MLB Hot Stove Thread 07

[MacNut]

Indians agree with Nixon for one year, $3 million

Free-agent outfielder Trot Nixon has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cleveland Indians, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports.

Nixon, who has spent his entire pro baseball career with the Boston Red Sox organization and was popular with the team's fans for his gritty playing style, was not offered arbitration by the team after spending eight years as its starting right fielder.

In 982 career games, Nixon has a .278 batting average with 133 home runs and 523 RBIs. He hit .357 in Boston's four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series and delivered a key bases-clearing triple in Game 4.

 

[xsedrinam]

So Bonds will finally be out of the news then!

I wouldn't count on that -- but in theory at least, what would we have left to talk about? Baseball?

There's a duck.

Indians agree with Nixon for one year, $3 million

I see where he passed his physical, so he's overcome his bicep problem.

 

[Counterfit]

Guh, this means the Sox are going to have to work out a deal with Drew, and pay him way more than Nixon.




Or use Wily Mo in right.

 

[IJ Reilly]

There's a duck.

Only if it walks and talks like one.

 

[MacNut]

Guh, this means the Sox are going to have to work out a deal with Drew, and pay him way more than Nixon.




Or use Wily Mo in right.

HA HA, Theo up to his old tricks again.

 

[aloofman]

Guh, this means the Sox are going to have to work out a deal with Drew, and pay him way more than Nixon.

They were going to have to pay him way more than Nixon anyway, what with him being better than Nixon and all.

Does Scott Boras represent Nixon too? That would be just his style.

 

[thedude110]

what with him being better than Nixon and all.

In reputation only!

Have we had this conversation already?

 

[MacNut]

Yes.

That's a lot of money for a player almost exactly like Trot Nixon. It's not like Drew is any sort of "upgrade" from Trot, except in price tag (everyone knows Nixon would have given a substantial "hometown discount" like Arroyo did last year).

Now let's just hope Lugo turns out more like the immediately preceding free agent shortstop the Sox had, and not the one before him. I'm not knocking Edgar, he's a good player, just not in the AL.

Looking at the comparison, I don't see where Drew's not the better choice. 22 less games played than Trot, Drew is only barely bettered in Career 2Bs, RBIs and Hits. Last year's numbers and projected, he's all over Nixon on Slugging. I'll concede IJ's point that he looks better on paper, but I still think, barring injury, Drew will earn his keep.

I look at those numbers and see the exact same ballplayer. Drew hits 3 more hrs a year -- otherwise, the only benefit he gives you is a better obp.

Seems to me the sox went out and got a name when they could have saved some money.

 

[aloofman]

In reputation only!

Have we had this conversation already?

You had the conversation. I didn't say I agreed with that then. He's definitely not tens of millions of dollars better though.

 

[xsedrinam]

You had the conversation. I didn't say I agreed with that then. He's definitely not tens of millions of dollars better though.

If stating interpretations of stats as an opinion is conversation, then I suppose one could call it that, albeit it brief and indirect. I couldn't look at the Slugging percentages' comparison and see them as equal though. Still don't. Time will tell, and Drew will have to speak for himself, hopefully from the field and, at the plate.

 

[fotografica]

Free-agent outfielder Trot Nixon has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cleveland Indians, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports.

Nixon, who has spent his entire pro baseball career with the Boston Red Sox organization and was popular with the team's fans for his gritty playing style, was not offered arbitration by the team after spending eight years as its starting right fielder.

In 982 career games, Nixon has a .278 batting average with 133 home runs and 523 RBIs. He hit .357 in Boston's four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series and delivered a key bases-clearing triple in Game 4.

I'll take the cheaper often injured player over the expensive often injured player anyday.Not to mention that Trot never pissed and moaned or complained.Drew's a laid back,CA guy.He has no idea what he's in for in Fenway..Not to mention the Boston media..

 

[xsedrinam]

I'll take the cheaper often injured player over the expensive often injured player anyday.Not to mention that Trot never pissed and moaned or complained.Drew's a laid back,CA guy.He has no idea what he's in for in Fenway..Not to mention the Boston media..

I don't know about that. Drew's from Valdosta, GA. 75% of his Major League career was in STL. In 2001, for the Cards, he hit .323 with 73 RBIs and 27 HRs. He's used to big baseball cities. I don't know why Boston fans seem to feel like they're getting a pig in a poke with this guy. Maybe Nixon won over your loyalties, but J.D. still has some good years left in him. Give him a chance.

 

[fotografica]

2001??That's 6 years ago,lol..Boston is definitely a what have you done for me lately kind of town.Just ask Nomar This is a tough town to play in.I don't care what anybody says.The fan base is rabid,almost maniacal.The media is relentless,especially if you've got a big contract and in a slump.Just ask Manny,lol..Nixon hasn't won over anything.NOTHING to do with loyalites..It all comes down to the money.And the money for Drew,at this point in his career,is way out of line...

