Valverde declines arbitration

[OregonStrosFan]

Per Rosenthal and Tim Brown (of Yahoo) via Twitter.

[Reuben]

wow, you're faster than mlb traderumors.

[matadorph]

Twitter is mostly useless imo, except for breaking sports news.

McTaggart has it, too.

[Andyzipp]

wow, you're faster than mlb traderumors.

We hired him because he was fast.  HudsonHawk was really disappointed when he found out what fast we were talking about.

[HudsonHawk]

We hired him because he was fast.  HudsonHawk was really disappointed when he found out what fast we were talking about.

I'm disappointed in a lot of things.  You promised rubgirls in the lounge and a power-assisted flush toilet in the men's room.

[Andyzipp]

I'm disappointed in a lot of things.  You promised rubgirls in the lounge and a power-assisted flush toilet in the men's room.

There are girls in the lounge. Fuckers unionized.

And AD is responsible for sucking shit.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

I refuse to link to it, but JJdO's article about Valverde is the same shit, different day.  While mentioning in passing the compensation picks, the overall focus and slant is "poor Drayton won't pony up to pay for a quality team again", without any quotes from Wade or anyone else in the front office. There's also the implication that the team made a lowball offer to Valverde, complete with a fundamental misunderstanding of the role that arb. would've played in determining his 2010 salary.

Good fucking times down on Texas Street.

[Limey]

I refuse to link to it, but JJdO's article about Valverde is the same shit, different day.  While mentioning in passing the compensation picks, the overall focus and slant is "poor Drayton won't pony up to pay for a quality team again", without any quotes from Wade or anyone else in the front office. There's also the implication that the team made a lowball offer to Valverde, complete with a fundamental misunderstanding of the role that arb. would've played in determining his 2010 salary.

Good fucking times down on Texas Street.

It's getting close to pitchforks and torches time, people.

[das]

Egad.  Closer by committee?

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091207&content_id=7769604&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

"We might end up doing something where it involves multiples of pitchers who profile like LaTroy. Whether LaTroy's one of them or not remains to be seen, but we could do multiples who could cover the eighth and ninth innings for us." --Ed Wade

[Ron Brand]

2010 is going to be a tough year, but Drayton could spend $180m and it would be spent wrong according to fucksticks like JdJO. If he doesn't have something promoting his important, touchy-feely self then he has to manufacture controversy from lies and innuendo to make the day's column. I'm surprised the Astros agreed to a live chat with Wade instead of shutting him out altogether.

[MusicMan]

Egad.  Closer by committee?

http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091207&content_id=7769604&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou

"We might end up doing something where it involves multiples of pitchers who profile like LaTroy. Whether LaTroy's one of them or not remains to be seen, but we could do multiples who could cover the eighth and ninth innings for us." --Ed Wade

I'll translate that:

"Why am I going to spend $12M on a guy who might only get 20 save chances next year?"

[Limey]

I'll translate that:

"Why am I going to spend $12M on a guy who might only get 20 save chances next year?"

Bingo!

[94CougarGrad]

I'll translate that:

"Why am I going to spend $12M on a guy who might only get 20 save chances next year?"

Sigh. If he only had a coupon.

[domedogs]

I'd say it's looking pretty good that one of those comp picks will be a first rounder.  No one in the top 16 (the Cubs pick at 16 is protected because of the compensation pick that the Rangers have at 15 for not signing Purke) is likely to pay $10M for a closer.  The only chance is that the Cubs might... but other than that, I don't see any of the top 15 doing it.  What do you guys think?

Draft order for 2010:

 1. Nationals (59-103)
  2. Pirates (62-99)
  3. Orioles (64-98)
  4. Royals (65-97)
  5. Indians (65-97)
  6. Diamondbacks (70-92)
  7. Mets (70-92)
  8. Astros (74-88)
  9. Padres (75-87)
10. Athletics (75-87)
11. Blue Jays (75-87)
12. Reds (78-84)
13. White Sox (79-83)
14. Brewers (80-82)
15. Rangers (for Matt Purke)
16. Cubs (83-78)
17. Rays (84-78)
18. Mariners (85-77)
19. Tigers (86-77)
20. Braves (86-76)
21. Twins (87-76)
22. Rangers (87-75)
23. Marlins (87-75)
24. Giants (88-74)
25. Cardinals (91-71)
26. Rockies (92-70)
27. Phillies (93-69)
28. Dodgers (95-67)
29. Red Sox (95-67)
30. Angels (97-65)
31. Rays (for LeVon Washington)
32. Yankees (103-59)

[Fredia]

my oldest daughter gets so embarrassed when i whip out my coupons. i never understood why  ill see if i have one that might help

[Ron Brand]

Fredia is really The Sphnix.

[MusicMan]

I hope Hunsicker really likes Valverde.

[ferret]

2010 is going to be a tough year, but Drayton could spend $180m and it would be spent wrong according to fucksticks like JdJO. If he doesn't have something promoting his important, touchy-feely self then he has to manufacture controversy from lies and innuendo to make the day's column. I'm surprised the Astros agreed to a live chat with Wade instead of shutting him out altogether.

McTaggart reported, 11/13

Valverde made $8 million last season and has said he wants to test the free-agent waters, and Hawkins made $3.5 million.

The Astros have been in contact with the agents for both pitchers and would like to re-sign both.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091113&content_id=7662756&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

11/14

Gene Mato, one of the agents for free agent closer Jose Valverde, confirmed the pitcher's desire to test the free-agent waters.

"The Astros have communicated to Jose their desire to bring him back," Mato wrote in an email to MLB.com "He really enjoyed his time there and is open to the idea of returning. With that said, he is intrigued with the whole free agency process and the interest that is being generated."
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/11/valverde_to_test_free-agent_wa.html

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Sure, it'll be a rough patch in 2010.  And if Justice and JdJO want to propose a way to spend $40MM more on payroll next year and thereby beat the Cubs and Cards, rock right the fuck on.   But if the team did do just that, you'd still end up in three years where they are right now: huge, untradeable veteran contracts and a logjam preventing prospects from getting MLB experience. 

Let the kids play.  It won't be pretty, but if Castro, Manzella, or Johnson provides half the entertainment value that Bourn did last year, it won't be a completely depressing season.

[Ty in Tampa]

Gene Mato, one of the agents for free agent closer Jose Valverde, confirmed the pitcher's desire to test the free-agent waters.

"The Astros have communicated to Jose their desire to bring him back," Mato wrote in an email to MLB.com "He really enjoyed his time there and is open to the idea of returning. With that said, he is intrigued with the whole free agency process and the interest that is being generated."
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/11/valverde_to_test_free-agent_wa.html

"intrigued with the whole free agency process" = "look at all that cash they're slingin' around!"

[ferret]

"intrigued with the whole free agency process" = "look at all that cash they're slingin' around!"

And makes Ortiz's angle that the Astros didn't negotiate with Valverde a steaming pile of uninformed bullshit.

[Jacksonian]

I hope Hunsicker really likes Valverde.

The Tigers closer, Rodney, declined arb as well I believe.

[OregonStrosFan]

The only chance is that the Cubs might... but other than that, I don't see any of the top 15 doing it.  What do you guys think?

I've no idea who will pick him up, but aren't the White Sox constantly bitching about Jenks?

[domedogs]

I hope Hunsicker really likes Valverde.

Ditto.

[BatGirl]

And makes Ortiz a steaming pile of uninformed bullshit.

/brevity