Yankees sign Contreras

[nyy26wc]

1) The Yankees signed Cuban P Jose Contreras to a 4 year, $32 million contract.

Contreras claims to be 31, but it's believed he could be as old as 35, and he doesn't have a single day's worth of a major league track record. But, at least justice usually prevails in these cases and the players flop. Meanwhile, as far as his age is concerned, every single Cuban is supposedly going to be the honest age exception and just about all of them aren't.

As far as the Yankees claim to be cutting payroll, they must be working in Reagan's National Security Council. As one noted member of the administration claimed, "We don't lie. We engage in disinformation."

Meanwhile, by winning the sweepstakes to avoid getting the guy who hasn't proven anything in the majors, the Redsox have probably improved their chances of getting a pitcher who's proven to be an elite talent. By getting a big bidder out of the Colon sweepstakes, the Expos leverage should be coming down.

2) The Redsox signed free agent P Chad Fox to a 1 year contract.

Fox was limited to just 3 games with the Brewers in 2002 and has a 3.33 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.29, and 19 RSAA in 153 games.

3) The Padres signed free agent P Jay Witasick to a 2 year, $2.75 million contract, with an option for 2005, and designated P Jeremy Fikac for assignment.

After 5.82 ERA/-18 RSAA and 3.30 ERA/8 RSAA seasons, Witasick had a 2.37 ERA/11 RSAA in 44 games with the Giants. He has a 4.92 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.67, and -20 RSAA in 199 games. The past couple of years were the first seasons in his career in which he had a positive RSAA.

After starting his career with a 1.37 ERA/8 RSAA in 23 games in 2001, Fikac had a 5.48 ERA/-13 RSAA in 65 games in 2002. He has a 4.34 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.18, and -5 RSAA in 88 games.

4) The Reds signed Ps Jose Rijo and outmaker Wilton Guerrero to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

In his 1st time in the majors since 1995, Rijo had a 2.12 ERA/4 RSAA in 13 games in 2001 and then had a 5.14 ERA/-6 RSAA in 31 games (9 starts) in 2002. He has a 3.24 career ERA, compared to his league average of 3.90, and 140 RSAA in 376 games.

Guerrero hit .250 SLG, .259 SLG, .509 OPS, -13 RCAA in 103 games (first 59 with the Reds, last 44 with the Expos). It was the 3rd time in the past 4 years that he had a double digit negative RCAA. Guerrero has a .681 career OPS, compared to his league average of .778, and -52 RCAA in 654 games.

5) A's CF Chris Singleton's contract is for $1.4 million.