Roster Moves

[Mr. Happy]

Oberholtzer optioned; Clemens recalled. Per Julia Morales tweet.

[jbm]

I wonder if they feel Clemens is a better fit for what they need out of that spot (middle and mop up duty) or they just want Obie to continue on a starting regimen. I can only assume the latter.  Either way, it sucks for Obie in that he has certainly performed better than Clemens. 

[NeilT]

I was hoping this was singleton for Krauss. 

[astrosfan76]

I was hoping this was singleton for Krauss. 

Ask and you shall receive:

Evan Drellich ‏@EvanDrellich 16m

Source: The Astros have informed Jon Singleton he will be promoted from Class AAA Oklahoma City for tomorrow's game.

And

Jeff Passan ‏@JeffPassan 13m

Source: Astros, minor league 1B Jon Singleton agree on historic long-term deal. $10M guaranteed, up to $35M. News coming on Yahoo Sports.

Not sure who's being sent down.

[subnuclear]

Well, good for him and maybe for the Astros. What do they mean by "historic" in this context?

[astrosfan76]

Well, good for him and maybe for the Astros. What do they mean by "historic" in this context?

He signed the contract before he had any MLB experience.  You could make a case that several players did before changes were made to the draft, but I guess semantics makes this different.

[subnuclear]

He signed the contract before he had any MLB experience.  You could make a case that several players did before changes were made to the draft, but I guess semantics makes this different.

Ah, ok.

[HudsonHawk]

Well, good for him and maybe for the Astros. What do they mean by "historic" in this context?

Probably being a long-term deal for a guy who's never played an inning in the big leagues.

[subnuclear]

Here's a (very quick!) write-up of the deal.

[Bench]

Not sure who's being sent down.

It's Krauss.

[Fredia]

they did one thing right. should i seek shelter

[Nate Colbert]

Bud's bleatings becoming boring:

Retweeted by Brian McTaggart
Bud Norris ‏@BudNorris25  1h
Sorry but this Singleton deal is terrible. Wish the Jon listened to the union and not his agent.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bud's bleatings becoming boring:

Retweeted by Brian McTaggart
Bud Norris ‏@BudNorris25  1h
Sorry but this Singleton deal is terrible. Wish the Jon listened to the union and not his agent.

The one thing that can't be argued, if Singleton never hits another baseball, he is $10 million richer. From a fans point of view I love the deal, and Altuve's too. If I were an agent, I would caution players against this kind of deal, thinking that it would likely cost them money over the long run. However, the reward is sufficient enough, that handled properly, sets the player up for life and frees the agent up for five years to focus on other players' contracts. The arbitration process can be quite stressful for all parties involved and avoiding that is another reward in itself.

[Mr. Happy]

The one thing that can't be argued, if Singleton never hits another baseball, he is $10 million richer. From a fans point of view I love the deal, and Altuve's too. If I were an agent, I would caution players against this kind of deal, thinking that it would likely cost them money over the long run. However, the reward is sufficient enough, that handled properly, sets the player up for life and frees the agent up for five years to focus on other players' contracts. The arbitration process can be quite stressful for all parties involved and avoiding that is another reward in itself.

Exactly. Suppose the kid gets hurt. How would you like to be the agent who told the kid not to secure his financial livelihood? No thank you. The union has proven time and time again that it is no friend of the younger players. I wouldn't listen to them either.

[Reuben]

Bud's bleatings becoming boring:

Fuck You, Bud.

It's not your place to tell a kid to pass on an opportunity to become a millionaire.

[Duman]

Fuck You, Bud.

It's not your place to tell a kid to pass on an opportunity to become a millionaire.

According to Cot's Contracts here are Norris's earnings for his first five years in Baseball - If my Math is correct, that totals to 9.65 million.  - I think Mr. Singleton has already more money than Mr. Norris.

1 year/$5.3M (2014)
re-signed by Baltimore 1/16/14 (avoided arbitration)
1 year/$3M (2013)
re-signed by Houston 1/18/13 (avoided arbitration)
acquired by Baltimore in trade from Houston 7/31/13
1 year/$0.511M (2012)
re-signed by Houston 2/16/12
1 year/$0.4375M (2011)
re-signed by Houston 2/16/11
1 year/$0.401M (2010)
renewed by Houston 3/3/10

[jbm]

Yeah, I was listening to MLB Network on the trip into work.  The contract was the topic: "The Astros are fucking the kid over" and "He is a loser for not believing in himself."  Bud's take is annoying, but somewhat understandable as in a roundabout way, he has skin in the game.  However, to all non players who feel entitled/compelled to complain about deals between two willing parties, I send out a gigantic fuck you. 

[subnuclear]

Norris's complaints about a team holding a potential player in the minors as a way to get leverage in a contract situation seems valid from a fan's perspective.  I can think at least three losses this season that a hitter like Singleton might have made difference. I realize that the rules are written a certain way, but I imagine the player's union will eventual complain about that sort of thing if it because more frequent.

[Lefty]

On the injury front: how common is it for top young players to have some sort of insurance to cover potential future earnings lost due to a career ending injury?

