Hey baseball, welcome to the real world!

Two years ago Piazza made $1.25 mil.
Lofton made $1.025 mil in both 2002 and 2003.

The guy's premise is that these players are getting squeezed out because of the cash they are making, yet there are similar players making similar cash.

 

Well then, yes, the author is full of shit.

 

TSP, name one other year since 1987 in which guys of that stature were unsigned heading into the final week of spring training.

 

Shannon Stewart and Corey Patterson have stature?

 

Shannon Stewart does.

 

Really? Is that why he made a million bucks on a one-year contract last year, cuz he's so desired?

 

No, I think he made $1 million last year because no one was sure if he could stay healthy.

If he can stay in the lineup, he's a really valuable guy at the top of the order.

 

You mean to tell me someone coudln't use Stewart's leadoff skills or Patterson's speed at the bottom of the order?

 

Not really. The guy's OBPs the last three years are .323, .347, .345. That's about league average.

It's not their salaries that is costing these players jobs. It's their deteriorating skills.

 

Corey Patterson? He's had a half-dozen years to prove that he is not worth anything more than a 25th spot on a playoff roster, pinch running and playing center in the ninth inning. A regular-season gig? Why? The NFL has guys who are special-teamers, and their age is irrelevant: They make special-teams money, regardless. Baseball's rosters are too squeezed, especially with 12 relievers, to keep non-entities like Patterson.

 

Still, TSP, those declining guys typically land gigs, even of the one-year variety.

It's an interesting byproduct of teams going young everywhere. It started happening last year, when Ron Belliard went deep into February w/o a gig fresh off three pretty good years for the Indians.

 

It's also a load of poo that the Rangers are using young players in lieu of signing these aging free agents. Left fielder Marlon Byrd is 30, right fielder Marlon Byrd turns 30 in April, backup Frank Catalanotto turns 34 in April, and recently signed backup Kevin Mench is 30. This is also the team that employed Sammy Sosa last year.

So Rangers GM Jon Daniels' comment is total, total bullshit. Even his own team isn't using young players in lieu of signing old, blah players!