 

[xsedrinam]

2001??That's 6 years ago,lol..Boston is definitely a what have you done for me lately kind of town.Just ask Nomar This is a tough town to play in.I don't care what anybody says.The fan base is rabid,almost maniacal.The media is relentless,especially if you've got a big contract and in a slump.Just ask Manny,lol..Nixon hasn't won over anything.NOTHING to do with loyalites..It all comes down to the money.And the money for Drew,at this point in his career,is way out of line...

Actually it's 5 seasons, counting from '02. My point is that Drew and arguments against the trade with Nixon claiming they're the same just don't wash. Last year Drew topped him in RBIs-100 - 52, HRs-20 - 8, B.A .283 -.268, and Slugging% .498-.394. B & M all you want about salaries, but to claim they're the same player requires skewed vision.

 

[fotografica]

4 years @ $14 mil/year with an option for a fifth year is alot for an oft injured lifetime .286 hitter that's not even averaging 20 home runs a year. I don't care how much you love this guy.That's alot of $$$$$$$$$$$ for that production..

 

[xsedrinam]

4 years @ $14 mil/year with an option for a fifth year is alot for an oft injured lifetime .286 hitter that's not even averaging 20 home runs a year. I don't care how much you love this guy.That's alot of $$$$$$$$$$$ for that production..

Blame that on the Scott Borases, George Steinbrenners and Theo Epsteins, the modern ruination of the game. Can't blame Drew for that.

 

[fotografica]

Umm,do you really wanna get into the business/economics of the sport today?? I mean c’mon now..It’s a business,guy..That’s what I am getting at,lol..You obviously don’t/have never lived here. Needless to say you wouldn’t understand how playing here can,and HAS,affected players here. Don’t let your mad love for your binky alter or affect your reasoning

 

[MacNut]

The fact is that just because your a great player doesn't mean that you will succeed in a city, Just look at how good Arod is playing in NY. Stats may make the player but that doesn't mean it will be a good fit for a certain team.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Drew's a laid back,CA guy.He has no idea what he's in for in Fenway..Not to mention the Boston media..

Drew is from Georgia. He only played for two years in LA, and he was way too laid back for most of us Dodger fans.

 

[xsedrinam]

The fact is that just because your a great player doesn't mean that you will succeed in a city, Just look at how good Arod is playing in NY. Stats may make the player but that doesn't mean it will be a good fit for a certain team.

Of course this is true. And it's a fathomless black-hole of conjuncture to try and explain any rationale for paying any sports figure the exorbitant salaries of today.

The only point made in here which I take issue with is seeing Drew and Nixon as the same and drawing conclusions from that misread.

And the patronizing, ethnocentrism and regionalism that "you've obviously never lived here lol" and don't understand just how big we really are, is rather pathetic.

Drew may or may not succeed in Boston. Nixon may or may not do well in Cleveland. They are not the same player. I have no dog in this fight. I suppose we can now say it's been conversed.

 

[decksnap]

And the patronizing, ethnocentrism and regionalism....

Isn't that the definition of any sports fan?

However, playing in NY or Boston IS a whole different deal than playing anywhere else. This really isn't regionalism, etc. We hear it every year from the new players who come here. The media, the payrolls, the rivalry, the fans. It's all on a whole seperate level from the rest of the league.

 

[fotografica]

Isn't that the definition of any sports fan?

However, playing in NY or Boston IS a whole different deal than playing anywhere else. This really isn't regionalism, etc. We hear it every year from the new players who come here. The media, the payrolls, the rivalry, the fans. It's all on a whole seperate level from the rest of the league.

FINALLY!!! A voice of reason.Like I said,unless you've lived here or are here, people can't understand it. And it's got absolutely nothing to do with yahooism,nor is it a "regional" thing...Just ask Keith Foulke what it was like playing Boston

 

[xsedrinam]

Isn't that the definition of any sports fan?

However, playing in NY or Boston IS a whole different deal than playing anywhere else. This really isn't regionalism, etc. We hear it every year from the new players who come here. The media, the payrolls, the rivalry, the fans. It's all on a whole seperate level from the rest of the league.

Actually, Boston's at level 4 compared to other World Series Championship cities. Maybe you'll understand it when you play in your 11th Series. Enjoy your self inflated opinion though. Just hope it's not another 86 years before that happens.

 

[MacNut]

I think the media is worse in New York, the standard to win is so high that even the best players can't make it here. We just chased away Randy Johnson.

 

[fotografica]

Actually, Boston's at level 4 compared to other World Series Championship cities. Maybe you'll understand it when you play in your 11th Series. Enjoy your self inflated opinion though. Just hope it's not another 86 years before that happens.

No need to be patronizing,guy..I was referring to the fan base as well as the media.Both of which have nothing to do with number of Wolrd Series won. Actually,the media scrutiny and fan attention was WORSE when we weren't winning or in the playoffs. When the Sox don't make the playoffs,it's even worse...But you wouldn't understand that since you have eleven World Series victories