A Lesson In Patience: Brad Lidge, Jonathan
Broxton And The Settled Market

post from Royals Review on 27 January 2012 11:01:24 PM. © Royals Review

Brad Lidge was available for $1 million. One million. It's enough to make every other team other than the Washington Nationals shake their heads. And if it doesn't, then it definitely should.

Let's compare two deals. Lidge just signed for one-year at $1 million with the Nats. The Kansas City Royals struck a deal with Jonathan Broxton for one year at $4 million. To keep things quite simple, the mathematical equation would read: Brad Lidge x 4 = Jonathan Broxton.

Two dominant relievers over the last few seasons in the National League. Two pitchers coming off of seasons riddled and ruined by injuries. Both are similar projects hoping to bounce back with one-year deals before hitting the market for another big closer-type of payday. One just happened to cost four times than the other.

Now, that's not to fault the Royals. They struck early and that's what the market dictated at that time. You could argue that the Royals should have waited, but they didn't and Broxton should be a fine addition to the pen that could use another veteran arm with the loss of Aaron Crow to the starting rotation. Plus a young pen that was overburdened last season will undoubtedly find some arms that fail to realize last season's success.

So this isn't so much a slight on the Royals signing of Broxton as it an object lesson in the beauty of waiting. Every year there are numerous veterans waiting on the late minute call before spring training as agents work the phones to get their guys into camp with someone. Lidge was one such guy and settled for another NL East destination for a middle relief spot at a cool million.

R.J. Anderson writes about Lidge's predicament and asks, "Did anyone, anyone at all, realize that Lidge’s earned run average over the past two seasons sits at 2.49? Probably not, and for good reason: Lidge missed most of the 2011 season with a shoulder strain. Upon return, Lidge brought his usual strikeout rates (albeit with an extra helping of walks) but lacked his trademark velocity. Instead, his average fastball sat below 90 miles per hour, which sent his slider usage through the roof."

Perhaps Broxton exhibited better health than Lidge. At the very least, however, Lidge did come back at season's end to show positive contributions from the pen. That's something Broxton cannot claim.

The saying reads, "The best things come to those who wait." Fan bases and some front offices are ruled by impatience. Local sports media are all over their teams to make a move -- now! -- in the name of fixing last season's problems. But here lies yet another example of letting a market settle before filling a hole. A decent bet could be made on Lidge being one of the best bargains on the market by the end of 2012.

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athan-broxton-and-the-settled

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Torre, Magic survive cuts to buy Dodgers (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 27 January 2012 10:08:49 PM. © MLB News Blog

Hedge fund head Steven Cohen and groups including Joe Torre and Magic Johnson have survived the first round of cuts in bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Initial bids were submitted Monday to the financial firm handling the sale by Frank McCourt, and people affiliated with groups said Friday they were notified they will be [...]

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/01/28/torre-magic-survive-cuts-to-buy-dodgers-ap/

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Morneau hopeful of health for season (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 27 January 2012 10:08:49 PM. © MLB News Blog

Justin Morneau says he’s “hopeful” he’ll be strong enough to start the season at first base for the Minnesota Twins. The former American League MVP has been beset by all kinds of injuries the last two years. In 2011, he had four surgeries — and suffered another concussion. Speaking to reporters at the team’s annual [...]

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Make No Mistake, The Offer Was Real

post from LADodgerTalk.com - Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Vin Scully, Andre Ethier and the Dodgers on 27 January 2012 10:01:11 PM. © LADodgerTalk.com - Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Vin Scully, Andre Ethier and the Dodgers

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McCourt starts to cut Dodgers bidders (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 27 January 2012 09:05:19 PM. © MLB News Blog

Frank McCourt has started to cut the number of bidders seeking to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. A person affiliated with one of the groups said Friday that the group was notified it will be advancing to the second round. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no public statements were authorized.

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Red Sox make cheapest seats all-digital (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 27 January 2012 08:46:56 PM. © MLB News Blog

The Boston Red Sox are going to a new digital ticketing system for the cheapest seats at Fenway Park to keep them out of the hands of scalpers. Fans with seats in the $12 upper bleacher section for high-demand games will receive only digital tickets. They will be required to swipe the credit card used [...]

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Lincecum passes physical, signs contract (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 27 January 2012 08:34:48 PM. © MLB News Blog

San Francisco Giants ace Tim Lincecum has passed his physical and officially signed his $40.5 million, two-year contract. The two sides reached a verbal agreement on the deal on Tuesday and the Giants said Lincecum signed the contract Friday after taking his physical. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner gets a $500,000 signing bonus [...]

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Selig: Playoffs likely to expand in 2012 (AP)

Commissioner Bud Selig expects baseball to expand its playoffs this season. Players and owners have already agreed to add an additional wild-card team in each league, but are still deciding whether it would take effect this year or in 2013. Selig said there are scheduling issues to be worked out — once they are, the [...]

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The Pittsburgh Pirates sign Daniel Cabrera

post from Pittsburgh Pirates MLB News - Pirates Baseball Blog on 27 January 2012 08:22:56 PM. © Pittsburgh Pirates MLB News - Pirates Baseball Blog

The Pirates have signed 30-year old righty starting pitcher Daniel Cabrera to a minor league deal. He did not pitch at all last season and he last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Nationals & Diamondbacks. Cabrera has pitched in 162 games (155 starts) in his first six years in [...]

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http://www.bucslocker.com/2012/01/27/the-pittsburgh-pirates-sign-daniel-cabrera/

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Selig to decide Epstein compensation (AP)

Commissioner Bud Selig will decide what compensation the Boston Red Sox will receive for Theo Epstein’s move to the Chicago Cubs. Epstein left as Boston’s general manager with a year left on his contract to become president of baseball operations for the Cubs. Epstein got a five-year, $18.5 million deal in late October.

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http://www.mlbnewsblog.com/2012/01/28/selig-to-decide-epstein-compensation-ap/

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