Merged: Posada to be 2nd Highest Paid Catcher in History?/Posada Salary Discussion

[-tz]

It's from Friday's New York Post:

http://www.nypost.com/sports/yankees/9053.htm

BIG BUCKS BACKSTOP

By JOEL SHERMAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 18, 2002 -- The Yankees and Jorge Posada are closing in on a five-year contract that would make the switch-hitter the second highest paid catcher in history behind Mike Piazza, The Post has learned.
There would be a sixth-year option and the total package would be worth between $50-55 million (not including the option year), two people familiar with the negotiations said. The average annual value of the contract would better $10 million. That would leave only Piazza, who averages $13 million annually in his seven-year, $91 million pact, ahead of Posada among catchers - at least until Ivan Rodriguez becomes a free agent after the 2002 season.

Jason Kendall currently ranks second among catchers, having signed a six-year, $60-million pact last year with the Pirates that with deferments averages just under $10 million annually. The Yankees - like just about every team in the majors - feels the Kendall contract is ridiculously inflated.

Nevertheless, Posada and his representatives have insisted that because he is a superior player to Kendall, the average value of his contract should be greater.

The two people familiar with the negotiations say there is a strong likelihood Posada and the Yankees will exchange salary offers today when all arbitration-eligible players and teams must.

The two sources also said that while they expect the multi-year pact to get done, both cautioned that with the Yankees and George Steinbrenner a deal is never a deal until all documents are signed.

Neither Yankee GM Brian Cashman nor Posada's representative, Louis Espiniel, returned calls.

The Yanks certainly have worries about making this kind of commitment to Posada. He is 30, the age catchers traditionally begin a quicker and steeper descent than other position players. In addition, Posada's lapses in concentration defensively remain a concern to the club.

Ultimately, however, the Yanks recognize elite catchers are perhaps the hardest commodity to find in the game, particularly switch-hitting catchers with power and plate patience. Posada did have surgery on his shoulder after the season that the team has said it does not consider major and - because he was a middle infielder initially in the minors - Posada does not have quite the wear on his body associated with catchers of the same age.

The Yanks also like that tying up Posada long-term means their home-grown middle of the diamond of Posada, Derek Jeter, Alfonso Soriano and Bernie Williams are together through at least 2005.

*

[junkman73]

great to hear...the phrase "home-grown" is sweet music to my ears...God, I love this team....

[yankfan67]

Thanks for the article

[rlsuth]

Personally, I have reservations about giving him that much money. His defense and throwing were'nt that great this past year and his offense was only impressive at times (although, when he was on, he was really on). To me, he hasn't realized the enormous potential he has, and as the article said, he's 30.

Anyway, just my opinion.

[MickeyR]

I agree with rlsluth and even more so. This will backfire on the Yanks! Frankly, it seems like a talent assessment that the Muts would make and act upon. Hence their situations with people like Zeile.

Posada lead the league in PBs and errors last year. In addition, his offensive understanding of the game is horrid at times. Swinging at the first pitch and popping up to the 2nd baseman in a late inning after the first two hitters got on base seems to be Jorge's idea of contributing.

I know it is said and done regarding the 1st base situation, and I am glad Jason is with us, but I would have rather brought Tino back, platooned him with NJ and then handed the job to NJ later on, if meant being able to use the Giambi $ to sign IROD.

He is at his highest value now and we should look to trade him. He breaks down at the beginning of every September and doesn;t recover until ST. What's going to happen when he has a few more years on him. He is actually one of my least favorite Yankees.

[staticm]

irod is no spring chicken either, and he's been injured the last 2 years, something you cant say about posada.

i think they should sign him for 3 years with an option year or 2...

as for posada's mental lapses last year ... maybe so, but he's still one of the best hitting catchers in baseball.. its not like they're a dime a dozen.

[b-ball-lunachick]

Originally posted by rlsuth
Personally, I have reservations about giving him that much money. His defense and throwing were'nt that great this past year and his offense was only impressive at times (although, when he was on, he was really on). To me, he hasn't realized the enormous potential he has, and as the article said, he's 30.

Anyway, just my opinion.

I agree rlsuth...it does seem like an awful lot of money to me...especially since he probably won't be catching for another 5 or 6 years...I was worried about all the passed balls and seriously thought he should get his eyes checked...in 2000, before the shoulder injury, he had significantly improved in throwing runners out and I'm hoping he returns to that form this year...as for the concentration woes, his offensive numbers the past two years have gone down later in the season...I wonder how much of that had to do with his son's illness...

seems more and more like George is on a spending spree before someone takes away his checkbook...

[Sascha]

Give him a new contract, yeah. But don´t give him about 10million a year ! I think he´s one of the top 3 catchers in the league (behind piazza and pudge ) but the payroll of the Yanks is already the highest (isn´t it ?). Compare him with other players earning 10mil a year... are his stats that good ?

