Mets sign Glavine; Olerud could be next to sign

[nyy26wc]

1) The Mets signed free agent P Tom Glavine to a 3 year, $35 million contract. There is an option for 2006, which becomes guaranteed if he pitches 200 innings in 2005 or 600 from 2003-05 (There's also a single report that lists the 2005 level as only having to be 170 IP. But, that does sound too low).

A reputable, anonymous source has reported to me that the Phillies were offering more than the Mets, but they got scared off when they couldn't get longer than a 3 year insurance policy. Since insurers are now imposing 3 year limits, they also couldn't get anything longer for Thome and the Phillies dropped out when they didn't feel comfortable enough to take the risk.

After 3.40 ERA/33 RSAA and 3.57 ERA/20 RSAA seasons, Glavine had a 2.96 ERA/29 RSAA in 36 starts. He has a 3.37 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.06, and 282 RSAA in 505 games.

Glavine is 4th all time among NL LHP in RSAA--

1    Carl Hubbell                355   
2    Warren Spahn                319   
3    Steve Carlton               311   
4    Tom Glavine                 282   
5    Randy Johnson               258   
6    Sandy Koufax                220   
7    Eppa Rixey                  217   
T8   Harry Brecheen              192   
T8   Noodles Hahn                192   
10   Wilbur Cooper               179   

After losing out on Glavine, the Phillies are focusing their attention on free agents Jamie Moyer and Chuck Finley.

2) The Mariners have reportedly agreed on a deal with free agent 1B John Olerud for 2 years, between $15-16 million.

After 19 RCAA/.831 OPS and 34 RCAA/.873 OPS seasons, Olerud hit .490 SLG, .403 OBA, .893 OPS, 41 RCAA in 154 games. He has a .882 career OPS, compared to his league average of .762, and 393 RCAA in 1868 games.

Olerud ranks 6th among modern day 1B in highest OPS vs. the league average (min: 5000 PA)--

OBA                             DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Lou Gehrig                 .086     .447     .361   
2    Jeff Bagwell               .075     .414     .339   
3    Rod Carew                  .075     .402     .327   
4    Jimmie Foxx                .072     .430     .358   
5    Mike Hargrove              .067     .393     .327   
6    John Olerud                .066     .406     .340   
7    Mark McGwire               .059     .395     .336   
8    Johnny Mize                .055     .397     .342   
9    Keith Hernandez            .054     .384     .331   
10   Hank Greenberg             .052     .410     .358  

3) First, Andy Benes said his career was over, but didn't want to say he was retiring. But, yesterday, he officially informed the Cardinals of his retirement.

4) The Tigers are moving the leftcenter field fence in, from 395 to 370 feet. The rest of their dimensions will remain the same--345 down the LF line, 420 to center, 365 to rightcenter and 330 down the RF line.

5) Rockies P Shawn Chacon was arrested on charges that he hit a man in the face with a beer bottle during a fight in a bar. The other man involved is facing charges of assault against Chacon's friend.

After a 5.06 ERA/5 RSAA rookie season, Chacon had a 5.73 ERA/-9 RSAA in 21 starts. He has a 5.35 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.26, and 4 RSAA in 48 games.

6) According to the Boston Herald, the Redsox have discussed a trade that could send Shea Hillenbrand to the Diamondbacks for Erubiel Durazo.

7) The Redsox re-signed Ps Willie Banks (1 year, estimated $700,000) and Ryan Rupe (1 year, estimated $750,000). They each would have been eligible for salary arbitration.

Banks had a 3.23 ERA/5 RSAA in 29 games in 2002. After being out of the majors in 1999-2000, he had a 0.84 ERA/4 RSAA in a 5 game very small sample size in ’01. Banks has a 4.75 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.25, and 36 RSAA in 181 games.

8) According to the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are working on trying to re-sign free agent P Kenny Rogers, while there is little happening with them going after Ivan Rodriguez. Rodriguez's agent says he believes the team won't offer arbitration by Saturday's deadline.

9) According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Marlins are going to make an offer to trade for Bartolo Colon or Javier Vazquez.

10) According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers are close to a trade that would send 1B Travis Hafner and P Aaron Myette to the Indians for C Einar Diaz and P Ryan Drese.

11) According to the San Jose Mercury News, the Giants think free agent CF Kenny Lofton is asking too much, so they've increased their pursuit of free agent CF Steve Finley.

12) The Expos were notified that their 2003 payroll has to be about $40 million, which would be a monumental increase from its 2002 level of $38 million. The Expos are notifying teams to start making offers for anyone they're interested in.

13) According to the Cincinnati Post, the Reds may be close to trading 1B Sean Casey to the Indians.

[nyy26wc]

Originally posted by nyy26wc
Olerud ranks 6th among modern day 1B in highest OPS vs. the league average (min: 5000 PA)--

That should have said highest OBA.