Westbrook extended for 3 years

[mfanous]

reported by mlb.com

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070413&content_id=1895735&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

 

[chiefwahoo]

Nice

Let's just hope this signing doesn't come at the expense of Hafner or CC...

 

[crazedcav333]

Awsome news. This actually surprises me, since Miller is doing so well. Looks like Byrd has no chance to return after his contract is up.

Two big guns remain: Pronk, and C.C.

 

[cdt]

Getting rid of CC and especially Pronk is absolute blasphemy and would be a mark of ignorance on behalf of the Indians organization..looks like Dolan might have figured out last years wasted season was due to lack of spending..

 

[crazedcav333]

Finally Dolan will have his chance to prove he is not CHEAP.

Signed West and Sizemore last year, great. That leaves Hafner (huge contract) and C.C. (staff ace) to be signed next year. That's going to cost a pretty penny. IF Dolan resigns them (there's no reason they wouldn't other than $$$) and brings in a talent, I will not consider him cheap, and will finally recognize him as just a guy who doesn't have 500 million dollars to spend.

Make it happen.

Forgot to add this, Westbrook being resigned is a bigger deal than his ERA, since he's an inning-eater. While our bullpen bulks up he can eat one or two more innings a start, delaying the pen.

 

[cdt]

I think this was the plan...

Sign Jake Haf and CC when they're due...

Jake's new deal expires the year after CC's meaning we're almost certain to sign CC and hopefully deal Jake after his deal is over because by then we should have CC Sowers Carmona and Miller up here. I'm not sure who else is behind Miller in AAA but the Indians farm system is always loaded so I'm not too worried about that. Re-upping Jake a second time might not be out of the question but I bet we go cheaper with a highly regarded guy coming out of the minors with CC and Haf getting big bucks.

 

[Smooth]

Surprised this happened... I thought for sure we'd end up only signing 2 of the 3 and ultimately letting Jake go... I just hope this doesn't mean at the expense of Pronk and CC, if so this franchise won't be what it is now...

Besides that, how much you wanna bet Jake puts together a few solid starts with this under his belt?

 

[Mac]

If the Dolans think the fans dislike them now, not re upping CC or Haf will cause a riot.

 

[chiefwahoo]

I will be really surprised if we get both CC and Hafner re-signed too. The only reason I say that is CC will probably want at least $18 mill/year. Look at the contract Zito got (7 years, $126 mill). If CC holds out I'm sure he'll get even more. And honestly, would he be worth that? I'd love to keep him around, I'm just hoping he somehow gives us a discount. I'd absolutely make Hafner my #1 target right now and then CC would just be gravy if he stays too...

Good read on Westbrook from Buster Olney on ESPN today:

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster

Money isn't everything
posted: Saturday, April 14, 2007

Jake Westbrook might have been the most coveted free-agent pitcher this offseason, with Carlos Zambrano likely to re-sign with the Cubs. Pitching-starved teams would have looked at Westbrook's reliability, his durability, his ability, and someone probably would have pitched him a $60 million offer.

But here's the thing: In Jake Westbrook's world, there really is no practical difference between $60 million and the $33 million he took to re-sign with the Indians on Friday, in a three-year deal. The difference is just numbers, money that he almost certainly wouldn't spend, anyway. "Not with the way I was brought up," said Westbrook.

He already has a home in Cleveland and a home in Georgia, and his family is comfortable, already. "We felt real strong about what we had here," Westbrook said over the phone Friday evening. "We know what we have here. The unknown is something we didn't really want to test out. I've got a comfort level here as a player, with the organization, but as a family, we've got one, too. In that sense, we're very happy."

Westbrook pitched briefly for the Yankees in 2000, and I can remember him sitting at his small locker in Fenway Park and reading a Bible. He was quiet and reserved, in a clubhouse of superstars, but as a beat writer, you got a really strong sense from Westbrook then that he was extraordinarily grounded, someone who knew exactly how he believed he should conduct himself, someone who had a strong faith; he still does.

"He is truly an exceptional guy," Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro wrote in an e-mail. "This job ultimately is about betting on people. We gather all of the objective information available, and in cases like Jake, all it does is confirm what we already know.

"There is not a player we know that has higher character, professionalism, and work ethic. He is an elite preparer at every level and has evolved into a leader on our team. In the end, this deal would not have gotten done unless Jake had wanted to be here and had made the choice to do so. Clearly, like Carlos Guillen, this is an example of a player appreciating his teammates and his environment and making a decision to remain without knowing all of the alternatives and upside out there. Special person."

If Westbrook had chosen to test the market and pursue more money, it would have been his absolute right. But it is not surprising that, in the end, he took far less cash than he might have made because he recognized that what he has now makes him happy.

"It's awesome," he said. "I'm very much at peace with this, and now it's just a matter of going out and trying to win baseball games for this team."

Jim Ingraham wonders, with good humor, if Westbrook reads the papers.

• On the day that the Indians announced Westbrook's signing, Shapiro didn't want to talk about negotiations with Travis Hafner, writes Bud Shaw. A teammate says Westbrook is worth every penny.

 

[CBBI]

I hope you guys are ready to lose CC then because he sure as hell isn't going to be giving this team a hometown discount like Westbrook did. Hafner will probably be kept, and he's the more important player to keep anyway.

CC saw how much money Barry Zito got this offseason at age 28 with a career record of 100-65. Sabathia's age and career stats are going to be at worst equal to what Zito's were when he cashing in.

There is no chance in hell Sabathia signs for less then 130M and that's something this team simply can't afford. Especially since in two years time the Indians do have guys on the horizon that could potentially be front of the rotation starters.

The Indians don't have anyone at any level of the organization that could possibly replace Hafner's production in the middle of the lineup.

 

[LyXo]

I doubt we spend 130 million on a guy that shows up out of shape every spring. We let him go, hope Sowers blossoms, and use the money on Pronk

 

[CBBI]

I doubt we spend 130 million on a guy that shows up out of shape every spring. We let him go, hope Sowers blossoms, and use the money on Pronk

I wasn't thinking Sowers per say as I see him as more of a solid middle of the rotation #3 type starter, but I see your point.

In two years time, the Indians don't have anyone in the minors that could possibly develop into a 40 HR/120 RBI/1.000 OPS and realistically replace Hafner's production.

In that same two year time, the Indians do have a couple of guys on the farm who could realistically develop into 15-17 win/3.20-3.50 era guys. Adam Miller is obviously the most likely of the young guys to be able to do that, but you also have Lofgren, Lewis, and Martin all with the potential to be in the majors within the next couple of years.

The old saying is that pitching wins championships, but in this case, Hafner is the far more important player to resign.

 

[Mac]

Id trade CC for the right price.

 

[crazedcav333]

I heard the reason we resigned Westbrook now is because talks with him were so close they carried them into the season. Pronk is not as close, but is in a similar situation.

Hafner is the must-sign, so get his deal done, then see where we are with C.C.

CDT right now our best lefty in AAA is Chuck Lofgren (17-5 last year).

 

[The Oi]

Anyone see the Hafner news on ESPN's ticker? We're holding off on signing him. Great news!!!