re: DAT: Offseason Thread (Spring Training has begun!!)

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You say that now but look at pujols production now and think about Edwin production in years 3-5 of that deal. If you're going this year alone Beltran can provide 70% of the bat with better baserunning and infinitely more flexibility down the road. I definitely prefer Beltran on this short deal to 5 years of ee when we know the risk involved in years 3-5

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You're worried about decline. Beltran hit less than 20 HRs and .330ish OBP or less in 2 out of the last 3 years. Whats more worrisome: paying the 40 year old who just had a bounce back season at that age and really depending on him for one year or a 33 year old gradually declining 3-5 years away?

We also have a young core surrounding whomever we sign now, so even if EE declines years later into a 5 year deal, our core now will mostly still be rostered (most will still be under 30). A decline for EE in 3-4 years probably means he drops from 40 HRs to 20-25 HRs. Maybe he no longer remains a mid lineup hitter and we have to move him down in the order. Not a Big deal if the young guys are still around in the 1-5 spots.

Anyways, I'm not against signing Beltran despite this rant. He is better than what we had even if he goes back to .330 OBP and sub 20 HRs that he was for multiple recent years before last season. I just woulda preferred the monster EE has been for the last 5 years even if we only get that monster for 3 years of a 5 year contract. Even if we are paying EE $25 million during the decline, contracts are about to sky rocket with some ridiculous upcoming free agent classes (starting with SPs next offseason). $25mm probably won't be a drastic overpay by that time if he is still hitting 20+ HRs

And if it comes out the EE signs somewhere for $30 mill a year, then sure, I'm glad we didn't sign him at that cost.

Just imo