February 08, 2007
Then Came Bronson
The Cincinnati Reds locked up Bronson Arroyo through 2010 with an option for 2011.
Arroyo, who turns 30 later this month, is under contract for $3.8 million in '07 and $3.95 million in '08. He will receive an additional $2 million in 2008, $10 million in '09 and $11 million in '10.
The deal also includes a club option for '11 that would be worth between $11 million and $13 million based on Arroyo's previous innings totals. The Reds will pay a $2 million buyout if they do not pick up the option.
So it looks like the Reds are planning a long term rotation of Harang, Arroyo and Bailey. That's a good foundation. It's interesting that Arroyo gave the Red Sox a home town discount last year, which made him tradable. Looks like that worked out in the long run.
I like the signing. Worst case scenario is his skills decline a little and he becomes a solid #3 or 4 starter.
It proves to the young players in the organization and potential free agents that ownership is willing to do what it takes to keep you around if you perform, and they are very much interested in putting a winning product on the field.
And to think, a bunch of Red Sox fans screamed bloody murder about how unfair it was to Bronson to trade him... Seems like it worked out for him. There's no way he'd ever make that money in the AL.
Arroyo played both sides like he was a contestant on Survivor.
Get traded to Cincy, express remorse and dissappointment he's no longer in Boston, have a great all-star season, make the Red Sox think they made a mistake and have them express their desire for him to return to Fenway, tell the Reds if they don't give him a raise and extension he'll jump ship as soon as he's able to.
Results.....$25 million for an additional two years in Cincinnati.
Good signing for the Reds, GREAT signing for Bronson.
Moving to the NL was the best thing that could have happened for him, financially. That ballpark will bite him in the arse at some point...hopefully, for Cincy's sake, the league won't figure him out for a while.
