Steven Matz, coming to the Cardinals, at 4/$44 is a "nice" addition to the rotation, but that's it.
Am I happy about that? Not really. Matz is being paid for one above-average year and being a lefty; a budget Robbie Ray; see above. But, I haven't paid coin to see an MLB game live or on teevee for 20 years now, so no harm to my wallet. As for what he brings to the table? Yes, it's true that he's below league average on walks. Is he SO MUCH below league average that it's a real talking point? Not really, and not when Marcus Stroman is 10 percent or so lower. But, if Matz is 4/$44, Stroman is probably 5/$90, maybe even 5/$100. Mo's not paying that.
Why do I say that? Cuz, among other things, Mets owner Steven Cohen is claiming he would have matched that price, and he's all pissy at Matz's agent.
After Steven Matz agreed to a deal with the Cardinals late last night, Steve Cohen and the Mets are unhappy with how his agent handled the negotiations. pic.twitter.com/tIpNBJtXUy
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) November 24, 2021
So, there you go.
Proof that you can never underestimate free agent pitching prices.
No Robbie Ray. (And, he's headed to the Mariners at 5/$115, illustrating what I said about lefty overpays.) No lefty flier on Clayton Kershaw. That's not to mention that, as Matz has shown? See "David Price" and 'overpaid lefties" in your baseball dictionary. They're still out there.
Absolutely no Max Scherzer, who will get a 3-year contract that may indeed approach $120M. (Or hit $130M, it seems, with the Mets signing.) No Zack Greinke flier on the righty side of the mound.
The only other pitching addition will be low-end relief help or possibly bringing Carlos Martinez back for less than he made before.
Is it enough of an upgrade? Probably not, to be honest.
Adam Wainwright struck gold last year. But, not likely to happen again at 40.
Miles Mikolas? Will it be another year of injury and struggle?
Ditto for Jack Flaherty, who partially bounced back from a semi-bad 2020.
Can Kwang Hyun Kim handle 200 innings?
Can Dakota Hudson be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery?
Jon Lester? Literally below replacement on WAR. Do you actually want him back, if you're not a Mo butt-kisser?
(Oh, do NOT @ me with Matthew Liberatore. He was decent-good but NOT great at Memphis last year, which was his first year at AAA. People touting him are generally, IMO, in the Mo ass-kissing division; see link below.)
But, Cards fans, that will be it.
2 comments:
This blog sounds a lot like whining....Matz is a good pickup due to the fact that he puts the ball in play...Scherzer would have been extra money spent for a player near the end of his career...yes I know he's a future Hall of Famer. The fact that Steven Cohen is extremely upset at Matz for spurning the Mets offer tells you all you need to know...keep complaining for all who are willing to read your teardrops.
Well, if "whining" is referring to how Mo the Blind Squirrel got semi-lucky last year with back end pitching pickups, and in the context of Mo vs Shildt? I plead guilty.
If "whining" is related to that, and about Mo's actual junior GMs taking his side vs Shildt, I plead guilty.
If "whining" is pointing out the cost premium on lefties while putting Matz's salary into this year's FA context? I plead guilty.
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