Billy Wagner's agent told the Boston Herald that his client might be open to accepting arbitration if the Red Sox offer it even though, earlier in the season Wagner said "I know they’re going to offer me arbitration, and of course I’m probably going to turn it down.”
Wagner is a Type A free agent and the Red Sox would receive two draft picks if he declined arbitration and signed with another team--most likely a first-round pick and sandwich pick between the first and second round.
If he indeed accepts arbitration this throws a monkey wrench into Theos off season plans. Theo already nickel and dimed Tim Wakefield out of his 4 million dollar option saying "it [signing Wakefield to a two year, 5 million deal) gives us a little more payroll flexibility than picking up the option."
Having to pay Wagner (and not getting the two draft picks) would no doubt be devastating to the Sox.
What made the Wagner trade so enticing for the Sox at the time was the fact that they knew Wagner declining arbitration would net them two draft picks. So the Red Sox essentially traded two players to be named later for Billy Wagner and two draft picks.
Get ready for another disappointing offeason Sox fans.
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I'm supposed to be "devastated" over another year of Billy Wagner, after losing Chris Carter and Eddie Lora to get him?
ReplyDeleteYeah Wagner, you bum, go away and take your 11.8 K/9 with you. We don't need one of the most consistently good relievers in MLB history, we need compensation picks.
Sure I'd love an extra top 30 pick, and usually I think relievers are expendable, but Wagner's an awesome pitcher. Cool if he wants to stay to me, he'll help us win baseball games in 2010 if he does.
When the Sox decided not to resign Pedro Martinez they used the draft pick to select a guy named Clay Buchholz. I wouldnt underestimate those draft picks.
ReplyDeleteIts just that after Theo nixed Wakefield's 4 million dollar option and signed him to a two year deal worth 2.5 million per year, he justified the deal by saying "it gives us a little more payroll flexibility than picking up the option."
ReplyDeleteIf Wagner goes to arbitration, he would probably get at least 8 million (he made 10 million last season).
If Theo thinks that going from 4 million per year to 2.5 million per year gives the team "payroll flexibility," then giving Wagner 8 million is going to cripple their payroll and subsequent signings.
I have been hearing that this is purely to stop the Red Sox from offering arbitration and hence lowering Wagner's value to other clubs. Wagner has made it clear that he wants to be a closer and it would be very surprising if this has changed.
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