Cordero to Reds; 4 years, $46 million

[TooLiveBrew]

But he's got a strong track record of providing 200+IP. You just can't afford to take that out of our starting rotation.

[xisxisxis]

Unlike a guy like Turnbow who starts flinching like Barney Fife on a hot date when a guy gets on first base, Suppan can still make pitches with runners on.

 

I'm not sure I know where this impression comes from that Turnbow can't pitch with runners on. For his career:

 

 BA OBP SLG OPS BABIP
None On .206 .332 .354 .686 .262
Men On .218 .327 .322 .649 .271 

 

I've always felt the problem with Turnbow is usage (how often) and the numbers seem to agree:

 

 Rest BA OBP SLG OPS BAbip 
0 Days .258 .359 .423 .782 .315 
1 Day .187 .315 .346 .661 .228 
2 Days .116 .227 .179 .406 .159 
3 Days .200 .326 .267 .593 .269 
4 Days .218 .323 .273 .596 .300 
5 Days .243 .378 .378 .756 .286 
6+ Days .246 .380 .352 .732 .298 

 

With 1-4 days rest he's pretty good, when he pitches to many days in a row or too long between games he's not so good. Maybe alternating with Wise would be good. If he is our candidate for closer come opening day 2008, these numbers need to be tatooed on the inside eyelids of Ned Yost in glow in the dark ink.

[homer]

Why would Coco be disgruntled about overuse? His total innings pitched were among the lowest in the majors for full time closers (very unofficial spot check on my part). Or could it have been too many appearances in too few days?

[mothershipconnection]

Given a chance to match the Reds, I do believe the Brewers might have gone the extra $1M per year more

 

Yeah, if nothing else, I'd bet Melvin would've been happy to give him a $1M incentive each year for innings pitched or make the option guaranteed with enough IP.

[xisxisxis]

Why would Coco be disgruntled about overuse? His total innings pitched were among the lowest in the majors for full time closers (very unofficial spot check on my part). Or could it have been too many appearances in too few days?

 

How about too LITTLE? He may have felt fine to go more often and he could (just conjecture on my part) feel the brewers kept his appearances low to reduce his saves and make him more affordable as a Free Agent. Even I'm not that big of a conspiracy theorist to believe that, but I do wonder if the unhappiness has to do with not enough work. Not too much.

[danzig6767]

I'm just speculating, but many athletes take their contract size as a sign of respect as much as what the extra money does for them. Maybe Cordero simply felt the Red's respected and valued him more by the higher contract offer. I hear the respect word often when players are talking about their contracts. Given the money he's already earned and the 42 million the Brewers offered, i have a hard time thinking the difference in the offers will affect his lifestyle at all unless Coco is a complete moron with his money.

[hawing]

Maybe Francisco believes his usage was too uneven? I don't know.

Confound you, Bean Stringfellow!

 

Not to be overly flippant, but I still can't believe this is someone's name. Seriously.

[TooLiveBrew]

I know. I don't know if you could invent a more perfect name - and I'm joking and being serious at the same time.

[splitterpfj]

Absolutely no one is backing the Reds on this signing, or the White Sox on Linebrink. The world is right, both contracts are awful, here's the latest.

link

[homer]

It's a bad deal for the Reds because they won't be good enough for a closer to matter. The Brewers could have used Cordero more than the Reds.

 

Brewers sign Cordero at $46million = kind of bad

Reds sign Cordero at $46million = really, really dumb.

[MarquesJohnson2000]

From my Sports Illustrated e-mail:

 

The 2007 Rockies went to the playoffs a year after having a losing season. Which team could duplicate that feat next season? SI's Tom Verducci has an idea. "The Reds weren't as bad as their 72-90 record indicated," says Verducci. "Cincinnati was outscored by 70 runs, but the eighth inning alone accounted for 53 of those. (The Reds allowed more runs in the eighth, 123, than any other inning.) The signing of closer Francisco Cordero (left), while an extravagant one (the most expensive free agent in franchise history at four years, $46 million), at least on paper, improves Cincinnati's eighth-inning chances, with David Weathers and Jared Burton setting up Cordero."

[Fatter than Joey]

The Brewers could have used Cordero more than the Reds.

 

Probably -- we don't have any good arms like the Reds do in Bailey and Cueto. I think this helps the Reds in 2008.

[splitterpfj]

Marques, I don't think there's any doubt that Cordero will help the Reds in 2008, I'm surprised Weathers' arm is still attached.

[homer]

I agree it makes them a little better next year but is it enough to put them in the playoffs? It better because after '08 they'll most likely lose Dunn and Griffey and as the article states, Harang and Arroyo will both be due for big raises.

[And That]

I will say that the Reds' biggest problem last year was pitching, and this move potentially goes a ways to fixing the problem. I will also say I agree with Verducci that they weren't as bad as their record last year.

 

Those things said, it is still a terrible signing.

[Fatter than Joey]

I will also say I agree with Verducci that they weren't as bad as their record last year.

 

Yeah -- If you look at their monthly totals -- they were able to win a lot of games even though they gave up a ton of runs. Weathers+Cordero is a very solid front end of the pen. Arroyo and Harang can give the BP a lot of rest.

 

I suspect that they feel like they have a window given the mediocrity in the NL central and perhaps with Dunn and Jr. playing in their last years 2008 is a good year to be aggressive.

 

I guess the question I would ask, is where else should have that money been spent.

[homer]

I think the rest of their rotation needs a lot of work. Arroyo and Harang have pitched a boatload of innings the last couple of years - they are due for a breakdown and with Dusty at the helm that ain't changin' any time soon.

[mrwisconsin]

Dan Perry from Fox Sports.com says the the Reds signing for Cordero was one of the first worst deals of the off season.

[logan82]

Dan Perry from Fox Sports.com says the the Reds signing for Cordero was one of the first worst deals of the off season.

Third worst signing with Linebrink being the 2nd. Kendall comes in at #5.