Doesnt seem logical and that is why it didnt happen.  The Angles wouldnt have shed much payroll or got a good player.  It would have been very dumb.

So the deal fell through and the Angels declined Haren's option.  Sounds like Anaheim is purging payroll. Wonder why?

The Angels are letting Hunter walk also. Hunter had a decent season for them, considering he missed some time when his kid had legal issues. Supposedly Bourjos will take over CF with Trout and Trumbo in the corner spots. Morales will be DH, Kendrick at 2B and Aybar at SS. 3B and Catcher are the only spots they can upgrade.

I don't follow their minor league system, but they're already minus 3/5 of their rotation with Santana gone and Haren and Greinke free agents.

I suppose they can just throw more money at their holes, but at this point they've got a few to fill.

Pujols' contract is still reasonable as far as 2013 goes. He's due $16 million before it kicks up to $23 million in 2014. I think part of the reason is that they owe Vernon Wells $40 million over the next two seasons, along with a pretty big increase for Jered Weaver.

They aren't in good shape going forward. More and more teams are locking up their arb-eligible talent which is weakening the free agent market. This is why the predictions about the Cubs magically winning 100 games in 2014 is so ridiculously stupid. There's not enough free agents to make that happen. The Angels have a poor farm system and they, too, will struggle to find top-flight talent.

tkihshbt wrote:

Pujols' contract is still reasonable as far as 2013 goes. He's due $16 million before it kicks up to $23 million in 2014. I think part of the reason is that they owe Vernon Wells $40 million over the next two seasons, along with a pretty big increase for Jered Weaver.

They aren't in good shape going forward. More and more teams are locking up their arb-eligible talent which is weakening the free agent market. This is why the predictions about the Cubs magically winning 100 games in 2014 is so ridiculously stupid. There's not enough free agents to make that happen. The Angels have a poor farm system and they, too, will struggle to find top-flight talent.

Assuming that's all true, the fundamental underlying economics has a way of evening all that out.  Thus, if true, it should make it increasingly expensive to extend contracts, whether arbitration eligible or not.  Too bad for Wainwright he's coming off an injury.

"Too bad" is a relative thing.

tkihshbt wrote:

True enough, but I don't think Wainwright would have exceeded Cain's deal had he been healthy.

I disagree.  He wont have exceed it if the Cardinals are writing the check but someone will pay Wainwright.  If he has a steller year in 2013 and isnt extended this offseason nothing would suprise me.

Last edited by APIAD (11/05/2012 8:27 am)

APIAD wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

True enough, but I don't think Wainwright would have exceeded Cain's deal had he been healthy.

I disagree.  He wont have exceed it if the Cardinals are writing the check but someone will pay Wainwright.  If he has a steller year in 2013 and isnt extended this offseason nothing would suprise me.

Nah, I just don't think anyone will pay him more than the Giants paid for Cain. With the market scarce for top flight talent going into 2014 I guess there's a chance someone might wave $140 million at him, but not likely.

FWIW, Strauss thinks the Cardinals are going to get a deal done. I don't have anything but a gut feeling that tells me it'll happen.

tkihshbt wrote:

APIAD wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

True enough, but I don't think Wainwright would have exceeded Cain's deal had he been healthy.

I disagree.  He wont have exceed it if the Cardinals are writing the check but someone will pay Wainwright.  If he has a steller year in 2013 and isnt extended this offseason nothing would suprise me.

Nah, I just don't think anyone will pay him more than the Giants paid for Cain. With the market scarce for top flight talent going into 2014 I guess there's a chance someone might wave $140 million at him, but not likely.

FWIW, Strauss thinks the Cardinals are going to get a deal done. I don't have anything but a gut feeling that tells me it'll happen.

a week ago a fan suggested $80/4 and strauss agreed that was the right ballpark.

"If he threw with the wrong hand"

There are two kinds of people in the world. Right-handed, and perfect.

Ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if Lohse's contract situation doesn't become a bit of a barometer for Wainwright's.  Lohse is 34 and is 2 years removed from a pretty serious injury situation.  For how long will someone agree to pay him?  If Lohse gets 4 years (until age 38), can the Cardinals get by with less than 5 (which, when added to the remaining option year would take Wainwright until he's 37)?

Welcome back Stan. If you ever lose the website address again, just ask. The more the merrier.