Fox Sports: Ramirez SIGNS WITH CUBS!

[Soriano12]

Rumors are flying, the Cubs could be sold any day.

 

Who's to say a new owner won't put a freeze on payroll?

 

The Fat Slob needs to just get this done now...whatever the cost.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's Sullivan's take on it.

 

General manager Jim Hendry still is working on a way to keep Aramis Ramirez in a Cubs uniform through 2011, but time is running out for Ramirez to accept a deal that figures to be worth around $75 million, or $10 million more than the five-year contract Derrek Lee received last April.

 

Saturday is the final day the Cubs have exclusive negotiating rights before the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers lead a group of potential suitors for the free-agent third baseman. Because it's unlikely the Cubs will get into a bidding war, Ramirez probably will get a take-it-or-leave-it offer by Saturday night. Hendry, who is in Arizona at the organizational meetings, was unavailable for comment.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

Though I'm not comfortable with how long this is taking, let's dial down the stress factor a bit. Why wouldn't Ramirez make the Cubs sweat by haggling over the contract up until the deadline?

 

Furthermore, if talks are worsening and the sides appear to be distancing themselves, that info would have been leaked already. This is the same team that held an exhibit of Sammy leaving on the last day of '04 to lend credence to their imminent priority of shipping Sosa out. It's hard to imagine the Cubs keeping quiet if they feel Ramirez' contract demands are outrageous, etc.

 

I'd say the more troubling thing is Ramirez' agent staying relatively mum. Usually the agent would be more prone to make public his player's love for the team to further pressure management so as to not upset the fans.

 

Ah, screw it. Speculation's more fun.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Sun-Times article for today doesn't make it seem as if this will end soon.

 

Link.

 

Could the Ramirez situation stretch until the winter meetings, when there is sure to be a feeding frenzy?

 

''It could,'' Kinzer said, ''but I doubt it.''

 

[Balsa]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

[C.C.]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

 

I'm not. The deal will get done on Saturday. I have no doubt.

[USSoccer]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

 

Ditto. The lack of news on this makes me really nervous.

[TheDude]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

 

Ditto. The lack of news on this makes me really nervous.

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

[USSoccer]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

 

Ditto. The lack of news on this makes me really nervous.

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

 

That's ridiculous. If Hendry can't multitask (which he's shown no ability to do in the past) he shouldn't be a GM. There's payroll enough to retain Ramirez at market value and sign other players, so one shouldn't have anything to do with the other.

 

Also, if Hendry is stupid enough to let ARam get to the open market because he wants to wait til organizational meetings, he's going to get himself fired, because we will not win a bidding war with Anaheim or LA.

[CubFanPhilly]

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

 

Organizational meetings are going on right now. If the deal doesn't happen by Saturday, Ramirez is free to negotiate with other teams AND a resigning counts against the Cubs' quota of A/B signings.

 

If ARAM isn't signed by Saturday night, there's little chance he will be signed IMO.

[UBlink]

Also, if Hendry is stupid enough to let ARam get to the open market because he wants to wait til organizational meetings, he's going to get himself fired, because we will not win a bidding war with Anaheim or LA.

 

If we can't win a bidding war to keep ARam then we don't deserve him.

[TheDude]

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

 

Organizational meetings are going on right now. If the deal doesn't happen by Saturday, Ramirez is free to negotiate with other teams AND a resigning counts against the Cubs' quota of A/B signings.

 

If ARAM isn't signed by Saturday night, there's little chance he will be signed IMO.

 

If organizational meetings are going on now, then I meant the GMs meeting in Naples.

 

I don't think anybody really anticipated the Cubs signing ramirez within the exclusive window. The guy opted out for a reason - he wants to hear offers.

 

Ramirez's agent even had a comment about this dragging on to the winter meetings in the Sun-Times today.

[Mark_R]

I still haven't seen anyone's perspective on a threshold for Aramis' money. At what point do you concede that he's too much per season?

[TheDude]

Okay, now I'm nervous.

 

Ditto. The lack of news on this makes me really nervous.

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

 

That's ridiculous. If Hendry can't multitask (which he's shown no ability to do in the past) he shouldn't be a GM. There's payroll enough to retain Ramirez at market value and sign other players, so one shouldn't have anything to do with the other.

