The Hot Stove League Thread

[ZB9]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Darvish will be SUCH a better signing than CJ Wilson

Rangers FO knows what they are doing

[SPTO]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Darvish will be SUCH a better signing than CJ Wilson

Rangers FO knows what they are doing

Yep, what sets Darvish apart from some of the other Japanese pitchers who've come to the big leagues is that he's YOUNG. He's going to make the adjustment to the MLB a lot quicker and easier than some of the others guys who've come to North America. He's likely going to improve year over year for the next 5-8 years if he doesn't turn out to be a bust.

[DrJones]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Yep, what sets Darvish apart from some of the other Japanese pitchers who've come to the big leagues is that he's YOUNG. He's going to make the adjustment to the MLB a lot quicker and easier than some of the others guys who've come to North America. He's likely going to improve year over year for the next 5-8 years if he doesn't turn out to be a bust.

Who are you comparing him to? Darvish will turn 26 in August. Dice-K was 26 when he debuted with Boston. Ditto with Nomo. Irabu and Igawa were 27. Ishii was 28.

I think Darvish is a better player than those guys (at least his NPB stats are better), but like Dice-K, he has a lot of crazy pitch counts in his past. According to ESPN, Darvish had double the number of 130+ pitch outings last year than every MLB pitcher combined, as well as nine 140+ pitch outings in 2010. Hopefully (for Rangers fans), Darvish's durability holds up over the next 4-5 years.

[bhurst99]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I'm incredibly disappointed the Jays didn't get Darvish. He really could have energized the franchise by connecting with the sizable Asian population in Toronto and helped bring people to the ball park.

It might not have worked out that way but it was a shot Rogers should have taken. It would have been a worthwhile gamble even at a $100 million plus tag. They blew it huge. No other free agent out there had that potential for the Jays and I'm even including the Pujols in that conversation.

I used to respect Paul Beeston but it's becoming pretty clear he's just a flunky for Rogers ownership. Nobody likes Rogers; but everyone used to love Beeston because of his assocation with the World Series teams. He's a great spokesperson for Rogers to hide behind because when he talks of a $120 million budget fans trust him. But the truth is Rogers isn't prepared to spend anything like that and Beeston is too happy to cash his sizeable cheque and spew whatever lies the fans and media are willing to believe.

That's my rant for the evening.

[DrJones]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I'm incredibly disappointed the Jays didn't get Darvish. He really could have energized the franchise by connecting with the sizable Asian population in Toronto and helped bring people to the ball park.

It might not have worked out that way but it was a shot Rogers should have taken. It would have been a worthwhile gamble even at a $100 million plus tag. They blew it huge. No other free agent out there had that potential for the Jays and I'm even including the Pujols in that conversation.

I used to respect Paul Beeston but it's becoming pretty clear he's just a flunky for Rogers ownership. Nobody likes Rogers; but everyone used to love Beeston because of his assocation with the World Series teams. He's a great spokesperson for Rogers to hide behind because when he talks of a $120 million budget fans trust him. But the truth is Rogers isn't prepared to spend anything like that and Beeston is too happy to cash his sizeable cheque and spew whatever lies the fans and media are willing to believe.

That's my rant for the evening.

It's a blind bidding process. For all we know, the Jays put in a bid of $51.2M and thought that was good enough. Should they have just put in $75M or $100M just to make sure?

[bkrich83]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

51 million just to earn the right to negotiate with him? This is going to turn in to a $100 million investment.

Japanese pitchers. We've seen this movie before.

[cubsfan203]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I guess the good news is they don't have to pay that money if a deal isn't reached.

[DrJones]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

51 million just to earn the right to negotiate with him? This is going to turn in to a $100 million investment.

Japanese pitchers. We've seen this movie before.

I'd say at least $125M. Darvish was making $12M per season in Japan. He's not coming to North America to take a pay cut. Likely 5/75 to sign him.

[The Big Squeezy]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

$51 million just for negotiation rights? The ****?

[bhurst99]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

It's a blind bidding process. For all we know, the Jays put in a bid of $51.2M and thought that was good enough. Should they have just put in $75M or $100M just to make sure?

To end that speculation, Rogers needs to announce how much they bid to restore their credibility with their fans.

[Perfect Zero]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I had just about resigned myself to the fact that Darvish would be pitching at SkyDome (sic) next year, but there was still that hope that the money men behind the team would hit oil somewhere. This is a good move for the team that not only has added a good right handed pitcher, but allows for Ogando to move back into the bullpen while providing support for the offense.

Darvish was the key to the whole offseason for the Rangers. Wilson is good, but he's at peak production and will never reach TORP status. Fielder would have been an OK consolidation prize, but he would have done nothing for our rotation while creating more problems for 1B/C. Darvish may not be the complete answer, but the Rangers would not have dropped this money if they didn't think that he could produce. Listen to Ryan and the Maddux Bros. and I think he'll be fine.

[Beantown]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

51 million just to earn the right to negotiate with him? This is going to turn in to a $100 million investment.

Japanese pitchers. We've seen this movie before.

**** you, Dice-K.

Seriously, ****. you.

[Gibbz]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

51 million just to earn the right to negotiate with him? This is going to turn in to a $100 million investment.

Japanese pitchers. We've seen this movie before.

Darvish has some sick stuff. I'd much rather invest in him over the next few years than CJ Wilson, who has peaked and will likely not have another season as good as 2011.

[kingkilla56]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Ill never understand why teams drop 50 mil plus to talk to a guy in another country. What kind of nonsense is that?

Why no spend on free agents in the league? 50 mil can get alot of nice pieces. Including the pitcher they just let go...

[Bellsprout]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I would've bid 100 mil just to troll the rest of the MLB. *evil laugh*

Apparently, from what I've learned with the Brewers winning the bid on Norichika Aoki, it's completely refunded if you don't sign him.