Matt Capps Released, Signs With Nationals

[jersey cubs fan]

It would be so apropos if the Cubs decided to outbid the Nationals for a set-up man because they weren't able to offer him the closer's role.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm fine with Capps honestly. But not BOTH Capps and Grabow. Assuming Capps gets 4 per year or so, that's 7.5 mill shelled out for relievers. Which seems to me would have been much better spent on Hudson anyway.

 

Capps fits us much better than Grabow though, if Marmol struggles at closer, he's a solid guy to have as a backup.

 

Either one + whatever garbage we run out in CF could probably have netted us Cameron.

[davell]

I'm fine with Capps honestly. But not BOTH Capps and Grabow. Assuming Capps gets 4 per year or so, that's 7.5 mill shelled out for relievers. Which seems to me would have been much better spent on Hudson anyway.

 

Capps fits us much better than Grabow though, if Marmol struggles at closer, he's a solid guy to have as a backup.

 

Either one + whatever garbage we run out in CF could probably have netted us Cameron.

 

Hell, I figure if we sign Byrd, that alone would have been enough to get Cameron most likely, as far as money goes......My honest guess is that Cameron wanted to be in Boston, figuring he had a better shot at winning than he would have here.

[MWV]

Apparently, Grabow has been lobbying Capps to join the Cubs:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091222&content_id=7842634&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

"Grabow signed a two-year contract on Nov. 20 with the Cubs and gave Capps a little inside information."

 

I assume that information was something to the effect of "Hey Matt, check out this absurd contract these guys gave me on Nov. 20! Seriously man, you've gotta get in on this!"

[UMFan83]

Apparently, Grabow has been lobbying Capps to join the Cubs:

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091222&content_id=7842634&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

"Grabow signed a two-year contract on Nov. 20 with the Cubs and gave Capps a little inside information."

 

I assume that information was something to the effect of "Hey Matt, check out this absurd contract these guys gave me on Nov. 20! Seriously man, you've gotta get in on this!"

 

Capps: Yeah but Grabs, you showed me a copy of that contract. It was addressed to "1 (ONE) CRAPPY JOURNEYMAN LEFT HANDED RELIEVER". First of all, I'm righty, and I dunno I've had some good years, I don't think it will fly.

 

Grabow: No no no don't worry I got ya, hang on (goes to the other room, pulls out a heavyset man who appears unkempt and sweating profusely) Jim, come here, don't be scared.

 

JH: H-H-ey Mr. Capps, how are you? Would you like to play for our club? I will sign you for a year at 1.5 million.

 

Capps: Nice to meet you Jim. I don't know I -

 

JH: 3 million

 

Capps: -have to ta-

 

JH: 4 million

 

Capps: -lk to my a-

 

JH: 6 million

 

Capps: -gent first.

 

JH: 6 YEARS $60MILLION, A NO TRADE CLAUSE, A LUXURY SUITE FOR EVERY HOME GAME, AND A 7TH YEAR PLAYER OPTION FOR $15 MILLION

 

(dead silence)

 

Capps: .......

 

Grabow: .......

 

JH: ........

 

Grabow (to Capps): I told you this guy was awesome.

[Shilzzz]

i laughed. best part was imagining a shy, sweaty hendry appearing like a huntchback from a dark corner of a dimly lit room

[UMFan83]

i laughed. best part was imagining a shy, sweaty hendry appearing like a huntchback from a dark corner of a dimly lit room

 

Thats exactly what I was going for

[Jake]

I like the move if it happens...this makes our bullpen pretty good. I just hope Hendry doesn't overpay like he has in the past.

 

This is why he was non-tendered. Capps' people figured someone would, and he's right.

 

Neal Huntington wouldn't overpay. Offering Arbitration is a guarantee of overpaying.

 

The Pirates & Capps were still talking early this week, although there is no optimism.

[CUBZ99]

I like the move if it happens...this makes our bullpen pretty good. I just hope Hendry doesn't overpay like he has in the past.

 

This is why he was non-tendered. Capps' people figured someone would, and he's right.

 

Neal Huntington wouldn't overpay. Offering Arbitration is a guarantee of overpaying.

 

The Pirates & Capps were still talking early this week, although there is no optimism.

 

The media reports state that $5.5MM of the money saved from the Bradley trade could be used this year, so I don't see how Hendry would be able to grossly overpay Capps. Especially considering the Cubs haven't filled their hole in CF yet.

[JeffH]

I like the move if it happens...this makes our bullpen pretty good. I just hope Hendry doesn't overpay like he has in the past.

 

This is why he was non-tendered. Capps' people figured someone would, and he's right.

 

Neal Huntington wouldn't overpay. Offering Arbitration is a guarantee of overpaying.

 

The Pirates & Capps were still talking early this week, although there is no optimism.

 

The media reports state that $5.5MM of the money saved from the Bradley trade could be used this year, so I don't see how Hendry would be able to grossly overpay Capps. Especially considering the Cubs haven't filled their hole in CF yet.

 

This seems peculiar, since only $5.0MM was saved.

[Guest]

There has been a lot of fuzzy math with this Milton trade, and I'd love for someone to actually break it down to its correct formula.

