Article: Twins, Jared Burton Agree on Contract Extension

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?1235-Twins-Burton-Near-Agreement-for-a-Contract-Extension

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

More good news!

[JB_Iowa]

I like it too -- and I think he could close if needed. Always nice to have a "spare".

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

I like it too -- and I think he could close if needed. Always nice to have a "spare".

 

Agreed. He deserved to be rewarded after last years performance.

[RedBull34]

Solid move.

[bird]

Just another step in that sneaky old Terry Ryan's salary dump.

[Mike Sixel]

Two years should he the max for a reliever. So this would he good I think. Still hoping.....

[S.]

I'll have to wait to see the price tag before final judgement, but I certainly like the move if the price is right.

 

 

FYI, Seth, looks like you accidentally added a "have" in the first sentence:

According to Darren "Doogie" Wolfson (via twitter), the Minnesota Twins and representatives for Jared Burton have are very close to an agreement for a contract extension.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Another smart move by Ryan.

 

Hmm, don't hear a lot of people calling for his head this week. Strange.

[Mike Sixel]

It would be mean spirited to he negative right now. IF he fails to use his money on legit pitchers, the pitchforks will come back out, probably. But there is no reason to rip him today....still hoping.

[Seth Stohs]

UPDATES:

 

According to the Twins press release, the deal is for two years, at $5.5 million. He will make $2.05 million in 2013 and $3.25 million in 2014. The option for 2015 is at $3.6 million with a $200,000 buyout.

[johnnydakota]

Another smart move by Ryan.

 

Hmm, don't hear a lot of people calling for his head this week. Strange.

 

so you think no other g.m. wouldnt extend burton?

[S.]

I can dig that. Today has been a good day.

[joeboo_22]

not to bad of an extension, I think the ultimate decision on this contract will be dependent on how often he is available. He didn't pitch enough innings last year, some of that was injury history, but he will need to pitch more meaningful innings and do so successful.

[ashbury]

Another smart move by Ryan.

 

Hmm, don't hear a lot of people calling for his head this week. Strange.

 

I've been a big Terry Ryan believer for a long while now.

 

His presentation at the SABR Convention this summer was one of the best I've heard an insider offer. He was supposed to take part in a panel discussion, but the other panelists didn't show up, so he proceeded to give a 30-minute soliloquy that amounted to "GM 101". He's smart, experienced, humble, and as much of a straight shooter as anyone who has to manage public expectations can be.

 

(No, this is not part of my job application for within the Twins organization.)

[kab21]

not to bad of an extension, I think the ultimate decision on this contract will be dependent on how often he is available. He didn't pitch enough innings last year, some of that was injury history, but he will need to pitch more meaningful innings and do so successful.

 

Not really. He just needs to stay healthy and do what he did last year for this contract to be considered a steal.

[PopRiveter]

Good stuff. Low risk. Makes me feel more secure.

[jorgenswest]

We just purchased his 33 year old season for 3.25 million. We already owned his age 32 season. I wrote about the possibility of an extension earlier in the off season

 

http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php?1968-Burton-What-s-is-the-Future-for-a-31-Year-Old-Set-Up-Man

 

Looking at 31 year old right handed set up men from 2000-2010, there was a significant drop off in performance from age 31 to age 33.

 

To summarize, I searched for every season pitched by a 31 year old set up man from 2000-2010. I sought pitchers with a workload of at least 60 games. I eliminated closers as they have a different work load. I eliminated guys with ERAs over 4 as most were on their way out of baseball. I found 28 pitchers. I eliminated pitchers jailed for attempted murder in their home country and was down to 27. At age 33, 7 of the 27 pitched 60 games with an ERA under 4. Add one guy who became a starter to make 8 effective pitchers.

Eight effective pitchers at age 33 from a group of 27 effective pitchers at age 31. It seems like the Twins are on the wrong side of the odds with this contract.

[kab21]

We're talking about 3.25M in a season where they will have a very hard time spending their available payroll unless they really plunge into FA. That's more than acceptable since he'll have more trade value at the deadline if he's pitching well.

[old nurse]

Another smart move by Ryan.

 

Hmm, don't hear a lot of people calling for his head this week. Strange.

 

so you think no other g.m. wouldnt extend burton?

 

Walt Jocketty let him go. Jocketty is considered one of the best.

