Mets Agree To Terms With Anthony Swarzak - 2-years/$14M

[502 to Right]

It's crazy to think/say it's *troubling* that we didn't resign him since he enjoyed his time here.

 

No one said that. You're leaving out key facts that make this non-signing "troubling."

[3and2Fastball]

In terms of "selling high": man oh man could they get a lot back for Knebel right now. But I won't beat that horse to death

 

I'm hoping they keep Hader in the bullpen. He looks like an extremely valuable weapon there....

[markedman5]

[Thurston Fluff]

While I wouldn't mind one more proven reliever I'd be happy to go with what we have and some scrap heap options. Relievers are so unpredictable that what they are paid rarely matches their production. I would rather be on the underpaid side than overpaid. In a year or two maybe I will change my mind but even if we are in the prime contention years, relievers are so volatile I'm not sure spending a lot of money on them produces better results. I get bullpens are more important in today's game than in the past. But just because they are more important doesn't mean spending more money on them is the best way to build one.

[adambr2]

It's crazy to think/say it's *troubling* that we didn't resign him since he enjoyed his time here.

 

No one said that. You're leaving out key facts that make this non-signing "troubling."

 

Briggs kind of literally did say that.

 

I totally agree with TJ on value trumping the market. If Stearns does not feel that the relievers on the market are worth 7-8M a year, he should not pay it. There are other ways to build the pen. I know some people want to see Stearns just blow a hole in Mark A's wallet this off-season simply because we have plenty of money to burn, but that's not the right approach or a sustainable one.

[jerichoholicninja]

It's crazy to think/say it's *troubling* that we didn't resign him since he enjoyed his time here.

 

No one said that. You're leaving out key facts that make this non-signing "troubling."

 

Briggs kind of literally did say that.

 

I totally agree with TJ on value trumping the market. If Stearns does not feel that the relievers on the market are worth 7-8M a year, he should not pay it. There are other ways to build the pen. I know some people want to see Stearns just blow a hole in Mark A's wallet this off-season simply because we have plenty of money to burn, but that's not the right approach or a sustainable one.

 

Signing a reliever to an "above value" contract isn't a big deal since it really isn't that much money in the grand scheme of things. I'd rather Stearns take a chance on a RP for $8M per for a couple years and have him implode than have sign a SP for $20M per for 5 or 6 years and have him implode.

[Jenkins5]

Patience, grasshoppers, Papa Stearns is just getting started

 

[sarcasm]You're right. I'll just patiently wait for a Feliz-type signing to bolster our bullpen up a bit.[/sarcasm]

 

Not worried. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you need to be careless with it or handcuff yourself in short or long term. They have values put on guys & stick to it. I like that. Still plenty of arms out there to sign or trade for. Maybe tomorrow we wake up to a Givens trade & we are estactic or at least me. Point is gauge market & get the guys you want at or close to value. I think we have some good options in house who deserve strong looks as well. We aren’t winning WS this year. Still developing & finding out what we have in our guys. Our top pitcher is out a good chunk of season. Brinson & such need time to adjust. Guys need to prove they are not 1 year flukes.

 

Overall find guys that fit our plan to contend & will also not hamper us moving forward. 2/14 seems high for a non closer who has had one good season.

[SRB]

Swarzak is a 32-year-old relieve with one good season in his career. Why would anyone want to give him $14M when quality relievers are so fungible, other than he was on the Brewers for a few months?

[502 to Right]

He signed a 2/14 contract. People here are making it sound like he signed for 5/55 or something like that.

 

The contract is reasonable in both years and dollars. Stop acting like this contract was going to hamstring the Brewers. I'm all for being smart with money and having payroll flexibility but people here are taking it to a ridiculous level. Maybe Ted Thompson is posting here.

[Boomer5]

I'm as critical as anyone on Stearns but this is December 13th and Swarzak was a NRI just 10 months ago. No need to worry over him going somewhere else as he was acquired as a rental.

 

Stearns needs to find his own quality NRI's for 2018.

 

Oh and for the love of God keep Hader in the pen.

[LouisEly]

What I can't wrap my head around is Juan Nicasio getting 2/$17.5M.

 

Dude was given away on waivers last August. A guy who gets 2/$17.5M wasn't worth anything in trade 3.5 months ago?

 

Hell, why sign FA relievers to big contracts when teams are giving them away at the trade deadline(s)?

[liveforoctober]

What I can't wrap my head around is Juan Nicasio getting 2/$17.5M.

 

Dude was given away on waivers last August. A guy who gets 2/$17.5M wasn't worth anything in trade 3.5 months ago?

 

Hell, why sign FA relievers to big contracts when teams are giving them away at the trade deadline(s)?

 

David Stearns agrees with you.

[StearnsFTW]

He signed a 2/14 contract. People here are making it sound like he signed for 5/55 or something like that.

