Cardinals signed RHP Braden Looper, who had been with the Mets, to a three-year, $13.5 million contract.

A nice contract for a pitcher who just had shoulder surgery two months ago. He'll earn $3.5 million in 2006, $4.5 million in 2007 and $5.5 million in 2008. Included are up to $1 million in bonuses, some of them based on games finished in case he becomes the closer. Looper will be healthy for the start of next season, and he figures to be more durable that some of the other relievers getting three-year deals. He probably won't give the Cardinals quite what Julian Tavarez did the last two years, but he'll be decent.

Edited December 16, 200520 yr by SSH2005

WAY TOO MUCH MONEY

The next good value bullpen signing this offseason will be the first. Just another horrible deal.

^^^^^

Signing big name RP for big contracts seem ridiculous to me. Half of the extremely productive bullpen arms every season are low-payed or call ups. Look at the payroll of our bullpen arms. Our best arms are on minor league contracts. Polite is cheap, Hermy is relatively cheap. Ridiculous.

Signing big name RP for big contracts seem ridiculous to me.  Half of the extremely productive bullpen arms every season are low-payed or call ups.  Look at the payroll of our bullpen arms.  Our best arms are on minor league contracts.  Polite is cheap, Hermy is relatively cheap.  Ridiculous.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hermanson will earn $3 million in 2006. I guess he's relatively cheap when compared to all of these new deals that relievers are signing this offseason. But he won't be cheap if he misses time due to his bad back.

Edited December 16, 200520 yr by SSH2005

What a ridiculous contract. He's had a pretty solid career, but his numbers from last year (3.94 ERA and 1.47 WHIP) are really similar to that of Luis Vizcaino, who is far from getting 4-plus million a year, or at least deserving of such money.

They are paying for a setup guy who's also a decent closer. Just in case Izzy gets hurt, they have Looper. That's what they are paying for. Howry and Eyre aren't closers. Those contracts are ridiculous. This one, while ridiculous, is more understandable.

my hope is that someday i can throw an inning of scoreless relief. if that is the case, i am guaranteed to get paid by todays standards.

 

Braden Looper 13 million??

 

that's nothing compared to the worst signing of all time...

 

BJ Ryan for 47 million dollars. BJ Ryan. He had a half a season of closing well for a bad ball club, and he got 47 million dollars. That's just f***ing insane.

They are paying for a setup guy who's also a decent closer.  Just in case Izzy gets hurt, they have Looper.  That's what they are paying for.  Howry and Eyre aren't closers.  Those contracts are ridiculous.  This one, while ridiculous, is more understandable.

 

I actually think a team should have signed Howry to close as he did it with us. I think he'll take the job from Dempster at some point

They are paying for a setup guy who's also a decent closer.  Just in case Izzy gets hurt, they have Looper.  That's what they are paying for.  Howry and Eyre aren't closers.  Those contracts are ridiculous.  This one, while ridiculous, is more understandable.

I wouldn't really say Looper is a decent closer. I would rather see Damaso Marte on the mound to close out a game than Looper, and thats saying something.