White Sox extend Contreras

[Jon]

Chicagosports.com[/url]"]ATLANTA -- The White Sox signed their postseason workhorse, Jose Contreras, to a three-year, $29 million contract extension on day before they opened defense of their world championship Sunday night.

 

Contreras, who received a no-trade guarantee for the first year of the deal, was 11-2 in the second half of last season and was 3-1 during the postseason when he was the Game 1 pitcher in each of the championship series.

 

Not sure what to think about the deal. He improved last year because he surprisingly gave up fewer HRs (23 in 2005, 31 in fewer IP in 2004) and had a lower BABIP (.263 in 2005, about .283 in 2004, and .265 in 2003 in 71 IP).

 

Of course, given the market, and his ability to eat some innings, it's not that bad. I'm not too familiar with their pitching prospects, though.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

How old is he? I thought I remember him being a bit older than reported.

[Rob]

How old is he? I thought I remember him being a bit older than reported.

 

34, I think.

 

And I'm betting Brandon McCarthy is pretty pissed off right about now.

[Jon]

How old is he? I thought I remember him being a bit older than reported.

I completely forgot to look at his age. He's 34.

[Guest]

How old is he? I thought I remember him being a bit older than reported.

I completely forgot to look at his age. He's 34.

34, right, wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

[Jon]

Oh, and the extension is apparently through 2009. He'll be at least 37 in the final year of the deal. That changes things quite a bit, although I don't know how much he pitched in Cuba.

[Outshined_One]

Of course, given the market, and his ability to eat some innings, it's not that bad. I'm not too familiar with their pitching prospects, though.

 

Brandon McCarthy is pretty much the extent of it at the moment. They have guys with potential down in the system, but no one who can immediately step in and help in the rotation.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

haha, what in the world is a post-season workhorse

[SouthSideRyan]

Wow.

[Mark Priors Calves]

If they think so highly of McCarthy why are the shutting him out of gettting a chance in the rotation? Then again, the magically health of the White Sox can't possible continue for another full season. McCarthy will more than likely see some starts this year.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Of course, given the market, and his ability to eat some innings, it's not that bad. I'm not too familiar with their pitching prospects, though.

 

Brandon McCarthy is pretty much the extent of it at the moment. They have guys with potential down in the system, but no one who can immediately step in and help in the rotation.

 

Though before the deal is up, many of their arms should be ready.

[Monco]

Thats alot of money for a guy who only pitched well for the last 3 months.They shoulda traded him instead.

[Wilson A2000]

I don't care what his age is though. As long as he is relatively healthy and has found some consistency the deal seems to be good. Kenny Williams had an extended interview on the SCORE today and he said that he wants McCarthy in the pen all season. I am not sure if he said this becaue he locked up Contreras or he wnated McCarthy there all along.

[CubinNY]

When Jose was with the Yankees he was afraid to throw a strike. He was a power pitcher who tried to nibble. Last year he changed his approach. We'll see if he reverts back to form.

 

---------------

 

Not to hijack the thread but Rusch was the same way (although he doesn't have the pitches of Jose), nibble, nibble, nibble. He became more successful when he started going after guys.

 

Last year Glavin stopped nibbling after the ASB and he was much more effective in the second half.

 

I hate nibblers.

[Wilson A2000]

Worked well for Maddux. But then again he was given a giant strike zone.

[CubinNY]

Worked well for Maddux. But then again he was given a giant strike zone.

 

Maddux never was nor has he ever been a nibbler. Maddux is a control pitcher who is able to out think a batter. Maddux is a rare breed of pitcher who never has high pitch counts, actually he the exact opposite of a nibbler.

[RationalSoxFan]

This really shocked me. I thought for sure Jose was gone at the end of the year. I'm still kind of confused about what Kenny wants to do with Brandon.

 

And to answer the question about the minor league pitching for the Sox, Outshined hit the nail on the head, beyond Brandon, not much. Trading Gio and Haigwood didn't exactly help.

[bc2k]

If they think so highly of McCarthy why are the shutting him out of gettting a chance in the rotation? Then again, the magically health of the White Sox can't possible continue for another full season. McCarthy will more than likely see some starts this year.

 

I agree. I think the Sox will see a handful of pitching injuries this season; some serious, some minor.

 

I'm of the belief that in a pennant race season, when many of a team's pitchers log a lot of stressful innings, the following season is when the damage will appear. Like Kerry and Prior after 2003's pennant race, and Sirotka, Eldred and a couple other Sox pitchers in 2001.

[srbin84]

This is a terrible move. A very bad contract and all of their starters are locked up which means McCarthy is locked out. What is Williams thinking?

[NorthsideAvenger]

This is a terrible move. A very bad contract and all of their starters are locked up which means McCarthy is locked out. What is Williams thinking?

 

Prolly something along the lines of "d'uh......"

[Jon]

This quote made me giggle:

 

"Considering we tried to aggressively get this done way back when we were trying to get Jon Garland [in December], even before then, so, yeah, it's been a long process,'' Williams said. "We had a number in mind. We had a term in mind. Basically, it was whether or not Jose and his agent were going to understand our position enough to come back at those numbers.''

[KaiserCesar]

The pen does need help and they harnessed Cotts' talent by putting him in there, but McCarthy has more upside than Cotts did as a starter. This only makes a ton of sense if they were planning on keeping McCarthy as a reliever for a few more years, which isn't a good idea IMO. All this for an old guy with only a small sample of success? This is a poor use of payroll unless you have an unlimited budget.

[Monco]

Being an extension does this go into effect in 07?

[Neuby]

I think this a bad deal for the Sox but if there able to trade Jose to a contender at the deadline because he's locked up long term it will be all worthwhile.