Cubs sign Zambrano

by nittany lion on Aug 17, 2007 11:17 AM EDT

Well the Cubs signed Carlos Zambrano http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7130616 to a 5 year, 91.5 mil dollar deal. I dont really care that Zambrano will no longer be a free agent, but what does this mean for Bedard? Bedard, in my opinion is better than Zambrano, so this means the Orioles will have to offer at least that kind of money to get a deal done. Bedard doesnt seem like the type that would get hypersensitive about dollar figures, but he'll want what he deserves on the open market, which is apparently around a 100 million dollar deal.

Does the willingness to get the Wieters deal done give you confidence that a Bedard deal gets done? I hope that the Orioles either sign Bedard long term this winter or trade him. If he's going to be the centerpiece of a contending Orioles team we need assurance that he'll be around for the next 5-6 years, if he wont sign long term, then we need the prospects we could get for him.

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Arguably

The two are fairly equal. Zambrano has control/attitude problems but he's been proven to be a top-tier starter for a much longer timespan. I think there's a chance Bedard could still be had on a four-year deal this offseason, but it will probably have to approach $20M/yr to get it done.

by punkrawka on Aug 17, 2007 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Geez

This means in 2009, Johan Santana will be a $20 million/per year guy. Bedard hasnt proven enough yet, but with 2 more years of cy young pitching, Bedard will approach that level too.

by UMterp08 on Aug 17, 2007 11:26 AM EDT reply actions

Sign him BEFORE that happens

Really, THIS is the off-season to ink him to a deal. Whatever you pay him at the end of this year, it will be under market value by the end of 2009. Pitching contracts aren't going to go down.

If the O's pay $100/5 or $85/4 to kick in after 2008 and rip up the last year of his deal for 2009, they will keep their best pitcher and saved themselves in the neighborhood of $15-$20 million than by waiting until the off-season before he's a FA.

The longer they wait, the higher the price will go, unless Erik The Great gets injured significantly.

"You can tell the City of Baltimore that the old evil owner stepped up and took care of things tonight." - Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan, 08/16/07

by duck on Aug 17, 2007 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Johan

seems pissed at the organization to me. He wasn't happy about that Castillo trade. I bet he leaves MIN and takes a reduced salary to pitch with his new love interest, Bedard.

In Loving Memory of GWP October 23, 1986 - May 13, 2006

by BPinOK on Aug 17, 2007 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Johann

Castillo is extremely overrated. This is why players should keep their mouths shut and let the front office people do their jobs. At least, this is the case on teams whose FOs have good track records. Terry Ryan knows what he's doing, generally.

by pipkin on Aug 17, 2007 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

I really don't care one way or another about Castillo...but I do think it is funny that Johan reacted that way. Like Castillo being traded was going to keep them from the WS. Ha!

In Loving Memory of GWP October 23, 1986 - May 13, 2006

by BPinOK on Aug 17, 2007 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions