Yooooooooooooennis Cespedes: To Oakland pg 44

[Old Style]

Wow

[Guest]

Kind of wondering what a portion of the board thinks now that Cespedes is off the boards. Quite a few people said that they didn't mind missing out on either Pujols or Fielder as long as we signed the Cubans. One Cuban is now off the board.

 

If we actually end up signing Soler, I'm fine with it.

[pitchcs]

We couldn't beat that?

 

Cubs absolutely could. This most likely means that the brain trust didn't think he was worth that kind of money.

 

I consider this the first Theo fail. Now I'm rooting for Cespedes to suck so I can still believe in everything Theo does.

 

Considering this to be a "fail" would be remarkably premature.

 

 

Yeah, I don't get it. I mean, there were 15 other GM's or so that could have used an OF who decided to pass as well. What's to say Beane didn't see some small value on the baseball side and also a chance to help revitalize a dormant fan base? I mean 36M isn't bad if he doesn't end up being great (it's smaller that Fukudome's and Cespedes will probably outperform him). But at the same time, GM's aren't just gonna cough up 9M per just to add a player for the sake of adding one.

 

I can't really say whether I like the Cubs passing or not, mostly because I'm still so skeptical on Cespedes abilities, but I will say that I still trust the brain trust to make the right decisions for this team at this point in time. And they obviously didn't think Cespedes was right at that price.

Edited February 13, 2012 by pitchcs

[RynoRules]

These Cubans?

[Omar]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

[Old Style]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

Or maybe Theo & Jed aren't sold on this guy. Ever think that may be the reason we didn't sign him?

[Guest]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

 

We can beat it.

 

Now reevaluate your question.

[pitchcs]

These Cubans?

 

They will be too tight.

[Guest]

Kevin Goldstein @Kevin_Goldstein Reply Retweet Favorite · Open

Cespedes is expected to be in Phoenix for physical in 1-2 weeks. Has already cleared age/identity investigation and been drug tested.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

The $9 million AAV and granting him free agency as a 30-year old--presumably right when he'd be in his prime and looking for a big pay day--makes me alright with the Cubs not signing him to a comparable deal. That's a lot of risk for both sides. I would've loved him a 6 year deal for $30 million because (1) it's not a lot of money, either in AAV or total; (2) if he panned out, we'd reap the benefits of his prime age 28-32 seasons; and (3) if he didn't pan out, he'd be cheap enough to move.

 

A 4-year deal at $9 million per makes it much more difficult for the As to trade him if it appears by year 2 or year 3 that he isn't going to be the .780 OPSish center-fielder that scouts were hoping for.

[Cubswin11]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

The 4 years are the huge part. He get's to become a FA at his age 30 season, I am sure Theo/Jed wanted him to sign for 6 or 7, since it seems he will need at least part of a season in the minors (if Cuban league ball is really about the equivalent of A Ball +/- He might not even be all that ready to play this year) so you might only have him on your ML roster for 3 years.

 

Personally I am happy we didn't sign him, never wanted him. He's a 26 year old whose had success in a A ball equivalent league who probably wouldn't be in his prime or even on the team when we are really ready to contend annually (if he only wanted a 3-4 year deal). Just do whatever it takes now to get Soler and I'll be pretty happy with our offseason.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Cubswin11

[SouthSideRyan]

Beane's been throwing darts blindfolded for the last 5 years.

[Guest]

I'm not sure Cespedes with free agency after 4/36 is any less attractive than Cespedes at 5/50 or 6/60 as rumored.

[Sammy Sofa]

Update thread title, please.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm kind of surprised that Billy is willing to shell out that much for him. I guess he figures he's getting a very talented guy in his prime years who could outproduce the salary. I suppose if he averages 4-plus WAR over the course of the deal he will be a bargain?

 

It's not that much money. And if he's any good he'll be a big trade bait.

 

You don't think 9 mill a year is a lot for such an unproven commodity, particularly for the A's? There seems to be a good deal of reasonable debate about what numbers in Cuba translate to at the MLB level, no? Beane sort of his spent his nut (depending on how much revenue they derive from the yet unbuilt stadium) for the next couple of years, didn't he?

 

No, it's not a lot of money. It's less than many people thought. Major league baseball teams spend lots of money on players. I don't see how this could be considered a surprising amount for them to spend.

[Guest]

I'm kind of surprised that Billy is willing to shell out that much for him. I guess he figures he's getting a very talented guy in his prime years who could outproduce the salary. I suppose if he averages 4-plus WAR over the course of the deal he will be a bargain?

