KTAR reporting 95-100% Eric Byrnes signed - 1:30 press conference

[Brent]

I just woke up and thats all I heard from Doug and Wolf.

 

[Brent]

KTAR confirmed a he was resigned to a long term deal, but they dont know the length of the contract. Great news in my opinion

 

[abomb]

You bet this is great news. Go to a D-backs game and you'll see how loved this guy is by the fans. I was skeptical of giving him a long-term deal, but when someone can combine performance and love from the fans. You have to ink 'em.

 

[Brent]

so I guess the writing is on the wall for Mr Quentin....

 

[sundevil04]

Go

I LOVE having him here but it doesn't seem to make too much sense with c.quintin and c. gonzalez on their way. Even with Q's sub par season he is a great prospect and showed what he can do last season. I guess these two are dealt for pitching now? This also must mean o.hudson isn't coming back long term
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CLAVINOVA

 

[sundevil04]

Go

Quintin and C. Gonzalez should bring back some good starting pitching though!
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EXPERT INSURANCE

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I LOVE having him here but it doesn't seem to make too much sense with c.quintin and c. gonzalez on their way. Even with Q's sub par season he is a great prospect and showed what he can do last season. I guess these two are dealt for pitching now? This also must mean o.hudson isn't coming back long term

Don't get me wrong. I love Byrnes and all, and there is a piece of me that is happy he is staying with the team.

At the same time I am very confused about what the reasoning behind this is. Byrnes is no doubt a great vet to have but I don't think he is Luis Gonzalez all of a sudden. Its likely his numbers will return to the norm next season. I understand they wanted vet leadership but I would have kept O as his position over Byrnes, who plays a position that is more fillable with young talent.

I guess it all comes down to the money and years. A 3 year 24 million dollar deal would make me happy. Even a 4 year 32 million makes sense. But anymore years or money I think it is a mistake.

Now if they flip Q and Gonzalez for a stud starting pitcher or maybe even Miguel Cabrera then I love this move. Otherwise it seems to fly in the face of what Josh Byrnes has been building towards the last couple years.

 

[sundevilscott]

OK now sign O-Dogg and we are set for some WS runs over then next 3-4 years!!

 

[nathan]

D-Backs and Byrnes reach deal
Nick Piecoro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 7, 2007 09:00 AM

In a surprising turn of events, the Diamondbacks and outfielder Eric Byrnes have reached agreement on a three-year extension worth in the neighborhood of $30 million, a deal that comes less than three weeks after the sides broke off contract talks.

A press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Chase Field.

After the Diamondbacks offered a deal in the range of three years and $22.5 million, the sides announced they had broken off talks on July 19 while the club was in Milwaukee.

But the Diamondbacks reengaged talks sometime during last week’s series against Atlanta, and the sides quickly came to an agreement on a contract that will run through 2010.

The outfielder is in the midst of a career year, hitting .303 with 17 home runs and 28 stole bases.

The extension almost certainly means outfielder Carlos Quentin’s days in Arizona are numbered. The club was shopping Quentin heavily prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

 

[Shzm13]

What a great way to start off the day/homestand!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Wow. I am stunned. I thought he was out of here for sure.

 

[sundevil04]

Go

OK now sign O-Dogg and we are set for some WS runs over then next 3-4 years!!

no way they'll shell out the dough for him now
________
Marijuana bubbler

 

[The Commish]

Good deal - lot of money though.

My guess is that we trade O-Dogg in the offseason for some young pitching. Then we spurn off Carlos Gonzales and Quentin for a young 2B. Just a guess though...

 

[82CardsGrad]

I LOVE having him here but it doesn't seem to make too much sense with c.quintin and c. gonzalez on their way. Even with Q's sub par season he is a great prospect and showed what he can do last season. I guess these two are dealt for pitching now? This also must mean o.hudson isn't coming back long term

I have to missing something here... Exactly what did Quentin do "last season" that would suggest he is a "great prospect"?? If anything, IMO over the last 2 years he has showed just how average to below-average he really is... Expecting stud pitching in return for Quentin is soo wrong...

However, I am very, very happy to Byrnes staying with the snakes... This season is certain an above-average year for him, but his attitude alone and leadership abilities are worth keeping him around! Nice move by the D-Backs!!

 

[Mulli]

If this means that O.Hudson doesn't get signed, I am not as excited as some.

