http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Tue, 21 May 2013 13:40:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17939 Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:55:02 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17939 I wanted to thank you for this great write up. I absolutely enjoyed every little part of it. I have you bookmarked and will be coming back.

]]> http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17938 Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:12:40 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17938 A good background check service is difficult to find.

]]> http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17937 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:18:49 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17937 That’s why Dayton Moore is so good at what he does. He’s managed to combine the best of both worlds.

]]> http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17936 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:29:10 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17936 Relievers are the most volatile stock in the player acquisition game. Those 3 plus the Gary Matthews Jr. contract mentioned by Mark above effectively kneecap the Halos much worse than the one big bad contract of each team mentioned by Floyd. It’s a lot of dead salary plus a lot of roster spots being blocked. When Brandon Wood breaks out, or when Sean Rodriguez succeeds in Tampa or somewhere else, just remember that playing time and roster spots are all precious. Tying up salary and spots in unworthy players prevents you from developing or acquiring other players as well.
Also, BTW, KRod is still locked up for another $25 million for 2 years, lest we forget. So at least they cut bait on that horrible investment.

]]> http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17935 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:19:39 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17935 Pretty sure the Angels have that GMJ guy who’s set to make 11 mil sitting on the bench.
Still I’m not sure why the Angels couldn’t have offered Oliver Arb. Unless I’m missing something Cots said their 2010 payroll is around 82 million and the past 3 years were around 100-110. Makes sense, since they lost Lackey/Figgins/Vlad. They still have to fill the spot left by Lackey, but as someone who doesn’t follow the Angels I find it hard to believe they couldn’t afford Darren Oliver even with the bad contracts.

]]> http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/21/darren-oliver-close-to-signing-with-the-rangers/comment-page-1/#comment-17934 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:23:39 +0000 http://localhost/wp/nbchbt/?p=2916#comment-17934 Really, Craig?
The Angels owe Fuentes $9 million, Shields $5.35 million, and Speier $5.25 million. Even if you feel that those are all bad contracts (and I’m not sure they are, given the current market for closers), that’s a grand total of less than $20 million, and then all three guys will be off the books.
Is that REALLY worse than Vernon Wells’ contract? Or Alfonso Soriano’s? or Barry Zito’s? Even Todd Helton’s? At worst, the Angels are paying $20 million for perhaps $7 million in actual production. That’s hardly equivalent to the cash that at least 10 teams are throwing away on wildly overpriced superstars.

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