Rays Decline Options on Dan Wheeler and Willy Aybar
by Steve Slowinski on Nov 3, 2010 8:05 PM EDT
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PrintFrom Marc Topkin:
Rays decline options on Wheeler ($4M), Aybar ($2.2M). Add Elliot Johnson to 40-man roster. Aybar remains under control, is arb eligible.
And this:
Wheeler on option being declined: "I was a little surprised, but at the same time I wasn't.'' Said he's open to re-signing.
Neither move comes as a huge surprise, as both Aybar and Wheeler were both overpaid considering their relative utilities. Aybar is still under team control, but considering he batted .230 this season and displayed little pop, the Rays can get him for cheaper by going to arbitration or by negotiating another deal. He's a bench player at this point that has decent power against right-handed pitchers, but his defense has eroded to the point where he has limited flexibility.
Wheeler is a Type-A free agent and as far as I know, the Rays still need to decide to offer him arbitration or to let him become a free agent. I'd like to see Wheeler end up back with the Rays one way or the other - when placed in the right situations, he was very effective (3.35 ERA this year) - but it will all come down to price. If the Rays could get him for half or a quarter of his current salary, I'd jump on it in a heartbeat.
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What a great quote Wheels
“I was a little surprised, but at the same time I wasn’t.’’
love it love it love it
i hate one person more than Pap smear—his name is bin laden
by sternfan1 on Aug 12, 2010 3:33 PM EDT
I'd like it a lottttt more if we somehow got compensation for him but that's mathematically impossible pretty much
by benderbrodriguez on Nov 3, 2010 8:36 PM EDT reply actions
I could see one of the 10-15 teams signing him.
The Angels, Dodgers, and Mets for instance always give off the vibe that they’re serious about contending. So adding a Type-A reliever like Wheels might be more valuable to them than a mid 2nd round pick.
And if the Angels or Tigers sign CC (or another Type-A), picking up Wheeler wouldn’t be a big deal to them at all.
I dont think getting compensation is that far out of the realm of possibility.
If John Jaso somehow strikes out, it means you didn’t do your job right as an umpire.
by raysrule44 on Jul 9, 2010 8:37 PM CDT
He's the 4th best FA reliever on his own team though
I just find it extremely unlikely/risky to do it, unless he’s guaranteed to decline arb. Balfour would have to go before him in the FA line.
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Nov 3, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
And that's assuming a team signs him
We’ve seen a lot of relievers get stuck holding the bag.
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Nov 3, 2010 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
"I just find it extremely unlikely/risky to do it, unless he’s guaranteed to decline arb."
I agree completely. If they don’t work out a deal beforehand, I wouldn’t offer him arb.
If John Jaso somehow strikes out, it means you didn’t do your job right as an umpire.
by raysrule44 on Jul 9, 2010 8:37 PM CDT
Question about the buyout.
B-R lists Wheeler with a $1 million buyout. Are they automatically on the hook for that when they decline the option?
If that’s the case, I can’t see him being offered arbitration. That’s be a hell of a gamble. I don’t see how he gets a significant paycut in arbitration, meaning the Rays would be on the hook for more than $4 mil, a number I can’t imagine he approaches on the free market.
Yeah, it's an automatic $1M, as far as I know.
I really, really, really doubt they offer him arb. There’s just no way.
I love Casey Fossum. Now try and take me seriously.
by Steve Slowinski on Nov 3, 2010 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
He made 3.5M in 2010 too
Going to arb would at least guarantee 2.8M I believe since they can’t go below 80% of the previous salary.
PIZZA?!?
by Transplanted on Nov 3, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I think free agents are required to be offered at least their recent salary, though not 100% sure about it.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 4, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
80% of last year's salary is the minimum
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Yeah, but the odds of the judge ruling in favor of the team in that case is low.
