Payroll and some options for SP

[chansen]

Figured I would open a thread about the payroll even though many have been talking about it. We now know that the payroll stands somewhere between $81-$85 according to Mark. We signed Counsell today to a 1/1M contract.

 

Here are some options that are worthy of a possibility and at least a look. Please let me know about your opinions.

 

First of all, we are looking at a #4-#5 type pitcher unless a trade happens.

 

KRIS BENSON

- Did not play the last 2 years in the MLB. He is from Superior, Wisconsin and could be an option to end his career here if he wants to.

- Brewers are on the list of teams that are going to watch him throw

- Could be cheap considering he came off a 1-6 record with a 5.78 era in the Minors last season.

- He made $7M in 2007. Looking far less than that this season. Probably a Minor League contract

 

JOSH FOGG

- Struggled in the MLB last season after posting good numbers in AAA.

- His ERA will hover around 5

- Made $400,000 in 2008. Another Minor League constract

 

CHUCK JAMES

- Struggled last season as well but had 2 very good years before 2008.

- Lefty

- Made $427,500 in 2008.

 

ODALIS PEREZ

- Not a bad season last year with Washington

- Made $850,000 in 2008

 

I like the options. Tell me what you all think

[craigharmann]

Benson's wife would make things interesting....His arms issues concern me....Fogg wouldn't be a bad pickup. The question is, do any of these 4 make the rotation better than what it currently is? With Benson, I would be opposed to doing what they did with Jeff Weaver. Give him a chance, and if he doesn't cut the mustard, then cut him.

[Invader3K]

I wouldn't mind taking a chance on Odalis Perez if the opportunity arose. The others just seem like such long shots, I'm not sure if it's worth bothering.

[trwi7]

Perez would be the only one of interest to me and the interest isn't even that high with him.

[sheetswannabe]

I would love Chuck James. But he has to learn to keep the ball in the park because if he did, he would be getting big money. last 3 years 62 homers in 310 innings. Ouch

[yoshii8]

Out of those choices, I'd pick Chuck James first by far and then Odalis Perez. I want nothing to do w/ either Bensen or Fogg.

[razzzorsharp]

The question to me is not whether any of these would be better than our five, because they would not more than likely, to me it's whether any of these would be a nice addition to the SP core in case of injury.

 

1) Perez

2) James

[craig712]

At this point, any of them would be better than nothing. I just dont like our depth at SP. Plus, if any of them could perform I wouldn't mind putting McClung back into the pen.

[DuWayne Steurer]

At this point, I have to believe McClung is a better starting option than Bensen or Fogg.

 

If we're bringing them in as retread tryouts to add some AAA depth, I understand. These are not guys, outside of maybe Perez, who should be pushing other guys down on the depth chart.

[Milltownhooker]

Odalis Perez or Mark Mulder would be nice signings for depth.

[DHonks]

I'd love Benson or Mulder to be in AAA. If either recover they could be huge steals. Most likely they won't be much, but it's at least depth and a cheap risk.

[Invader3K]

I dread the thought of Kris Benson in the Brewers organization because we'd just hear about his wife non-stop, and that would get old extremely quickly.

[chansen]

MY point exactly with trying to sign one of these guys on a Minor League deal and if they perform, it is a huge steal!

[cwolf2012]

I'd take Chuck James. Yeah, he was awful in all 26 innings he pitched in the majors last season, but he's 27 years old and he did reasonably well in AAA last season.

 

If not him, then Perez.

 

The other two don't interest me.

[RU Rah Rah]

If (as Mark A. has indicated) there isn't any money for a bona fide FA pitcher, then I think you have to look at one or more of these guys. James intrigues me the most; Benson, not so much. (I doubt he's got much left in the tank.) Sign him cheaply, send him down to Nashville, and see what he's got.

 

(Very good thread, but it bothers me that we've been reduced to thinking about the possibility of these retreads!)

[phxMILWfan]

Benson's wife would make things interesting....His arms issues concern me....Fogg wouldn't be a bad pickup. The question is, do any of these 4 make the rotation better than what it currently is? With Benson, I would be opposed to doing what they did with Jeff Weaver. Give him a chance, and if he doesn't cut the mustard, then cut him.