 

The Cubs owed Bradley 21m. Silva was owed 24m, plus a 1m buyout in the 3rd year, IIRC. I believe I heard that Seattle is paying 9m over 2 years to offset the contracts somehow.

 

So, the Cubs picked up 4m in salary by just the trades alone. Seattle paying 9m towards Silva's contract then makes it a 5m cost savings for the Cubs, by my book.

 

I don't know if that's right, but that's what I've got. Someone help me.

[Wrigley Rat]

Here's my best attempt at it:

 

- Carlos Silva makes $11.5M in 2010, $11.5M in 2011, and has a $12M mutual option with a $2M buyout in 2012.

- Milton Bradley makes $9M in 2010 and $12M in 2011.

 

In 2010, we are paying $2.5M more than before the trade.

In 2011, we are paying $.5M less than before the trade.

In 2012, we are paying $2M more than before the trade.

 

With Seattle giving us $5.5M in 2010 and $3.5M in 2011, here is the annual savings:

- In 2010, we will save $3M overall.

- In 2011, we will save $4M overall.

- Before the 2012 season, we will pay $2M more than before.

 

Total savings: $5M.

[davearm2]

There has been a lot of fuzzy math with this Milton trade, and I'd love for someone to actually break it down to its correct formula.

 

The Cubs owed Bradley 21m. Silva was owed 24m, plus a 1m buyout in the 3rd year, IIRC. I believe I heard that Seattle is paying 9m over 2 years to offset the contracts somehow.

 

So, the Cubs picked up 4m in salary by just the trades alone. Seattle paying 9m towards Silva's contract then makes it a 5m cost savings for the Cubs, by my book.

 

I don't know if that's right, but that's what I've got. Someone help me.

That's my understanding of the situation too.

 

The other component is the timing of the $9M coming from Seattle. According to Wittenmyer, $5.5M will be paid in 2010, and $3.5M in 2011.

 

If that's correct then the Cubs get $3M in payroll relief in 2010 (9.0 on Bradley + 5.5 from M's - 11.5 to Silva), and $2M (12.0+3.5-11.5-2.0 buyout) in 2011.

[Guest]

Here's my best attempt at it:

 

- Carlos Silva makes $11.5M in 2010, $11.5M in 2011, and has a $12M mutual option with a $2M buyout in 2012.

- Milton Bradley makes $9M in 2010 and $12M in 2011.

 

In 2010, we are paying $2.5M more than before the trade.

In 2011, we are paying $.5M less than before the trade.

In 2012, we are paying $2M more than before the trade.

 

With Seattle giving us $5.5M in 2010 and $3.5M in 2011, here is the annual savings:

- In 2010, we will save $3M overall.

- In 2011, we will save $4M overall.

- Before the 2012 season, we will pay $2M more than before.

 

Total savings: $5M.

 

Nicely done. I screwed mine up with writing a 1m buyout, but yours breaks it down pretty nicely. So, Hendry can basically add 3m to whatever he had left to spend this offseason.

[CUBZ99]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/121409-Latest-MLB-buzz

 

Rosenthal thinks Capps is headed to Washington.

[Derwood]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

[apete6]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

And they offered Teixiera like $160 to $180 million last year. It would be cool for them to be good someday.

[inari]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

Is it? They're spending a lot of money on players that offer no help to a team like them.

[fromthestretch]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

Is it? They're spending a lot of money on players that offer no help to a team like them.

 

Considering their young pitching staff and how taxed their bullpen will be, Marquis is a decent addition for them. He can give them 190-200 innings of league average production. If Matt Capps can get back to his 2006-2008 level of production, they have a solid addition to the bullpen. If you're a team scraping for wins, it's nice to have someone in the 'pen that can save the few leads you get. Furthermore, none of these contracts are going to hurt them for several years, as they're all fairly short-term deals. Signing Hudson wouldn't be a bad move either (depending on years and dollars, of course), as you'd like to have a solid defense behind a young pitching staff.

[RedFlash]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/121409-Latest-MLB-buzz

 

Rosenthal thinks Capps is headed to Washington.

 

I hope he's right, but I really don't trust Rosenthal's word.

[Sever82]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/121409-Latest-MLB-buzz

 

Rosenthal thinks Capps is headed to Washington.

 

I hope he's right, but I really don't trust Rosenthal's word.

 

I hope so too, i'm not to excited about acquiring Capps. If he's cheap, i'm fine with that but with the way Hendry works, i'm pretty sure he'll overpay.

[Jake]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

Washington is a small market? In what universe ?

[Clem Fandango]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

Washington is a small market? In what universe ?

 

I don't consider them a large market simply because no one really gives a crap about them. Kind of like the Pirates ;)

[Derwood]

Washington has made offers to a lot of guys this winter (linked to Smoltz, Capps, Orlando Hudson, etc.). Nice to see them not just sit back and use the small market excuse

 

Washington is a small market? In what universe ?

 

I meant lower end payroll

[Wrigley Rat]

Buster Olney reports that the Washington Nationals are finalizing terms of a deal, but Capps' agent says, no.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4768894