[old nurse]

We just purchased his 33 year old season for 3.25 million. We already owned his age 32 season. I wrote about the possibility of an extension earlier in the off season

 

http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php?1968-Burton-What-s-is-the-Future-for-a-31-Year-Old-Set-Up-Man

 

Looking at 31 year old right handed set up men from 2000-2010, there was a significant drop off in performance from age 31 to age 33.

 

To summarize, I searched for every season pitched by a 31 year old set up man from 2000-2010. I sought pitchers with a workload of at least 60 games. I eliminated closers as they have a different work load. I eliminated guys with ERAs over 4 as most were on their way out of baseball. I found 28 pitchers. I eliminated pitchers jailed for attempted murder in their home country and was down to 27. At age 33, 7 of the 27 pitched 60 games with an ERA under 4. Add one guy who became a starter to make 8 effective pitchers.

Eight effective pitchers at age 33 from a group of 27 effective pitchers at age 31. It seems like the Twins are on the wrong side of the odds with this contract.

 

Yes, but what were the innings pitched per year by the 8 versus the other 18. Were any of them similar to Burton mechanically.? Compare to similars. How many of the 19 pitched their last years for Dusty baker? The only thing that may be similar is age.

[jokin]

Just another step in that sneaky old Terry Ryan's salary dump.

 

I think, if TR tries hard, he can just barely squeeze Burton's new number into the new payroll, what with Morneau and Willingham likely to be gone by the end of this year.

 

Actually, I like the extension, it encourages other potential FAs to see the Twins as a place that will take a chance on a guy and reward him nicely based on his performance. Plus, for a guy like Burton, he now has a tradeable contract to a contender looking for value at deadline time. Win-Win. Good move on the part of Terry.

[h2oface]

GM's are supposed to get this kind of thing done. Nothing special. Administrative. Walt Jocketty didn't have this kind of comeback, healthy performance to consider. Just because Terry Ryan does what should be done doesn't make him a sage or special in my mind. The return he accomplished (didn't accomplish) for Span when Rizzo had been after him for a couple years shows me way more about his acumen. He is "supposed" to make deals like he did for Revere. So yes, I for one am still calling for his head, but thankful he didn't mess the last trade up.

[Brock Beauchamp]

GM's are supposed to get this kind of thing done. Nothing special. Administrative. Walt Jocketty didn't have this kind of comeback, healthy performance to consider. Just because Terry Ryan does what should be done doesn't make him a sage or special in my mind. The return he accomplished (didn't accomplish) for Span when Rizzo had been after him for a couple years shows me way more about his acumen. He is "supposed" to make deals like he did for Revere. So yes, I for one am still calling for his head, but thankful he didn't mess the last trade up.

 

What on earth do you think Ryan should have received in return for Span?

 

And by completely hosing the Phillies front office, Ryan merely did what he was supposed to do? Worley for Revere straight up is a fair trade. I'm amazed that Ryan managed to get them to throw May into the deal. Revere is around a 2.5 WAR player in two seasons. Worley is around a 2.5 WAR player in 1 1/3rd seasons. Both have similar service time. A player-for-player swap would have been fair given the circumstances.

[h2oface]

GM's are supposed to get this kind of thing done. Nothing special. Administrative. Walt Jocketty didn't have this kind of comeback, healthy performance to consider. Just because Terry Ryan does what should be done doesn't make him a sage or special in my mind. The return he accomplished (didn't accomplish) for Span when Rizzo had been after him for a couple years shows me way more about his acumen. He is "supposed" to make deals like he did for Revere. So yes, I for one am still calling for his head, but thankful he didn't mess the last trade up.

 

What on earth do you think Ryan should have received in return for Span?

 

And by completely hosing the Phillies front office, Ryan merely did what he was supposed to do? Worley for Revere straight up is a fair trade. I'm amazed that Ryan managed to get them to throw May into the deal. Revere is around a 2.5 WAR player in two seasons. Worley is around a 2.5 WAR player in 1 1/3rd seasons. Both have similar service time. A player-for-player swap would have been fair given the circumstances.

 

I hate to repeat myself from posts a few days back, but you have asked, and I am not trying to change your opinion (like that is ever going to happen anyway, eh?), just express mine, as a comment, not an article.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/nationals-steal-denard-span-from-twins/

If you have what somebody wants, you make the rules of the deal.

