Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
January 22, 2004
Happy Halladay

It's a holiday for Roy Halladay, as he's about to sign a 4-year contract worth $42 million, according to the Globe and Mail.

It's a good signing. I don't think Roy is the best pitcher in the AL, but he's certainly one of the best. He's still young at 27, and he should be able to anchor the rotation through the length of the contract. Plus, the Globe and Mail nails something else that Ricciardi is accomplishing:


The Blue Jays now have considerable cost certainty, with six players signed beyond this season (Halladay, Vernon Wells, Eric Hinske and off-season acquisitions Miguel Batista, Ted Lilly and Kerry Ligtenberg). Halladay, Wells and Hinske are signed through 2007.

If you do long term contracts right, they are great at controlling costs, and they make your players tradable. The Indians did this in the early 90's, locking up their good, young players for the decade. They were able to avoid arbitration, no one left for free agency until the Indians had gotten their best years, and the Indians were able to trade for baseball value rather than for contract considerations. Once again, Ricciardi looks like he knows what he's doing.


Posted by David Pinto at 11:25 AM | Pitchers | TrackBack (0)
Comments

This will set the market for the A's triplets. They should probably each receive a little more then Halladay. Doubt the A's keep em together tho.

Posted by: Jayho at January 22, 2004 04:59 PM

The A's have threee great pitchers, however, none can be said to be better than Halladay, and all THREE, that is a great stretch.... That being said, Id easily take three very good starting pitchers than one phenomenal one......

Posted by: Jayson at January 28, 2004 03:35 AM

The A's have threee great pitchers, however, none can be said to be better than Halladay, and all THREE, that is a great stretch.... That being said, Id easily take three very good starting pitchers than one phenomenal one......

Posted by: Jayson at January 28, 2004 03:35 AM