 

The contract is reasonable in both years and dollars. Stop acting like this contract was going to hamstring the Brewers. I'm all for being smart with money and having payroll flexibility but people here are taking it to a ridiculous level. Maybe Ted Thompson is posting here.

 

No reason to overpay for a player that isn't some huge upgrade, at least in their eyes. They made him what they thought was a fair offer.

 

I, for one, am glad they didn't cave. It's a good indicator. Assuming that's what happened as reported.

[Humans Need Water]

What I can't wrap my head around is Juan Nicasio getting 2/$17.5M.

 

Dude was given away on waivers last August. A guy who gets 2/$17.5M wasn't worth anything in trade 3.5 months ago?

 

Hell, why sign FA relievers to big contracts when teams are giving them away at the trade deadline(s)?

 

David Stearns agrees with you.

Stearns has a number for everyone and if it requires them to go above it he starts looking in other directions. That's what smart, disciplined, patient people do. Same philosophy in trades. He knows what his best offer will be and if it doesn't work then move on as there's always someone else and another way to improve.

 

While we certainly could have afforded Swarzak and it wouldn't have affected anything the next 2yrs Stearns most likely placed X dollar amount on him and if it worked then great. If not then move on. There's plenty of other options not to mention the trade deadline

[sargennm]

Stearns built an unexpected playoff contender by getting the most bang for his buck in free agency and trades. Whether it’s because that’s his philosophy, he’s been told not to spend or he just think he has the Midas touch, I don’t see that changing this year. The moves by the Cards and Cubs could backfire and at the very least deplete their farm systems.

 

I think it’s smart to wait and bring in a bunch of guys who you project to have bounceback seasons or seem like they just need a tweak in their delivery for the same price as Swarzak. His contract is not a bank breaker but there’s so much variation and unpredictability year to year for most relievers. Let desperate teams overpay and find the value among the players left when other teams run out of budget.

[Jenkins5]

Patience, grasshoppers, Papa Stearns is just getting started

 

[sarcasm]You're right. I'll just patiently wait for a Feliz-type signing to bolster our bullpen up a bit.[/sarcasm]

 

Not worried. Just because you have money doesn’t mean you need to be careless with it or handcuff yourself in short or long term. They have values put on guys & stick to it. I like that. Still plenty of arms out there to sign or trade for. Maybe tomorrow we wake up to a Givens trade & we are estactic or at least me. Point is gauge market & get the guys you want at or close to value. I think we have some good options in house who deserve strong looks as well. We aren’t winning WS this year. Still developing & finding out what we have in our guys. Our top pitcher is out a good chunk of season. Brinson & such need time to adjust. Guys need to prove they are not 1 year flukes.

 

Overall find guys that fit our plan to contend & will also not hamper us moving forward. 2/14 seems high for a non closer who has had one good season.

[RockCoCougars]

Speaking as someone who wanted Swarzak re-signed, after seeing these figures, all that I can say is good for Anthony and good for the Brewers for not offering this deal.

[502 to Right]

Personally, I think Stearns has misjudged the market. And he will be left digging through the bargain bin to fill out the bullpen. For the record, I like Stearns a lot--but I think the reliever marker is not the place to be a hard ass with money given the relatively short contracts for even pretty good RP's.

 

It will be interesting to see what Jared Hughes gets on the open market. Stearns non-tendered him not wanting to pay the projected $3m in arbitration. In hindsight that might have turned out to be a great deal for the Brewers.

[Brewer Fever]

Personally, I think you're wrong. And the historical data showing tremendous volatility with relief pitching agrees with me.

 

Many of you sound like spoiled 6 year olds. If this is the team the Brewers take to spring training, then you'll have a legitimate beef.

[Jenkins5]

Personally, I think you're wrong. And the historical data showing tremendous volatility with relief pitching agrees with me.

 

Many of you sound like spoiled 6 year olds. If this is the team the Brewers take to spring training, then you'll have a legitimate beef.

 

Absolutely what I was about to write. RPs are all over the place. Very few string together consistently good season after season. They have spikes up, and they drop back down. Just look at our closer history. A bunch of guys who were brilliant for a season, maybe two, then they just lose it and are replaced. Not is not uncommon for a guy to come from the minors or be a waiver pick up and be lights out. Then a year later the are just a guy who is okay. I'm still on the horse that says we have two guys in our system who are back from injury that could be great power arms for us in the pen this year. Who is to say Williams or Houser can't give us the quality of these guys (who im not overly impressed with for the price.) will for 6.5+ million less a year with 6 years of control? I think Wade Davis has done enough in his career to earn big money but most of these other guys have been mostly just guys who have had their moments or seasons.

 

Wanted Swarzak but not at the price. 32 with one good season in his career does not justify the spending.

[SandyTolan]

 

Agreed, except what happens when the price for EVERYONE has gone up? Then you get to keep your money, but meantime the teams around you (read: Cubs and Cardinals) are seriously improved and you've stood pat. Agreed, it's still early, but passing on Swarzak and taking a flyer, say on JJ Hoover, doesn't seem to be a recipe for success.

