Huntington, Littlefield disagree on Chacon's value

by bolton on Nov 2, 2007 2:50 PM EDT Comment 12 comments

Huntington on Chacon:

"There is interest," Huntington told MLB.com "We have not made a call yet. The conversations with Dave, from what I have been told, were more excessive in terms of both salary and years than we are willing to make."

I'm encouraged. Certainly don't want the Pirates overpaying for relief pitchers.

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I could live with overpaying for RPs...

...but if they're bound and determined to do so, I'd rather see them do it for RPs that are actually, y'know, good.

by Vlad on Nov 5, 2007 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Rockies apparently like Chacon.

Link

I'd care a lot more if he'd pitched well enough to get us a draft pick.

by Vlad on Nov 5, 2007 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That would require offering arbitration

which is a scary proposition for the Bucs, as Chacon just might accept it.

by Willton on Nov 5, 2007 5:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

I'm not sure whether I'd risk it with him, but I'd at least have to think about it.

by Vlad on Nov 6, 2007 9:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

First test case

for the new regime. Under Littlefield, the Pirates never offered arbitration to free agents. That decision probably came from above - if Huntington and Coonnely continue the trend, then what exactly changed?

Is Chacon someone the Pirates should offer arbitration to - sure. Getting Chacon back in the bullpen for one more year at roughly the same salary won't kill the team and it'll offer them another opportunity to get something for him.

by Greg Schuler on Nov 6, 2007 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree.

I think that getting Chacon back next year at the same salary would be overpaying for a mediocre-to-poor pitcher, and as such, a bad idea.

We won't have a real opportunity to assess the "arb test" until after next season, at the earliest.

by Vlad on Nov 6, 2007 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh

Chacon as a reliever is not a bad thing. Chacon as a starter is a bad thing.

However, on second thought, any team wanting to sign Chacon probably doesn't want to give up draft picks. But I'd still offer it to him - the worst case is that he comes back and maybe pitches well enough out of the bullpen that someone trades for him. It's not like the Pirates are overflowing with pitchers able and ready to step into the bullpen.

And before you suggest a cattle call of AAAA types - this is the Pirates and I doubt Nutting and Coonelly want to give the impression they aren't trying. At least not overtly not trying.

by Greg Schuler on Nov 6, 2007 4:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What's changed

Is that Littlefield was apparently ready to give Chacon a two-to-four year deal at big money and Huntington clearly is not.

Does anyone know what kind of draft pick we'd get if arbitration was offered and Chacon signed elsewhere?

by bolton on Nov 7, 2007 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

None.

He didn't qualify as even a Type B, largely because he sucked in '06.

by Vlad on Nov 7, 2007 9:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BP

He pitched well enough to get me a beer. In another lost season, that counts for something.

by bucdaddy on Nov 7, 2007 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

just spend the money wisely

If the payroll isn't going to increase dramatically, just spend the money wisely. Is $4 million+ justifiable for a relief pitcher?

by puget sound pirate on Nov 6, 2007 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

To me

there just isn't anything to discuss here. He is overpriced at a million, and he will want four or five times that. Come to think of it, his value over replacement is virtually zilch. These guys are a dime a dozen, and we can get a better middle reliever for a very small fraction of that price. I wouldn't dream of offering him arbitration. Do the same as with Armas and let him go. There is no way this sort of money is justifiable in any scenario for ANY reliever, given this team's situation, much less for Shawn Chacon.

by RichieHebner on Nov 7, 2007 12:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs