Brad Penny Signs for $7.5 Million???

by Tom Dakers on Dec 8, 2009 11:53 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

That he signed with the Cards isn't really what I want to talk about, it is that he signed a 1 year $7.5 million contract with $1.5 million in incentives. Doesn't this seem a little rich to you? Brad Penny was 11-9 last year with a 4.88 ERA, the year before he was 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA. If Penny is worth $7.5 + how much is Doc worth? I can't imagine who the Cardinals were bidding against that would have brought their bid up that high. This will raise the price on the other free agent pitchers out there.

The agents for John Lackey, Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer must be thrilled.

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I was asking myself this question?

why are starting pitchers worth so much when they only play every 5 days?
and Penny is getting this much money makes you think that we should be getting something really good in return for one of the best pitcher in the league

by elpikiman on Dec 8, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions

The answer

Because the starting pitcher has the most effect on whether a game is won or lost than any other player. No other position is as closely tied to the result of a game. Sometimes people argue that the catcher does, but who has the final say on pitch type and location? Yeah.

by dexfarkin on Dec 8, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

Think about it this way

If a SP pitches 200 innings a year, and has a WHIP of 1.3, this means they face 860 batters a year. (200*(3outs+1.3walks/hits)=860). So by this logic, SP are more valuable than any other position, because they directly affect such a large number of at bats. As an example, Halladay last year pitched 239 innings with a WHIP of 1.13 = 987 batters.

Most hitters can get 600-700 at bats per year, which is much less. Personally, I agree that SP are the most important players in the game.

by Natescavich on Dec 8, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions

it's a lot of money

but, from the Cards’ perspective, Dave Duncan has had some serious success with reclamation projects. He must have seen something he liked in Penny last season.

"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 Dec 8, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions

Regardless...

…if the market value of Brad Penny is $7.5 million, I don’t think any MLB players need to worry about the recession hurting their bottom line.

by Jevant on Dec 8, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

that's alot....

by syc on Dec 8, 2009 12:50 PM EST reply actions

Wow

From what I remember from Brad Penny is he was extrememly lucky. He basically was throwing batting practice to they Jays which was extremely frustrating why they didn’t hit him better. He doesn’t have much in his aresnal except for a flat fastball that he can’t throw past anyone anymore.

Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

by craig in calgary on Dec 8, 2009 12:52 PM EST reply actions

I think its a lot per year...

But its only for one year. If he sucks in St. Louis, then the Cards will be rid of him by this time next year. And like someone said, Duncan seems to get greatness out of these washed up hurlers. So this might just end up working out, who knows!

by T.Haynes on Dec 8, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions