From John Fay:
Javier Valentin has decided he would like to end his career as a Red.
The club didn’t exactly give him a lifetime contract, but the Reds did extend his deal through 2007 with a club option for 2008. The extension is worth $1.25 million per year.
Ok, it’s not a lot of money and he has done a decent job as a PH this year….but….
Signing Valentin gives the Reds two catchers under contract for 2007. Jason LaRue, the No. 2 catcher, is due to make $5.2 million next year.
David Ross, Cincinnati’s No. 1 catcher, will be eligible for arbitration for the first time in the offseason.
You couldn’t GIVE Jason LaRue away right now and Ross is headed for arbitration, which will bring him a hefty pay raise, unless the Reds try to sign him to a multiyear deal after one breakout season.
You would think that something has to give in the offseason as far as the Reds’ catcher situation is concerned.
LaRue’s contract makes him difficult to trade, and he’s been reduced to a once-every-five-days catcher because of his offensive struggles.
Gee, ya think?
Difficult to trade is a vast understatement.
How does this extension make any sense?
Doesn’t make any sense to me. Hope someone can explain it.
Easy. LaRue gets DFA’d after the season.
Ross has had a fantastic season, but it came out of nowhere. His career OBP before this year was on the wrong side of .300 (400+ ABs). I think that a lot of his gains year are for real. But in case he regresses big time, having Valentin around will cushion the fall. Plus, Valentin can always serve as decent trade bait next July if things are going south. I think this was a good move.
can someone explain DFA to this n00b?