Saturday, February 6, 2010

Estes signs minor-league deal

I don't want to take away too much from the lineup discussion going on in the previous post -- check out Steven's radical suggestion -- but I did want to confirm what many were asking about last night. Yes, the Nationals have signed Shawn Estes to a minor-league contract.

Estes, who turns 37 in a couple of weeks, hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2008, when he went 2-3 with a 4.74 ERA in nine games for the Padres. He hasn't been a regular member of a big-league staff since 2005 with the Diamondbacks. If he makes the major-league roster, he'll earn a $600,000 salary, with incentives that could push the total value up to $1 million.

I wouldn't get too worried, though. The chance of the left-hander actually making the Opening Day roster is pretty slim. Seems to me that this is simply the Nats taking a no-risk chance on a guy who if everything fell into place could be an asset. If everything doesn't fall into place, he gets cut at the end of spring training, and the Nats don't have to pay him a dime.

5 comments:

An Briosca Mor said...

Just because this year's new buzzword is "mentor" doesn't mean that last year's buzzword no longer applies. Estes is inventory, nothing more, nothing less.

Positively Half St. said...

I had been upset about this when I read a poorly worded AP story which made it seem that he gets the $600K no matter what, and could go for $400K in incentives if he makes the club. Having all the money dependent on his making the club is just fine. Good luck Estes. Feel free to wow us.

Sean said...

my coach in when i was playing in school had a similar theory on lineups, maximize the ABs for the best hitters. ive seen it in softball as well. and i believe in cinnci dunn spent some time in the 2 hole trying to maximize his ABs. but that team didnt have the same talent this one does. if tplush and guzie struggle to set the table, maybe rigs gives this a try, but i doubt it....as for estes, it wouldnt be feb if the nats werent signing an over the hill pitcher.

periculum said...

They made some really hard promises to Syracuse to field a competitive team whilst developing their prospects. It hasn't helped at the box office there yet. But I suspect the advent of Stasburg and Storen just might.

Positively Half St. said...

Periculum- If Strasburg and Storen go to AA, Syracuse will get the shaft.

Post a Comment