On its face, the Ross deal looks strange for Arizona, but when you combine him and Jason Kubel they're spending about $14 million for a platoon that is going to be really, really good. Some of the other moves are kinda puzzling, but that's actually a strong unit.

He's 32.  Reading the stories, it sounds like there's a 5th year that will vest fairly easily. 

Makes you wonder if they'll be trying to move that contract in a year or two.

I am not sure what a high median proves or payroll in genreral.  It is always more complex then spend more and being better.  You cant buy wins.

It's hard to figure out what the Pirates are trying to do sometimes:

"BOSTON (AP) -- The Red Sox have acquired All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a six-player deal.
"Boston completed the trade Wednesday, also receiving infielder Brock Holt. The Red Sox gave up right-handers Mark Melancon and Stolmy Pimentel, infielder Ivan DeJesus Jr. and first baseman-outfielder Jerry Sands."

Don't know much about the minor leaguers involved, except I think DeJesus is a former first round pick who has been a disappointment. Sands couldn't stick with a Dodgers team that was desperate for offense, and Melancon is a big ol' sissy. Looks the Pirates got a shiny new quarter for a handful of nickels.

The Pirates trading Joel Hanrahan  is wierd.  The move at best is a move to try and build the farm system.  I thought they were in a win now mode.

artie_fufkin wrote:

"The Pirates trading Joel Hanrahan  is wierd."

Maybe it's because his wife is a lesbian.

Ok. That's hot. Well, depending on what she looks like, that has great potential to be hot.

I was referring to the wife of the goalie in Slap Shot, but those two might be lesbians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7tvfdSjRE4

Max wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

The way salaries are going, I don't even think the $1.5M price tag was that big of a deal.  The average MLB salary is something like $3.3M.

FWIW, I think median is more informative here.

Just for you Max, I calculated the median using the Opening Day 2012 rosters (750 total players)

Salary #375 (actually salary #369-375) was $1.75M and was a tie between 7 players: Joe Smith (Cle), Ryan Sweeney (Bos), Brendan Ryan (Sea), Fernando Rodney (TB), Bryce Harper (Was), Nate McLouth (Pit) and Takaski Saito (Ari).

Salary #376 was Mark Lowe (Tex) $1.7M

Schumaker's $1.5M tied for #391.


(Yes, it really is that boring during the week between Christmas and New Years Day).

EJax to the Cubs, 4 years/$52 million.

Wow that is alot.  14 million a year for a bullpen pitcher.

McClellan to the Rangers:   http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/kyle-mcclellan-finds-right-fit-in-texas/article_9cc69241-9fc1-56d6-8f16-b1727bc1ffef.html 

forsberg_us wrote:

Max wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

The way salaries are going, I don't even think the $1.5M price tag was that big of a deal. The average MLB salary is something like $3.3M.

FWIW, I think median is more informative here.

Just for you Max, I calculated the median using the Opening Day 2012 rosters (750 total players)

Salary #375 (actually salary #369-375) was $1.75M and was a tie between 7 players: Joe Smith (Cle), Ryan Sweeney (Bos), Brendan Ryan (Sea), Fernando Rodney (TB), Bryce Harper (Was), Nate McLouth (Pit) and Takaski Saito (Ari).

Salary #376 was Mark Lowe (Tex) $1.7M

Schumaker's $1.5M tied for #391.


(Yes, it really is that boring during the week between Christmas and New Years Day).

Thanks.  When we move to median, Schumaker's salary doesn't seem like as much of a bargain as it does when we look at average.  It all depends on what we want to compare.

On average, a GM shells out $3.3 per player, whereas a middling player earns $1.75.  Schu earned just about what a middling player earns.