 

This from a few days ago..... "i just don't get the mentality of trading a major league good centerfielder with a great value contract for someone who may never make it to the bigs at all. span should have been traded for a proven pitcher, and one that can help now, not "maybe" in a few years. what a waste of trading chip. and still no pitching for the twins 2013 season. ……..apparently some teams were lining up for a proven centerfielder, eh? so the twins are the ones that give it away? what's the difference? the teams that always are building for the future, are always building for the future. rarely does that envisioned future arrive. personally, i never like a deal that is a proven for a best guess. best guesses litter the minor league rosters. and that is what this is. span is not a guess. i just don't like it. not at all. and oakland already got the nat's best young arms last year."

 

So to briefly extend here....... I think a first round pick, groomed and now a proven MLB player with a great contract and entering the prime of his years, is worth more than a first round pick that is not proven, but a hope. I feel Ryan left a card not played, and should have gotten another player in this deal. I think he acted too fast, (who else was trying to acquire Meyer? ... compared to who else was interested in Span?) and he should have and could have gotten more, as he did with Revere. Perhaps it was Ryan who wanted the hope more than Rizzo wanted the proven. I don't think so from how long Rizzo has been trying to acquire Span, but I don't know. You don't know. I think the Phillies wanted Revere, and made it very attractive as Atlanta was reported to be in the hunt again, too...........

[old nurse]

GM's are supposed to get this kind of thing done. Nothing special. Administrative. Walt Jocketty didn't have this kind of comeback, healthy performance to consider. Just because Terry Ryan does what should be done doesn't make him a sage or special in my mind. The return he accomplished (didn't accomplish) for Span when Rizzo had been after him for a couple years shows me way more about his acumen. He is "supposed" to make deals like he did for Revere. So yes, I for one am still calling for his head, but thankful he didn't mess the last trade up.

 

Your retort shows your acumen. It is not out of the realm of possibility that the word concussion will devalue a player. As shown by many players in other sports, the second, third concussions take longer to heal from. One knee sliding into second base, one errant wall in the outfield and Span is done for a while. Span passes a physical, the potential is there. That potential decreases Span's value. Revere has more years of team control. That may have made him a little more valuable than Span to the Phillies. Whatever was discussed with the Phillies was discussed long before Span was traded to Washington. With one less major league ready CF on the market, a team looking for one now has a higher price.

 

The velocity for Burton is unchanged from before his injury. Jockety could have had Burton in his pen.He chose not to bring him back. Nobody on this board with a straight face will ever concede that the coaching here made Burton a better pitcher .In terms of the numbers on the paycheck Burton is giving up free agency time at a discount even if he can't quite maintain the same numbers. Others say because of age he might be worth less. At 35 Dotel was still earning 6 million to be a setup guy. Ryan made an assessment that Burton's numbers wouldn't slide too much. Time will tell if it was a smart move.

[Brock Beauchamp]

This from a few days ago..... "i just don't get the mentality of trading a major league good centerfielder with a great value contract for someone who may never make it to the bigs at all. span should have been traded for a proven pitcher, and one that can help now, not "maybe" in a few years. what a waste of trading chip. and still no pitching for the twins 2013 season. ……..apparently some teams were lining up for a proven centerfielder, eh? so the twins are the ones that give it away? what's the difference? the teams that always are building for the future, are always building for the future. rarely does that envisioned future arrive. personally, i never like a deal that is a proven for a best guess. best guesses litter the minor league rosters. and that is what this is. span is not a guess. i just don't like it. not at all. and oakland already got the nat's best young arms last year."

 

So to briefly extend here....... I think a first round pick, groomed and now a proven MLB player with a great contract and entering the prime of his years, is worth more than a first round pick that is not proven, but a hope. I feel Ryan left a card not played, and should have gotten another player in this deal. I think he acted too fast, (who else was trying to acquire Meyer? ... compared to who else was interested in Span?) and he should have and could have gotten more, as he did with Revere. Perhaps it was Ryan who wanted the hope more than Rizzo wanted the proven. I don't think so from how long Rizzo has been trying to acquire Span, but I don't know. You don't know. I think the Phillies wanted Revere, and made it very attractive as Atlanta was reported to be in the hunt again, too...........

 

No team is going to give up a Major League ready starter with significant upside for Span. They're just not going to do it. Young, cost-controlled starters with upside are the most valuable commodity in baseball. So Ryan went and got a slightly raw guy (but not too raw, he could end up in AAA this season) for Denard. Almost every baseball analyst not named Dave Cameron thinks this was a neutral trade or a slight win by the Twins and Ryan. You can go ahead and put your stock in Dave Cameron (who has been laughably wrong on some of his analysis over the years) and I'll put my stock in everybody else.

