February 13, 201214 yr I'm shocked they had the money to do this. They are gambling he will be special. Use him in 2 years as serious trade bait. You may be on to something here ... Wouldn't put it past Beane.
February 13, 201214 yr Great, now Cuban-Americans have no reason to come see the marlins play baseball. I don't know where that came from but I'm a Marlins fan first and then a fan of Cuban players...Marlins come above any player... I've heard people (not necessarily posters on this forum) who thought signing Cespedes would attract Cuban fans to the stadium, which I think is dumb. A ton of people on this forum have said that, actually. Cubans who identify with him more, the ones who grew up there and saw him play, are more prone to root for the Yankees than any other team in baseball...
February 13, 201214 yr Tim Brown reports: He'll make $6.5 million in 2012, $8.5 million in 2013 and $10.5 million in 2014 and 2015 before hitting the free agent market again heading into the 2016 season. The contract will be finalized in about 10 days. Cespedes has already passed a physical, an identity investigation, and a drug test.
February 13, 201214 yr Tim Brown reports: He'll make $6.5 million in 2012, $8.5 million in 2013 and $10.5 million in 2014 and 2015 before hitting the free agent market again heading into the 2016 season. The contract will be finalized in about 10 days. Cespedes has already passed a physical, an identity investigation, and a drug test. How in the blue hell was this kept quiet? lol Also - backloaded, so Old Timer's idea may have gained some credibility.
February 13, 201214 yr This is not good marketing, if that's what the intent was. The casual fan in Oakland doesn't give a f*** about Yoenis Cespedes. If Beane signed him, it's because he probably sees something he can exploit or something. If this was done for marketing purposes, it's stupid. The reason why it might've worked from a marketing standpoint here is because Cespedes is Cuban. You think people from Oakland are going to care that a Cuban is coming to town? And the whole San Jose thing is irrelevant. When is Oakland moving to San Jose anyway? By the time that happens, Cespedes will be nearing the age of 30 and probably won't even be with the A's anymore, anyway. It's a four-year contract and Beane is one of those guys who will trade the player for more value if he gets the opportunity. I don't see this as a marketing signing at all. If anything, from a marketing standpoint, Beane is gonna look stupid when he's paying 6.5 mill to a player in '12 who might just start out in the minor leagues. No one's going to understand what he's doing because he traded a bunch of young pitchers and is now doing this. The casual fan will think he's an idiot and want him fired immediately. It's terrible from a marketing standpoint, especially initially. If they wanted a signing to market the team, they would've just signed Manny Ramirez with no risk involved. (which they will probably do, anyway)
February 13, 201214 yr I think that having a good Cuban player could do good things for attendance, but so does winning. Overpaying for an unproven commodity like Cespedes sucks up money that could be more wisely spent elsewhere and makes it harder to win. There is a very fine margin here. The risk and price tag for Cespedes far exceeded his actual value for bringing in fans.
February 13, 201214 yr Tim Brown reports: He'll make $6.5 million in 2012, $8.5 million in 2013 and $10.5 million in 2014 and 2015 before hitting the free agent market again heading into the 2016 season. The contract will be finalized in about 10 days. Cespedes has already passed a physical, an identity investigation, and a drug test. Man that's of money for someone that's never taken a pitch in MLB. He better not bust or Billy Beane will be busted along with Cespedes
February 13, 201214 yr If anything, from a marketing standpoint, Beane is gonna look stupid when he's paying 6.5 mill to a player in '12 who might just start out in the minor leagues. Aren't the 2012 A's essentially the Minor Leagues anyway?
February 13, 201214 yr The A's pioneered the approach - but the Rays have more money and more brains, and the Red Sox just plain have more money. I'm not really sure that the A's and Rays models are that similar. For example, I don't think there is really a precedent for how the Rays have handled their arbitration buyouts with Beane. On top of that, I wouldn't necessarily say that the Rays have more money. I would actually suspect the opposite to be the case. It's a copycat league and just about every team now has copied the A's approach from past years. That's why Beane gets so much credit for what he does. He re-invented the way front offices made moves. The Rays have certainly done a better job locking up their own players early lately, but that has more to do with the fact that they've gotten luckier (or done a lot better, whichever you prefer) in the draft. Longoria and Moore are special players. The really smart thing wasn't so much extending them early, but rather drafting them (especially Moore, a tremendous find in the draft).