Of course, the non-guaranteed nature of FA arbitration contracts provides a bit of a net but if they declined the option I don’t see a huge upside in offerin arb in this case.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 4, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
80% rule not valid on free agents
From Cot’s:
The club’s salary offer to a player under its control (pre-free agency players) may not be less than 80% of the player’s salary and performance bonuses the previous year or less than 70% of his salary and performance bonuses from 2 years earlier. (Exception: If a player won an arbitration award the previous year increasing his salary 50% or more, the 80% requirement does not apply.)
The 80% rule does not apply to free agents who are offered arbitration.
The panel, without opinion, awards the player a one-year, non-guaranteed contract at one salary or the other. If the player is cut before the 16th day before the season begins (March 14, 2007), he is entitled only to 30 days’ termination pay. If the player is cut during spring training but after the 16th day before the season begins (between March 15 and March 31, 2007), he is entitled only to 45 days’ termination pay.
He's got strong ties to the club, and could probably get a multiyear deal elsewhere.
I’d be surprised if they couldn’t work out an agreement in which he would agree to decline arb before they offered. They’ve done it before.
If John Jaso somehow strikes out, it means you didn’t do your job right as an umpire.
by raysrule44 on Jul 9, 2010 8:37 PM CDT
But Balfour....?
Surely he will be offered arb… right? I have read elsewhere that the Rays aren’t likely to offer it but I don’t know if this is based on any kind of fact… given that he made $2M this year they could offer less and still be in line for the draft picks.
Of course, I’d prefer that they work something out to keep him here … even though multi-year deals aren’t the norm for our pen, I think both the Rays and Balf would do well with a 2-year $5M or maybe a 3-year $6M deal.
FWIW I doubt we see Wheeler back here but depending on how the other players fall it might happen.
Never mind me ....
Not thinking straight … of course the Rays might tender that, but likely the arbitrator would side with Balfour and we’d be on the hook for more.
So then what is the likely scenario? Can we really afford to offer any of our type-A’s arb?
Of course we do our type A's.
All of them except Wheeler, unless we get a deal with him to not accept. Offer to Soriano, to Crawford, and to Balfour. Balfour would be a fool not to sign, since he is type A. Look at the type A free agents last year. Valverde got nothin for being really good.
Offer to Choate also
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Park's an FA
And will be cheap.
But his effectiveness is far from guaranteed.
Interesting they brought E Johnson back on the 40. Makes sense – I advocated it on that Process Report thing the exiles started about a month ago when they were discussing Rule 5 protects.
Need some IF depth – and he’s the only guy close. Plus he earned it and he fits the flexible profile. Perhaps another clue MVB is available for trade OBO.
by nyyfaninlaaland on Nov 4, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions
IIRC....
He’s referencing a BOS/NYY fan’s comment about Park when he was a FA last offseason. If that’s true, slow clap for The Juicer.
Are you concerned about the high mortality rate of your players?
by Ryan Gilliss
by CubFanRaysaddict on Nov 4, 2010 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
So, Vlad Guerrero
Would he be an option for the Rays now that the Rangers put him on the market(probably)? The draw is that it’s a competitive team(again, probably) and close to home. I don’t see how they can’t afford him with some other cut-backs, how much do they want to lower payroll anyway?
With 40M coming off, I'm guessing we spend around $20M, that would get us around $50 and I'm including arby raises
It’s similar to the Tigers situation. With $50M coming off the books, I guess they’re lowering payroll, as well, because it’s doubtful they spend all that coin in one off-season, but you don’t hear any outcry about them going into next year leaner and meaner. The whole deal is incredibly over-blown. I’d like us to get the best RHB on the market that doesn’t require a significant overpay. If that’s Vlad, then that’s Vlad.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 4, 2010 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions
When AF takes a look at his rotation, i seriously doubt
he lets this team go to shit for 2011
Instead i think he’ll do a SFG type off season, meaning put out a competitive supporting cast without breaking the bank and then next July if the team is in the hunt make some moves
follow me on twitter @sternfan10
I hope Friedman does nothing like Sabean does it
Except for developing young arms.
by Erik Hahmann on Nov 4, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not sure who is completely in charge of the drafting situation
but if it’s Sabean, kudos to him. He drafted Lincecum, Bumgarner and Posey in consecutive years. His in-season acquisitions mostly worked as well, but he is AWFUL at signing free agents.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 4, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions
He wouldn't have had so many good picks if his team had played better after trading Nathan, Bonser, and Liriano for Pierzbitchy
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 4, 2010 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions
And the Rays wouldn't be anywhere without the picks they got from averaging 97.2 losses over their first decade of existence.
