David Price to Red Sox - 7/$217M (page 11)

[haltz]

I'm with TFG. I think the Cardinals make decisions as investments and contracts, especially at that magnitude, are approved by DeWitt before they are signed. It's not like Mo is really playing around with a budget. Money can also be deferred and other players can be traded.

I've seen estimates that an opt-out is worth between $10-30M to a player. Assuming that the Cardinals didn't offer one, the Sox totally blew that $190M offer out of the water.

[Pudgelewis]

Seeing Price's name mixed into the rotation with Waino, Wacha and Martinez sounds amazing, but I'd have concerns about the contract, also. What I really find fascinating is if the question of if Price AND Heyward was really a possibility and what their plan going into the offseason was.

[Hoot45]

Personality matters to the Cardinals.

Greinke doesn't exactly have a rosy relationship with the Cardinals. He's been on the losing end of a few postseason upsets (Brewers and Dodgers) and has been in the middle of some wars-of-words between the teams.

[dmarx114]

Heck, you've got the perfect conditions for a bidding war between those two teams alone.

It's got to be a weird position to be in if you're Greinke and/or Heyward if it comes down to the Cardinals/Cubs.

Your two choices are in the same division pitted against each other. The higher the player's salary goes, especially if you're STL and possibly the Cubs/Giants, the less flexible the team that gets the player will be in the future. I mean, obviously it's a dog eat dog world and there is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to get the best deal for yourself. But, in the back of your mind, it's got to weigh on you that if the team has to give out a king's ransom, that's less money to bring in other players to get your back.

Hardly anyone thinks that way. The only names that come to mind are Tim Duncan and Tom Brady (and Brady's wife is worth more than him).

[dmarx114]

I really wanted to see the Price/Wainwright tandem for the next three years...even at that price.

I know people worry about the payroll, but to be honest, the Cardinals are in a great position and can deal from the strengths of having a well-funded owner and a strong farm system. Even if Price went Tango Utah in year 4, I highly doubt it would cripple the franchise. I also don't think that Price's salary would inhibit getting other players (JHey).

Is adding $55-$60 million to this year's payroll realistic? I wouldn't think so.

Define realistic?

If the Cardinals feel that those two players are a core worth developing a team around for the next run (after Holliday, Wainwright, Yadi exit), then yes, I think it's realistic. I don't think that is out of the ordinary for the organization. It's not like the farm is bare or the team is financially strapped. The Cardinal organization is smart and precise in their "big" free agent acquisitions...they knew what it would take to get Price, but I found it funny that Boston had to add another $30 million (not $5m,$10m,$20m...30 million) to pry Price away from the Cardinals.

What would have been interesting is how much the Cardinals could have countered to bring Price back, would they have to match the Sox? Or could they have just upped their offer by $10 million?

Seems strange that the payroll would jump from $120 million to $180 million in one year.

Nah, not if it's someone they truly believe is worth it in the long run. Holliday, Molina, and Waino's contracts will start to fall off in the next few years...that frees up a lot of money. Do you wait until then and go at risk to find a replacement that hopefully fits your philosophy? Or do you go at cost risk and get the player you want to blend the transition? My guess is they wanted both Heyward & Price in the mix to make a big push for a World Series while they had all the other pieces in place, and as the older stars start to retire/move-on, they have Heyward & Price as their centerpieces to build another team around. Just my opinion.

I guess we'll see. I mean, I hope you're right. I would love to see Mo have the ability to spend 50% more this year than last year. I just don't think DeWitt (or any other owner in a similar situation) would allow that.

[Radbird]

We should have a plane fly a banner over Busch telling the world that Billy D is a cheap [expletive]

[ZigZagCardsFan]

FRIE DEWALLET!!

[TimeForGuinness]

I really wanted to see the Price/Wainwright tandem for the next three years...even at that price.

I know people worry about the payroll, but to be honest, the Cardinals are in a great position and can deal from the strengths of having a well-funded owner and a strong farm system. Even if Price went Tango Utah in year 4, I highly doubt it would cripple the franchise. I also don't think that Price's salary would inhibit getting other players (JHey).

Is adding $55-$60 million to this year's payroll realistic? I wouldn't think so.

Define realistic?

If the Cardinals feel that those two players are a core worth developing a team around for the next run (after Holliday, Wainwright, Yadi exit), then yes, I think it's realistic. I don't think that is out of the ordinary for the organization. It's not like the farm is bare or the team is financially strapped. The Cardinal organization is smart and precise in their "big" free agent acquisitions...they knew what it would take to get Price, but I found it funny that Boston had to add another $30 million (not $5m,$10m,$20m...30 million) to pry Price away from the Cardinals.

What would have been interesting is how much the Cardinals could have countered to bring Price back, would they have to match the Sox? Or could they have just upped their offer by $10 million?

Seems strange that the payroll would jump from $120 million to $180 million in one year.

Nah, not if it's someone they truly believe is worth it in the long run. Holliday, Molina, and Waino's contracts will start to fall off in the next few years...that frees up a lot of money. Do you wait until then and go at risk to find a replacement that hopefully fits your philosophy? Or do you go at cost risk and get the player you want to blend the transition? My guess is they wanted both Heyward & Price in the mix to make a big push for a World Series while they had all the other pieces in place, and as the older stars start to retire/move-on, they have Heyward & Price as their centerpieces to build another team around. Just my opinion.

I guess we'll see. I mean, I hope you're right. I would love to see Mo have the ability to spend 50% more this year than last year. I just don't think DeWitt (or any other owner in a similar situation) would allow that.

I think the ability to spend up to 50% more is for certain players, not across the board. If they could land Price & re-sign Heyward, they could spend up...Price is out, so the focus will be Heyward and most likely a veteran starter (Lackey, Buehrle, etc), but don't expect them to go after Greinke.

[TimeForGuinness]

I'm with TFG. I think the Cardinals make decisions as investments and contracts, especially at that magnitude, are approved by DeWitt before they are signed. It's not like Mo is really playing around with a budget. Money can also be deferred and other players can be traded.

I've seen estimates that an opt-out is worth between $10-30M to a player. Assuming that the Cardinals didn't offer one, the Sox totally blew that $190M offer out of the water.

Didn't think about the worth of an opt-out, but that seems about right. From the player's perspective, that is a large and secure contract...good or bad.

I wonder if the Cards offered an opt-out to match a Sox offer of $217m without an opt-out, and then the Sox just said screw it and threw in an opt-out. Interesting.

[Famous Mortimer]

One of those articles that ought to be linked to every time anyone on any forum says "well, player X will come to my team because we're the best, have the best org, the best support, it's near to player X's home, he's got friends on this team, etc"

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-most ... ee-agents/