Stop Building for the Future AZ, the future is now...

[Black Jesus]

I think the Diamondbacks need to stop building for the future, because apparently the future is here. It would be ridiculous to not resign Hudson and Byrnes, who have carried this team, and on top of that, Quentin's terrible play allows us to start a new young outfielder... Upton or Gonzalez.

If the Diamondbacks were serious, they would make a move for Texiera, and then resign the lot of them... Teixeira, Byrnes, and Hudson.

Give up on Jackson and Quentin, because Young and Drew have already matured alot over their time in the bigs and 2/4 isn't bad for prospects developing into serious players. 3rd base would remain a question mark, as well as one outfield position, and those could be filled by having only two young guys on the team... Upton and Reynolds.

Our team has a serious chance this year with how well our bullpen has performed, as well as our veterans. Josh Byrnes needs to get some move done, because as of right now, we look like a contender. Buster Olney even picked us to go the the World Series, which to me is insane, because I had figured this team would be right around .500 at the end of the season.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Where is the nearly $40 million PER YEAR that it would take to sign Teixeira, Byrnes, and Hudson to long term contracts going to come from?

 

[Brent]

Where is the nearly $40 million PER YEAR that it would take to sign Teixeira, Byrnes, and Hudson to long term contracts going to come from?

This is why if we somehow get Teixiera, I dont think theres any way we resign either Hudson or Byrnes.

 

[Nasser22]

I agree on some parts. I think they need to go and resign Byrnes and Hudson. Both have played great and have been good leaders for the team. We don't have too many top prospects left to bring up and with Quentin not doing anything and Gonzalez struggling in AA, it would be a dumb move not to resign Byrnes. Young, Upton and Byrnes would make up a very good outfield for years. Hudson also needs to come back after next year because we don't have very good infield prospects so losing him would really hurt the team. Every young team needs some vets who know what they are doing. We just don't have the talent available to put young guys at every position.

I think this team is good enough to reach the World Series in the weaker NL, but don't resign Byrnes and let Hudson walk the next year and we'll miss the playoffs again for a few more years and that won't help them sell tickets/merchandise. $9-10 million isn't that much for Byrnes comparing it to the contracts players are getting now.

I'd like to have Teixera, but he would be very tough to resign. I wouldn't want them to pay a player $20+ million per year when they still need more to get the team to the top (starting pitching). I don't believe the D-Backs will win a championship this year either so giving up good players for 60 games from him wouldn't be very wise.

Hopefully before the deadline they can get a quality player who can help us get to the playoffs and win some games, but resigning Byrnes is something that they have to do if they are serious about winning. We have a good group of players and we need to keep them together

 

[PoolBoy]

texiera no, he would be a rent-a-player because we wouldn't have to spine to cough up the dough. resign Byrnes and Hudson because everybody here loves them. dont make the same mistake we made with gonzo letting a adored veteran go because of possible prospect greatness. think if we had gonzo in left and byrnes in right as opposed to the right fielders we have stinking it up in the 7 and 8 hole every night.

 

[green machine]

texiera no, he would be a rent-a-player because we wouldn't have to spine to cough up the dough. resign Byrnes and Hudson because everybody here loves them. dont make the same mistake we made with gonzo letting a adored veteran go because of possible prospect greatness. think if we had gonzo in left and byrnes in right as opposed to the right fielders we have stinking it up in the 7 and 8 hole every night.

Gonzo is gone, and for that I say good riddance.

You don't resign guys because fans love them, you sign them because it makes sense.

I keep Hudson, but let Byrnes walk. He'll want too much money to play a position that is already crowded with top prospects.

 

[Ryanwb]

Where is the nearly $40 million PER YEAR that it would take to sign Teixeira, Byrnes, and Hudson to long term contracts going to come from?

Beyond Teixeira, Byrnes and Hudson do not figure into the plan for next year. For all intensive purposes I have heard that Upton may be brought up soon. Move him to 2B next season and Carlos Gonzalez will fit in nicely in Byrnes position.

 

[Nasser22]

How long has it been since Upton played 2nd? Gonzalez is struggling in AA and Quentin still sucks. Byrnes and Hudson need to stay.

 

[green machine]

Beyond Teixeira, Byrnes and Hudson do not figure into the plan for next year. For all intensive purposes I have heard that Upton may be brought up soon. Move him to 2B next season and Carlos Gonzalez will fit in nicely in Byrnes position.

