Furcal a dodger (Per latimes.com)

[CubinNY]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money...

 

It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago.

 

I think it is about the money but I think he is stupid at the same time.

 

If he takes the Cubs offer (and I'm beside myself in joy that he didn't) he actually would have had more money. Now he will play in a pitchers park that will likely hurt his numbers and likely supress the value of his next contract. Not a smart move IMO.

[frostwyrm]

So 3 years and $39.5 milion got it done for the Dodgers. I have to say that I'm proud of Hendry for not going any higher. The Dodgers are insane offering Furcal that much money.

 

I am a little worried about what Hendry has planned as his "Plan B" though. I guess we'll find out eventually.

 

Plan Neifi (from Outer Space?).

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

Give the guy a break, it was his agent that said it "wasn't about the money", not Furcal. Standard agent-speak for press consumption.

 

I say bully for Furcal, I'd do the same thing, and if honest with yourself, you likely would too. He's getting nearly $4MM/year more from LA than the Cubs would have paid him (3/39.5 vs. 5/47), that is one HECKUVA lot of money. I'd take the dough.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money...

 

It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago.

 

I think it is about the money but I think he is stupid at the same time.

 

If he takes the Cubs offer (and I'm beside myself in joy that he didn't) he actually would have had more money. Now he will play in a pitchers park that will likely hurt his numbers and likely supress the value of his next contract. Not a smart move IMO.

 

No way; unless he becomes completely debilitated, he'll come out ahead this way. 47-39.5=7.5MM. If Furcal has any playing competency at all, he'll certainly be able to get a contract for $4MM/year for 2009, don't you think? He has inflation working in his favor, too.

[CubfaninCA]

It may be a long time before the Cubs pick up a top 5 free agent. The Trib's not going to pay big bucks in a crazy market.

 

Sad day.

[JeffH]

Here's hoping Farnsworth drills Furcal in the melon during a spring training game.

[Mark Priors Calves]

good move on Furcals' part, he's getting huge money now and will get another big payday in 3 years.

[E.J.]

It may be a long time before the Cubs pick up a top 5 free agent. The Trib's not going to pay big bucks in a crazy market.

 

Sad day.

 

I disagree. Furcal is now the 2nd highest paid shortstop behind Jeter. He's going to make more money than Tejada next year. That's a complete joke.

 

On a side note, how bad does it look now that we didn't put more effort into getting Tejada a couple of years ago??? :cry:

[CubinNY]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

Give the guy a break, it was his agent that said it "wasn't about the money", not Furcal. Standard agent-speak for press consumption.

 

I say bully for Furcal, I'd do the same thing, and if honest with yourself, you likely would too. He's getting nearly $4MM/year more from LA than the Cubs would have paid him (3/39.5 vs. 5/47), that is one HECKUVA lot of money. I'd take the dough.

 

Maybe so, we'll never know for sure. But I have to believe playing 1/2 his games for an extra year at Wrigley would inflate his numbers. He could also get hurt in year two (but then insurance would pay a large portion). Anyway, If I'm playing I take the years over a few million dollars. My next contract could always be my last.

[Blueheart05]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

Give the guy a break, it was his agent that said it "wasn't about the money", not Furcal. Standard agent-speak for press consumption.

 

I say bully for Furcal, I'd do the same thing, and if honest with yourself, you likely would too. He's getting nearly $4MM/year more from LA than the Cubs would have paid him (3/39.5 vs. 5/47), that is one HECKUVA lot of money. I'd take the dough.

 

I would have taken the longer contract. Between signing bonuses, incentives, and a year three player option, I would have been quite happy. :P Seriously, I would have taken more money longterm. He has no guarantee that his FA dollars will be more in 3 years.

[jmajew]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money...

 

It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago.

 

This situation makes me respect Paul Konerko so much more. He had the option of going to Baltimore and make more money but he decided he wanted to be loyal. I have the utmost respect for him.

 

I don't think teams with mercenaries can win it all. Look at the yankees, once they started to buy everyone in sight they haven't won a champsionship. Guys like Furcal, Sheffield, A-Rod, and Beltran are all mercenaries.