February 13, 201214 yr I think that having a good Cuban player could do good things for attendance, but so does winning. Overpaying for an unproven commodity like Cespedes sucks up money that could be more wisely spent elsewhere and makes it harder to win. There is a very fine margin here. The risk and price tag for Cespedes far exceeded his actual value for bringing in fans. I agree. That's why I never wanted him. The fact that he's already 26 kinda made me want him less. If you're going to take a gamble on such a player, Soler seems like the better guy to do it with.
February 13, 201214 yr This is not good marketing, if that's what the intent was. The casual fan in Oakland doesn't give a f*** about Yoenis Cespedes. If Beane signed him, it's because he probably sees something he can exploit or something. If this was done for marketing purposes, it's stupid. The reason why it might've worked from a marketing standpoint here is because Cespedes is Cuban. You think people from Oakland are going to care that a Cuban is coming to town? And the whole San Jose thing is irrelevant. When is Oakland moving to San Jose anyway? By the time that happens, Cespedes will be nearing the age of 30 and probably won't even be with the A's anymore, anyway. It's a four-year contract and Beane is one of those guys who will trade the player for more value if he gets the opportunity. I don't see this as a marketing signing at all. If anything, from a marketing standpoint, Beane is gonna look stupid when he's paying 6.5 mill to a player in '12 who might just start out in the minor leagues. No one's going to understand what he's doing because he traded a bunch of young pitchers and is now doing this. The casual fan will think he's an idiot and want him fired immediately. It's terrible from a marketing standpoint, especially initially. If they wanted a signing to market the team, they would've just signed Manny Ramirez with no risk involved. (which they will probably do, anyway) The only reason can be a gamble (a big one at that) that he makes it big and then someone like the Yankees or Sox will want him so badly they will give up the farm for him. If he busts Oakland is really screwed and will be so financially strapped they may not have the money to pony up for the new stadium. I think the stadium here showed that in the future teams are going to have to pay at least 25% (probably more) for new stadiums. Where are the A's going to get $ 150-200 million it will cost for their share ? Especially when they have $ 20+ million still tied up in a 2nd year player (I am guessing it will take at least 2 years from now to get that stadium underway).
February 13, 201214 yr This gives us more money to extend Mike Stanton. /thread ABSOLUTELY....do it now or watch him walk when he can become a Dodger, his boyhood dream team.
February 13, 201214 yr I'm disappointed and relieved at the same time. Likewise. Im more just wondering, "seriously, the f***ing A"s?!?" Sign Mike Stanton. Do it now.
February 13, 201214 yr Good. So far I'm really happy with the way they have walked from certain players. They are spending, but not recklessly. Same old Marlins!
February 13, 201214 yr At 4 years, I would've considered. I'd rather pay him more to be here for less years. I really think this is one of those situations where 4/$36 > 6/$36. I don't see the logic in that. If you backload his contract you're only taking the hit on about two seasons instead of taking the hit on 4 seasons. So if we were to extend Mike Stanton we could also 'backload' his contract and Cespedes contract wouldn't interfere with Stanton's contract (especially in the case that Cespedes becomes unmovable).
February 13, 201214 yr This doesn't bother me all that much. I would still like to see Coghlan in CF but with a tighter leash than last time. Boni has proven that he can play everyday but I still see him having more value in a utility role.
February 13, 201214 yr Man, teams have really been coming out of nowhere this off-season & snatching our closely watched FA's. First the Angels with Pujols, then the Tigers with Fielder & now the A's with Cespedes...
February 13, 201214 yr I just watched the Cespedes promo video and I have 2 questions: 1) How has no one made a spoof of it yet? and 2) How long do you think it will take before he learns the terms "brush-back" and "chin music"? The dude stands and watches every homerun he hits.
February 13, 201214 yr 2) How long do you think it will take before he learns the terms "brush-back" and "chin music"? The dude stands and watches every homerun he hits. The first time they play the Rangers. Nolan Ryan won't allow that ish to happen.
February 13, 201214 yr 2) How long do you think it will take before he learns the terms "brush-back" and "chin music"? The dude stands and watches every homerun he hits. The first time they play the Rangers. Nolan Ryan won't allow that ish to happen. Jared Weaver will also have none of it.
February 13, 201214 yr This doesn't bother me all that much. I would still like to see Coghlan in CF but with a tighter leash than last time. Boni has proven that he can play everyday but I still see him having more value in a utility role. Boni is the better player (at this point), but I'd rather see him getting 1/2 the at-bats of Coghlan (at least before he strains or tears something)?
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.