Alex Gonzalez (not the ex-Cub), Reds agree to 3-year deal.

[Rob]

Simple, DEFENSE.

 

Gonzalez isn't an above average defender.

 

I'm confused - this is the Red Sox Alex Gonzalez who should have won the gold glove right? And you don't think he is even above average??

 

The name and team are right... but that description doesn't fit him at all.

[oldcubsfan]

Simple, DEFENSE.

 

Gonzalez isn't an above average defender.

I can only assume you are trying to be funny.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Simple, DEFENSE.

 

Gonzalez isn't an above average defender.

I can only assume you are trying to be funny.

 

Nope. Look at BP or PMR (2005 only, but PBP based so much more accurate) for verification. I wish I had brought my copy of The Fielding Bible home, anyone know what it says about Gonzalez?

[CubsWin]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

[Cubzfan64]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

[CubsWin]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

And as far as him not being better than the other players available, if you sign Durham, you might not be able to afford the other players you need. And I'm not convinced that other 2B would be demonstrably better. There are arguments for and against and both are pretty strong.

[Cubzfan64]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

I guess it's all relative to me. Forgetting about any contract, I'd take DeRosa over A Gonzalez for the 2007 Cubs anyways - we need offense badly thought, and to tell you the truth I'm not particularily excited about seeing DeRosa be our starting 2B

[cl smooth]

with all these goofy contracts for subpar players, it feels like the late 90s/early 2000s all over again...unreal contracts for some, miniature american flags for others!

[Cubzfan64]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

And as far as him not being better than the other players available, if you sign Durham, you might not be able to afford the other players you need. And I'm not convinced that other 2B would be demonstrably better. There are arguments for and against and both are pretty strong.

 

I'll be curious to see what Mark Loretta ends up getting - with A Gonzalez gone, the Red Sox may keep him and play a rookie (Pedroia) at SS, but if they have to get Lugo for offensive reasons, I bet they let Loretta go - I would like to have seen him starting at 2B for us in 2007

[CubsWin]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

I guess it's all relative to me. Forgetting about any contract, I'd take DeRosa over A Gonzalez for the 2007 Cubs anyways - we need offense badly thought, and to tell you the truth I'm not particularily excited about seeing DeRosa be our starting 2B

Exciting he is not. But, Eric Patterson might be. DeRosa will only be the starter if he is the best secondbaseman on the roster. He might be that this year, but in '08, he might not. His ability to play other positions will allow him to be useful even if he is not the starting 2B. He also gives the Cubs the ability to platoon Jones and play 3B if Ramirez is injured.

 

Ronnie Belliard and DeRosa are both 31 and are very similar numbers wise except that Belliard doesn't have the experience at the other positions. Adam Kennedy is a year younger but has been battling injuries that last couple of years and his power numbers have suffered greatly because of it. Graffanino is 34 and doesn't have a lot of pop. Loretta and Aurilia are all on the wrong side of 35 and are likely looking for multi-year contracts.

 

Are some of those guys more proven than DeRosa? Yes. But over the next three seasons will they outproduce him? That's debatable.

[CubsWin]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

And as far as him not being better than the other players available, if you sign Durham, you might not be able to afford the other players you need. And I'm not convinced that other 2B would be demonstrably better. There are arguments for and against and both are pretty strong.

 

I'll be curious to see what Mark Loretta ends up getting - with A Gonzalez gone, the Red Sox may keep him and play a rookie (Pedroia) at SS, but if they have to get Lugo for offensive reasons, I bet they let Loretta go - I would like to have seen him starting at 2B for us in 2007

Oh yeah, Lugo, I forgot about him. How could I have forgotten about Lugo? He was on my wish list. Maybe its because I wanted him for SS. Anyway, I bet Lugo gets paid a whole bunch more than 3/14. We'll have to wait and see.

[Cubzfan64]

Wow.

 

Couple this contract with the one Durham is seeking (2/18 or 1/10) and Hendry's contract with DeRosa is looking better and better.

 

The contract is - I just wish DeRosa was :(

But they are inextricably combined. A 3 year, 14 million dollar contract in a vacuum is meaningless. It is only when you know who the player is that you can evaluate the value of the contract.

