One-Year Deals: Guthrie, Vargas, Cruz, Byrd
Posted on January 16th, 2008 by McFleece
- Orioles young stud Jeremy Guthrie agreed to a $770,000 salary for 2008. Guthrie, 28, is not even arbitration eligible but deserves the raise. Last year, the former 1st round pick (by the Indians) broke out, going 7-5 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He struck out 123 in 175 innings. To think, he will make about 1/20th of what a player like Jason Schmidt makes. See, it pays to develop young talent.
- The Brewers and right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas avoided arbitration and agreed on a $3.6 million salary for 2008. This is a lot of cheddar for a guy who’s ERA has only been below 5.00 once in the last four years. I think I would have taken this one to arbitration if I was the Brewers. Vargas is expected to play the long reliever/spot starter role for Milwaukee.
- Right-handed reliever Juan Cruz agreed to a one-year, $1.94 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. That is pennies for an effective reliever like Cruz. 2008 will be Cruz’ final year of arbitration so if he is able to replicate his performance from 2007 (6-1, 3.10 ERA), Cruz will be looking at a serious payday next winter.
- Also avoiding arbitration is Marlon Byrd, who agreed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Rangers. The outfielder hit an impressive .307/.355/.459 in 414 at bats last year for Texas. He also had 10 homeruns and 70 RBI’s. He should begin the year as a starter for Texas, but expect him to lose at bats to youngsters like David Murphy (acquired in the Gagne fleece), Jason Botts and Nelson Cruz down the line. When healthy, Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton are expected to man the other two outfield slots.
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers
Not too bad an outfield after all, considering what we ran out there last year, and what it was looking like in early December..
Hamilton is the wild card. I’m very interested to see how he does in 2008. That trade could turn into a “Great Moments in Fleece History” if he develops into the monster he was expected to develop into years ago.
It gets me excited being a Rangers fan, no doubt.