Today Pat Burrell signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. For $16M. TOTAL. Not per year, but for two full seasons. That's a right-handed slugger, lifetime outfielder in the NL East with intimate knowledge of the Phillies (who never liked him). All he does is drive in runs and win games with big hits. Sounds like a decent addition. Sounds like someone you might like spending a couple years on your team. Filling the stop-gap until your monster left-field prospect comes stomping into the majors. For $8 per year. Unbelievable. That's the market right now. Bobby Abreu (100 RBI, 100 Runs last year) is still out there. Adam Dunn too. Ken Griffey... MANNY. These are all proven sluggers. Veterans. All equally marginal defensively, but all seeking nothing more than 2-3 years. We have the money, and we've wasted enough time. And the best right-handed outfield bat for the money just came off the market. Its not as if MLB gives you a bonus for not spending the $40M you have laying around. All that buys you is angry fans and empty seats for one more season.Man.
How good is Tampa Bay gonna be next year?
**UPDATE: The Chicago Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a 3yr/$30M deal as well. He's a switch hitter, led the AL in on-base percentage last year, and has power. But he's incredibly injury-prone and has a very short temper. Can't say I wish the Braves had gotten him, but the pool of available outfielders continues to shrink.
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