Ok, imagine not signing him... who else yould you pick as catcher ? There´s none ! The Yanks have the money, the Yanks want Posada, Posada wants the money.... so they´ll have to pay him that lot...

[MickeyR]

Originally posted by staticm
irod is no spring chicken either, and he's been injured the last 2 years, something you cant say about posada.

i think they should sign him for 3 years with an option year or 2...

as for posada's mental lapses last year ... maybe so, but he's still one of the best hitting catchers in baseball.. its not like they're a dime a dozen.

True on your points but I would imagine IROD will continue to be more productive than Jorge.

Also, based on Jorge's late season breakdown (offensively) he might as well have been on the DL. No, productive catchers aren't a dime a dozen but I just don't want to commit even 2 years to this guy...

[ChicagoYankeeFan]

If we didn't lock him up, someone would probably pay him more next season. It's a credit to the Yankees management that they realize just how important Jorge is to this team. He represents a HUGE advantage over almost every other team in the league at Catcher.

They do need to rest him more and his ability to hit and play first can help keep him in the lineup on days when Giambi or Johnson need a rest.

I think the money's about right, and the time also. He hasn't played that much catcher, so I think he will provide excellent value through most of that contract.

[staticm]

Jason Kendall currently ranks second among catchers, having signed a six-year, $60-million pact last year with the Pirates that with deferments averages just under $10 million annually. The Yankees - like just about every team in the majors - feels the Kendall contract is ridiculously inflated.

you mean it isnt the large market teams like the yankees who are inflating player salaries and disrupting competetive balance?

[NyMike]

Originally posted by ChicagoYankeeFan
If we didn't lock him up, someone would probably pay him more next season. It's a credit to the Yankees management that they realize just how important Jorge is to this team. He represents a HUGE advantage over almost every other team in the league at Catcher.

They do need to rest him more and his ability to hit and play first can help keep him in the lineup on days when Giambi or Johnson need a rest.

I think the money's about right, and the time also. He hasn't played that much catcher, so I think he will provide excellent value through most of that contract.

Ditto.

[TEAM OCTOBER]

Considering Ivan Rodriguez will be making 16 million a year from some tead as a FA after 2002,


Posada at 10 mill a year is fine with me,

thought 4 years would have been much more efficient for the Yankees.

anyway you know the Yanks will backload the contract >

probably

7 mill in 2002

9 mill in 2003

11 mill in 2004

13 mill in 2005

14 mill in 2006 -- since the dropoff from Piazza, Jorge and Ivan is SO HUGE, someone like Jason Varitek's quality will probably be making 14 million a year by 2006 anyway

[Bluesexy's daddy]

In the case of Posada, the only thing worse then giving him a fat five year deal is leeting him go to free agency and having some nut like Angelos or Tom Hicks offer him more.

There is a chance that the contract will backfire but not signing him is an even greater risk. Sign him.

[Luvtino]

I worry more about the years than the money. I wouldn't have gone beyone 4 years. The money is a bit high, but in the range of what he should get so I don't have much issue with that.

His defense and throwing were bad last year, but I am hoping the shoulder surgery will help in those areas. Not too many choices out there catching wise and I am sure the Yankees are well aware of it.

[Rocketman]

Yankees should get him for four years, $42 million if they can, and backload the contract. Five years is too long for catchers!

[jojos_2]

Thanks for the article. Glad we locked Jorgie up.

*Jo*

[staticm]

Considering Ivan Rodriguez will be making 16 million a year from some tead as a FA after 2002

i dont think irod will get that much money..
he's only 3 months younger than posada, and he's got a lot more years of catching under his belt than jorge.

if he gets hurt again this year, he can forget about a solid, long term contract.

[The Q Bomb]

I agree with those forumers who expressed reservations over the amount of money The Yanks are thinking of giving Jorge. While I understand that offensively Jorge is above most other catchers besides Piazza and IRod, he is not one of the best catchers in MLB based on his defensive performances the last two years. There were spells during the last two seasons when his defense was almost embarassing; at times he was actually a liability behind the plate. And while his offense can be pretty good, at times, he's never been able to sustain it over the course of an entire season.

That being said, I still feel Jorge is better than most catchers. It is nice that he is a "homegrown" player, but that is not a reason, in and of itself, to keep a player on your team. I believe TheYanks should definitely sign Posada, but they should try to work out a contract heavily laced with incentives this year that would give way to a more conventional guaranteed contract if this year's incentives are met.

I do feel that Posada works extremely well with his pitchers.

[derekjeter916]

Too long, and too much money. But I wouldn't want to see Posada leave. I think he is enormously talented. How many catchers can you find who are as durable as Posada and will drive in nearly 100 runs while hitting 25 HRs. Uhh, maybe three, but probably two. Posada is often overlooked on the Yankees because they have offensive stars such as Jeter and Williams and (well, I'm still talking about last year)Tino. If he was on the Blue Jays or the Orioles, or another team that does not have the Yankees' fantastic offense, he could be the best offensive player on the team, or the second-best.