December 01, 2008
Late Arbitration Roundup
Unlike the Yankees, the Dodgers and the Angels offered their big name free agents arbitration. The Red Sox offered arbitration to Jason Varitek, which surprised me a bit. Boston, however, expects Jason to sign elsewhere.
Correction: I misread the Varitek article. Boston expects Jason not to accept arbitration. Apologies.
At times, reading the posts on this site make me feel dumber for it. This is one of those times. Can you offer one valid reason why Boston offering Varitek arbitration supports your assertion that "Boston expects Jason to sign elsewhere."?
In reality, it is nothing more than a shrewd insurance policy, since there is essentially a zero per cent chance Boras and Varitek accept a one year deal tied to 2007 performance levels, and if he does in fact sign elsewhere, the Sox get a sandwich pick, which, last I checked, they've used very smartly over the past 4 years (e.g., Masterson, Ellsbury, etc.)
At times, the assertions on this site make me feel dumber for having read them. This is one of those times. Can you offer one valid reason why Boston offering Varitek arbitration supports your assertion that "Boston expects Jason to sign elsewhere."?
In reality, it is nothing more than a shrewd insurance policy, since there is essentially a zero per cent chance Boras and Varitek accept a one year deal tied to 2007 performance levels, and if he does in fact sign elsewhere, the Sox get a sandwich pick, which, last I checked, they've used very smartly over the past 4 years (e.g., Masterson, Ellsbury, etc.)
At times, reading the posts on this site make me feel dumber for it. This is one of those times. Can you offer one valid reason why Boston offering Varitek arbitration supports your assertion that "Boston expects Jason to sign elsewhere."?
In reality, it is nothing more than a shrewd insurance policy, since there is essentially a zero per cent chance Boras and Varitek accept a one year deal tied to 2007 performance levels, and if he does in fact sign elsewhere, the Sox get a sandwich pick, which, last I checked, they've used very smartly over the past 4 years (e.g., Masterson, Ellsbury, etc.)
I'm not sure Boston really expects Varitek to sign elsewhere. He wouldn't seem to be more valuable to another contender - And I don't see anyone going longterm with him. Maybe him and Boras think that someone else is going to offer him a longterm deal but who? I wouldn't be shocked if Varitek accepted.
At times, reading the comments on this site make me feel dumber for it. This is one of those times. Can you offer one valid reason for the tone of your post?
Poor James must be right about his feeling dumber - he kept forgetting he posted a comment.
James, it's in the article at the link.
The biggest shocker for me was why the Dodgers didn't offer Raffy Furcal arbitration! But then would Furcal be worth any compensation for his lack of play this year? I consider him pretty valuable to the Dodgers going forward.
David, James is correct, even if he did post it more than necessary! Tell me where it says in that article that you linked above that the Sox expect Varitek to sign elsewhere? It doesn't!
He was offered arbitration in the event he does sign elsewhere, which would mean the Sox would get draft picks. They offered it to him in 2004 as well!
They are offering him the arbitration for a draft pick.