What’s your point? He nailed the picks and really that particular trade hasn’t killed them so far. It was a terrible trade, yeah. The drafting, though, has been great recently.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 4, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Our horrible GM was replaced with someone savvy, their horrible GM wins a WS, I guess it's a wash
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 4, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Every GM makes mistakes
If you credit Friedman for the talent on the team that has come through the draft, you have to do the same for Sabean. Neither team would be there if they didn’t hit on big draft picks, and the small moves helped propel them. The difference is that Sabean wastes millions on free agents, which Friedman can’t do anyway. Friedman has, however, given players more than they’re worth through arbitration and extensionsbased on past performance, which chews up a large amount of their limited payroll. No front office is completely efficient.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 4, 2010 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I credit Friedman for maximizing the value on retreads and drafting oodles of pitching
Pena, Rodriguez, Zobrist, Bartlett, Joyce, Johnson, Aybar, Shoppach, and most of every bullpen we’ve ever run out came from outside the organization. Most of these guys cost virtually nothing. We drafted Longoria, Price, Upton, Shields (way late) Davis, Niemann, Hellickson, Jaso, etc… The reason this team is well-positioned has more to do with talent evaluation than it does drafting.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 4, 2010 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Not all those were net gains, even if they looked that way at the time
Sabean’s championship winning team was comprised mostly of scraps besides the playoff rotation which was entirely drafted. The point is, different circumstances create different reputations for GMs, and the separation between them is less quality of personnel decisions than the people around and above them. Take Theo Epstein, one of the highest-regarded execs in the game. Then there’s the Lugo, Renteria, Lackey, Matsuzaka deals that would cripple a franchise like the Rays if they made an error with that much money. It’s just that the Rays make smaller scale mistakes that hold them back, like paying guys like Burrell, Bartlett, Schoppach, Pena more than they’re worth at some point and they can’t upgrade in season. The bigger the margin of error, the bigger the mistakes will be. Brian Cashman isn’t an idiot, but his players are overpaid in dozens of millions overall, sometimes paying tens of millions of complete busts. The bigger the payroll, the bigger the mistakes. The same goes for Brian Sabean. The difference is that Sabean made enough shrewd pick-ups to run into a World Series. I’d take Friedman over Sabean just like anyone here but if the right people are in place, the GM will have more to work with.
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 5, 2010 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Uribe, hit a home run. No problem skip. ::hits a home run:: I told him to do that.
Hell yeah it is.
Any amount of points can be scored week to week. well, besides 1 point. Any number is as likely to be reached as another, since there’s only one of each number, each has the same chance to be hit. IT’s how the syetemof averages works.
by waltermercier on Sep 21, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
by Andy Hellicksonstine on Nov 5, 2010 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Will Tampa bring back
Rocco Baldelli? Such a sad way for him to end the season.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. " ~Rogers Hornsby
Nope
love it love it love it
i hate one person more than Pap smear—his name is bin laden
by sternfan1 on Aug 12, 2010 3:33 PM EDT
No arb for Wheeler
Rays don’t need the risk of him accepting arbitration nor do they need draft choices for Wheeler. They will get plenty for losing Crawford, Soriano and maybe Pena. Having too many #1’s are going to be costly anyway. Plus they can try to re-sign him for less or attempt to re-sign Qualls for the same money. They only need one of them as a solid RH reliever anyway.
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