Axford signs

[markedman5]

5 million

 

[brewmann04]

Nice Pay Raise for the AX Man,maybe this lead to a longer term deal but lets see his performance in 2013.

[markedman5]

John Axford ‏@JohnAxford

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! So pumped right now! #ILoveMilwaukee

[markedman5]

Looks like no arby hearings at all this year......good news

 

Tom ‏@Haudricourt

#Brewers also have deals with remaining two arbitration players, RHP Marco Estrada and RH reliever Burke Badenhop. That clears the deck.

[RobDeer 45]

Good stuff. Congrats to him, hope he has a great year.

[Invader3K]

Good to hear. Hopefully he's more like the 2011 Axford than the 2012 version.

[jerichoholicninja]

If he puts up a respectable 2013 I think it's time to move him next offseason. He's going to get expensive pretty quick and closers are greatly overvalued in trades.

[PrinceFielderx1]

This is a bargain.

[TheCrew07]

This is a bargain.

 

Relative to what exactly? What closers make in FA? It's not fair to compare the Arby process to FA, more so it's fair to compare similar players at a similar juncture of the career. If he pitches like last year it's a horrible investment.

 

I'm not suggesting they should have non-tendered him, this kind of money was inevitable, but I don't see much "bargain" in the signing. He got market value and there's no way that market values ever equals a bargain.

 

From a value standpoint 5M for < 70 innings isn't all that intriguing, closer, setup man, or otherwise.

[PrinceFielderx1]

This is a bargain.

 

Relative to what exactly? What closers make in FA? It's not fair to compare the Arby process to FA, more so it's fair to compare similar players at a similar juncture of the career. If he pitches like last year it's a horrible investment.

 

I'm not suggesting they should have non-tendered him, this kind of money was inevitable, but I don't see much "bargain" in the signing. He got market value and there's no way that market values ever equals a bargain.

 

From a value standpoint 5M for < 70 innings isn't all that intriguing, closer, setup man, or otherwise.

 

Yes, relative to FA, and this is part of a bigger point that I was making in another thread. Find and develop relievers from within your system, because it's much cheaper than going through FA. I also see no reason at all to extend Axford beyond his FA years. I like Axford, but I just don't see any need to pay what he will command in FA, and they will need to find someone else at that time or perhaps sooner. I'm all for recycling relievers from within the system once the current relievers become too expensive.

[adambr2]

I agree that developing your own relievers is much more cost-effective, but I don't agree that this is a bargain. 5M for a first year arby relief pitcher coming off a very lackluster year?

[Invader3K]

I agree that developing your own relievers is much more cost-effective, but I don't agree that this is a bargain. 5M for a first year arby relief pitcher coming off a very lackluster year?

 

For me, I would say it's a fair contract, but calling it a bargain is a stretch. If Axford starts off the season well but the team is tanking mid-season, I'd be more than willing to see Melvin shop him around. We've seen how quickly closers can fall apart, but also how much they can be overvalued.

[logan82]

Not a bargain. It just shows how overpaid closers actually are.

[adambr2]

Now that we inexplicably paid $5M for a first year arby player who led the league in blown saves, we have to offer him at least $4M next year. It does not matter how bad he sucks this year, if we tender him, it can't be less than $4M.

 

Of course, if he ends up being that bad, he probably won't be tendered at all.

[brewmann04]

That why DM usually does not overpay for closers.

[adambr2]

I'm still trying to figure out how he even got $5M. Isn't the general rule of thumb 40/60/80? As in 40% of market FA value your first arby year, 60% your second, etc. etc?

 

$5M in his first arby year would put Axford's FA value at $12,500,000, which makes zero sense at all.

 

I realize that 40/60/80 is not a hard and fast rule, but I thought it was at least a general guideline.

[rluzinski]

I'm still trying to figure out how he even got $5M. Isn't the general rule of thumb 40/60/80? As in 40% of market FA value your first arby year, 60% your second, etc. etc?

 

$5M in his first arby year would put Axford's FA value at $12,500,000, which makes zero sense at all.

 

I realize that 40/60/80 is not a hard and fast rule, but I thought it was at least a general guideline.

 

Yes, that is the rule of thumb and it appears to be followed fairly closely.

[adambr2]

I'm still trying to figure out how he even got $5M. Isn't the general rule of thumb 40/60/80? As in 40% of market FA value your first arby year, 60% your second, etc. etc?

 

$5M in his first arby year would put Axford's FA value at $12,500,000, which makes zero sense at all.

 

I realize that 40/60/80 is not a hard and fast rule, but I thought it was at least a general guideline.

 

Yes, that is the rule of thumb and it appears to be followed fairly closely.

 

It doesn't seem like we did, though. There is no way anyone could estimate Axford's FA value as a closer as $12.5M coming into this year, is there? Not after last year. $12.5M would put him higher than anyone other than Soriano.

[Ennder]

His fastball was clocked at 91-93 last night so depending on whether that is an injury or what it probably means he won't be effective until it goes back up.

[Bombers]

His fastball was clocked at 91-93 last night so depending on whether that is an injury or what it probably means he won't be effective until it goes back up.

Hearing that just makes me want RRR make a stand and publicly say we will have closer by committee. Same thing La Russa did 2 years ago when they won it all. Sure Motte ended up in that role by seasons end (and I am not saying, someone couldn't end up in that role for us) - but for the time being, we really need to open it up. Axford hasn't been an effective closer since 2011.

[monty57]

I saw this thread at the top of the forum, and I thought Melvin had extended him. Not a good thought at this time.

 

Axford for Porcello anyone?

[LouisEly]

Since May 15th:

 

18.1 IP, 12 H, 2 XBH (both doubles), 0 ER, 7 BB, 18K, 0.00 ERA

 

Since April 13th:

 

29.2 IP, 27 H, 5 XBH (2 HR, 3 2B), 6 ER, 11 BB (1 IBB), 31 K, 1.85 ERA

[Warning Track Power]

I think the real question becomes:

 

Do you re-insert him as the closer if K-Rod and Henderson are dealt at the deadline or are you comfortable with him as the 7th/8th inning guy?

 

I just don't think the Brewers are trading Ax.

[torts]

I think the real question becomes:

 

Do you re-insert him as the closer if K-Rod and Henderson are dealt at the deadline or are you comfortable with him as the 7th/8th inning guy?

 

I just don't think the Brewers are trading Ax.

 

if they trade both KRod and Henderson, do you really have any other option at that point?

[Warning Track Power]

I think the real question becomes:

 

Do you re-insert him as the closer if K-Rod and Henderson are dealt at the deadline or are you comfortable with him as the 7th/8th inning guy?

 

I just don't think the Brewers are trading Ax.

 

if they trade both KRod and Henderson, do you really have any other option at that point?

Gonzalez?