Comments on: I Like That Aaron Hicks

By: rbj

rbj — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 19:23:49 +0000

Good to see Farquhar back on the mound. But that name needs a nickname. Fark? Quahog? (Which is not easy to spell either.)

By: Chyll Will

Chyll Will — Sat, 02 Mar 2019 20:24:28 +0000

Good for them; they got their money and their years, now lets lock up our present and future stars (well, Stanton aside) and start collecting trophies again. Chop-chop!

By: GaryfromChevyChase

GaryfromChevyChase — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 16:55:37 +0000

On Harper, the Wash Post reports that he refused the Nats’ original offer of $300M and 10 years because $100M was in “deferred payments” stretching out decades. Enough so that the Nats would be able to earn enough through investment of the deferrals to pay for the entire deal. Good business. Harper will be seriously boo’ed in DC when he gets here the first week in April. And the boo-birds in Phily? fugetaboutit.

By: Bronx Boy in NC

Bronx Boy in NC — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 15:12:38 +0000

The two crazy-contract free agents we didn’t really need ended up on someone else’s payrolls in someone else’s pennant races. I’m good.

By: RIYank

RIYank — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 14:39:07 +0000

I dunno, I think it wasn’t a mistake.
For one thing, the extra three years are his (very) late 30s, when he may well have quite low value to teams (in fact, I think that’s very likely).
For another, this way he gets (i) more for-sure years, and (ii) a better hitting environment, for racking up Hall of Fame numbers. I think he has a significantly better chance of being a Hall of Famer with this contract than he would had he signed with the Nats.

I’m really glad the Yanks didn’t compete for him at the $300M-for-a-decade level, anyway.

By: thelarmis

thelarmis — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 04:19:00 +0000

I’m psyched on Hicks!

And, yeah, I agree on Harper. He’ll swat a lotta homers in that band box, but that might be about it. Also, the phans won’t be as tolerable.

By: rbj

rbj — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 00:46:50 +0000

Yeah, that extra $30 million could have been made up in endorsements, etc. as the beloved lifetime face of the Nats. Plus three years at 15 each. Then a lifetime “personal services” contract.

By: Greg G

Greg G — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 20:44:37 +0000

Harper signing with Phillies for 13 yrs and 330 million. Seems like his best offer was really with the Nats for 10 years and 300 million.

He has 3 more years added on to his contract and only 30 million more.

This seems silly and just Boras trying to break the record for largest contract. I have a feeling that a few losing seasons in Philly and Harper will long for his place on the Nats.

He could have been a player, who played his whole career for 1 team.

He and Machado, (through perhaps no fault of their own), took so long to decide on where they are playing and now a bunch of lower tier Free Agents may be getting bargain basement contracts.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 05:25:24 +0000

[6] So you’re saying you believe in Mo, but not God? I guess it’s kinda the same thing. ;>)

By: GaryfromChevyChase

GaryfromChevyChase — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:40:42 +0000

[3] And I remember when the Mick got $100,000 for a season!

By: Mr OK Jazz Tokyo

Mr OK Jazz Tokyo — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 00:15:20 +0000

[5] Forgot about that draft pick..Tex was great, but imagine Trout as a Yankee…

I like Hicks too and while the deal seems low for him, I wonder if his injuries in the past made him accept a longer term-lower value deal? Hard to turn $70 million at age 30 in this market I guess..?

BTW, any of you see the rather unfortunate accusations against Mo? I generally couldn’t give two f$ucks about players’ private lives, but Mariano is so important to me I just want to naively believe in him.. 🙁 http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26034374/mariano-rivera-calls-child-support-allegations-unfounded

By: Hank Waddles

Hank Waddles — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:54:08 +0000

I’m pretty excited about this. I’m at the point where I prefer rooting for players that I like, and I really like Aaron Hicks, and not just because he’s good at what he does. He’s also from my town, Long Beach. It’s always good to see a local kid make good, especially when he’s making good for my team.
As for the long term ramifications, the name that popped in my head was not Harper, but Trout. I know Trout’s a Phillies fan, and everyone wants to imagine him playing there, but I also know that he’s from New Jersey. I’ve always felt like the current version of Mickey Mantle should probably play in pinstripes at some point, but that looks less likely now. (And I will never look at Mark Teixeira without longing for that lost draft pick that could’ve been Trout, even if Tex was an important part of the ’09 team and an all-around good guy.)

By: Greg G

Greg G — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:23:32 +0000

Tulo goes deep in first at bat this spring against…his old team that is paying most of his salary. Thank you very much Toronto! 🙂

By: rbj

rbj — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:06:07 +0000

The day and age we live in, when a seven year, $70 million deal sounds cheap. I remember Winfield’s deal being a monster contract.

By: GaryfromChevyChase

GaryfromChevyChase — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:23:35 +0000

This is a serious “wow!” Guess this officially means that the Yanks are REALLY not interested in Harper (who ESPN reports is about to ink with the Phillies).

Also, means for sure that Gardy will be a part-timer. So glad that he’ll stay on with the club.

By: Greg G

Greg G — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 17:01:39 +0000

Great move. Maybe the Yanks are finally freeing themselves of their self-imposed “not negotiating extensions” policy?

Hicks reminds me of Bernie Williams, but with a better arm. He is getting better, and to me this seems like an excellent and cost effective signing.

I wonder if the logjam on the market, and so many free agents unsigned helped them to this deal? Perhaps a little longer than they wanted but a good price point.

Perhaps they can buyout a bunch of arbitration years with Judge during this cycle next year? Lets go Yang-Keys!!!