Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 24, 2008
Nathan Minneapolis

Joe Nathan received a contract extension from the Twins. It looks like $33 million for three years (through 2011) with a club option for 2012.

The contract is very much in line with the deal Francisco Cordero got from the Reds, but it's not quite as much as the $15 million that Mariano Rivera will be making with the Yankees. Which is just another reason why I don't understand why Nathan did this.

If Nathan played out the season without this extension, he'd have been a free agent at season's end. Which means one of two things would have happened. He'd either pitch the whole season in Minnesota, hit the market, get an offer for about $15-$17 million a year and move on, or he'd get dealt to a contending team at the deadline before becoming a free agent at the end of the year.

To me, that's what would have been best for both teams. Nathan would have actually gotten more money, and had the chance to play on a contender, and the Twins could have gotten a few more prospects for Nathan to help speed up the mini-rebuilding project they need to finish. But, hey, I've never had the chance to turn down $33 million before, so I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing.

On top of all that, it's much easier to find a closer than a league ace. I'd have let Joe go and used the money to keep Santana.


Posted by David Pinto at 03:45 PM | Pitchers | TrackBack (0)
Comments

It is nice to see Nathan accept a deal for less then what the market may have been for him. $11 million is nothing to sneeze at so if he is happy in Minnesota it is nice to see that he is willing to work with the team to stay here.

Additionally if the Twins do go in the tank for the next couple of years you have one of the leagues best closers that you can dangle a trade bait since he has what will be a very friendly contract. Which may benefit both the Twins and Nathan if he wants to move to a contender.

Posted by: Chris at March 24, 2008 04:19 PM

I think Nathan is staying exactly where he wants to be, regardless if he could have received more money elsewhere. But, I agree that he represents a serious potential trading option down the road.

Posted by: dbacksbuzz at March 24, 2008 05:09 PM

This might come as a shock to the quoted author, but sometimes things other than money and championships enter into the equation. There's comfort, lifestyle, family...

Posted by: Derek at March 24, 2008 06:54 PM

Kent Hrbek did the same thing with Minn years back and it was in line with Derek above.

Posted by: Bob S at March 24, 2008 07:31 PM
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