 

However my prediction is that the answer will lie more in house than outside. I think Adrian Houser is going to the big surprise of the 2018 Brewer bullpen. Stearns himself was raving about him the other day, something he rarely does about anyone.

[Roderick]

...

It will be interesting to see what Jared Hughes gets on the open market. Stearns non-tendered him not wanting to pay the projected $3m in arbitration. In hindsight that might have turned out to be a great deal for the Brewers.

 

Agreed, should have retained Hughes, and I said that before the market went "crazy".

 

Not really "crazy", as it is predictable with all the money out there - this is the new normal. I'm sure big market teams will be forcing a huge bump to the luxury tax the next time they get the chance.

[monty57]

Stearns has a number for everyone and if it requires them to go above it he starts looking in other directions. That's what smart, disciplined, patient people do.

 

Agreed, except what happens when the price for EVERYONE has gone up? Then you get to keep your money, but meantime the teams around you (read: Cubs and Cardinals) are seriously improved and you've stood pat. Agreed, it's still early, but passing on Swarzak and taking a flyer, say on JJ Hoover, doesn't seems to be a recipe for success.

 

However my prediction is that answer will lie more in house than outside. I think Adrian Houser is going to the big surprise of the 2018 Brewer bullpen. Stearns himself was raving about him the other day, something he rarely does about anyone.

 

Think in terms of relative value. Inflation will bring everyone's price up, so it's best to see what players cost relative to other players.

 

Relievers have always been significantly under-priced relative to starters. The Royals' success made everyone else realize that relievers are more important than they were being paid, so the price shot up quickly. With decent relievers now getting $7-10M/year, we're pushing closer to equal value for a reliever vs a starter, and I don't believe a decent reliever is worth nearly as much as a decent starter.

 

You need a bullpen, but an 8-man bullpen at an average of $8M per is $64M, which the Brewers cannot afford to pay for a bullpen. Going into the offseason, I wanted Stearns to use some of the free cash to bolster the pen, but as others have said you have to have discipline when prices start getting too high. At some point, an "unproven" league-minimum guy like Williams becomes a better option than a high-priced veteran.

 

The bright side to all of this is that all teams have budgets, so there will be undervalued players/positions. Maybe we'll get lucky this year and with everyone in love with average-ish relievers the price tag for second basemen will fall and we'll be able to use our money there.

[KeithStone53151]

Stearns has a number for everyone and if it requires them to go above it he starts looking in other directions. That's what smart, disciplined, patient people do.

 

Agreed, except what happens when the price for EVERYONE has gone up? Then you get to keep your money, but meantime the teams around you (read: Cubs and Cardinals) are seriously improved and you've stood pat. Agreed, it's still early, but passing on Swarzak and taking a flyer, say on JJ Hoover, doesn't seems to be a recipe for success.

 

However my prediction is that answer will lie more in house than outside. I think Adrian Houser is going to the big surprise of the 2018 Brewer bullpen. Stearns himself was raving about him the other day, something he rarely does about anyone.

 

Think in terms of relative value. Inflation will bring everyone's price up, so it's best to see what players cost relative to other players.

 

Relievers have always been significantly under-priced relative to starters. The Royals' success made everyone else realize that relievers are more important than they were being paid, so the price shot up quickly. With decent relievers now getting $7-10M/year, we're pushing closer to equal value for a reliever vs a starter, and I don't believe a decent reliever is worth nearly as much as a decent starter.

 

You need a bullpen, but an 8-man bullpen at an average of $8M per is $64M, which the Brewers cannot afford to pay for a bullpen. Going into the offseason, I wanted Stearns to use some of the free cash to bolster the pen, but as others have said you have to have discipline when prices start getting too high. At some point, an "unproven" league-minimum guy like Williams becomes a better option than a high-priced veteran.

 

The bright side to all of this is that all teams have budgets, so there will be undervalued players/positions. Maybe we'll get lucky this year and with everyone in love with average-ish relievers the price tag for second basemen will fall and we'll be able to use our money there.

 

I can understand that to some degree, but as of now we'll be rolling out a really awful bullpen. We have at least 3 spots to fill, and we shouldn't be counting on 3 guys from the minor leagues to open the season. I'm also concerned it may push us towards putting Hader in the pen. I'll feel better about the off season when we get at least 1 solid guy for the bullpen.

[Jenkins5]

I'm sure if he doesn't get any of the FA RPs he wants at or around his value, he will go make a trade to bring in one with control. That is his approach. People get freaked out that we haven't made a splash and our bullpen may be doomed this season and we still have 2 months before anyone even reports and another month and a half after that. There are good guys out there to be had in trades who are younger, more talented, cheaper, and better options than over paying for older, non closer types in FA. Issue with that is it comes with a prospect price tag but to this point, we have not seen DS make a move that did not seem like a good trade for us. I feel they do an outstanding job evaluation and placing value on players.