Jeff Baker Signed For 2011
For $1.175 million, via a tweet from Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports. That's a $200,000 increase over what Baker made in 2010.
over 1 year ago
Al Yellon
96 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
I have no problem with the Cubs bringing him back.
He’s a decent utility player with strong career splits against LHPs. I’m curious about everyone’s reactions to the salary amount. Too much? Just right?
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
almost seems a little cheap...
…for a verteran utility player. Certainly nice that its a one year deal.
Jim learned from his Aaron Miles mistake I think. You dont need to compete against yourself for role players.
Given what I know about the MLB salary system, I guess it's OK.
But who in the real world gets a 20 percent raise for middling season?
You know as well as the rest of us that baseball isn't the real world.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
It is funny to think about it like that.
Except you do also have to remember these players are playing in a system where for the fist few years of their career their salaries are artificially limited to a fraction of what they might be worth on the open market, and that they’re limited to negotiating with only one employer. I have no doubt even after Jeff Baker’s middling year last year that he could make $1.175m on the open market.
Also...
… via Bruce Miles, Brad Snyder got a minor league deal and a non-roster invite to spring training.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Snyder
That’s a good move. He won’t be 29 until May, so he’s not old yet. There’s still hope that he could be a productive bench player in the big leagues. There’s no way he’s going to be a star at the big league level, but he’s worth a non-roster invite. Having Bobby Scales as a NRI is another matter. 33 is too old for a NRI.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Maybe, Maybe Not
The Cubs gave Micah ample opportunity to make it in the American big leagues, and it just didn’t happen for him. Spring training 2011 is realistically the last shot Snyder is going to have or should have to make it with the Chicago Cubs. I think Snyder is capable of having numbers similar to .250/.325/.425 at the big league level. Last September was a small sample size.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
I disagree.
Snyder’s another AAAA player. He’ll get some spring training AB and go back to Iowa. He should have followed Micah to Japan.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
We'll See
I don’t believe Snyder will hit for the kind of power he has in the minors. That’s simply not going to happen. I think he can hit for an okay average with moderate power. Whatever you or I may think, he’s got to step up and do well in spring training next season to have any real chance of sticking in the big leagues. 2010 is the last full season Snyder will still be in his 20’s.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
2011 Is the Last Full Season Snyder Will Still Be In His 20's
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Welcome back Muffin Mayn!
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
Sounds good to me
If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.
by eths on Dec 2, 2010 2:00 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Fine by me.
A lovely story:
One day, long, long ago, there lived a woman who didn't whine, nag or bitch. That would be me....
But that was a long time ago and it was just that one day.
The end
the next "Big" decision is whether or not to sign Koyie Hill, or non-tender him
not a major event, but since the news is otherwise pretty slow, the only developments are the signing or non-tendering of borderline guys like Baker and Hill. yawn..
The Hill thing may be a bigger than usual story...
…because a number of us will be either upset or at least mystified as to why the Cubs would give the backup catcher job back to Koyie rather than go with one of their younger options such as Welington Castillo.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Paul Sullivan reported on twitter that they didn't non-tender anybody
Offered arbitration to Hill, Soto, Marmol, Marshall and Gorz.
by JSB on Dec 2, 2010 2:13 PM CST up reply actions
Yep, so we should all expect...
…to hear some Koyie outrage over the next few days. One might say it will be rough waters in the Koyie pond.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
by daver on Dec 2, 2010 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Heh. We'll see what they pay him.
It could be pretty easy to go with Castillo, if he outplays Hill in the spring.
I can’t imagine Hill getting a raise through arb, and I can’t imagine him winning his case. Still, if they offer him a million dollars, it’s a bad sign.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
by D98 on Dec 2, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions
I don't get it
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
me neither. through arbitratino, Koyie Hill will get close to $1million. too much
whereas Castillo would only make the minimum. If Hill was a free agent, I dont think he would get more than 700k. A classic non-tender candidate, even if the cubs want to keep him
by holy mackeral on Dec 2, 2010 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
What's a fish?
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
What is a school?
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Dec 3, 2010 9:26 AM CST up reply actions
I am a master at it
We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams
by Fat Punk Kicker on Dec 3, 2010 2:35 PM CST up reply actions
Dat cubfan daver – always carping about something…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
My favorite player: Bobby Scales.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
I don't think they should
Not only do we have guys who deserve a shot and can probably do better than him in the minors, we would have 4 catchers on the 40 man roster. time to see what the kids can do
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
I'm kinda torn about Baker coming back.
On one hand, I get that he’s a relatively cheap, somewhat useful player — especially with Blake DeWitt to platoon with and because Baker can play some outfield.
But I wonder if the strong finish is blinding the Cubs a little to the fact that the team STILL lost 87 games and could probably use more of an overhaul. I realize that moving Lee, Fontenot and Theriot in July and August was a fairly decent shakeup, but the team still didn’t score that much in the final six weeks (despite the strong record).
