Today the Boston Red Sox finished up a deal with Chris Capuano. The deal is for 1 year and $2.25 million with incentives that could push it upwards of $5 million. Capuano isn't expected to compete for a spot in the rotation, but is there for rotation depth.
Today the Atlanta Braves have locked up another young player to a long-term deal. Andrelton Simmons is the lucky player today. Simmons deal is for 7 yrs/$58 million. I believe this is a solid deal for the Braves as they get one of the best young fielders in the game with a very solid bat. One has to wonder, who's next? The Braves have a whole slew of players that they could sign. Either way the Braves have made some very good deals over the past few weeks. Homer Bailey is now a very rich man. His new deal is for 6 yrs/ $100 million. I say this is a huge overpay for a pitcher of Bailey's quality. Considering he is not the ace of the staff and that he isn't very consistent, it just seems like a bad deal. Even though he posted a 3.49 ERA with 199 strikeouts over 209 innings, Bailey just isn't a $100 million pitcher. Bailey does have very solid stuff, however, having thrown 2 no-hitters in his career. Questionable deal by the Reds at the end of the day. Most of this is old news, but the Braves have extended Freddie Freeman (8 yr/$135 million), Julio Teheran (6 yr/$32.4 million), and Craig Kimbrel ( 4 yr/$42 million). These are all great deals for the Atlanta Braves. They get players with tremendous potential for a couple more years. The only problems are what if Freeman and Teheran don't reach their full potential and what if Kimbrel fizzles out like every other closer after they get a big deal? These are all questions the Braves thought about and didn't see as a big deal. They may not be, but still they are huge ifs. One question I had is where is all this money coming from, because I think the Braves have a pretty crappy attendance and a pretty crappy TV deal. Still if these players reach the full potential, the Braves have just made fantastic deals. The pitching market just got a bit thinner. Ubaldo Jimenez has signed with the Baltimore Orioles for 4 years and $50 million bucks. Personally, I just don't see it. He has shown signs of being a GREAT pitcher, but has never been consistent. When he is on, he absolutely fools hitters. That's the problem, though. He is barely ever on. He did turn in a great second half for the Indians last season. I know the Orioles needed pitching badly, but this is as questionable as their other pitcher signings in the past. I also don't think the Orioles can compete in the East with the Red Sox and Rays. I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. Derek Jeter has announced that 2014 will be his last season. Its not too much of a shock, considering he has been torn down by injuries for the past year and he is not getting any younger. This could be some huge motivation for the Yankees this year, by trying to send one of the most respected men in baseball a World Series to cap off his time in the MLB. It is sad to see another great go, but better try and push out one last great year before his body caves for good. He is all but a certainty for the Hall of Fame and I wouldn't be surprised to see him managing sometime in the near future. Jeter has enjoyed a long and storied career and hopefully he finishes his career with another great year. All the best to you, Jeter. Well I try not to be biased, but I must say it seems like Burnett doesn't want to finish his career strong. He has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, who a few years ago were at the top of the baseball world, but now are set to be middle of the pack. His deal is for 1 year and $16 million. I am a bit surprised he didn't sign with the Pirates. That team would give him the best chance to win, but this must've just been a money grab for him. |
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