise cornerstones

[Tim]

The idea here is to debate who you would pick as the cornerstone for a franchise for the future. You should consider talent, contract situation, finances, age, positional scarcity, etc. Let's assume that you're running an expansion franchise and can pick any player off any roster. However, being an expansion franchise, you also have a limited amount of finances to work with -- so that's a major consideration. You also have to consider the marketing possiblities for the player involved and being able to build up a "face" for the franchise.

 

To me, this leads to some obvious criteria. The guy should be young, pre-prime or just beginning his prime. He's obviously got to be very talented. I'd give a very big edge to guys with plenty of service time remaining before free agency (I'd want at least three more years of control). I'd want his cost to be very low (so players not yet even arby eligible would have a big advantage).

 

There's a bunch of players that meet some of these criteria, including many of the best players in the game. Pujols + ARod head up a group of players that are the most dependable forces in the game and some (like those two) are under team control for a good period of time. But they're getting pretty pricey. Johan Santana, Prior + Zambrano head up a list of elite pitchers in the second half of their arbitration years, but they are all going to start getting very expensive pretty soon.

 

For me, this would come down to two players, one whom most everyone will pick and one who tends to slide under the radar a bit - Miguel Cabrera and David Wright. Given the extra year Wright has before he hits arbitration and free agency, I'd actually pick him first.

 

(thinking about this a bit more -- Chase Utley has to fit in the discussion somewhere...)

 

Given the Yankees budget, I'd go a different direction. But on a performance per dollar basis over the next several seasons, I think it would be very hard to beat Wright. It turns my stomach that the two players I'd pick given a limited or an unlimited budget play for the two teams I hate the most - NYM and StL.

[UK1679666180]

Cabrera and put him back at SS, he might be avg. (at best) during his peak defensively at SS and might struggle after the layoff, but his body should be able to still have the quickness and hands to get the job done.

 

I still think he has the ability to play SS and the difference between a 3B and SS is enough for me.

[BCVM22]

Cabrera and put him back at SS, he might be avg. (at best) during his peak defensively at SS and might struggle after the layoff, but his body should be able to still have the quickness and hands to get the job done.

 

I still think he has the ability to play SS and the difference between a 3B and SS is enough for me.

 

Just curious, did Miguel Cabrera come up as a shortstop and was then moved to 3B/OF at the major league level? Because I don't think he's ever actually played SS in a major league uniform aside from 3 innings at the position during the 2003 NLCS.

[Knyption]

If I could pick one super elite and one above average guys I would have to go with Miguel Cabrera and Jason Bay

 

 

Just one guy alone, pitching, Chacon

 

Offense / Defense Wright

[CarolinaCubFan]

AVG G AB R H HR RBI BB K OBP SLG OPS

Totals .307 1592 6195 1245 1901 429 1226 730 1265 .385 .577 .962

 

Alex Rodriguez is 30 years old. Look at his career line and think about it for a minute, this guy is only 30 years old. Considered by many as the best player in the game. His work ethic and conditioning in his first 10 years has been rock solid. I see very little reason not to think Arod is still capable of finishing the remainder of his contract, 5 years I believe, playing GG caliber defense at SS.

 

Being an expansion team, revenue will be key to the success of the team. Arguments can be made for Pujols, Cabrera, and Wright, but I feel Arod brings more to the table. Wright may be the best bargain, but what would sell better, a David Wright Las Vegas Gamblers jersey or an Alex Rodriquez Gambers jersey? Haha, Arod would be money in the bank. Seriously though, Arod would generate dollars for an expansion team, he'd be all over ESPN and every other sports media outlet.

 

Look at the revenue Bonds creates for the Giants. Arod's career numbers have had my eye for a few seasons now. By the end of his current contract, which is very reasonable, you may have a 35 year old GG SS - soon to be 3B, chasing the HR record. A very huge upside is Arod has escaped the steriod talk and is still putting up huge numbers. His next contract will be expensive, but if he's still generating the numbers to justify the money, Arod will be be in striking distance of the HR, RBI, and Hit's isn't out of the question, career leaders.

 

Alex Rodriguez makes an immidiate impact in production and revenue, but also fills the bill long term.

[UK1679666180]

Cabrera and put him back at SS, he might be avg. (at best) during his peak defensively at SS and might struggle after the layoff, but his body should be able to still have the quickness and hands to get the job done.

 

I still think he has the ability to play SS and the difference between a 3B and SS is enough for me.

