Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeke
5 million for Hochevar, who is still a liability, is unacceptable. For whatever reason, there is a love affair with him by GMDM or someone in the front office\coaching staff. His performance last season was NOT the norm - It was the exception. Did no one pay attention to the Career year then signing of Frenchy? It's a bad deal. 5 million for a reliever that has never performed until last year, then spend that type of money again with a limited payroll and a bunch of money already tied up in your bullpen? You non-tender him or trade him... That would be the good baseball move.
But he has a little value (certainly not 5 mil for a small market team as a reliever) and is one of the boys, so he's given the golden boot to drink from.
I can't agree with this at all... Hochevar will most assuredly not put up the same numbers as last year. If he does, then you start having a track record for paying him a few million dollars... but 5 mil as a lottery ticket\reclamation project is not good baseball business.
|
I was upset they didn't non-tender him a year ago. That would have been a good time to walk away from him. But this year? You can't non-tender a guy coming off that season and be taken seriously. By tendering him a contract and coming to an agreement, Hochevar is at least somebody they can get some value out of. This continues the clock to try to trade him, which I agree completely is what they should be doing.
They should be trying like crazy to trade him or Davis, though. Likely Hochevar. Small market teams can't pay that type of salary to a setup man who still isn't trustworthy with inherited runners.