I can't see or hear this guys name with out thinking of his wife IMMEDIATELY. Anyone else remember her threat that if he cheated on her she would make her self available to every single one of his teammates? I like this dynamic he would add to the team. Anyone feel like photoshopping her into that picture with Branyan that frequented this site? The guy is worth signing just to have his wife around. I don't care if he even throws a pitch.

[kilgore37]

looks like you don't have to worry about Benson's wife

 

 

Anna Benson has filed for divorce, saying that her marriage to Kris Benson is "irretrievably broken," which is whorespeak for "he's of no use to me in Baltimore." Just for review, here's the Anna Benson timeline:

 

Mid 1990's: Anna Benson is dancing on a pole somewhere.

 

1999-2004: Anna lives a wealthy, albeit anonymous life married to Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher, Kris Benson.

 

2005: Kris Benson signs with the New York Mets.

 

2005: Anna Benson appears on the Howard Stern show and makes a name for herself by discussing the Benson's sex life and announcing that if Kris were to cheat on her, she'd do every member of the Mets organization, all the way down to the groundskeeper.

 

Jan 22, 2006: Kris Benson is traded to Baltimore. Anna speaks more at the press conference than Kris.

 

March 2006: Anna Benson appears on the cover of FHM and has a featured, pseudo-topless photoset.

 

March 30, 2006. Anna believes she's a legitimate model and that moving to Baltimore would ruin her new career. Having sucked everything out of her husband Kris, she files for divorce.

[PeaveyFury]

I believe they reconciled shortly after she filed for divorce, IIRC.

[logan82]

kilgore37 wrote:

2005: Anna Benson appears on the Howard Stern show and makes a name for herself by discussing the Benson's sex life and announcing that if Kris were to cheat on her, she'd do every member of the Mets organization, all the way down to the groundskeeper.

 

>>>>2005 Applications to be a Mets groundskeeper flood the front office.(Not sure if this is true. Just assuming.)

 

Jan 22, 2006: Kris Benson is traded to Baltimore. Anna speaks more at the press conference than Kris.

 

March 2006: Anna Benson appears on the cover of FHM and has a featured, pseudo-topless photoset.

 

March 30, 2006. Anna believes she's a legitimate model and that moving to Baltimore would ruin her new career. Having sucked everything out of her husband Kris, she files for divorce.

[sheetskout]

I rather take the risk on James as well as he may have a bit of upside left.

[chansen]

I hate Mark A. quote about the upcoming season.

 

Said something like: I don't want to spend now because if we contend, we can sign a major deal at the deadline.

 

Come on Mark! Our rotation needs a little depth and we need to sign one of these guys to a Minor League deal now! The market is low and offering a deal to one of these guys would be a good move. See what they have in the Minors and hopefully they can contribute.

 

No one has even been in contact with James.

[chansen]

Other possibilities:

 

BYUNG HUN-KIM

- I dont even know if he plays anymore but is a FA.

- Released by the Pirates

 

JOSH TOWERS

- Struggled a bit in 2007 but does have some experience.

- in 2008 was in the Minors and posted a 6-7 record with a 6.27 era

 

TONY ARMAS JR

- Could be a reliever as well if starting doesn't work

- Signed for $1M last year

- Had a very good AAA (88k/20bb 2.54 era) but struggled with the Mets in limited usage

[And That]

Josh Towers was signed by the Nationals.

 

I'm on the Chuck James bandwagon, or Odalis Perez if he doesn't want more than $1 mil. Or both. The depth would be good to have, if not mind blowingly nice.

[Roderick]

We now know that the payroll stands somewhere between $81-$85 according to Mark.

I am fairly new (or don't pay enough attention to names), what is this according to Mark? If by Mark, means you are using the 40 man roster salaries listed on bfan.net, please note that the kids that are in the minors do not get $400K a year.

 

I figure the 25 man roster as it currently stands at $76.25M (assuming Hart and Weeks at max arby and only a little above minimum for the unknown roster spots).

[Invader3K]

Roderick, Mark Attanasio was quoted very recently in a local paper saying the payroll stood in that range right now.