 

It's not that much money. And if he's any good he'll be a big trade bait.

 

You don't think 9 mill a year is a lot for such an unproven commodity, particularly for the A's? There seems to be a good deal of reasonable debate about what numbers in Cuba translate to at the MLB level, no? Beane sort of his spent his nut (depending on how much revenue they derive from the yet unbuilt stadium) for the next couple of years, didn't he?

 

No, it's not a lot of money. It's less than many people thought. Major league baseball teams spend lots of money on players. I don't see how this could be considered a surprising amount for them to spend.

 

Oakland's highest paid player in 2011 was David DeJesus at $6M/year.

[MWV]

I wonder how much the Cubs inability to move Soriano contributed to their flagging interest in Cespedes.

[Guest]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

Or maybe Theo & Jed aren't sold on this guy. Ever think that may be the reason we didn't sign him?

That's the obvious reason. I don't think it takes Sherlock Holmes to deduce it. I don't really have a problem with it at all. It seems like a lot of people like shinny new toys. It was the same way with Fukudome. From what I saw Cespedes has sort of a big loopy swing and poor plate discipline.

 

I also think we need to get used to the "think and act like a small market team" mentality. I've seen both Theo and Jed espouse it.

[Neuby]

If we are a big market team and in desperate need of assets. Landing a young talent for just $$$$ is what your supposed to do. Last year to go all in with the new CBA looming. Edited February 13, 2012 by Neuby

[Guest]

How cheap are we that we cannot beat $36/4 ?

Or maybe Theo & Jed aren't sold on this guy. Ever think that may be the reason we didn't sign him?

That's the obvious reason. I don't think it takes Sherlock Holmes to deduce it. I don't really have a problem with it at all. It seems like a lot of people like shinny new toys. It was the same way with Fukudome. From what I saw Cespedes has sort of a big loopy swing and poor plate discipline.

 

I also think we need to get used to the "think and act like a small market team" mentality. I've seen both Theo and Jed espouse it.

 

I don't know that that's really the case. We will still have a decent sized, if not huge, payroll. It seems they want to establish a core of young cheap talent before spending big on any one major league player, though.

[CarolinaCubFan]

Towards the beginning of this thread, there was some discussion concerning Cuba's drug testing policy and had some correlating stats. A 26 year old coming out of that league gives me doubt. With the direction we're headed, I'm feeling better safe than sorry about Cespedes.

 

Soler would make me happy.

[Guest]

Towards the beginning of this thread, there was some discussion concerning Cuba's drug testing policy and had some correlating stats. A 26 year old coming out of that league gives me doubt. With the direction we're headed, I'm feeling better safe than sorry about Cespedes.

 

Soler would make me happy.

 

He has already been drug tested (and presumably passed).

[CarolinaCubFan]

Towards the beginning of this thread, there was some discussion concerning Cuba's drug testing policy and had some correlating stats. A 26 year old coming out of that league gives me doubt. With the direction we're headed, I'm feeling better safe than sorry about Cespedes.

 

Soler would make me happy.

 

He has already been drug tested (and presumably passed).

 

So have Arod, Manny, Bonds, Clemens..... One clean test isn't going to remove my caution.

 

Like I said, I feel better safe than sorry on this one.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oakland initially had considered pursing high-profile Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, but the team believes his price tag will be too high. In addition, Cespedes is believed to want a four-year deal, too short for the A's purposes when the team hopes to move into a new stadium in three years, or a 10-year deal, which is too lengthy.

 

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/27/SP451MGHGT.DTL#ixzz1hrwDyXTP

 

ETA: This was from Dec 28

Edited February 13, 2012 by SouthSideRyan

[UMFan83]

Kind of wondering what a portion of the board thinks now that Cespedes is off the boards. Quite a few people said that they didn't mind missing out on either Pujols or Fielder as long as we signed the Cubans. One Cuban is now off the board.

 

Yeah expectations have really tumbled this offseason. I think it's becoming clear that those stories we read last year about spending being limited for the next year or two while Tom climbs out of debt from the sale might have been true. I know some won't agree and point out examples to disprove that but it certainly seems like that on the surface as we've had several ways to increase the overall talent in the organization with resources made available from players coming off the books and were unable to pull the trigger.

 

We may still get Soler and the latest reports are pretty good but there were reports that the Cubs were pushing hard for Cespedes as well an in the end it didn't appear to be the case.