This isn’t a rant about the Ricketts being cheap. But with money so tight — and with the nucleus generally returning from an 87-loss team — should the Cubs be spending $2 million or so on Baker and Koyie Hill? Would it make more sense to roll the dice on some younger players and/or looking for a discount on a player or players who might be available right before ST who would do more to change the makeup of team a little?
It seems like the Cubs are bringing back a LOT of last year’s unsuccessful team, with the exception of replacing Nady.
Am I wrong?
Well, as D98 points out below...
…the Cubs really need a bona fide 3B backup — as we learned in 2009. Of course, I think Darwin Barney did play some third base last season. And Blake DeWitt did come up as a third baseman, so he could play there with Barney at second base. But I’m not sure either of those guys can hit for the power that Baker can — at least against left-handed pitching. Plus, Baker can play first base.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
With Barney, DeWitt ...
and the plans to make Colvin a 1B backup, it would seem like Baker might end up being a waste of nearly $1.2 million. Maybe I’m wrong …
I’m just thinking about how the Cubs picked up Reed Johnson in ST three years ago, or how Felipe Lopez is seemingly available every spring. Neither guy is (or was) a world beater by any means — but neither is Jeff Baker. Locking Baker and (presumably) Hill in means fewer roster spots unless the Cubs want to eat some contracts — which is unlikely this spring.
Eh, Flip Lopez will just end up doing something stupid...
…and getting kicked off the team by the All-Star Break.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
I think so.
I’m just not sure how far they’re willing to go with the young players. They could have non-tendered Baker and given Marquez Smith as a shot as the 3B/1B backup, but maybe they feel he’s not ready. And I have no idea whether he’s ever played 1B.
Or do you mean pick up a nontender and pay him league minimum? I’m not sure if that’s feasible — I just checked and Reed Johnson was paid $1.3 million in 2008 when the Cubs picked him up.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Well, I'm saying that not re-signing Baker and Hill ...
would have left some roster spots open AND some cash available. I’m not saying (necessarily) that the Cubs would pick up a nontender and pay him the league minimum. However, a bargain could be had late in spring.
The only analogy I have for signing Baker is when people opt for fixed rates on things like natural gas. If you buy in November for the entire winter, you MIGHT end up paying substantially less for gas, or substantially more — depending on what the market does. But one advantage is you know what to budget for the winter. You KNOW you’ll be paying a certain rate for certain quantities.
The Cubs seem to be locking in a rate rather than rolling the dice. And I’m not positive that that’s the right course of action because doing so helps bring back the vast majority of guys who lost 87 games in 2010.
Honestly...
… $1.1 million for Baker isn’t that much. And Baker is actually a useful player when used properly.
Lou didn’t do that with him. Perhaps Quade will.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
These deals DO add up, though.
The Cubs threw a lot of money away after 2008 on guys like Gaudin, Gathright and Miles, when that money could have meant DeRosa could have stayed a Cub.
I know Chris Archer is gonna be the next John Smoltz and all, but several small contracts can add up.
My favorite recent example
Was McFail and Hendry giving Glendon,Neifi, eyre and Howry 12 million in 2006 salary, but complaining about Furcal getting 13.
Smart well run teams use auto renew guys to fill out the roster fringes.
Hendry seems to like building rosters from 25th up.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Considering that Barney will be at the minimum
having Baker as a vet at $1.1 million with Barney as the infield backups is fine with me. At least they have all the bases covered unlike 2009.
Jim Hendry is learning :-)
John Grabow: $4.8 million in 2011.
Actually, wouldn’t locking Baker in mean more roster spots available?
The guy plays 3B, 2B, a passable 1B and corner OF, and can probably handle the 3rd/emergency catcher role too. When you’re looking at the makeup of your bench, having someone like Baker around gives you an enormous amount of flexibility.
Now whether or not we’ve got the right kind of leadership to take advantage of that flexibility is another story, but I think signing Baker is an excellent start.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Dude - you are way wrong!
The difference was the Quadster. The dude was 24-13 – that means the cubs are going to win 105 games in 2011!
Eamus Ursuli!
Kinda had to do this.
I presume he’s a platoon partner for Blake DeWitt at 2B, and if history has taught us one thing, it is that when Aramis Ramirez is your starting 3B, your backup 3B had better not also be your starting 2B.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
Will A-Ram Play 130 Games Next Season?
130 games is my goal for A-Ram next season. He could put up good numbers playing just 130 games, IF he hits like he did for the last four months of last season. We could be looking at a season with 30-35 HR’s. Is 130 games too much to ask?
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
He's only the guy on the depth chart right now...
…but, presumably, that will change.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Yep agreed,
I’m excited about paying to watch Lance Berkman or Adam LaRoche play 1b next year!
Viva la Cubs Révolution!!!
Whatever.
If it’s a bench role then whatever. He’s basically a notch about a replacement player with defense that’s a tick above average.
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
You just described most of our active roster.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 2, 2010 3:09 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Not sure about Baker
I was sure we were set with Barney next year, but the guy is a solid platoon/sub and considering how cheap it was, I’m ok with it. He’s obviously not going to start but having that kind of insurance isn’t terrible.