 

Just curious, did Miguel Cabrera come up as a shortstop and was then moved to 3B/OF at the major league level? Because I don't think he's ever actually played SS in a major league uniform aside from 3 innings at the position during the 2003 NLCS.

 

He came up thru the minors as a SS, when we at AA before getting called up, he played SS.

 

Florida has always had Alex Gonzalez at SS until this year. I think he'd be able ro get thru growing pains of not having played the position in quite some time and be adequate. It would definitely be worth a shot.

 

He didn't stop playing SS b/c he couldn't handle it.

[USSoccer]

I would choose either Carlos Zambrano or Johan Santana.

[AcesHigh]

I realize that there is an abundance of good first baseman, but what about Mark Texiera. He's a young, switch-hitter with great power. I can see him dominating for years to come.

 

Does anyone know anything about his contract? I would think he would be relatively cheap since he hasn't tested the FA market yet.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I realize that there is an abundance of good first baseman, but what about Mark Texiera. He's a young, switch-hitter with great power. I can see him dominating for years to come.

 

Does anyone know anything about his contract? I would think he would be relatively cheap since he hasn't tested the FA market yet.

 

Mark Teixeira 3b

4 years/$9.5M (2002-05)

 

* $4.5M signing bonus (paid over 3 years)

* 02:$0.25M, 03:$0.75M, 04:$1.5M, 05:$2.5M

* drafted 2001 (1-5), signed major league contract 8/01

* agent: Scott Boras

* ML service: 2.000

 

 

He's about to get pretty darn expensive.

[AcesHigh]

I realize that there is an abundance of good first baseman, but what about Mark Texiera. He's a young, switch-hitter with great power. I can see him dominating for years to come.

 

Does anyone know anything about his contract? I would think he would be relatively cheap since he hasn't tested the FA market yet.

 

Mark Teixeira 3b

4 years/$9.5M (2002-05)

 

* $4.5M signing bonus (paid over 3 years)

* 02:$0.25M, 03:$0.75M, 04:$1.5M, 05:$2.5M

* drafted 2001 (1-5), signed major league contract 8/01

* agent: Scott Boras

* ML service: 2.000

 

 

He's about to get pretty darn expensive.

You're right. I wasn't sure when his original contract expired.

 

The fact that Boras is his agent makes it even worse.

 

If money were no object, though, he'd be a great player to build around.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I realize that there is an abundance of good first baseman, but what about Mark Texiera. He's a young, switch-hitter with great power. I can see him dominating for years to come.

 

Does anyone know anything about his contract? I would think he would be relatively cheap since he hasn't tested the FA market yet.

 

Mark Teixeira 3b

4 years/$9.5M (2002-05)

 

* $4.5M signing bonus (paid over 3 years)

* 02:$0.25M, 03:$0.75M, 04:$1.5M, 05:$2.5M

* drafted 2001 (1-5), signed major league contract 8/01

* agent: Scott Boras

* ML service: 2.000

 

 

He's about to get pretty darn expensive.

 

Boras was talking an 10 year contract for him last season.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Boras was talking an 10 year contract for him last season.

 

I've been pondering this, and I think I have finally come to a decision. As much as I would love to pick Big Z, the quote from above is the reason why. Boras is his agent. So, it pains me to pick someone else from the NL, but I will go with Miguel Cabrera. I haven't seen him play 3B yet, but my good God, that kid can flat-out mash a ball. To put up these numbers at Pro Player at the age of 22 absolutely blows my mind:

302/379/488/867 (341/391/625/1.016 on the road :shock: )

[Tim]

Boras was talking an 10 year contract for him last season.

 

I've been pondering this, and I think I have finally come to a decision. As much as I would love to pick Big Z, the quote from above is the reason why. Boras is his agent. So, it pains me to pick someone else from the NL, but I will go with Miguel Cabrera. I haven't seen him play 3B yet, but my good God, that kid can flat-out mash a ball. To put up these numbers at Pro Player at the age of 22 absolutely blows my mind:

302/379/488/867 (341/391/625/1.016 on the road :shock: )

David Wright is a year older, but had even more impressive numbers in his second year as a pro than Cabrera. He plays at Shea, which is an equally bad offensive environment. He has the added benefit of being faster, so that his higher walk total means he doesn't clog the bases as much. ;)

[Tim]

Cabrera and put him back at SS, he might be avg. (at best) during his peak defensively at SS and might struggle after the layoff, but his body should be able to still have the quickness and hands to get the job done.

 

I still think he has the ability to play SS and the difference between a 3B and SS is enough for me.

