Lefty reliever Eyre signs

by WholeCamels on Nov 11, 2008 8:00 AM EST

Lefty reliever and quotesmith Scott Eyre has re-signed with the Phillies. It's a one year deal worth $2 million.

Short contract, reasonable money, and a pitcher who still has quite a bit in the tank. Not a bad deal.

0 recs | Comment 28 comments

Read Related

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Not too surprising either considering both sides expressed interest in a new contract… good deal though

World F*ckin' Champions, indeed...

by foos05 on Nov 11, 2008 8:07 AM EST 0 recs

Nice way to make a living.

by taco pal on Nov 11, 2008 10:56 AM EST 0 recs

Given his type and role, Eyre probably can do this for another six years. Good sign to fill a small but real need.

by dajafi on Nov 11, 2008 11:55 AM EST 0 recs

I think when people say “MIDDLE RELIEVERS ARE FUNGIBLE, don’t spend money on them!”, it’s not that one relief pitcher is as good as another; it’s the idea of signing them to these big, multi-year deals that you’re likely to regret by Year Three (see Cormier, Rheal). This is a one year deal. If he craps out, oh well… release him, whatever. If he’s great, let him be expensive for someone else.

One area where Gillick clearly outpaced Wade was bullpen construction. Hopefully Amaro learned more about this from Pat than from Ed.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 11, 2008 12:02 PM EST 0 recs

Right. Of Scott Eyre’s next four years, probably two will be solid, one will be mediocre, and one will be awful. That tends to happen when you’re talking about a sample of 50 IP or less. He can be the exact same pitcher, pretty much, and have wildly varying results. No reason to overpay or even “lock in” that kind of unknowable factor.

by dajafi on Nov 11, 2008 1:46 PM EST up 0 recs

Fungible?

I think the concept of fungible relievers is a concept that is based on fact but misleading. Eyre, since 2002 has had ERA + of 102; 127; 106; 162; 137; 113; 105. He’s been good to very good for seven straight years. How many starting pitchers can you say that about. Yet you never hear about fungible starting pitchers? How many 3Bmen can you say that about? Again, no talk of fungible 3Bmen.

Eyre, Madson, Romero and Lidge have been pretty much good to very good pretty much every year they have been in bullpens. None of them are fungible in my view. Even my favorite fungible reliever ever, Geoff Geary has had 4 solid seasons in a row. Although many relievers are indeed fungible, many others clearly are not as they are good nearly every year. And those are the guys the Phils have been collecting lately.

This is a very good signing. It is especially so given that he signed a three year $11 million dollar contract three years ago and he doesn’t appear to be much different now than he was then. He was throwing hard and stifling lefties as well as ever for the Phils last season.

by smitty99 on Nov 11, 2008 3:44 PM EST up 0 recs

okay, but...

If he has another full year on the level of what he did for the Phils down the stretch, I’m happier paying him $3.5 million for 2010 than I would giving him a two-year deal for $5 million now.

Have a little sympathy, man. The Rheal Cormier farce did permanent damage right here…

by dajafi on Nov 11, 2008 4:14 PM EST up 0 recs

Absolutely

We’re on the hook for just one year at 1 million simoleans which is near minimum wage for veterans nowadays. If he has a typical Eyre year, which there’s no reason to think he won’t at this point, then they can ink him for another one year deal. One year deals are good in this instance.

by smitty99 on Nov 11, 2008 7:08 PM EST up 0 recs

Rheal Cormier's deal in year 3

“it’s the idea of signing them to these big, multi-year deals that you’re likely to regret by Year Three (see Cormier, Rheal)”

Signed a 4 year deal in 2001. Year 3 was 2003:

65 games, 84.67 in, .933 WHIP, 1.70 ERA, ERA+ 234, 8-0

His deal looked bad during years 1 and 2. He was incredible year 3, pretty good year 4.

by PhDave on Nov 11, 2008 4:34 PM EST up 0 recs

The contract actually looked OK by the end, but who the hell signs a middle reliever to a four-year contract?

by phatj on Nov 11, 2008 9:11 PM EST up 0 recs

Pat Gillick?

by jemagee on Nov 11, 2008 9:24 PM EST up 0 recs

Am I missing something? What middle reliever did Gillick sign to a four-year contract?

by phatj on Nov 12, 2008 11:47 PM EST up 0 recs

How long is JC Romeros contract? I thought it was four years

by jemagee on Nov 13, 2008 9:45 AM EST up 0 recs

i think it was three with a CO 4th year

World F*ckin' Champions, indeed...

by foos05 on Nov 13, 2008 9:54 AM EST up 0 recs

From Cot's (foos05 is right)

J.C. Romero
3 years/$12M (2008-10), plus 2011 club option

    * 3 years/$12M (2008-10), plus 2011 club option
          o re-signed by Philadelphia as a free agent 11/10/07
          o $0.75M signing bonus
          o 08:$3M, 09:$4M, 10:$4M, 11:$4.5M club option ($0.25M buyout)
          o price of 2011 option increases to $5M with 180 games in 2008-10
          o no-trade protection

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 13, 2008 10:59 AM EST up 0 recs

Regardless...

The point stands that this IS a long term deal that Gillick gave to a relief pitcher.

Also, it really ought to blow everyone’s mind that Adam Eaton was the fourth highest-paid Phillie in 2008.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 13, 2008 11:02 AM EST up 0 recs

Once more, with a net

I like multiposting.

I don’t think I’m going to complain about any pre-2008 contracts that blow up in 2009 or later, due to the fact that, well… 2008 went pretty well.

I will continue to rant and rave about the Eaton deal, however.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 13, 2008 11:04 AM EST up 0 recs

man don’t you wish that they’d just give each club one “Mulligan” per decade… a point where you’re in the last year of someone’s contract that blew up in your face that you can just say, “ya know what… not payin ya this year and we’re cutting you…” i think one per decade would be fair… don’t you?

World F*ckin' Champions, indeed...

by foos05 on Nov 13, 2008 12:49 PM EST up 0 recs

wow

From our good pal Mike Radano:

"You know, I had a no trade clause for Boston, New York and Philadelphia early in my career because I heard so many negative things," Eyre said. "But in just the two months I was with this team, I fell in love with this city. It’s a great place to be and I can’t say enough good things about being here.

"There are hard core fans out there, ones that know who you are and really, no one needs to know who I am. But in this town, they accepted me from the start and that means a lot. I know if I’m not pitching well I’ll get booed but that’s anywhere. This town is special and I couldn’t wait to re-sign."

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 11, 2008 4:24 PM EST 0 recs

Seriously, between that comment, and his quote re: Selig that I linked in my original post, Eyre might be my Favorite Phillie right now.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Nov 11, 2008 4:28 PM EST up 0 recs