Tuesday, September 16, 2008

AL Infielders Updated

Edgar Renteria continues to be safely within Type A Range. That's the good news. The bad news is that the Tigers are apparently on the hook for his buyout. This changes things slightly. In the article, Jon Paul Morosi asserts that the Tigers are likely to buy out Renteria. My hope is that they still offer arbitration, especially since two of the teams who could sign him, the Dodgers and Cardinals, stand to have draft picks between 16 and 25. That is to say the Tigers would get a first round pick for him.

If I have time in the future, I can try to do some economic analysis on the Renteria situation. My gut says it is worth the risk of him accepting to offer him arbitration, even with the $3,000,000 sunk cost.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Could you clear up something for me on Renteria?

His option is for 12mm, right?

The buyout is for 3mm and the tigers are responsible for it, but if they do pick up the option the red sox will pay 3mm?

If that's the case, then when you add the sunk cost of the 3mm buyout and the 3mm the sox would pay if the option would pick up, the tigers would only have to pay an extra 6mm to keep Renteria.

For a team with a need at SS, Renteria for 6mm seams like a good deal.

Am I missing something here?

Eddie Bajek said...

The Red Sox aren't on the hook for any part of the option or the buy out.

Anonymous said...

First, I think it hurts the Tigers that Renteria is a Type A free agent. IMO, that will do more to deter teams from signing him since they'll not only be giving him his contract, but also losing a first round pick.

Second, the Cardinals are tied for the 16th draft pick and the Dodgers are a half game behind (or ahead? however you want to look at it) in the 17th slot. It's not a stretch to think the Cardinals will drop into the 1-15 area meaning they wouldn't lose their 1st round pick.

Telemachus said...

Eddie,

I agree with anonymous...it would be better for the Tigers if Renteria were a type B. I think he'd get signed much quicker and there wouldn't be a concern about him accepting arbitration.

Any chance the NL relievers will get updated near the season's end or during the playoffs?

Eddie Bajek said...

Given the shortstop market, some team would overbid and do so early. My hunch is that the Type A status doesn't hurt Renteria as much as you are suggesting. Worst case scenario is that the Tigers have an expensive former all star having a fine second half at shortstop on a one year deal. The accepted arbitration risk really isn't that big of a deal, imo.

Telemachus said...

good point...I still doubt that a team will surrender it's round 1 pick, so possibly a top half team could go for it...