Big Hurt diminished skills clause invoked

poorme · 10-15-2002, 10:52 AM

The White Sox invoked the "diminished skills clause."

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....%2Dh eadlines

"Whether Frank Thomas returns to the White Sox in 2003 won't be known until sometime after the World Series, but the word among baseball general managers is that the Big Hurt will be there for the taking.

The Sox have informed Thomas they will invoke the revised-payment-rights, or "diminished-skills," clause in his contract, the Tribune has learned, but they are honoring Thomas' request that no announcement be made. Thomas will have until early December to find a team that will give him what he desperately wants: a combination of money and respect.

Because the Sox still owe him more than $40 million, Thomas' ultimate decision may come down to one simple question:

What price respect?

It's believed the Sox have opted to cut Thomas' up-front salary in half for 2003, from $10.3 million per year to about $5 million per year, deferring the rest to retain some payroll flexibility. Thomas' contract runs through 2006 and is guaranteed, so he will get the rest of the remaining $40 million down the road, even if he decides to accept the new salary."

--------------

I don't see much of a market for DH's.

KCBOOMER · 10-15-2002, 11:11 AM

Not exactly a hard luck story. Frank was a great hitter in the past who when he began to slide really fell off.

10-15-2002, 11:19 AM

If ever a guaranteed-to-be-a-Met hit the free agent Market.... this is him.

Fatwater Fewl · 10-15-2002, 12:29 PM

Where would the Mets play Thomas? They've two first basemen now.

Anaheim, Oakland or Seattle (if Edgar retires).

WiredTiger · 10-15-2002, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fatwater Fewl
Where would the Mets play Thomas? They've two first basemen now.

Anaheim, Oakland or Seattle (if Edgar retires).

The problem with the above three teams is that all of them are fairly smart teams that aren't going to overpay for the Little Hurt.

How about the Rangers? They always seem to like taking chances.

soxfan121 · 10-15-2002, 12:50 PM

Oakland makes good sense - if Frank actually wants to win and will take less $$ to do it. He's going to get the $40 from Reinsdork anyway, so Frank should go to a team that needs a DH (OAK will if Justice retires), needs a big hitter in the middle of the lineup, and a place where Frank won't be the centerpiece of the team.

Of course, if it is about the respect AND the money, I'd like to be the first to welcome the new DH for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Frank Thomas!!!

sweaver · 10-15-2002, 12:54 PM

Thomas isn't a free agent yet.....he has to elect to do that, and by so doing forfeit most of his guaranteed money. Odds are he stays.

poorme · 10-15-2002, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sweaver
Thomas isn't a free agent yet.....he has to elect to do that, and by so doing forfeit most of his guaranteed money. Odds are he stays.

as far as I know, he gets a 45 day window to look around for a better offer. if he can't find one, he can keep his sox contract.

reinsdorf is probably the only one who actually understands what the contract says.

soxfan121 · 10-15-2002, 01:11 PM

Everytime I hear someone talk about "an incentive-laden contract" I think about Frank. No one in their right mind would ever take this type of deal ever again. Gotta appreciate that Reinsdork convinced Frank AND his agent that this was a good deal. That Reinsdork is a shrewd (yet wholly despicable) negotiator.

moose · 10-15-2002, 01:11 PM

he could tear it up in seattle.

Duque · 10-15-2002, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moose
he could tear it up in seattle.

Really? I think he would hate that park.
Gotta be an AL team, though, so he can DH.

SmedIndy · 10-15-2002, 01:42 PM

I bet he doesn't go anywhere - just a hunch. Otherwise Oakland and Anaheim would be the best bets. Who knows what will happen in Seattle.

tortured angel · 10-15-2002, 02:00 PM

We just dumped one overweight, overpaid 1B/DH, we don't need another one. I'll bet you right now the Wooten/Fullmer platoon outhits him next year anyway.

poorme · 10-15-2002, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Duque
Really? I think he would hate that park.
Gotta be an AL team, though, so he can DH.

i think he'd do better (i mean relative to others) in a big park. he's basically a line drive hitter. he swings down on the ball. if he had ever learned the upper cut swing....

spitball · 10-15-2002, 03:02 PM

Why does Anaheim come up as a candidate for these over payed used to wases.
Anaheim's going to the World Series with a DH platoon that rake and run and keep their mouths shut.
Frank should thank his lucky stars he's making what he's making.
As far as the Thomas to the Mets. That's absurd.In other words Phillips is itching to get him.......That's a joke.