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

On the injury front: how common is it for top young players to have some sort of insurance to cover potential future earnings lost due to a career ending injury?

Just speculating, but only a really, really sure-fire kid could get a $10MM policy.

[Mr. Happy]

Norris's complaints about a team holding a potential player in the minors as a way to get leverage in a contract situation seems valid from a fan's perspective.  I can think at least three losses this season that a hitter like Singleton might have made difference. I realize that the rules are written a certain way, but I imagine the player's union will eventual complain about that sort of thing if it because more frequent.

Norris seems off-base about that too. Luhnow has been quite clear that he didn't feel that Singleton had spent enough time at AAA. I think that his case and Springer's situation are two separate deals. Springer had nothing else to prove at AAA. He started there to hold up the Super 2 clock.

[Jacksonian]

Norris's complaints about a team holding a potential player in the minors as a way to get leverage in a contract situation seems valid from a fan's perspective.  I can think at least three losses this season that a hitter like Singleton might have made difference. I realize that the rules are written a certain way, but I imagine the player's union will eventual complain about that sort of thing if it because more frequent.

It is remarkably common.  If the union really hated it then it wouldn't be in the current CBA.

[Mr. Happy]

It is remarkably common.  If the union really hated it then it wouldn't be in the current CBA.

Exactly. As I wrote, the union doesn't give a shit about the younger players.

[Ty in Tampa]

Bud's bleatings becoming boring:

At first glance I thought this was about Bud Selig's beatings and wondered to myself how they could ever be boring.

[Randy Watson]

Singleton was suspended 50 games last year, was out of shape last year, and had a poor 2013 on his return. He's also just 22. Norris is being a douche.

[JimR]

Singleton was suspended 50 games last year, was out of shape last year, and had a poor 2013 on his return. He's also just 22. Norris is being a douche.

out of shape? a well-chronicled season-long hangover resulting from a switch from pot to alcohol.

[NeilT]

out of shape? a well-chronicled season-long hangover resulting from a switch from pot to alcohol.

That's not good.  Here's hoping that's straightened out.

[subnuclear]

It is remarkably common.  If the union really hated it then it wouldn't be in the current CBA.

These types of contract offers are new, right? Isn't that different from just waiting a month to start their clock or whatever they are doing?

[Fredia]

its not easy being the wrong kind of green

[Jacksonian]

These types of contract offers are new, right? Isn't that different from just waiting a month to start their clock or whatever they are doing?

The contracts are fairly new but the service time manipulations are old.

[HudsonHawk]

Exactly. As I wrote, the union doesn't give a shit about the younger players.

The MLBPA's job, like any union's job, is to drive up salaries for journeyman.  But they've simply topped out the market.  They've driven salaries so high, no one in their right mind would risk holding out for more.  They'll continue to argue that $35MM is slave labor, but it's a losing argument.

[Fredia]

but its over 15 bucks an hour

[matadorph]

I don't know if any of you saw it but earlier today MLB Network had a roundtable discussion (and an interview with Luhnow thereafter) about Singleton's contract that was refreshingly realistic. Yesterday I read quite a bit of critical commentary from the usual places, jackass writers and reporters carrying water for butthurt agents, most of them belittling Jon Singleton's decision and everyone agreeing how the Astros bent him over.  Brian Kenny, Mike Lowell, Tom Verducci, and Joe Magrane all gave really good, practical reasons why people like Bud Norris should politely shut the fuck up. It's ten million dollars worst case scenario to a guy who was an 8th round pick with a $200K signing bonus. That's life-changing money regardless of what happens to the kid once he takes the field as a ML player for the first time. There are no guarantees in life, and Mike Lowell touched on that by telling the story of being diagnosed with cancer right before his imminent major league call. Yes, this was most likely a good deal in terms of baseball bidness for the Astros, but it was also very understandable why Singleton would accept it. He's not getting as screwed imo as many would have us believe. The guy made a conscious choice to secure his financial well-being while at the same time leaving himself room for a big contract when he's 30. Who could possibly have a problem with that?

[juliogotay]

I don't know if any of you saw it but earlier today MLB Network had a roundtable discussion (and an interview with Luhnow thereafter) about Singleton's contract that was refreshingly realistic. Yesterday I read quite a bit of critical commentary from the usual places, jackass writers and reporters carrying water for butthurt agents, most of them belittling Jon Singleton's decision and everyone agreeing how the Astros bent him over.  Brian Kenny, Mike Lowell, Tom Verducci, and Joe Magrane all gave really good, practical reasons why people like Bud Norris should politely shut the fuck up. It's ten million dollars worst case scenario to a guy who was an 8th round pick with a $200K signing bonus. That's life-changing money regardless of what happens to the kid once he takes the field as a ML player for the first time. There are no guarantees in life, and Mike Lowell touched on that by telling the story of being diagnosed with cancer right before his imminent major league call. Yes, this was most likely a good deal in terms of baseball bidness for the Astros, but it was also very understandable why Singleton would accept it. He's not getting as screwed imo as many would have us believe. The guy made a conscious choice to secure his financial well-being while at the same time leaving himself room for a big contract when he's 30. Who could possibly have a problem with that?