 

Just curious, did Miguel Cabrera come up as a shortstop and was then moved to 3B/OF at the major league level? Because I don't think he's ever actually played SS in a major league uniform aside from 3 innings at the position during the 2003 NLCS.

 

He came up thru the minors as a SS, when we at AA before getting called up, he played SS.

 

Florida has always had Alex Gonzalez at SS until this year. I think he'd be able ro get thru growing pains of not having played the position in quite some time and be adequate. It would definitely be worth a shot.

 

He didn't stop playing SS b/c he couldn't handle it.

I could swear I remember Miggy playing 3B in the Southern League.

[UK1679666180]

You might be right, he might've outgrown SS by then, when I seen him up at KC, I thought he had the ability to stick at SS despite being very raw.

[illiniguy]

Cabrera and put him back at SS, he might be avg. (at best) during his peak defensively at SS and might struggle after the layoff, but his body should be able to still have the quickness and hands to get the job done.

 

I still think he has the ability to play SS and the difference between a 3B and SS is enough for me.

 

Just curious, did Miguel Cabrera come up as a shortstop and was then moved to 3B/OF at the major league level? Because I don't think he's ever actually played SS in a major league uniform aside from 3 innings at the position during the 2003 NLCS.

 

He came up thru the minors as a SS, when we at AA before getting called up, he played SS.

 

Florida has always had Alex Gonzalez at SS until this year. I think he'd be able ro get thru growing pains of not having played the position in quite some time and be adequate. It would definitely be worth a shot.

 

He didn't stop playing SS b/c he couldn't handle it.

I could swear I remember Miggy playing 3B in the Southern League.

I think you're right as many talked about how he would have to move as he was blocked by Lowell. That being said at some point in the minors he was playing SS.

[MPrior]

David Wright and Jake Peavy.

 

No, I didn't do any research as to Peavy's contract or anything, so I could be totally wrong, but he's still pretty cheap, and will remain so for a while, right?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

David Wright and Jake Peavy.

 

No, I didn't do any research as to Peavy's contract or anything, so I could be totally wrong, but he's still pretty cheap, and will remain so for a while, right?

 

2006: 2.5M

2007: 4.75M

2008: 6M

2009 Team Option for 8M

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I'd go with Wright.

 

Cabrera is uber-talented and crazy good, but he sounds like an annoying prick.

 

Usually it's not such a big deal, but when they're both so talented I'll take charachter into account.

[Productive Outs]

I'd go with Cabrera.

[imb]

Cabrera - better hitter

 

Wright - better looking

 

god, it's so tough

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

After much debate...I made the switch to Cabrera too. But it's ridicuously close in my head.

 

Wright is more marketable, should age better, probably plays better D at third, and has less service time on him.

 

Cabrera is the better hitter, he's younger, he's still a LITTLE projectable, but he's also more likely to ask top, top dollar come time to talk extension.

 

Can you even be wrong with this?

[illiniguy]

After much debate...I made the switch to Cabrera too. But it's ridicuously close in my head.

 

Wright is more marketable, should age better, probably plays better D at third, and has less service time on him.

 

Cabrera is the better hitter, he's younger, he's still a LITTLE projectable, but he's also more likely to ask top, top dollar come time to talk extension.

 

Can you even be wrong with this?

you have to go with pujols he is young great and locked up pretty cheap for the next few years.

[RockTheIvy]

After much debate...I made the switch to Cabrera too. But it's ridicuously close in my head.

 

Wright is more marketable, should age better, probably plays better D at third, and has less service time on him.

 

Cabrera is the better hitter, he's younger, he's still a LITTLE projectable, but he's also more likely to ask top, top dollar come time to talk extension.

 

Can you even be wrong with this?

you have to go with pujols he is young great and locked up pretty cheap for the next few years.

 

I think Pujols signed a 7/100mil contract last year. Could be wrong though. Of course, that might be "market value" for him, only a few mil above Furcal.

[Bluescale]

I think Pujols signed a 7/100mil contract last year. Could be wrong though. Of course, that might be "market value" for him, only a few mil above Furcal.

 

For what Pujols brings to the table, 7/100 is a bargin. I'd break the bank on Pujols, and try to fill the rest of the roster with high potential high risk guys. When it's all said an done, I have a feeling Pujols will be the best hitter of this generation (and I'm including ARod in this generation). The nice things about guys like Miggy and Write is that they allow you the financial flexibilty to go after Pujols.

 

I would do everything in my power to put together a roster that allowed for Pujols.