$5.5MM annually in 2012 and 2013. The club option for 2014 is worth $6MM, with a $1MM buyout.

 

Edited March 6, 201115 yr by flavum

$12M is the number being reported. Looks good.

Great deal. It is nice to know we are going to have Matt out there for a long time.

Since I had to call out KW for the Teahen extension as his worst move, I need to call the Thornton for Borchard move as one of his best, if not the best.

I'd have to assume that at this price he is going to be the closer.

Im fine with this, even as a set up man it's not to unbearable especially if he continues to pitch like he has, which would make it pretty fair for both sides.

I'd have to assume that at this price he is going to be the closer.

 

What it really does is keep him off of the closer's market in free agency. Regardless of how the Sox use him, he has proven he's valuable enough to get this type of paycheck.

I feel like he may have been able to get more in free agency. I think he likes it here and took a mutually beneficial deal at a small discount to stay. Glad to have him.

I feel like he may have been able to get more in free agency. I think he likes it here and took a mutually beneficial deal at a small discount to stay. Glad to have him.

 

If he won the closers job and pitched like he has the last few years, he could have easily tripled the total dollars in that deal.

Good deal for MT and the Sox!

I feel like he may have been able to get more in free agency. I think he likes it here and took a mutually beneficial deal at a small discount to stay. Glad to have him.

As arguably the best left-handed relievers in baseball, he would have gotten $10 million a year.

If he won the closers job and pitched like he has the last few years, he could have easily tripled the total dollars in that deal.

 

I don't think he would have gotten $36 million. Anywhere from $24-30 million I could have seen, but $36 is too much.

 

I'm OK with this extension. This really is perfect value for him, because it's cheap enough that he can be dealt if struggles or anything else comes up, and it's cheap enough to not really affect anything else.

I don't think he would have gotten $36 million. Anywhere from $24-30 million I could have seen, but $36 is too much.

 

I'm OK with this extension. This really is perfect value for him, because it's cheap enough that he can be dealt if struggles or anything else comes up, and it's cheap enough to not really affect anything else.

 

If Thorton put up his same recent years lines as a closer, he probably saves somewhere between 40 and 45 games, with only a couple of BS's. Combine that with his history, his long term health, and his left handedness, and I could have seen a team throwing 4/36 at him in desperation.

Awesome!

Personally I'd hate to see this FORCE us into thinking we need to take him out of the position where he's been the best for us (setup man). I still like Sale as the closer until he proves me wrong.

 

I realize MT has been one of the best setup men now for several years, and could probably be a good closer, but why fix it if it's not broke?

 

If Thorton put up his same recent years lines as a closer, he probably saves somewhere between 40 and 45 games, with only a couple of BS's. Combine that with his history, his long term health, and his left handedness, and I could have seen a team throwing 4/36 at him in desperation.

 

How many 35 year old relievers get 4 year deals?

Personally I'd hate to see this FORCE us into thinking we need to take him out of the position where he's been the best for us (setup man). I still like Sale as the closer until he proves me wrong.

 

I realize MT has been one of the best setup men now for several years, and could probably be a good closer, but why fix it if it's not broke?

 

I don't think it forces him into the closer role. Six million bucks is a lot for a set-up guy, but it's not absurd.

Compare this deal to the deal Jenks got from Boston. I like this.

This is an incredible deal. I don't know how long Thornton has left on that arm, but when healthy, he's one of the best relievers in the game.

Like a lot.

Outstanding.

How many 35 year old relievers get 4 year deals?

 

There is always the Yankees to give out stupid long term deals to old players.

Great news, congrats to Matt. Relievers tend to be hit or miss, but he has been consistent as can be the last three years. What a trade by KW.

There is always the Yankees to give out stupid long term deals to old players.

 

Not after the Soriano signing.

This is an incredible deal. I don't know how long Thornton has left on that arm, but when healthy, he's one of the best relievers in the game.

 

I'll do some homework later. But has there been a better non-closer in baseball the last three years? One guy that jumps off the top of head is Mike Adams.