Thanks for sharing that.

[Jose Cruz III]

Someone should ask Bud if he has ever heard of Matt Harrington. According to this he turned down 4 million bucks and now works at Costco for 11.50/hour. Harrington probably thinks Singleton made a great decision.

[HudsonHawk]

Someone should ask Bud if he has ever heard of Matt Harrington. According to this he turned down 4 million bucks and now works at Costco for 11.50/hour. Harrington probably thinks Singleton made a great decision.

Harrington still claims he did the right thing, and would do it the same way again.  Of course, he did get some money from an insurance policy and from suing his agent.

[roadrunner]

I don't know if any of you saw it but earlier today MLB Network had a roundtable discussion (and an interview with Luhnow thereafter) about Singleton's contract that was refreshingly realistic. Yesterday I read quite a bit of critical commentary from the usual places, jackass writers and reporters carrying water for butthurt agents, most of them belittling Jon Singleton's decision and everyone agreeing how the Astros bent him over.  Brian Kenny, Mike Lowell, Tom Verducci, and Joe Magrane all gave really good, practical reasons why people like Bud Norris should politely shut the fuck up. It's ten million dollars worst case scenario to a guy who was an 8th round pick with a $200K signing bonus. That's life-changing money regardless of what happens to the kid once he takes the field as a ML player for the first time. There are no guarantees in life, and Mike Lowell touched on that by telling the story of being diagnosed with cancer right before his imminent major league call. Yes, this was most likely a good deal in terms of baseball bidness for the Astros, but it was also very understandable why Singleton would accept it. He's not getting as screwed imo as many would have us believe. The guy made a conscious choice to secure his financial well-being while at the same time leaving himself room for a big contract when he's 30. Who could possibly have a problem with that?

What annoys the shit out of me is that if the Rays do this then it is a brilliant, shrewd move.  When the Astros do this it is cold and disrespectful to players and the game.  Buster Olney is easily the worst when it comes to this.  He's supposed to be an objective reporter, however he constantly shits on the Astros talking about how they are ruining the game.  Luhnow had every right to start Singleton in AAA this year, yet Olney made some ridiculous statement via Twitter about how Singleton should have been the opening day 1B.

Shifting gears, I bet Robbie Grossman is starting to feel some pressure after turning down his offer.

[Ron Brand]

Shifting gears, I bet Robbie Grossman is starting to feel some pressure after turning down his offer.

That's not pressure, that's the cold and disrespectful Astros screwing him over because he didn't take the deal. Don't you read Olney?

[hostros7]

Apparently no one understands the concept of risk adjusted present value.

Take life changing money today and set yourself up for a comfortable life if a reasonable lifestyle is led.  Prove all the doubters wrong by mashing and getting 5-6 year, $100mm+ contract when you're in your upper 20s (or whatever the figures will be by then).   cut out all the machismo and give the guy credit for making a rational, well-informed  decision. 

[roadrunner]

And now he will be given a longer rope to perform, should have less pressure, etc.  It's a great deal for Singleton.

[HudsonHawk]

Apparently no one understands the concept of risk adjusted present value.

Take life changing money today and set yourself up for a comfortable life if a reasonable lifestyle is led.  Prove all the doubters wrong by mashing and getting 5-6 year, $100mm+ contract when you're in your upper 20s (or whatever the figures will be by then).   cut out all the machismo and give the guy credit for making a rational, well-informed  decision. 

But here's the problem as the union sees it:  When a 26-year old is making $3MM/year, a 35 year old can't command $10MM/year.  Therefore, when said 26 year old is ready to negotiate his deal when he turns 30, *he* won't be able to command $100MM deal.  He's effectively lowered the going rate by playing for less than market value in his prime.

[juliogotay]

And now he will be given a longer rope to perform, should have less pressure, etc.  It's a great deal for Singleton.

Singleton was interviewed on the MLB network after the game and he was having a good time. The deal was mentioned and he had an ear-to-ear smile. He said the thing he would remember the most about the night was taking the field with his teammates after the anthem. Seemed very likeable.

[NeilT]

And now he will be given a longer rope to perform, should have less pressure, etc.  It's a great deal for Singleton.

Let's hope it's not a hemp rope. 

[HudsonHawk]

I saw where Mark Mulder made comments similar to Norris.  Something to the effect of "he must not believe in himself."  Which means "how dare Singleton take care of his own family instead of providing us existing millionaires a few extra pennies to polish."

[Mr. Happy]

Bullpen help: Clemens down; Owens up.

[juliogotay]

Bullpen help: Clemens down; Owens up.

I wish him well but I'll be surprised if this is an improvement.

[Reuben]

I wish him well but I'll be surprised if this is an improvement.

I think this is 100% about needing a fresh arm for long relief duty.

[MusicMan]

I think this is 100% about needing a fresh arm for long relief duty.

Which is fine, but I think we have sufficient evidence than Clemens isn't a MLB calibre pitcher.

[Mr. Happy]

Which is fine, but I think we have sufficient evidence than Clemens isn't a MLB calibre pitcher.

+1 I've seen enough.