That is an amount they can easily apply toward a better relief option, instead. I haven't looked at who will be available, but there will be someone.

 

Rodney might be cost-effective by some metric, but there's something worthwhile about being simply effective without the qualifying term, too. Not to mention, being reliable.

That's fair. Plus the opportunity cost of the guaranteed roster spot -- yeah, you can move on from Rodney mid-season and not be out much money, but there's not necessarily going to be a good alternative available at that time. You've got to be open to, and perhaps seeking, a better alternative in the offseason.

Edited August 1, 20188 yr by spycake

 

That is an amount they can easily apply toward a better relief option, instead. I haven't looked at who will be available, but there will be someone.

 

Rodney might be cost-effective by some metric, but there's something worthwhile about being simply effective without the qualifying term, too. Not to mention, being reliable.

 

He's an admirable guy. He seems to be completely unflappable. I still don't want him. I didn't want him when they signed him. I lost some faith in the FO when they did.

 

Rodney is on pace to be about 0.5WAR.

 

At $8M per WAR, it sounds like $4M is just about perfect. 

 

Rodney is on pace to be about 0.5WAR.

 

At $8M per WAR, it sounds like $4M is just about perfect.

 

Probably want more than .5 WAR from your closer. Probably like 1.5 or 2.

Rodney is on pace to be about 0.5WAR.

 

At $8M per WAR, it sounds like $4M is just about perfect. 

 

Very efficient. Now what you need is 99 more half-WAR players like him on your roster, and you have your pennant. All at the low, low price of $400M.

 

Very efficient. All you need is 99 more half-WAR players like him on your roster, and you have your pennant. All at the low, low price of $400M.

 

Well, we just picked up 15 guys in trades that look like half-WAR guys. They are all 500k for their first few years.

 

Well on our way!

 

The real reason Rodney wasn't traded today: he is grandfathered under the old trading deadline of June 15.

(Might explain why we "had" to acquire Belisle before that date too?)

A similar grandfathering provision helps explain why Bartolo Colon is still allowed to pitch underhand from a box 45 feet away from home plate.

It also explains why Rodney gets a ride in from the bullpen.

It also explains why Rodney gets a ride in from the bullpen.

He has too much pride to use his walker. Chief can relate.

Up to Hildenberger or Curtiss or somebody to step up and wrestle it from his hands. 

 

He has too much pride to use his walker. Chief can relate.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4885281777_7e7a3727a6.jpg

 

Back in my day they knew how to bring in the closer from the pen.

 

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4885281777_7e7a3727a6.jpg

 

Back in my day they knew how to bring in the closer from the pen.

The pen is where they kept the tigers, chief.

 

Man, you've really lost it with old age.

 

he could pass waivers and be traded in August

I doubt he will clear. He's cheap and has been decent. 

 

His option for next year is dirt cheap.

 

 

That is an amount they can easily apply toward a better relief option, instead. I haven't looked at who will be available, but there will be someone.

 

Rodney might be cost-effective by some metric, but there's something worthwhile about being simply effective without the qualifying term, too. Not to mention, being reliable.

 

He's an admirable guy. He seems to be completely unflappable. I still don't want him. I didn't want him when they signed him. I lost some faith in the FO when they did.

Like who? It's fine to conceive of better-valued relievers, it's another thing for that reliever to actually exist on the FA market.  Heck, we signed Addison Reed, which is kind of the guy you're asking for.  Relievers are no sure bets.  Might be better to bring in a few on lower costs than add another 4 million to whomever.  

 

Rodney will be back, and it won't be stupid to bring him back.  (Though he can be frustrating to watch...)

Edited August 4, 20188 yr by PseudoSABR

Like who? It's fine to conceive of better-valued relievers, it's another thing for that reliever to actually exist on the FA market.  Heck, we signed Addison Reed, which is kind of the guy you're asking for.  Relievers are no sure bets.  Might be better to bring in a few on lower costs than add another 4 million to whomever.  

 

Rodney will be back, and it won't be stupid to bring him back.  (Though he can be frustrating to watch...)

Baseball players, in general, are no sure bets. You sign one, he can become injured. I like the Addison Reed signing, and I am convinced that he has encountered/endured some kind of nagging injury that has taken the movement away from his pitches. It happens. You don't pay a player for performance, you pay for a chance. A seat at the table.

 

I don't know where a list of anticipated free agents is, and such a list will be very different by the time free agents must declare, anyway. I see Craig Kimbrel as not being signed beyond this season. David Robertson. Jeurys Familia just went to the Mets but I don't see that he's signed an extension. You may know details about these, or any of a dozen guys a little lower-ranked, that rules them out as targets.

 

Frankly I don't want to get into the weeds about this, so prematurely. I just want to set our aim higher this off-season, than someone with Rodney's track record already was when we signed him, and I accept that it will cost a lot more to do so.

 

Baseball players, in general, are no sure bets. You sign one, he can become injured. I like the Addison Reed signing, and I am convinced that he has encountered/endured some kind of nagging injury that has taken the movement away from his pitches. It happens. You don't pay a player for performance, you pay for a chance. A seat at the table.

 

I don't know where a list of anticipated free agents is, and such a list will be very different by the time free agents must declare, anyway. I see Craig Kimbrel as not being signed beyond this season. David Robertson. Jeurys Familia just went to the Mets but I don't see that he's signed an extension. You may know details about these, or any of a dozen guys a little lower-ranked, that rules them out as targets.

 

Frankly I don't want to get into the weeds about this, so prematurely. I just want to set our aim higher this off-season, than someone with Rodney's track record already was when we signed him, and I accept that it will cost a lot more to do so.

I certainly hope that keeping Rodney won't preclude us looking for bullpen upgrades.

I certainly hope that keeping Rodney won't preclude us looking for bullpen upgrades.

To paraphase senator Everett Dirksen, a [m]illion here and a [m]illion there, and pretty soon you're talking big money. I'd retain Rodney only with spare change jingling after all other needs have been met. Given that his decision might need to come before that's settled, I'd take my chances with someone else.

 

he could pass waivers and be traded in August

Rodney did not pass, Oakland claimed.

Rodney did not pass, Oakland claimed.

no kidding!? Thanks for clarifying, but I’m feeling less smug

 

Rodney did not pass, Oakland claimed.

I don't know the exact order of teams in the waiver system but Oakland finished tied for second worst AL record last year so they were high on the list. I'm sure he's better than at least one of their relievers so it made sense for them to make the claim. I expect he'll be used regularly, although there's no way he's supplanting Treinen as closer.

Edited August 10, 20188 yr by Nine of twelve

I don't know the exact order of teams in the waiver system but Oakland finished tied for second worst AL record last year so they were high on the list.

Last year's standings are only used for waiver priority in April. This was based on 2018 standings, where Oakland has the fourth best record in the AL right now. August trade waivers also go by league first, so no NL team had a chance at him.

 

Among contenders, it looks like Cleveland and Seattle both passed on claiming Rodney.

 

I don't know the exact order of teams in the waiver system but Oakland finished tied for second worst AL record last year so they were high on the list. I'm sure he's better than at least one of their relievers so it made sense for them to make the claim. I expect he'll be used regularly, although there's no way he's supplanting Treinen as closer.

Same league gets preference first,  standings on that day determine order. One could safely assume the team option  for 2019 portion of the contract was not attractive to a rapidly rebuilding team