Jeff Cirillo. $6.975 million and $7.275. Eek

No kidding. But that's not the worst contract on this list.

Darren Dreifort. $25 million the next two years.

No, it's not even that one, though Dreifort's picture should hang on the wall of every GM who ever considers paying for potential rather than performance.

Roger Cedeno. $10.64 million the next two.

There you go. Bad player, worse attitude, utterly insane contract. The guy can do only one thing, steal bases, and not always even that. I also like the fact that Giambi is unclaimable. Here's my prediction: in two years' time, Giambi is going to be Mo Vaughn. Playing hurt, in declining condition, for the wrong organization, he'll be a focal point for fans' frustration. And knowing George, there's a decent chance that Nick Johnson, who should be occupying first base for a fraction of Giambi's price, will be the one sent packing in trade someday.

This really is vintage Gammons, the good version. He and Allard Baird are historically not two people I've thought very highly of. But this excerpt:

Royals GM Allard Baird has long said that three ingredients should be necessary for a big long-term contract: "Durability, ability and character." Too many teams ignore durability and character.

is right on the money.

Nothing compares to Chan Ho Park's contract.

I was expecting to see Delgado's name on the list. Its not that he is a major liability, but that the market has reduced since he signed his deal.

Does anyone think his $38 million would be claimed?

Gerry,

Delgado only has one year left. He's owed 18.5 million.

It's purely hypothetical, because the Jays aren't going to put him on irrevocable waivers, but one year of Delgado would make more sense than any of the guys with longer deals. Would he be claimed? I don't know. Is anybody running the Dodgers right now?

I think Gammons mentioned this, but part of the reason there's no demand for Manny et. al. is that next year's free agent crop is a doozy. Kerry Wood is on the list, and Nomar, Beltran, Pedro, etc. Nobosy wants to be tied to $20 million in 2005 and byond because they want that money to spend on those guys.

Delgado would be claimed because he gives you one year of awesomeness and then leaves your payroll free to go after all those wicked-ass free agents next year.

Of course, Delgado should not be waived. Like A-Rod, he's too good a player for his contract to be a serious problem.

By the way, how is Kerry Wood in a Fighting Jay uniform as far as 2005 fantasies?

By the way, how is Kerry Wood in a Fighting Jay uniform as far as 2005 fantasies?

It's a nice fantasy. I'll say that much. It's going to take a long term deal in the $10 million range to get him though. Assuming the Jays are locked into Doc for close to that much, I think the rest of the rotation won't have near that salary. They have to get SOME pitching from within or they aren't going anywhere.

I remember being angry when Delgado signed his four year contract while other elite players were being handed seven year contracts. At the time, with no end to salary inflation in sight, it made sense to wrap up your $20M players for as long as possible lest they become $30M players in 3 or 4 years time. The Jays dodged a huge bullet by only giving Carlos 4 years, but I at the time, didn't realize it. Does anyone remember why Carlos was 'only' given a four year deal? Was Gord Ash the only one in baseball who knew the market would move in the opposite direction? Or did he just get lucky?

It's purely hypothetical, because the Jays aren't going to put him on irrevocable waivers

1. Why not? $18 million +/- would go a long way to fixing other problems. Said another way, if Delgado was a FA today do you think the Jays would sign him for as much as he's due? I can't imagine that happening.

2. It's possible the Jays did do this, but it wasn't leaked to the media.

I don't think they'd do it. One because they don't "have to"...Delgado doesn't want out and he's certainly still productive and a model citizen. Two because it would send a ridiculously bad message to the rest of the team, the young players and Doc especially. These are the guys that you have to convince that Toronto is commited to keeping a good team together.

It's a different matter if Carlos leaves because he decides he wants a longer term deal or more dollars per season elsewhere, or both. Then it's basically out of management's hands.

From Rosenthal:

Former Cy Young winner RHP Pat Hentgen is in demand after going 6-3 with a 3.10 ERA after the All-Star break. The Orioles declined Hentgen's $4 million option, and the Rangers, Blue Jays, Phillies and Tigers are among the clubs expected to pursue him as a free agent. . . .

I'll echo other shows of support for bringing back Pat Hentgen. I think that if these are his four choices (there may well be others), then where he ends up will probably reveal his motivation:

- If he wants one more pennant race, it's the Phillies.
- If he wants one more big payday, it's the Rangers.
- If he wants one last sentimental tour of duty, it's the Blue Jays.
- If he wants to go home, it's the Tigers.

Personally, I think it'll be Detroit.

I'm thinking that the Tigers will be so terribly bad in 2004 that a gamer like Hentgen won't want to play there, whether he's from Michigan or not.

I tend to agree about Hentgen not going to Detroit for those reasons Spicol. Unless JP can convince him the Jays are really looking to step forward then the Jays might be a tough sell too...especially with the Phillies having just picked up Wagner and probably offering more money than the Jays could hope to offer. Reasons for Pat to come to Toronto...because it's Toronto and because of Roy Halladay, Vernon Wells, and Carlos Delgado plus lots of offensive support.

Hentgen might have another good year or two so if I can get him for under between $2 and $3 million I'd have a go. The big thing will be whether he wants that second year or even third year on the deal.

The Rangers are looking to reduce salary to the $75 million range so they might be just as tight on funds as the Jays when it comes to discretionary spending and they're probably not competitive in that division yet.