Edited December 4, 2005 by jmajew

[CubfaninCA]

It may be a long time before the Cubs pick up a top 5 free agent. The Trib's not going to pay big bucks in a crazy market.

 

Sad day.

 

I disagree. Furcal is now the 2nd highest paid shortstop behind Jeter. He's going to make more money than Tejada next year. That's a complete joke.

 

On a side note, how bad does it look now that we didn't put more effort into getting Tejada a couple of years ago??? :cry:

 

Didn't we have AGonz making $5.5 million though?? How much you think Tejada would get in this market?? $16 million per??

[Jehrico]

It may be a long time before the Cubs pick up a top 5 free agent. The Trib's not going to pay big bucks in a crazy market.

 

Sad day.

 

I disagree. Furcal is now the 2nd highest paid shortstop behind Jeter. He's going to make more money than Tejada next year. That's a complete joke.

 

On a side note, how bad does it look now that we didn't put more effort into getting Tejada a couple of years ago??? :cry:

 

That'll depend on how RonnyC turns out.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

It may be a long time before the Cubs pick up a top 5 free agent. The Trib's not going to pay big bucks in a crazy market.

 

Sad day.

 

I disagree. Furcal is now the 2nd highest paid shortstop behind Jeter. He's going to make more money than Tejada next year. That's a complete joke.

 

On a side note, how bad does it look now that we didn't put more effort into getting Tejada a couple of years ago??? :cry:

 

Didn't we have AGonz making $5.5 million though?? How much you think Tejada would get in this market?? $16 million per??

 

Tough to say. Remember Tejada only had one year before his payday with an OBP over .350, and it was when he hit 30 points better than all previous years. Because he was close to the same age, and has more power, I'd say he'd probably make similar, maybe more depending on how many teams were in the running(and who those teams were).

[Blueheart05]

If this does turn out to be true (still no real confirmation), then I lost what littel respect I had for him. Not about the money my ar$e. Hope he likes finishing under .500 for the next three years.

 

13MM/ year versus longerterm security means its about the money...

 

It's pretty obvious that it was always about the money. If it wasn't he would have re-signed with the Braves a long time ago.

 

This situation makes me respect Paul Konerko so much more. He had the option of going to Baltimore and make more money but he decided he wanted to be loyal. I have the utmost respect for him.

 

I don't think teams with mercenaries can win it all. Look at the yankees, once they started to buy everyone in sight they haven't won a champsionship. Guys like Furcal, Sheffield, A-Rod, and Beltran are all mercenaries. Yes they have the talent to win it all but they don't have the drive and team first mentality that is necessary.

 

Yeah, but under the circumstances I would have stayed with the Sox too. They are the champs and have the core of the team returning. Baltimore isn't going anywhere and they are in a highly competitive division. In Furcal's case, the Dodgers are a mess right now but they are in a weak division overall and should be able to compete (especially with Colletti being so aggressive).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This situation makes me respect Paul Konerko so much more. He had the option of going to Baltimore and make more money but he decided he wanted to be loyal. I have the utmost respect for him.

 

I don't think teams with mercenaries can win it all. Look at the yankees, once they started to buy everyone in sight they haven't won a champsionship. Guys like Furcal, Sheffield, A-Rod, and Beltran are all mercenaries. Yes they have the talent to win it all but they don't have the drive and team first mentality that is necessary.

 

 

Going by the Rotoworld reports, he turned down Baltimore's 5/65 offer to stay in Chicago for 5/60. Not exactly humanitarian to me.

[brinoch]

Pop the champagne fellas. God forbid Hendry overpay anyone. Todd Walker deals are the benchmark. ;)

 

I'm sure you'd agree that it's a good thing he didn't match the Dodger offer, though.

 

I am pretty bummed, but I am glad we're not shelling out 13 mil/yr for Rafael Furcal.

 

It's not my money, so oh well. Everybody's overpaying nowadays. Wait around for Walker deals and we'll get no one.

 

Calling $10M per year for Furcal a "Walker deal" is ridiculous. That's a serious offer -- and *way* more than Furcal is worth. It's a poor FA market, and consequently those FA's worth anything are getting deals that I wouldn't offer. Sorry, but I don't thinkFurcal isn't that much of an upgrade over Cedeno -- certainly not $9.7M worth.

