Loading ...Got a 2 year, $7M deal. The Giants re-signed Durham and Feliz, so it looks like Rich will be playing first, and serving as primary backup for those guys. I thought he wanted an everyday job, but I guess this was close enough.
I might have preferred a Phillips/Aurilia double-play combo to Gonzalez-Phillips (Plus, it looks like Rich would be $1.5M a year cheaper than Gonzalez). But never having seen Phillips at short, it’s really impossible to say. The Reds certainly don’t like the idea of him there.
$1.5 million a year is nothing in MLB and Gonzalez is 5 years younger, locked up for 3 years and is teremendous in the field. I don’t know why so many people are hating this signing so much. There really wasn’t any better options out there at SS or second.
ESPN is reporting that it’s two years for 8. So for ‘07 and ‘08, Gonzalez and Aurilia are making virtually the same amount (Gonzalez gets $5.375M in ‘09). If Gonzalez is as slick of a SS as people say, I’d rather have him over Aurilia. He’s not the hitter Aurilia is, but Aurilia will decline with the bat and glove at his age, plus we’ll have more PAs for the developping Phillips, EdE and maybe Votto.
I don’t think I ever said I hated the Gonzalez deal, but it’s pretty simple. A run prevented (via defense) is just as valuable as a run added (via hitting).
The question is whether Aurilia’s hitting edge over Gonzalez (significant) is enough to outweigh Gonzalez’s edge over Phillips at SS (unknown, but surely something), and Phillips’ edge over Aurilia at 2b (probably significant).
There’s some value to Gonzalez’s relative youth, though I suspect we won’t be liking that 3rd contract year come December 2008.
Well Chris look at it like this, the Giants gave Aurilia (35) about $4 million a year, Roberts (34) $6 million a year and Feliz (31, .244-22-98) $5 million.
So the $4-$5 million the Reds are paying an established, young shortstop is a pretty good deal.
There is no other place to post this at the moment so I thought I’d throw it in since it involves a former Red likely changing teams.
The Seattle Mariners are close to signing Jose Guillen for a 1 yr 5mm deal that may include an ‘08 option. Seeds like for that it would have been worth bringing him back for another season with the Reds.
Giants are nearing retirment age as a team…
Hate to see Richey go, but this probably is a good move even though I hate to admit it.
Improves the infield defensively, and gives us a longer term look at our team.
I hate to see Aurilla’s bat leaving but the deal makes sense for him. At his age, two years may be all he has left. As for the Reds, they desperately need a right handed bat.
In response to the news in Seattle’s possible acquistion…Jose Guillen is also a notorious head case that does not fit well into any clubhouse whatsoever. Let his temper tantrums be thrown elsewhere.
I guess, but I’m frankly not all that concerned at how well the guys get along, or don’t.