Fox Sports: Ramirez SIGNS WITH CUBS!

[Irrelevant Dude]

Bruce Levine is reporting on ESPN 1000 that Aramis Ramirez has opted out of his contract and filed for free agency. No further details at this time, but I'd say he's as good as gone...

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

This is not good.

[cubweiser03]

He has to do this for leverage. I think its just a formality. No way is it a sign that its over.

[CubinNY]

Mike Lowell here we come!

 

:cry:

 

Please find a way to get A-Rod, please.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

No, but it's a sign that he will not sign an extension before hearing other offers. We'll have to outbid the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Angels to keep him.

[Bruce Miles]

This is a formality. All eligible players file to protect themselves. In and of itself, it means nothing. Remember, that the Cubs are the only team that can sign him for the next couple of weeks.

[TheDude]

He has to do this for leverage. I think its just a formality. No way is it a sign that its over.

 

Actually I think it means the Cubs 'exclusive window' just closed, for the most part.

[rawaction]

This is not a surprise at all. This is what many on this board said would happen 2 years ago when he signed that contract.

 

Edit: and this is not a bad thing. It only becomes bad if he's not signed 2 weeks from today.

Edited October 30, 2006 by rawaction

[frostwyrm]

Looks like Aramis wants full market value.

[rjchapma]

Is this completely true? If so Im not liking our chances for a-rod! who else is there at 3B?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mark Derosa. :puker:

[Soul]

This is a formality. All eligible players file to protect themselves. In and of itself, it means nothing. Remember, that the Cubs are the only team that can sign him for the next couple of weeks.

 

So would you say after two weeks go by if nothing is done it's alright to panic? Because this still feels "panicky" to me, despite it being a formality.

 

It's too bad we couldn't have done some sort of deal before the end of the season to avoid it coming down to this. But, alas, it doesn't always work out seamlessly like we would want.

[Brian]

sigh.

[CubinNY]

This is a formality. All eligible players file to protect themselves. In and of itself, it means nothing. Remember, that the Cubs are the only team that can sign him for the next couple of weeks.

 

Bruce, I understand what you are saying. However, at the same time I can't help but wonder why?

 

If Aramis wants to stay in Chicago

If Hendry wants Aramis to stay in Chicago

Then, shouldn't they have worked out the parameters of a contract before this?

 

I mean, holy crist, he's only been the most productive Cub player for the last three years (combined).

 

What is the problem? He's 28, he's arguably one the best players at his position in MLB, and he's publically stated he wants to be in Chicago.

 

I can't help but panic.

[frostwyrm]

I'm guessing Dodgers or Angels. They both won lots of games in 2006 and have sunny warm weather to play in. The Cubs have ivy in the outfield.

[TheDude]

This is a formality. All eligible players file to protect themselves. In and of itself, it means nothing. Remember, that the Cubs are the only team that can sign him for the next couple of weeks.

 

Bruce, I understand what you are saying. However, at the same time I can't help but wonder why?

 

If Aramis wants to stay in Chicago

If Hendry wants Aramis to stay in Chicago

Then, shouldn't they have worked out the parameters of a contract before this?

 

I mean, holy crist, he's only been the most productive Cub player for the last three years (combined).

 

What is the problem? He's 28, he's arguably one the best players at his position in MLB, and he's publically stated he wants to be in Chicago.

 

I can't help but panic.

 

I bolded the part I question. Aramis may have stated such as a matter of public face. I have to believe the bulk of this issue falls on his shoulders, and not the organization.

[CuseCubFan69]

It was a great bargining tool for the Cubs to proclaim that they are going to spend a lot during the off season to win. I'm sure Ramirez never heard that rumor. I think shouting this out for the world to hear wasn't the smartest thing they could have done and by going the free agent route is a smart move by Tessio, he was always smarter.....I mean Ramirez.

[frostwyrm]

It was a great bargining tool for the Cubs to proclaim that they are going to spend a lot during the off season to win. I'm sure Ramirez never heard that rumor. I think shouting this out for the world to hear wasn't the smartest thing they could have done and by going the free agent route is a smart move by Tessio, he was always smarter.....I mean Ramirez.

 

So Derrek Lee is Clemenza?

[TheDude]

It was a great bargining tool for the Cubs to proclaim that they are going to spend a lot during the off season to win. I'm sure Ramirez never heard that rumor. I think shouting this out for the world to hear wasn't the smartest thing they could have done and by going the free agent route is a smart move by Tessio, he was always smarter.....I mean Ramirez.

 

How else does an organization demonstrate to a player they want to win? The organization hires a manager with a WS ring and publicly states they want to win and they will go after players that can help them win.

 

I don't see how this 'wasn't the smartest thing'.

[OBPMatters]

This is a formality. All eligible players file to protect themselves. In and of itself, it means nothing. Remember, that the Cubs are the only team that can sign him for the next couple of weeks.

 

Bruce, I understand what you are saying. However, at the same time I can't help but wonder why?

 

If Aramis wants to stay in Chicago

If Hendry wants Aramis to stay in Chicago

Then, shouldn't they have worked out the parameters of a contract before this?

 

I mean, holy crist, he's only been the most productive Cub player for the last three years (combined).

 

What is the problem? He's 28, he's arguably one the best players at his position in MLB, and he's publically stated he wants to be in Chicago.

 

I can't help but panic.

 

I bolded the part I question. Aramis may have stated such as a matter of public face. I have to believe the bulk of this issue falls on his shoulders, and not the organization.

 

Is he really going to come out and say he doesn't want to be here?

[TheDude]

Is he really going to come out and say he doesn't want to be here?

 

That was my point.

[CuseCubFan69]

It was a great bargining tool for the Cubs to proclaim that they are going to spend a lot during the off season to win. I'm sure Ramirez never heard that rumor. I think shouting this out for the world to hear wasn't the smartest thing they could have done and by going the free agent route is a smart move by Tessio, he was always smarter.....I mean Ramirez.

 

How else does an organization demonstrate to a player they want to win? The organization hires a manager with a WS ring and publicly states they want to win and they will go after players that can help them win.

 

I don't see how this 'wasn't the smartest thing'.

 

By action not words. They can talk all they want but I want action and blabbing that they'll spend mega bucks this off season isn't the route I would have gone when I'm nogotiating with a guy that will be a free agent soon. Yeah, it's fine to hire good people and state they are out there to win but weren't they suppose to be doing that all along? I just think it cost them an extra 1 to 3 million a year with Ramirez but that's my opinion.

[frostwyrm]

It was a great bargining tool for the Cubs to proclaim that they are going to spend a lot during the off season to win. I'm sure Ramirez never heard that rumor. I think shouting this out for the world to hear wasn't the smartest thing they could have done and by going the free agent route is a smart move by Tessio, he was always smarter.....I mean Ramirez.

 

How else does an organization demonstrate to a player they want to win? The organization hires a manager with a WS ring and publicly states they want to win and they will go after players that can help them win.

 

I don't see how this 'wasn't the smartest thing'.

 

If you state you have lots of $$ to spend and want to win now it lets someone in Aram's position know that he doesn't have to take a penny less than full market value in an extension contract.

[rawaction]

If you were hired for your job 2 years ago, had the ability to re-negotiate your pay, and knew there were several other companies with a need for your specific position, wouldn't you want to see what the other companies are willing to pay for your position before agreeing to take a salary from your current employer?

 

What's the point of the opt-out clause if Ramirez wasn't gonna use it?

[Soul]

I don't think "love of Chicago" is enough to keep a good player around if the money's better elsewhere and the teams are playoff contenders.

 

That's just my HO.