Golfing Sunday, brought up your arbitration restructure idea. I long advocated some type of 10-20% escrow on all contracts, divvied out after the season based on production. But your way is cleaner and won't cause argument.


But my buddy said: "Don't you get it? Hitting it big is the American Dream. They are ok being screwed early because they all believe they'll hit the jackpot year 7. It's how lotteries sell tickets, why socialism gets voted down. They sit next to Omar Infante and know he's getting 8M and that makes them ok waiting for FA."

My impression of golfing with PB: starts with two holes of Royals, inevitably morphs into 16 holes of Obummer.

It's going to be interesting to see how it works out long term.

If teams start being "smarter" about long-term deals for guys in their 30s, and the FA dollars start drying up, it may open some eyes on the payday issue.

Ultimately, I hope it stays the way it is, because it helps level the playing field for teams like KC.

It absolutely helps KC. These dipshit big markets blow their loads on "stars" and they immediately turn into pumpkins. We bargain-shop and get the same productivity (in 2015 it was much higher).


That said, I was all wrong about younger players demanding a bigger slice. I didn't factor in the American dreamer. The jackpot is out there. And it's too alluring for young guys, many who have no college or much money sense. Plus agents tell them to NEVER sign away arb years - they're a huge factor here too.

It works until one big-market team starts using small market values. Then it blows everything up.

Hosmer crushes the rest of the league in "clutch". http://www.fangraphs.com/community/e...in-the-league/

Maybe A-rod was onto something after all.

Another pitcher I'd look at is Tim Lincecum. I just read something today about his comeback attempt, that he's feeling well. Would think a 1-year "prove it" deal with our defense in that park would be appealing.

Which is why his power numbers won't keep anyone away from offering him a giant contract after the 2017 season. He's going to get an 8/$184MM type deal.

Has any free agent of note signed? If this was the NFL all the big names would be gone by now

Its a bit slow now.

But on a side note I had a Bricks sighting today in a chiefs related thread.

Not a bad lottery ticket to scratch if could be gotten cheaply enough . . . .

Maybe big incentive laden contract?

1 year/ 8 mil., potential to make up to $12-13 mil. ???

I don't have a big problem with the way he flips his bat. It's a little dickish, but I can also understand it. But the way he totally misplayed the pop fly in shallow right field, let it drop in front of him while he stood there flat-footed, and then blamed the whole thing on Ryan Goins after the game was total dickishness.

He is a ****ing douchebag.

Him being an asshole has nothing to do with his bat flips. I don't have any problem with that.

Cubs traded for Rex Brothers per Twitter.

I saw an idea floated online that the Brewers might be interested in flipping bad contracts with the Royals by trading Matt Garza to KC for Omar Infante.

Think it makes a lot of sense. Garza struggled quite a bit in Milwaukee but would be a definite bounceback candidate in KC.