last i heard, this guy was shooting off guns on Venezuela. anyone heard anything about where he might be going? how much is he asking for? i feel that with our bullpen being our biggest concern, and spring training coming up in the next couple weeks, it is silly that there's no talk of us going out and geting this guy back for a big-money one-year deal, Pudge-style. obviously he's priced himself out of the marketplace right now. but eventually he's going to realize that sitting out a year will only decrease his value, and some team out there is going to be lucky benefactor of his desperation, pounce on him, and get a deal. it really should be us.

Pirates are interested in him. thats the last Ive Heard.

Pirates and the Spos are the teams listed in Rumor Central in insider.

I think i read speculation that me may retire or take a year off, FA market not great his year for players

I think i read speculation that me may retire or take a year off, FA market not great his year for players

 

i read this too....i gotta think that if we gave him 5+ million or something for this year, he'd rather pitch for us than sit and do nothing. he's gonna have to get a new contract next year anyway - why not pitch for us in the meantime?

I bet if we gave him 2.5 mil a year with an option for a second year in the range of 3 to 4 mil we have a shot at him for real.

I think i read speculation that me may retire or take a year off, FA market not great his year for players

 

i read this too....i gotta think that if we gave him 5+ million or something for this year, he'd rather pitch for us than sit and do nothing. he's gonna have to get a new contract next year anyway - why not pitch for us in the meantime? $5 Million for a set-up man? Nobody has even offered him anything over $3 Mill per to close.

I thought baseball had a rule that if you do not re-sign your player by the certain date you can't sign them until May..? I am wrong about this?

I thought baseball had a rule that if you do not re-sign your player by the certain date you can't sign them until May..? I am wrong about this?

No you're right.

 

If we are going to re-sign Urbina it will have to be on or past May 1st.

Urbina is likely to get the $4-5M he is seeking. It may not be until after the start of the season. May not be until the back half when contending teams are restructuring for a playoff run.

 

Just like we needed him last year, there will be another team desperate for a good closer as August and September rolls around.

I wonder what he's waiting for.

Urbina is likely to get the $4-5M he is seeking. It may not be until after the start of the season. May not be until the back half when contending teams are restructuring for a playoff run.

 

Just like we needed him last year, there will be another team desperate for a good closer as August and September rolls around.

Nobody is going to give him $4-5 Million to pitch for one half a season.

I thought baseball had a rule that if you do not re-sign your player by the certain date you can't sign them until May..? I am wrong about this?

The rule is if both parties agree to waive arbitration, then you have until the tender date to work out a contract (meaning when you have exclusive rights to negotiate a contract). If you do not, you relinquish your right to negotiate with the player until May 1. Urbina did not have an arbitration waiver clause in his contract (remember, it was the Ranger contract), therefore, once he was not tendered, he became a free agent. There is no May 1 prohibition, Urbina was non-tendered.

I have this weird feeling that as it gets later and later, the probability of him coming back here get greater and greater. Plus, if Benitez is shaky to start, and we have a lot of people coming out, I don't see a problem scrounging up $4 mil for him. May be a lot, but it beats giving up prospects for a 'pen guy...

I have this weird feeling that as it gets later and later, the probability of him coming back here get greater and greater.

That's not weird to me. I have the same feeling. Our weekest spot is bullpen...

the question is:

 

How hard is he training?

 

I doubt he's in playing shape.

I doubt he's in playing shape.

As do I.

I have this weird feeling that as it gets later and later, the probability of him coming back here get greater and greater. Plus, if Benitez is shaky to start, and we have a lot of people coming out, I don't see a problem scrounging up $4 mil for him. May be a lot, but it beats giving up prospects for a 'pen guy...

 

that was my thought exactly. as it gets into Spring Training, if someone offers him some good money to play for one year, i think he'll take it. Remember, last year about this time, Pudge was talking about playing in Japan, but he caved. Urbina + Benitez could be just as dominant than Worrell + Wagner...we could go from having one of the weaker bullpens in the league to having one of the a top-5 bullpen in one fell swoop. I think this would be a good way to spend our money.

Can someone refresh my memory as to what Urbina is looking for?

Pirates and the Spos are the teams listed in Rumor Central in insider.

perfect... hehehe...... so when we need another arm in the bullpen we can just take him from the pirates or the expos. muahahahahaha :pimp :shifty

Can someone refresh my memory as to what Urbina is looking for?

if memory serves, he's looking for 2 years, 9-10 million (total, not per)

Urbina was unhappy about making $4.5M last year, and was looking for more than $5M. The Marlins knowing what he was looking for didn't even start talks with him.

 

The best offer he has received is less than $3M, believed to be from either the Pirates or Expos.

 

So he is going to sit out until he gets a much better deal. And as good as he was last year, he may well get it yet.

Urbina was unhappy about making $4.5M last year, and was looking for more than $5M. The Marlins knowing what he was looking for didn't even start talks with him.

 

The best offer he has received is less than $3M, believed to be from either the Pirates or Expos.

 

So he is going to sit out until he gets a much better deal. And as good as he was last year, he may well get it yet.

I think sitting out this year will hurt him more, unless he only misses half a year. Taking a year off from baseball will affect your game, regardless of whether you work out or not during that time.

Urbina was unhappy about making $4.5M last year, and was looking for more than $5M. The Marlins knowing what he was looking for didn't even start talks with him.

 

The best offer he has received is less than $3M, believed to be from either the Pirates or Expos.

 

So he is going to sit out until he gets a much better deal. And as good as he was last year, he may well get it yet.

I think sitting out this year will hurt him more, unless he only misses half a year. Taking a year off from baseball will affect your game, regardless of whether you work out or not during that time. exactly...he could very shortly be put in the following position: option 1) sit out the season; option 2) sign a long-term deal for 3-4 million per year; option 3) sign a one-year deal for 4.5+ million. if he's prepared to take option 1, then there's no sense in not taking option 3....he's going to be in the same position for 2005 either way (needing to sign a new deal), except with option 3 he'll be 4.5 million dollars richer.

 

now, that being said, he may very well be insane (see: random gunfire incident mentioned above), and if that's the case, anything's possible.

Can someone refresh my memory as to what Urbina is looking for?

if memory serves, he's looking for 2 years, 9-10 million (total, not per) Most starters don't ask for 9-10 mil per, nevermind Eric Gagne. Why would Ugy ask for 9-10 mil per?