As you all know I don't start that many topics and only weigh in on threads when it seems I have a position that needs to be said, and no one's brought this up even though it's been running through my mind for a while.

 

Do we really want the Cy Young to go to Dontrelle?

 

He's eligible for arbitration after this season. Earlier this year indications were that he'd make over $4 million. That was before he had a 22-9 record, 2.44 ERA, and a possible CYA...as a 23-year-old. Dontrelle loves Miami and the Marlins but that doesn't mean he won't get what's coming to him. I'm not suggesting that the team will trade him this year, but he's got 3 more seasons until he's a FA. He has a couple more seasons that even come close to this and he's as good as gone, especially with how much media attention he garners. So at what point should the team look into signing him long term, if at all? Do we let him go all six years and take the chance? Do we try to sign him this offseason after an other-worldly season which he may never duplicate? Do we wait until next year when he may have another 20 win season under his belt?

I'm not a baseball expert, but as far as contracts and such go, I don't know how much it's going to matter if he wins the award or not. The stats are the same whether he wins it or not. I want him to win it because he deserves it and his numbers without the award are the same as they are with the award.

 

As far as locking him up, we need to do it this off-season and I get the impression we will. Much like Toronto did with Vernon Wells and, more recently, Cleveland did with Victor Martinez, we're going to try to get him signed and avoid those arbitration years. You pay a little more now to save a lot more later and then you hope he re-signs when his term is up.

 

We'll do everything in our power to stop him from ever seeing the free agent market and you get the impression, at least now (can't predict the long-term future), if it's fair he's going to sign it.

Winning the Cy Young won't have an impact.... the man already has 22 wins and a 2.40 ERA. He's getting what's coming to him one way or another.

 

And, quite frankly, how bad is it that we could possibly want our best pitcher NOT to win the Cy Young just so we don't have to pay him a lot when he's clearly more than earned what we've already paid him. Plus, I am positive that we're going to try to give him a multiyear contract - say, 4 years, 24 million, which is a bargain in my view.

No way Dontrelle makes $4million in his first year of arbitration regardless of whether he wins the Cy Young back to back.

 

I believe the number you indicated was a proposed long term contract number that was floated earlier this year. If say DW was to get $800k next year, $1.5 in first arby, then $2.5, then $5, then $10mil (just using numbers for illustration) all parties might be satisfied to smooth out that curve and give the kid some financial security.

2003, I think Dontrelle will be eligible for arbitration after this season because he qualifies as a "Super Two." He'll probably get $2-3 million in arbitration. We should just sign him to a four or five year contract. He deserves it.

2003, I think Dontrelle will be eligible for arbitration after this season because he qualifies as a "Super Two." He'll probably get $2-3 million in arbitration. We should just sign him to a four or five year contract. He deserves it.

 

 

You may be right on that (mental lapse, it was Cabrera who isn't a super 2) but again the basic scenario remains vaild in that there is a ceiling on what he can make in his first year of arbitration, and that for DW signing a contract that spares all the arby stuff and rewards him now at a higher rate than he would otherwise receive, in exchange for a lower rate than he may receive in the out years,might make sense.

 

I'm just speculating and recounting earlier reports that the Fish had an interest in a multi-year deal with DW.

2003, makes complete sense. I agree with you. And, yes, Miggy isn't arbitration eligible after this season.

The wild card is DW's possibility of injury. Sure, he's quieted down his motion a lot, but it's still got to be more stressful than most pitchers.

 

I love DW, but we've gotta be careful with our money. Our needs are many next year (as always), and revenue streams are uncertain at best.

The wild card is DW's possibility of injury. Sure, he's quieted down his motion a lot, but it's still got to be more stressful than most pitchers.

 

I love DW, but we've gotta be careful with our money. Our needs are many next year (as always), and revenue streams are uncertain at best.

 

 

There is a possibility of injury with everyone. In addition, however, DW has never missed a start due to injury in his entire professional career. I think he's pretty durable.

 

In any case, the Marlins have insurance to pay a certain percentage of a player's salary when he is injured.

Actually, from everything I've heard, despite the wackiness that is D-Trains motion it is fundamentaly solid...so no more stress than a pitcher with a normal delivery, even less stress acording to some.

It doesn't even matter if he wins the Cy Young as far as contracts go, he already won 22 games. You don't want 22 games and then get screwed during arbitration, he'll get what he deserves, Cy Young or not.

Gotta sign this guy. He is the Florida Marlins. He brings people to the stadium.

If he wins the Cy. Young when he pitches you will get 2-4,000 more people those nights. He is one of those bright spot players in the major leagues.

 

If he wins it, he becomes one of very few black pitchers to win the CY Young ever. He becomes even more a lovable face around baseball. He becomes an even bigger star in south florida and more of an "event" when he pitches. It puts more butts into the seats. So even if he got an extra 100,000 or 1,000,000 he pays for the difference with the title.

 

Florida Marlin's first Cy Young Pitcher at age 23, Dontrelle Willis LHP

 

He would then hold first RoY and CY for us.

 

But, dont give him the award yet, he needs to come out there tonight and next week and rock it still. If he can give another 7-8-9 innings with like 0 or 1 run then he can lock this sucker up. But he needs 2 more quality starts. Plus A CG SO wouldnt hurt. (specially with our offense).