Post by sj on Apr 3, 2010 14:30:44 GMT -5
In a positively shocking move, the Yankee management just announced that they, also, are playing double up in the Bill Russell Hot Potato contest.
Signed as a free agent at the beginning of this season for two years at a cool 13.5 million, the Yankees have decided to put Russell back in the free agent market once again, giving him an unconditional release by buying out the second year of his contract for $6,750,000.
For the Yankees this season, Russell batted .279 with 10 home runs, 32 doubles, 8 triples, and 82 runs batted in, ending the season in the 7th slot of the Yankees batting order.
In the field, he finished at .965 as the starting shortstop in 156 games, 8th in the AL, with a range factor of 6.12 (5th overall in both leagues). His 655 assists, an average of 4.20 per game, and average of 0.99 double plays per game all ranked 4th overall among all shortstops this year.
A source close to the Yankee organization, when asked what exactly the team expected the 34 year old veteran to do for them this season, just shook his head. "I guess they expected a miracle", he told me.
There were no miracles for the Yankees this season, who placed 3rd in the division but still lost 89 games, same as they did last year when their payroll was 13.5 million lighter. They lost 14.8 million this season beating out Houston, usually the biggest losers in the financial department, by 2.5 million.
I asked Russell how he felt about the decision. "I don't understand it", he said. "Teams keep paying me tens of millions of dollars to sign with them, then they keep trading or releasing me no matter how I play for them".
Russell, however, has little to complain about. In the space of just one year, two teams have paid him more money to not play for them than most players get in an entire career.
Although they were able to use financial trickery to offset the loss, last year Boston paid Russell 22 million to not play for them which, added to the 6.75 million that the Yankees are paying him to not play, leaves Russell with almost 29 million in one year - given to him to not play.
That 29 million added to the 13 million he actually earned on the field this year, and the 22 million he earned on the field last year, gives him a two year total of 64 million in income.
On a positive note for the Yankees, their triple A shortstop, Cagne, should be ready to play in the pros next season. Although he isn't likely to enter baseball with the same fanfare that was expected a few years back, he should be a steady contributor to the team.
On another positive note for Russell, analysts predict that the, now, 35 year old should have no trouble finding another team to sign (and release?) him for the 1983 season. Current projections point to him once again topping 10 million per year with whatever team lands him.
Other projections, noting an expected shortfall in team attendance and earnings next season, also help to predict that, if he's signed for more than one season, Russell will once again see a multi-million dollar boost to his piggy bank when the signing team loses money and buys out the remainder of his contract again.
Who will do it? Who will sign Russell to another 10+ million deal? Well, the Red Sox missed the playoffs this season, for the first time in years, largely due to lacking a solid shortstop (they released Russell at the end of last season). The Twins also had a worse than expected showing this year, partly for the same reason (they traded Russell to Boston last season).
Will Minnesota and Boston shoot it out for Russell again? Only time will tell, but my money's on the Twins overbidding everyone else to win Russell, getting off to a poor start, and trading him again - possibly even to the Red Sox, who will win this time, but will still release him again as their cash reserves dwindles away.
Be sure to tune in next season for the next episode of Hot Potato, the Bill Russell Saga.
Signed as a free agent at the beginning of this season for two years at a cool 13.5 million, the Yankees have decided to put Russell back in the free agent market once again, giving him an unconditional release by buying out the second year of his contract for $6,750,000.
For the Yankees this season, Russell batted .279 with 10 home runs, 32 doubles, 8 triples, and 82 runs batted in, ending the season in the 7th slot of the Yankees batting order.
In the field, he finished at .965 as the starting shortstop in 156 games, 8th in the AL, with a range factor of 6.12 (5th overall in both leagues). His 655 assists, an average of 4.20 per game, and average of 0.99 double plays per game all ranked 4th overall among all shortstops this year.
A source close to the Yankee organization, when asked what exactly the team expected the 34 year old veteran to do for them this season, just shook his head. "I guess they expected a miracle", he told me.
There were no miracles for the Yankees this season, who placed 3rd in the division but still lost 89 games, same as they did last year when their payroll was 13.5 million lighter. They lost 14.8 million this season beating out Houston, usually the biggest losers in the financial department, by 2.5 million.
I asked Russell how he felt about the decision. "I don't understand it", he said. "Teams keep paying me tens of millions of dollars to sign with them, then they keep trading or releasing me no matter how I play for them".
Russell, however, has little to complain about. In the space of just one year, two teams have paid him more money to not play for them than most players get in an entire career.
Although they were able to use financial trickery to offset the loss, last year Boston paid Russell 22 million to not play for them which, added to the 6.75 million that the Yankees are paying him to not play, leaves Russell with almost 29 million in one year - given to him to not play.
That 29 million added to the 13 million he actually earned on the field this year, and the 22 million he earned on the field last year, gives him a two year total of 64 million in income.
On a positive note for the Yankees, their triple A shortstop, Cagne, should be ready to play in the pros next season. Although he isn't likely to enter baseball with the same fanfare that was expected a few years back, he should be a steady contributor to the team.
On another positive note for Russell, analysts predict that the, now, 35 year old should have no trouble finding another team to sign (and release?) him for the 1983 season. Current projections point to him once again topping 10 million per year with whatever team lands him.
Other projections, noting an expected shortfall in team attendance and earnings next season, also help to predict that, if he's signed for more than one season, Russell will once again see a multi-million dollar boost to his piggy bank when the signing team loses money and buys out the remainder of his contract again.
Who will do it? Who will sign Russell to another 10+ million deal? Well, the Red Sox missed the playoffs this season, for the first time in years, largely due to lacking a solid shortstop (they released Russell at the end of last season). The Twins also had a worse than expected showing this year, partly for the same reason (they traded Russell to Boston last season).
Will Minnesota and Boston shoot it out for Russell again? Only time will tell, but my money's on the Twins overbidding everyone else to win Russell, getting off to a poor start, and trading him again - possibly even to the Red Sox, who will win this time, but will still release him again as their cash reserves dwindles away.
Be sure to tune in next season for the next episode of Hot Potato, the Bill Russell Saga.