 

Edited for typo

Edited December 4, 2005 by brinoch

[Rob]

But I'd venture that he's worth 7.5 million more than Neifi...

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

But I'd venture that he's worth 7.5 million more than Neifi...

 

who isn't?

[Flames24Rulz]

now on foxsports.com: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5137486

 

oh well, looks like it's time to enter the Lugo race..

[NorthsideAvenger]

First: :shock:

 

Second: I'm not alone in the sentiment but, as much as I wanted Furcal, there is NO WAY I would have gone close to $13 mill a yr for Furcal. Ned Colletti must be an alias of Kevin "Sherriff" Malone, because this is without question the dumbest contract since Mike Hampton.

 

Third: Can anyone say.....hell Mr. Soriano, hello Mr. Mench.

 

Fourth: Anybody who thinks this now gives Cedeno to opportunity to start and get the majority of playing time, must be forgetting who the manager is. I can see it now...in case the Cubs fail to land a SS, I could see Baker saying "It will be an open competition for the starting SS job between Perez---the dude, saved us last yr---and the young dude. " But we all know...there won't be a "legit" open competition. If the Cubs don't Dustyproof before the yr starts, then we know who will start at SS in 2006, and I'm afraid it will Pay Raise.

[JC]

Pop the champagne fellas. God forbid Hendry overpay anyone. Todd Walker deals are the benchmark. ;)

 

I'm sure you'd agree that it's a good thing he didn't match the Dodger offer, though.

 

I am pretty bummed, but I am glad we're not shelling out 13 mil/yr for Rafael Furcal.

 

It's not my money, so oh well. Everybody's overpaying nowadays. Wait around for Walker deals and we'll get no one.

 

Calling $10M per year for Furcal a "Walker deal" is ridiculous. That's a serious offer -- and *way* more than Furcal is worth. It's a poor FA market, and consequently those FA's worth anything are getting deals that I wouldn't offer. Sorry, but I don't Furcal isn't that much of an upgrade over Cedeno -- certainly not $9.7M worth.

 

I couldn't agree more. Further, lets stop dealing in absolutes. Just because the Cubs resist overpaying for Furcal doesn't mean that they only bargain shop. With Furcal, there is no reason to overpay in light of the emergence of Cedeno. $13M for Furcal is not just overpayment, but its a huge overpayment. Signing Furcal to anything close to that would be absurd.

 

So, lamenting about the Cubs being cheap in the instance is off-base.

[Blueheart05]

Does anyone know if Len Casper has tried to post yet? I think I missed it. :lol: :lol: :P Edited December 4, 2005 by Blueheart05

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

Why are some people upset over this? Because we lost a few SB and a "leadoff hitter?" His OBP was nothing grand. His OPS wasn't either. His D came together in a contract year, but usually he found a way to come up with 25-30 errors per season. Overrated and now overpaid. Don't be sad. It could have been us overpaying for mediocre production at SS just b/c some people overvalue a leadoff hitter.

[CubfaninCA]

Pop the champagne fellas. God forbid Hendry overpay anyone. Todd Walker deals are the benchmark. ;)

 

I'm sure you'd agree that it's a good thing he didn't match the Dodger offer, though.

 

I am pretty bummed, but I am glad we're not shelling out 13 mil/yr for Rafael Furcal.

 

It's not my money, so oh well. Everybody's overpaying nowadays. Wait around for Walker deals and we'll get no one.

 

Calling $10M per year for Furcal a "Walker deal" is ridiculous. That's a serious offer -- and *way* more than Furcal is worth. It's a poor FA market, and consequently those FA's worth anything are getting deals that I wouldn't offer. Sorry, but I don't thinkFurcal isn't that much of an upgrade over Cedeno -- certainly not $9.7M worth.

 

Edited for typo

 

How did you comprehend that?? I didn't mean Furcal @ $10 mil. was a Walker deal.

 

Walker's deal is well under what's he's worth. Few guy's screw themselves out of money like Walker.