 

Since both Gonzalez and DeRosa got basically the same contract, then the question is who would you rather have on your team? For me, thats an easy one. DeRosa.

 

Therefore, Hendry's decision to sign him at the terms he did is looking better and better.

 

And as far as him not being better than the other players available, if you sign Durham, you might not be able to afford the other players you need. And I'm not convinced that other 2B would be demonstrably better. There are arguments for and against and both are pretty strong.

 

I'll be curious to see what Mark Loretta ends up getting - with A Gonzalez gone, the Red Sox may keep him and play a rookie (Pedroia) at SS, but if they have to get Lugo for offensive reasons, I bet they let Loretta go - I would like to have seen him starting at 2B for us in 2007

Oh yeah, Lugo, I forgot about him. How could I have forgotten about Lugo? He was on my wish list. Maybe its because I wanted him for SS. Anyway, I bet Lugo gets paid a whole bunch more than 3/14. We'll have to wait and see.

 

I see your points and I do think DeRosa has alot of value and usefulness as a utility player, I guess I just hope he isn't our starter is all. If you're correct and Loretta, Aurelia or Graffanino get more than 2 year contracts then outside of a trade, DeRosa is probably the best option.

 

As you said - guess we just have to wait and see

[rocket]

maybe they should have kept felipe lopez

[nilodnayr]

maybe they should have kept felipe lopez

 

are you kidding? marginal relievers were the key to them winning the division and...ohh wait.

[NCCubFan]

Simple, DEFENSE.

 

Gonzalez isn't an above average defender.

 

I'm confused - this is the Red Sox Alex Gonzalez who should have won the gold glove right? And you don't think he is even above average??

 

Yes, the Red Sox Alex Gonzalez, formerly of the Marlins.

The former Cub Alex Gonzalez retired this past season.

[DiamondMind]

To all the people griping about DeRosa's deal relative to the current market: I TOLD YOU SO

[10man]

Because of this thread, I learned that our old alex gonzalez had a .269 OPS last season. nice.

isn't our old Alex Gonz on the way to retirement or something?

 

EDIT: oops i see that NCC already said that he did.

Edited November 19, 2006 by 10man

[UK1679666180]

Gonzalez can still pick it and Cincy can afford a dead spot in the order more than a team like the Cubs can right now. His back has to be a concern as his range declined as the year went on and he did have some personal problems. They likely wanted to improve defensively over Aurilia, if I was looking to look improve defensively, I would've gone for Counsell instead.

[abuck1220]

To all the people griping about DeRosa's deal relative to the current market: I TOLD YOU SO

 

just b/c that's the market, it doesn't mean you're forced to pay it. if that's the market for crappy middle infielders, you just don't buy one.

[Mark Priors Calves]

To all the people griping about DeRosa's deal relative to the current market: I TOLD YOU SO

 

Hendry helps set the market by signing guys to these contracts. He did the same thing last year with relievers.

[Uber]

To all the people griping about DeRosa's deal relative to the current market: I TOLD YOU SO

 

Hendry helps set the market by signing guys to these contracts. He did the same thing last year with relievers.

 

Is it necessarily a bad thing to make other teams with less payroll pay up for lesser FAs? I understand when it comes to trading, maybe - but it certainly makes the competition for Fons/Drew/Lugo thinner.

[Uber]

Full contract details:

 

Alex Gonzalez is guaranteed $14 million in his three-year deal with the Reds. The mutual option for 2010 is worth $6 million.

Gonzalez gets $3.5 million next year, $4,625,000 in 2008 and $5,375,000 n the third year. If he wins the Gold Glove in either of the first two years, the third-year salary increases to $5.5 million. The mutual option contains a $500,000 buyout.

 

That's one nasty contract.

[ConstableRabbit]

To all the people griping about DeRosa's deal relative to the current market: I TOLD YOU SO

 

Hendry helps set the market by signing guys to these contracts. He did the same thing last year with relievers.

 

Maybe if DeRosa and Gonzalez were the same player or if Gonzalez was a better player than DeRosa that would make more sense. However, we signed a much better player for a cheaper contract.

 

It's not like Gonzalez's agent said "Hey, DeRosa got 3/$13 and my client is a much better player so he deserves more."

 

Or maybe he did and the Reds are even dumber than I thought...