Gagne Close to Signing 1-year Deal w/ Rangers

[E.J.]

Ken Rosenthal[/url]"]

One day after reportedly making an offer to left-hander Barry Zito, the Rangers are close to signing another Scott Boras client, free-agent closer Eric Gagne, to a one-year contract, FOXSports.com has learned.

 

The deal, which likely is pending a physical, would include significant appearance incentives; Boras had been seeking a $6 million base salary plus $5 million in bonuses for a possible total of $11 million, major-league sources said.

 

Gagne, who turns 31 on Jan. 7, has pitched in only 16 games the past two seasons while undergoing two elbow operations and back surgery. He is expected to be ready by spring training.

[Mephistopheles]

Good, maybe we can certainly trade off some our excess bullpen to Boston.

[Backtobanks]

Ken Rosenthal[/url]"]

One day after reportedly making an offer to left-hander Barry Zito, the Rangers are close to signing another Scott Boras client, free-agent closer Eric Gagne, to a one-year contract, FOXSports.com has learned.

 

The deal, which likely is pending a physical, would include significant appearance incentives; Boras had been seeking a $6 million base salary plus $5 million in bonuses for a possible total of $11 million, major-league sources said.

Gagne, who turns 31 on Jan. 7, has pitched in only 16 games the past two seasons while undergoing two elbow operations and back surgery. He is expected to be ready by spring training.

 

That's a whole lotta money for a guy coming back after 2 years of injuries.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Looks like the deal is done.

 

Link.

 

 

 

The Rangers have agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with reliever Eric Gagne. The agreement is pending a physical but the Rangers have already checked out his medical reports and are satisfied that he is healthy again.

[craig]

Good, maybe we can certainly trade off some our excess bullpen to Boston.

 

kc, you've probably touched on this before. But my reading isn't thorough on these boards, normally.

 

I'm not sure I follow you on this, and would be curious to see what you're thinking.

 

I don't see any RH reliever surplus. Wuertz and Howry are value guys. Can't trade either one, because to go with only one good RH reliever is too few. Wood and Dempster are wildcards,might be useful but can't count on that. And Novoa is DL-insurance to park at Iowa. Neither Dempster nor Novoa has enough trade value to make it worth discussing.

 

LH relievers, obviously we've got three where only two are needed. So, if there's an excess, that's the place. Hendry won't trade Eyre, even if you or I might consider doing exactly that.

 

So, if there's an "excess", IMO, it's basically that you could afford to trade one of Ohman or Cotts. We know that Cotts has Aardsma-type trade value, meaningful but not great. Ohman, of course, has a lot more.

 

Do you see us having more "excess" than I do?

 

Could change later, for sure. Wood, Dempster, perhaps even Miller or Marmol might look like they can fill important roles in relief.

 

But for now, the only "excess" I see is having two guys for the 2nd lefty spot.

[goonys evil twin]

Wood and Dempster are wildcards,might be useful but can't count on that.

 

I disagree. Dempster is going to be useful, it's a matter of how much. And I think Wood is a pretty strong bet to be useful out of the pen. I wouldn't count on him as my best bullpen guy, but his questionable status wouldn't keep me trading other relievers.

[davearm]

Good, maybe we can certainly trade off some our excess bullpen to Boston.

 

kc, you've probably touched on this before. But my reading isn't thorough on these boards, normally.

 

I'm not sure I follow you on this, and would be curious to see what you're thinking.

 

I don't see any RH reliever surplus. Wuertz and Howry are value guys. Can't trade either one, because to go with only one good RH reliever is too few. Wood and Dempster are wildcards,might be useful but can't count on that. And Novoa is DL-insurance to park at Iowa. Neither Dempster nor Novoa has enough trade value to make it worth discussing.

 

LH relievers, obviously we've got three where only two are needed. So, if there's an excess, that's the place. Hendry won't trade Eyre, even if you or I might consider doing exactly that.

 

So, if there's an "excess", IMO, it's basically that you could afford to trade one of Ohman or Cotts. We know that Cotts has Aardsma-type trade value, meaningful but not great. Ohman, of course, has a lot more.

 

Do you see us having more "excess" than I do?

 

Could change later, for sure. Wood, Dempster, perhaps even Miller or Marmol might look like they can fill important roles in relief.

 

But for now, the only "excess" I see is having two guys for the 2nd lefty spot.

There's plenty of surplus. Viable opening-day BP candidates include:

 

Eyre

Cotts

Ohman

Rapada

----------

Howry

Wuertz

Wood

Dempster

Novoa

Mateo

Guzman

Marmol

... plus Wade Miller, if Prior and the other 4 starters are good to go

 

I count 12 or 13 bodies for 6 or 7 slots.

[soccer10k]

I can't believe Gagne is getting $6M a year.

[goonys evil twin]

I can't believe Gagne is getting $6M a year.

 

It's only one year though, right? He's a guy who, at his best, is almost without peer. He had an ERA+ of 335 in 2003, that's nutty good. It would be similar to giving a guy like Bonds a 1 year deal for $16m. Obviously the potential greatness is far more valuable out of a position player, but I don't think 1/6 is absurd for a big money team that needs bullpen help, it's high risk high reward, but the risk isn't that high, since it's short-term.

[Balsa]

I'm just not sure I understand this. What was wrong with Otsuka?

[goonys evil twin]

I'm just not sure I understand this. What was wrong with Otsuka?

 

Did they get rid of him?

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm just not sure I understand this. What was wrong with Otsuka?

 

Did they get rid of him?

He's still there. It was mentioned they could use Otsuka for trade bait to try and shore up the starting pitching.

[Derwood]

time to change the thread title

[Balsa]

I'm just not sure I understand this. What was wrong with Otsuka?

 

Did they get rid of him?

He's still there. It was mentioned they could use Otsuka for trade bait to try and shore up the starting pitching.

Seems kinda like a bad idea, trading a certainty and hoping that someone else stays healthy who's had some very nasty injuries.