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
Sigh
This doesn’t do anything for me. I’d rather save the money. If Baker were good enough to even be the back-up 3b he’d be worth $1.175 million. But, he really isn’t. He only hits lefties. I’d rather save the money. Let Barney have one back-up spot in the infield, and see what you can find in the bargain bin over the winter.
Felipe Lopez
was paid $1M by the Cardinals last year. Granted it was a down year for him, but the guy has a track record of actually being good at baseball that Jeff Baker has never or will ever have.
Another waste of money by Hendry……
Flip's had his moments...
…but he can’t seem to make it through an entire season with the same team anymore. And he’s not that good. Plus, Lopez is two years older than Baker.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Whopee
A whole lotta nothing goin on. Baker’s a zero. Are we a player for anybody worth a f*ck? Guess 2011 will be another throw away season. Sweet. Can’t wait till we re-sign inhouse sackofshit Koyie Hill. C’mon Cubs give us something to get excited about!
"Any player who gets the opportunity to play at Wrigley should welcome it"
I'm just reporting what's out there.
Presumably, next week during the winter meetings, there will be some more activity.
Opening Day, may I remind you, is still four months away, not tomorrow.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
White Sox signing Dunn
Ugh 4/56 mil
"Any player who gets the opportunity to play at Wrigley should welcome it"
'Basically done (Dunn)"
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/12/white-sox-have-serious-interest-in-adam-dunn.html
He will become an instant South Side fav, and he could hit 55 at the Cell.
I’m glad the Cubs aren’t handing out that kinda money for Dunn, but he would have been fun to watch at Wrigley, too.
Yep, I guess Dunn WILL get a four-year deal.
I’d suggest Alexei, Beckham and whoever is going to play third base start working on their throwing accuracy.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
I can see giving Dunn four years if he can DH the last two ...
and if he can DH for a good bit of the first two. Still, that’s a lot of money.
Still, that’s a lot of money.
actually if you remove (or reduce) the defensive component of Dunn’s WAR, his oWAR is pretty spectacular, consistently above 3.5 oWAR, which is worth about $15.75M per year and Dunn is being paid $14M per season by the WSox.
One of the advantages of being an AL team is that teams can “hide” all offense/no defense players
Waitaminute...he's not left-handed!!!
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Now I'm seeing on Twitter...
…that the Sox want Dunn AND Konerko. Greedy bastids!
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
Cubs are going to get Pena or LaRoche
"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality." John Lennon
"My favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese, from the blue box." Geovany Soto
"They played like son of a guns......lord have mercy." Mike Quade
Yuck on Berkman.
I just don’t like him. I think he’s set to decline even further.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I think your personal dislike is weighing in pretty heavily.
Berkman’s comments about playing at Wrigley are cause for concern, though.
I don't have a personal dislike for him.
I don’t care for him as a player and I think he’s mostly done.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I feel like it's going to be Pena.
Just a gut thing.
Contributing Editor, SB Nation Chicago. Please follow us on Twitter!
He uses a fork with his left hand, so...
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Dec 2, 2010 4:05 PM CST up reply actions
is that Tweet $ amount right?
Cots and baseball reference have Baker making $975K in 2010. Not $1.55M.
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
never mind
Thought that was $1.75M for baker
"Easy on the words, brother,'' Quade said.
by RiskyBusiness on Dec 2, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions
I wonder if this is one of the "big moves" JH talked about?
by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Dec 2, 2010 6:36 PM CST reply actions
No, those are the ones he makes several hours after big meals.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Dec 2, 2010 6:38 PM CST up reply actions
Well, it looks like Jimbo is thinking that the 34-23 record the Cubs had the last 6 weeks or so of last season...
…was NOT a fluke. So, might as well go with the same team…the EXACT same team. Just re-sign Nady now. If they played that well before…they can do it again. Good thinking on Hendry’s part…don’t mess with the chemistry.
"I don't care who the manager is OR who they sign in the off-season...I just want a frickin' World Series winner" - Easy Ed
I hope your wrong
because the Cubs didn’t even play better during that 34-23 stretch, they just happened to win more games. Outside of BigZ the rotation was atrocious and the hitters BA actually went down during that stretch, but the BA with RISP went up, which probably explains the win percentage. Its the very definition of a small sample size.
Hendry’s even more of an idiot than I thought if he brings back the same team and expects the 2011 Cubs to be able to sustain a .600 win percentage.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bleed Cubbie Blue
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Cubs By The Numbers
Cubs By The Numbers is a history of the ballclub by uniform number, but the biographies help trace the history of our beloved team in a new way. For everyone who's a Cubs fan, anyone who ever wore the uniform is like family. Cubs By The Numbers reintroduces readers to some of their long-lost ancestors, even ones they think they already know.
Click here to order your copy, available now!
Recent Stories in Chicago Cubs Game Threads
Recent Stories in Ticket Exchanges
Baseball Nation Recent Stories
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
