Bits on a Friday

by Tom Dakers on Jan 16, 2009 11:08 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

Zuanbie nation will be thrilled, Gregg Zaun has signed with the Orioles for a year at $1.5 million and an option year. As much as that web site is way over the top, I'm glad to see someone sign him.

And the Padres signed the scrappiest player to spend most of last season on our bench, David Eckstein to a one year, $850,000 contract. Looks like Padre manager Bud Black has drank the kool aid on him already:

"He's a good player and he's going to bring an element to our club that we need," Black said. "Offensively, he has the knack of getting on base. He's a great handler of the bat. The way he goes about the daily grind of playing baseball is going to be great for our younger service-time players to watch."

Though an $850,000 contract is a lot better than the one we signed him to. He will play second base for the Padres.

And the Red Sox have giving Youk a 4 year contract extension for $41 million and change.

The Jays....well we've signed no one.

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great contract for the Sox, at first glance

although it made me think of the Overbay contract for the Jays, which hasn’t worked out so well for us. Youk this season is coming off a somewhat similar season to Lyle’s 2006, though with more power. Lyle was almost exactly the same age in 2006 as Youk is now. Both contracts buy out the last two arbitration years and the first two free agency seasons. Youk is getting more money, as he had all the recognition for his season (Boston, they made the playoffs, Youk was 3rd in MVP voting). Both Youk and Lyle play above-average defense at first, and neither has the power of a typical slugger 1st baseman (though Youk did slug a big .569 this season, it was the first time he ever slugged over .453). It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Jan 16, 2009 11:27 AM EST reply actions