 

Also, if Hendry is stupid enough to let ARam get to the open market because he wants to wait til organizational meetings, he's going to get himself fired, because we will not win a bidding war with Anaheim or LA.

 

Once again, you put the whole ordeal on Hendry. There is little doubt in my mind Hendry is working both situations. You'd be a fool to think otherwise.

 

Ramirez wants to test the free agent market. That's why he demanded an out clause in the first place, and that's why he excersied it. This situation is not going to be resolved by saturday - and that's on Ramirez, not Hendry.

[TheDude]

I still haven't seen anyone's perspective on a threshold for Aramis' money. At what point do you concede that he's too much per season?

 

That's a very good question. His production is outstanding, but he also has three consecutive years of declining OPS. Folks around here love trends and splits, so it has to at least be acknowledged.

 

The trouble is, there is no other replacement on the market, even at the lowest of those three years OPS.

[USSoccer]

I still haven't seen anyone's perspective on a threshold for Aramis' money. At what point do you concede that he's too much per season?

 

To me, I'd go as high as 5yr/$80-85m

[CubFanPhilly]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

[goonys evil twin]

 

It's likely the Matsuzaka saga is delaying the Ramirez signing, if any. That's another big money investment. Naturally fans want both guys, but I'm sure Hendry wants to see who won the bid before commiting money anywhere.

 

I've also read that serious talks won't take place until next week, when the organizational meetings take place.

 

Organizational meetings are going on right now. If the deal doesn't happen by Saturday, Ramirez is free to negotiate with other teams AND a resigning counts against the Cubs' quota of A/B signings.

 

If ARAM isn't signed by Saturday night, there's little chance he will be signed IMO.

 

If organizational meetings are going on now, then I meant the GMs meeting in Naples.

 

I don't think anybody really anticipated the Cubs signing ramirez within the exclusive window. The guy opted out for a reason - he wants to hear offers.

 

Ramirez's agent even had a comment about this dragging on to the winter meetings in the Sun-Times today.

 

And the comment was that he doubts it would happen.

[CubFanPhilly]

I still haven't seen anyone's perspective on a threshold for Aramis' money. At what point do you concede that he's too much per season?

 

6/92 is the highest I'd go assuming:

 

1) No NTC (or only a very limited clause); and

2) the sixth year is an option that doesn't vest if he's injured any significant time during the first five years.

 

14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16 (4 mil. buyout on the last year - vests with an avg. of 500 PAs)

[UBlink]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

 

What leverage does he have now?

[E.J.]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

 

What leverage does he have now?

 

Well, if they were to get in a wrestling match Hendry is shorter and fatter than Ramirez, so he'd probably have the leverage. That's the only scenario I see where Hendry has leverage.

[CubFanPhilly]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

 

What leverage does he have now?

 

The only leverage Hendry has is the threat that he'll withdraw his offer. I'll admit, it's weak leverage considering Hendry's position, but you can't let the negotiations go on forever while other potential candidates are signed by other teams.

 

After Saturday Ramirez becomes an auction process.

[UBlink]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

 

What leverage does he have now?

 

The only leverage Hendry has is the threat that he'll withdraw his offer. I'll admit, it's weak leverage considering Hendry's position, but you can't let the negotiations go on forever while other potential candidates are signed by other teams.

 

After Saturday Ramirez becomes an auction process.

 

Well, if you were Aram's agent, what would you advise him to do?

[E.J.]

I think Hendry has to make his last-best offer by Saturday and move on if Ramirez doesn't bite. If he doesn't he loses all leverage in negotiations.

 

What leverage does he have now?

 

The only leverage Hendry has is the threat that he'll withdraw his offer. I'll admit, it's weak leverage considering Hendry's position, but you can't let the negotiations go on forever while other potential candidates are signed by other teams.

 

After Saturday Ramirez becomes an auction process.

 

Well, if you were Aram's agent, what would you advise him to do?

 

I think it depends on if Aram really does want to stay with the Cubs or not. If he does, then he signs before Saturday. If he's looking for the most money possible, then he waits and see what other teams offer. I think Saturday is the last day Hendry offers a contract to Aram. I really do feel that if he's not signed by Saturday, he's no longer going to be a Cub. :x

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd feel comfortable offering Ramirez a 6/93 deal with limited no-trade protection. I'd offer him full no trade proteaction in the first three years and then let him pick a list of six teams he cannot be traded to in the last three years.