Seattle actually is a good idea because he IS a line drive hitter and he could really find the gaps there if he gets his swing back.
That , of course depends on what Edgar does.

10-15-2002, 10:52 AM	#1
poorme Guest Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: washington dc Posts: 2,625	Big Frank a free agent The White Sox invoked the "diminished skills clause." http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....%2Dh eadlines "Whether Frank Thomas returns to the White Sox in 2003 won't be known until sometime after the World Series, but the word among baseball general managers is that the Big Hurt will be there for the taking. The Sox have informed Thomas they will invoke the revised-payment-rights, or "diminished-skills," clause in his contract, the Tribune has learned, but they are honoring Thomas' request that no announcement be made. Thomas will have until early December to find a team that will give him what he desperately wants: a combination of money and respect. Because the Sox still owe him more than $40 million, Thomas' ultimate decision may come down to one simple question: What price respect? It's believed the Sox have opted to cut Thomas' up-front salary in half for 2003, from $10.3 million per year to about $5 million per year, deferring the rest to retain some payroll flexibility. Thomas' contract runs through 2006 and is guaranteed, so he will get the rest of the remaining $40 million down the road, even if he decides to accept the new salary." -------------- I don't see much of a market for DH's.

10-15-2002, 11:11 AM	#2
KCBOOMER NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Home of the T-Bones Posts: 11,116	Not exactly a hard luck story. Frank was a great hitter in the past who when he began to slide really fell off. __________________ KCBOOMER *Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball*

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10-15-2002, 11:19 AM	#3
CpUltravox Posts: n/a	If ever a guaranteed-to-be-a-Met hit the free agent Market.... this is him.

10-15-2002, 12:29 PM	#4
Fatwater Fewl NetShrine MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Charlottetown, PEI Posts: 261	Where would the Mets play Thomas? They've two first basemen now. Anaheim, Oakland or Seattle (if Edgar retires).

10-15-2002, 12:50 PM	#6
soxfan121 Renounced Membership 7/9/03 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Live Free Or Die, USA Posts: 1,335	Oakland makes good sense - if Frank actually wants to win and will take less $$ to do it. He's going to get the $40 from Reinsdork anyway, so Frank should go to a team that needs a DH (OAK will if Justice retires), needs a big hitter in the middle of the lineup, and a place where Frank won't be the centerpiece of the team. Of course, if it is about the respect AND the money, I'd like to be the first to welcome the new DH for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Frank Thomas!!!

10-15-2002, 12:54 PM	#7
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	Thomas isn't a free agent yet.....he has to elect to do that, and by so doing forfeit most of his guaranteed money. Odds are he stays.

10-15-2002, 01:11 PM	#9
soxfan121 Renounced Membership 7/9/03 Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Live Free Or Die, USA Posts: 1,335	Everytime I hear someone talk about "an incentive-laden contract" I think about Frank. No one in their right mind would ever take this type of deal ever again. Gotta appreciate that Reinsdork convinced Frank AND his agent that this was a good deal. That Reinsdork is a shrewd (yet wholly despicable) negotiator.

10-15-2002, 01:11 PM	#10
moose Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Socs Posts: 3,400	he could tear it up in seattle.

10-15-2002, 01:42 PM	#12
SmedIndy NetShrine's Historian Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Zionsville, IN Posts: 10,569	I bet he doesn't go anywhere - just a hunch. Otherwise Oakland and Anaheim would be the best bets. Who knows what will happen in Seattle.

10-15-2002, 02:00 PM	#13
tortured angel Guest Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: middle east Posts: 573	We just dumped one overweight, overpaid 1B/DH, we don't need another one. I'll bet you right now the Wooten/Fullmer platoon outhits him next year anyway.

10-15-2002, 03:02 PM	#15
spitball Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Studio City, Ca. Posts: 1,751	Why does Anaheim come up as a candidate for these over payed used to wases. Anaheim's going to the World Series with a DH platoon that rake and run and keep their mouths shut. Frank should thank his lucky stars he's making what he's making. As far as the Thomas to the Mets. That's absurd.In other words Phillips is itching to get him.......That's a joke. Seattle actually is a good idea because he IS a line drive hitter and he could really find the gaps there if he gets his swing back. That , of course depends on what Edgar does.

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