 

[82CardsGrad]

If this means that O.Hudson doesn't get signed, I am not as excited as some.

Good point... However, if they are able to make a deal with Quentin/Gonzales and/or others for a young, high-quality replacement for O-dogg, I'll feel better about things. However, in the perfect world, they would also sign Hudson... 'Course, only teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets do that crazy stuff!!

 

[sundevilscott]

Good point... However, if they are able to make a deal with Quentin/Gonzales and/or others for a young, high-quality replacement for O-dogg, I'll feel better about things. However, in the perfect world, they would also sign Hudson... 'Course, only teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets do that crazy stuff!!

I totally agree with you.

 

[Kolo]

Good point... However, if they are able to make a deal with Quentin/Gonzales and/or others for a young, high-quality replacement for O-dogg, I'll feel better about things. However, in the perfect world, they would also sign Hudson... 'Course, only teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets do that crazy stuff!!

Emilio Bonifacio is one of the best 2b prospects in the minors, was just named fastest baserunner and best defensive 2b in the Southern League. I'd imagine (and hope) if they move Hudson, it'll be for a young starting pitcher.

 

[Brent]

Emilio Bonifacio is one of the best 2b prospects in the minors, was just named fastest baserunner and best defensive 2b in the Southern League. I'd imagine (and hope) if they move Hudson, it'll be for a young starting pitcher.

exactly, and then we also have Reynolds who came up as a 2nd baseman

 

[Rab]

I was going to call in to the Gambo and Ash show yesterday and ask Gambo if he thought this run at the playoffs would maybe influence them to re-sign Byrnes. Interesting that's it's happening. I for one am happy to have him come back. The price is steep, but this team needs to have something it can connect with. We might go the playoffs this year after a few mediocre/bad seasons, then we're going to let the most recognized player on the team go for another kid? That didn't make sense to me. This team hasn't had much stability over the past couple years in terms of keeping players, so I like this move, though I hate the thought of losing Hudson.

 

[jjdowney]

Quentin

I have to missing something here... Exactly what did Quentin do "last season" that would suggest he is a "great prospect"?? If anything, IMO over the last 2 years he has showed just how average to below-average he really is... Expecting stud pitching in return for Quentin is soo wrong...

However, I am very, very happy to Byrnes staying with the snakes... This season is certain an above-average year for him, but his attitude alone and leadership abilities are worth keeping him around! Nice move by the D-Backs!!

Carlos Quentin has been regarded one of the top minor league prospects for the past couple of years, and could have been called up in 2005 if there was room. I think in 2005 he was named to Baseball Americas top 20 Prospects. This guy is good, and just needs to find himself and his swing in the bigs. Unfortunately it appears there isn't room for him on this team. I guess the best move would be to get a young starting pitcher for him.

And keeping O-Dogg would be an excellent move. I am all for this youth movement but we still need some vets. O-Dogg has won a gold glove in both leagues! if we can keep this group together for awhile we have a shot at a couple of WS titles in the next 5 years.

 

[green machine]

I don't like the money, but I'm OK with 3 years.

I'm still nervous about him blocking a young guy like Gonzalez from reaching the majors.

 

[nathan]

I don't like the money, but I'm OK with 3 years.

I'm still nervous about him blocking a young guy like Gonzalez from reaching the majors.

Gonzalez's average is up to .286 but he still strikes out too much and doesn't take enough walks. He also can't hit lefthanded pitching (0.216/0.250/0.353). I think there's a good chance he'll have a mediocre season next year in AAA. That said, there is a reason he draws Carlos Beltran comparisons. Maybe he'll make enough adjustments to be ready midseason '09 at which Byrnes could be traded.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Quintin and C. Gonzalez should bring back some good starting pitching though!

No, they won't. Nor will Orlando Hudson.

And Hudson is as good as gone. This deal is way too much money for a very replaceable player but I guess I'm okay with it as long as it's only three years. The team desperately needs Stephen Drew and Chad Tracy to step up now, after Hudson leaves in 2008 they will be the only LH bats in the lineup.

 

[jjdowney]

The Carlos's should bring a good pitcher. not as much as they wouldv'e last year at this time because of Quentin's performance this year, but teams and scouts still remember how good he has been in the minors. so yea he has been bad this year but there is a lot of potenetial with him.