 

Ryan wasn't going to get a good young starter with upside for Span. Denard, while a quite good player, has all sorts of health issues surrounding him and while he's pretty cheap, he's not pre-arbitration cheap over the next three seasons. Ryan had over six months to work out a trade for Span and he sat on it until the right moment when Rizzo looked to be panicking after the Braves snatched Upton off the market. Ryan couldn't have done much better for Span than he did and he absolutely gouged the Phillies front office in the Revere deal.

 

So we have one good trade and one very good/outstanding trade. Yet Ryan is somehow failing to do his job. Ridiculous expectations much?

 

And next time you quote the Holy Grail that is Dave Cameron, read this article about the Figgins signing first. ROFLCOPTER. That's all I have to say about that.

 

http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/12/04/ms-to-sign-figgins/

[Twins Twerp]

Great article about Figgins, really turned out to be a versatile asset to the Mariners.

[h2oface]

No team is going to give up a Major League ready starter with significant upside for Span. They're just not going to do it. Young, cost-controlled starters with upside are the most valuable commodity in baseball. So Ryan went and got a slightly raw guy (but not too raw, he could end up in AAA this season) for Denard. Almost every baseball analyst not named Dave Cameron thinks this was a neutral trade or a slight win by the Twins and Ryan. You can go ahead and put your stock in Dave Cameron (who has been laughably wrong on some of his analysis over the years) and I'll put my stock in everybody else.

 

Ryan wasn't going to get a good young starter with upside for Span. Denard, while a quite good player, has all sorts of health issues surrounding him and while he's pretty cheap, he's not pre-arbitration cheap over the next three seasons. Ryan had over six months to work out a trade for Span and he sat on it until the right moment when Rizzo looked to be panicking after the Braves snatched Upton off the market. Ryan couldn't have done much better for Span than he did and he absolutely gouged the Phillies front office in the Revere deal.

 

So we have one good trade and one very good/outstanding trade. Yet Ryan is somehow failing to do his job. Ridiculous expectations much?

 

And next time you quote the Holy Grail that is Dave Cameron, read this article about the Figgins signing first. ROFLCOPTER. That's all I have to say about that.

 

http://www.ussmariner.com/2009/12/04/ms-to-sign-figgins/

 

Nobody but the Phillies, I guess.

I have my own opinion of this ........ and just used the particular article as an example of an article, and not a comment. I wish I had not included it, because it is clouding what I am saying, and is insignificant in that regard. I am not putting stock in anything except my own opinion here and could care less what Cameron thinks (but I did read it, like many others I read, and didn't really mean to have anyone perceive I was putting "stock" in it); I think Ryan could have done better on the Span deal, and I do have high expectations, call them ridiculous if you like, for the GM of my favorite team - always. I do expect The GM to make good deals like the Revere - Worley/Mays deal, and do it consistently. I have no idea what ROFLCOPTER means, but if it is text speak...... beware of the site police. The only "Holy Grail" I identify with is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I am happy for you that you are satisfied with the Span trade. I really wish I could be. I hope "The Hope" pans out, as we all do. Even if it does, I think the deal demanded more return.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Nobody but the Phillies, I guess.

I have my own opinion of this ........ and just used the particular article as an example of an article, and not a comment. I wish I had not included it, because it is clouding what I am saying, and is insignificant in that regard. I am not putting stock in anything except my own opinion here and could care less what Cameron thinks (but I did read it, like many others I read, and didn't really mean to have anyone perceive I was putting "stock" in it); I think Ryan could have done better on the Span deal, and I do have high expectations, call them ridiculous if you like, for the GM of my favorite team - always. I do expect The GM to make good deals like the Revere - Worley/Mays deal, and do it consistently. I have no idea what ROFLCOPTER means, but if it is text speak...... beware of the site police. The only "Holy Grail" I identify with is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

I am happy for you that you are satisfied with the Span trade. I really wish I could be. I hope "The Hope" pans out, as we all do. Even if it does, I think the deal demanded more return.

 

So unless the GM of the Twins robs the opposition blind on every trade and then steals his lunch money, he's doing a bad job?

 

I'd hate to watch sports with that attitude. How do you not hate every single inning of the game with expectations that completely unreasonable? And why watch at all? Masochism?

 

And the Phillies didn't give up a young starter with upside. They gave up a slightly battered young starter that projects as a #3, tops. Is that what you wanted? A mediocre pitcher with little or no upside?