Jason Giambi - Bad Signing By NY?

[Crash Course]

The Yankees have no complaints with what they got from Giambi in 2002 and 2003.

But, his contract runs through 2008.

This season, there are concerns about his knee - and, he's just 33.

What will be his condition in 2006 when he's 35? Or, 2008 when he's 37?

Seems like a lot of money to tie up on a player who will be a DH only and a liability on the bases, no?

[Makofan]

How is his contract structured? Did they even it out so that he is underpaid the last few seasons? For example, if he is worth (in millions) 18 18 (last two years) and 16 14 11 9 6 in future, are they paying him 12 a year or 16 a year?

[Crash Course]

From http://www.bluemanc.demon.co.uk/base...bcontracts.htm

2002: $8.0M (+$17.0M signing bonus paid over 6 years)
2003: $9.0M
2004: $10.0M
2005: $11.0M
2006: $18.0M
2007: $21.0M
2008: $21.0M
2009: Team option $22.0M or $5.0M buyout

Those last two years at $21 will be a killer!

More on the contract, back from 2001: http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/ne...213200 1-1416

[TimmyB]

He's going to be a pricey DH... which is tough because Bernie is looking more and more like a DH these days. Giambi's contract is bascially unloadable in the current atmosphere, so, they'd better hope the drop in weight will take some of the stress off he knees.

This'll probably be a deal they will come to regret (not in the way that other teams with a ceiling to their payrolls would regret it, but, they'll regret it all the same).

[Makofan]

Originally Posted by Crash Course

From http://www.bluemanc.demon.co.uk/base...bcontracts.htm

2002: $8.0M (+$17.0M signing bonus paid over 6 years)
2003: $9.0M
2004: $10.0M
2005: $11.0M
2006: $18.0M
2007: $21.0M
2008: $21.0M
2009: Team option $22.0M or $5.0M buyout

So we are looking at 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 21, 5 (approx factoring in bonus)

I would say that they will be paying 66 mill over 3 years for a retired or injured non-productive player, but their 2002, 2003 seasons were a steal; the contract averages out at 16 mill per year and I don't think they will get more than this year and next for remotely near that price

[Crash Course]

Originally Posted by TimmyB

He's going to be a pricey DH... which is tough because Bernie is looking more and more like a DH these days. Giambi's contract is bascially unloadable in the current atmosphere, so, they'd better hope the drop in weight will take some of the stress off he knees.

This'll probably be a deal they will come to regret (not in the way that other teams with a ceiling to their payrolls would regret it, but, they'll regret it all the same).

Williams is signed thru 2005, with an option for 2006.
Giambi probably means that Williams will not be on the team in 2006 - unless they let Matsui go back to Japan and play BW in LF. Possible.

[Crash Course]

Originally Posted by Makofan

I would say that they will be paying 66 mill over 3 years for a retired or injured non-productive player, but their 2002, 2003 seasons were a steal; the contract averages out at 16 mill per year and I don't think they will get more than this year and next for remotely near that price

Best bet may be to plant some banned PEs on him and call the feds!
Man, that $66 mill is going to be a drain, even for Stein's pockets - assuming Stein is still around then.

[JamesI]

I don't think Giambi will still be a Yankee for long. After 2005 or 2006, he'll either retire due to bad knees or be moved with a pile of cash somewhere else.

I think his contract is crazier than ARods.

[gyb13]

i think the criticism of this contract hasn't changed since it was signed. Even back then, it seemed crazy to be rewarding a 36 or 37 yr old DH with $20 mil + a year. Although now that contracts have deflated a little, it looks even worse.

[sweaver]

Some expressed reservations about the contract from the beginning: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...iambi+contract

[KCBOOMER]

If anybody can eat such a contract it is the Yanks. I don't think it will faze them to much. Imagine if the A's had kept him under similar contract terms. That would have been a disaster.

[Crash Course]

Not sure NY can eat that. A-Rod and Jeter will be around $20 each at the same time. Plus, NY will need a whole set of SP by 2006 - at least 3 SP - which they have not developed.

They could have a homegrown 1B by then (Duncan) and a C (Navarro) which will help. They'll need at least one OF by then from outside too. And a closer.

If they have to get 5 FAs to cover slots, and that runs about $60 mill - and another $60 mill for Giambi, Jeter and A-Rod - that's $120 mill for 8 players. Assume that the other 17 players cost $70 mill..........that's close to $200 mill for the team............hey, maybe they can afford it?

But, if Giambi is a one legged DH by then, it still hurts.

[Crash Course]

Not good news: http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseba...,4905016.story

[hmrsf]

Originally Posted by sweaver

Some expressed reservations about the contract from the beginning: http://www.netshrine.com/vbulletin2/...iambi+contract

I love reading old threads.

Buzz and Mainsr were some of my favorite posters.


Back on topic. Long term deals never seem to pan out at the end of the contract.

[Crash Course]

Got an e-mail from Buzz the other day. He sat next to Carlton Fisk on a plane ride and has some nice stories. He promised me he would post them here some day. Better hurry before 6/26!

On topic - Giambi was not starting tonight. Not good.