Every year more than 100 free agents gamble their talent into huge success. However, someone has to lose, and while it’s almost always the hometown fans, sometimes you watch a player overvalue himself and overvalue the cards he was dealt.
A pair may be enough to win against the owners some of the time. But at others, Major League ballplayers have proven to be surrounded by too many yes men and faithful followers to make capable, solid judgment calls.
It was just a few short years ago, in 2008, that Jason Varitek (check the 2007-2011), turned down his option and demanded $10,000,000.00 a year. The Red Sox had other priorities and no one else came calling. Later in free agency the now retired Varitek had to settle for $5 million – not bad, but a pittance compared with his initial demand.
There are cases like this nearly every offseason. So let’s imagine the rest of this piece being read with a certain AC/DC song playing in the background in their honor – because most players do believe they have the biggest in the land. And let’s debate whether Kendrys Morales or Stephen Drew is the bigger free agent numskull of the year.
The Mariners have upgraded first base, corner outfield, and DH spots drastically and still have Justin Smoak and former phenom Jesus Montero that they could easily package to help improve other areas of the team. So, while I’m not a gambling man, I’d put the odds of Morales going back to Seattle at less than 1 in 14.1 million.
JD Drew’s little brother, however, plays shortstop, a premium position, and could always get work as a second baseman or even a 3rd baseman in a pinch. His numbers as a middle infielder aren’t staggering, but he’s consistent, and he has shown up in the clutch before. His defense is not spectacular, but even that’s not what has me shaking my head. Stephen is injury prone, and, as a Minnesota guy, I’ve seen Joe Mauer enough to know when I smell a bad contract.
So, while I believe that Stephen Drew’s odds for going home to Boston or finding an inflated salary elsewhere are than those had by Morales, his ego has me thinking that he has way overplayed his hand. Does he have a pair or is he only bluffing?
You make the call. Who has made the biggest mistake by turning down the $14,000,000.00 that they were offered?
Loading ...
Andy, excellent editing. Dunderhead however is not mine and I will not lay claim to it. As a
Major shareholder in cursing, swearing and cynical behavior… The angry malcontent in me sees the dad coming out.
I heard assclown used on network TV the other day so I think that one day soon Fktard will become an everyday term. As I said I’m a stock holder, and our advertising budget is roughly 917 trillion dollars. (The entire worth of the world according to one site I looked at.
Morales pooched it for quarters, but Drew’s baseball cards may be easily found in the feminine hygiene section of the store not by the checkout lines if you need to complete your sets.
I will go with Morales, simply because he doesn’t have the utility Drew does. Morales can hit for moderate power (for a DH) clog the bases beyond belief and play a poor, immobile first base. I assume Drew could play second and third as well as short, and could potentially serve as insurance at all three positions, while playing any one regularly. Both were stupid to turn down the QO though, both could likely have worked out a 3 year deal with their current teams after the fact.
My feelings exactly Kevin.
I think Morales’ people let him down.
I think Drew is an idiot.