Stay Out of It Ca$h Money

The pitching market is absolutely insane!! I'm begging Ca$h Money to stay out of this idiotic frenzy of spending. I wrote this over at Matsuzaka Watch today:

Think about these recent signings and where Matsuzaka sits in context.

1. Roy Oswalt (5 years, $73 million)
2. Chris Carpenter (5 years, $65 million)
3. Vincente Padilla (3 years, $34 million)
4. Gil Meche/Ted Lilly (asking 4 years, $40 million)
5. Adam Eaton (3 years, $24.5 million)

The rumors have been swirling that Boras is seeking 6 years and $12 million per season for Matsuzaka. That would seem to jive with this market. Boras is steadfast in his pitch that Matsuzaka is one of the top pitchers in the world, and should be paid as such. If established aces like Oswalt and Carpenter are getting $13-15 million per year, Matsuzaka should come in just below. Likewise, Vincente Padilla who is essentially an NL pitcher with a career ERA of 4.06, ERA+ of 106, and WHIP at 1.346 is getting $11+ million per. Will Boras allow Vincente Padilla to get more money than Daisuke? Fat chance. It stands to reason as well that he will be paid significantly more than Lilly and Meche, not to mention Adam Eaton. Those guys have no business in the same conversation as Matsuzaka.

What the Red Sox now face is the prospect of paying the posting fee and the contract, plus luxury tax factors, to the tune of 6 years and about $25 million per year. Ouch. I'm of the belief that he's going to earn as much of that money as anyone can be expected to earn, but that's a tough pill to swallow. It makes you wonder if Johan Santana is going to get $30 million a year in 2008, doesn't it. (Don't bother answering that, it's a rhetorical question.)

If you consider that money, you have to think about what the Yankees would be doing to buy a flashy guy this year. Sit back and think about these names:

1. Barry Zito (5 years, $90 million) - career ERA+ of 127
2. Jason Schmidt (5 years, $65 million) - career ERA+ of 110
3. Gil Meche (4 years, $40 million) - career ERA+ of 96
4. Ted Lilly (4 years, $40 million) - career ERA+ of 99

Let's consider the top 3 year periods for the following pitchers:

1. Pedro Martinez (3 years, $47 million) - career ERA+ of 160
2. Roger Clemens (3 years, $33 million) - career ERA+ of 144
3. Johan Santana (3 years, $15 million) - career ERA+ of 144
4. Randy Johnson (3 years, $47 million) - career ERA+ of 138
5. Roy Oswalt (3 years, $44 million) - career ERA+ of 143

Those 5 pitchers represent the 5 highest ERA+ in history among active players. You are telling me that Barry Zito is worth $18 million when compared to these Hall of Famers? You have to be on something if Gil Meche or Ted Lilly should be paid the same 3 year outlay that got Roger Clemens the last 3 seasons...