They won't play Upton at 2nd, it would be a total waste of all his abilities. If anything Upton will allow them to let Byrnes go by taking up his spot.

 

[Ryanwb]

They won't play Upton at 2nd, it would be a total waste of all his abilities. If anything Upton will allow them to let Byrnes go by taking up his spot.

I could live with that

 

[Nasser22]

Yeah, he should be able to give up about the same production, but having Byrnes over Quentin would be very nice too...

 

[Black Jesus]

No way, an outfield of Young, Upton, and Byrnes is a great outfield. Ditch Quentin and trade Gonzalez for Texieira.

 

[Gaddabout]

Keep dreaming. The owners aren't done paying for the last World Series. You thought they were being patient and building for the future with 15 newbies on the roster because it made baseball sense? This is all about deferred contracts: RJ's *first* contract here, Schilling, who else? I think there were at least 5 deferred contracts the new ownership team is still paying for. It's like $20 million over a long enough time that it works out to something like $50 million in real dollars. I know they paid about $25 million on $100 million owed in 2006. At one point it was 18 deferred contracts for a total of $270 million!

The team has slowly reduced the working payroll from $102 million in 2001 to today's roster that pays out about $52 million. Byrnes makes $4.5 mil right now and Hudson makes $3.9. That's about $8.5 mil I'm betting they would love to move out to give the team a chance to be profitable.

 

[HooverDam]

Im fairly sure the Dbacks are still paying Armando Reynoso, which is depressing.

EDIT: Also, speaking of Reynoso, I was watching my 2001 World Series DVD the other day, and when the team is celebrating on the field, no one hugs Armando! Its depressing, I think they were just intimidated by his superior mustache (not even RJs could hold a candle to Armandos)

 

[Nasser22]

I thought they were just about done paying those contracts? Wasn't this year supposed to be the end of those???

 

[Mulli]

Im fairly sure the Dbacks are still paying Armando Reynoso, which is depressing.

Very depressing.

 

[Gaddabout]

I thought they were just about done paying those contracts? Wasn't this year supposed to be the end of those???

I believe those deferments run through 2010, but the number gets much smaller each year.

It may not make a difference. The team management seem to be sold on the idea that Phoenix is not just a medium-sized market, it's a small one, like Oakland.

 

[Ryanwb]

EDIT: Also, speaking of Reynoso, I was watching my 2001 World Series DVD the other day, and when the team is celebrating on the field, no one hugs Armando! Its depressing, I think they were just intimidated by his superior mustache (not even RJs could hold a candle to Armandos)

That mustache oozed machismo. It should be how all other mustaches are judged

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

How long has it been since Upton played 2nd? Gonzalez is struggling in AA and Quentin still sucks. Byrnes and Hudson need to stay.

Upton hasn't played 2nd at a high level as far as I know. He was a SS in high school and the Diamondbacks immediately moved him to the outfield when he signed.

 

[AZCB34]

Actually the future isn't now it is next year and beyond. What is happening right now is basically an unexpected surprise IMO and the Dbacks should stay the course because it is working. Once more of these heralded prospects get up to the majors and get their seasoning, then the true future the front office is building towards will "be now".

Byrnes' price is too high and with much more talented (and unproven) players behind him, he is gone.

I wouldn't mind signing Hudson long term but I doubt that will happen...although I admit I don't know who is slated to play 2B when he leaves.

 

[Mulli]

Actually the future isn't now it is next year and beyond. What is happening right now is basically an unexpected surprise IMO and the Dbacks should stay the course because it is working. Once more of these heralded prospects get up to the majors and get their seasoning, then the true future the front office is building towards will "be now".

Byrnes' price is too high and with much more talented (and unproven) players behind him, he is gone.

I wouldn't mind signing Hudson long term but I doubt that will happen...although I admit I don't know who is slated to play 2B when he leaves.

No one can argue with that.

 

[asudevil83]

I believe those deferments run through 2010, but the number gets much smaller each year.

It may not make a difference. The team management seem to be sold on the idea that Phoenix is not just a medium-sized market, it's a small one, like Oakland.

i think the organization knows that this team is mid-market....but only when the team is winning.

they also think that it is possible to win by using the small-market style.

their ideal situation is to be done paying the defered payments to those players, keep payroll relatively low, and win. its hard to do, but possible with a smart scouting staff.

 

[Gaddabout]

their ideal situation is to be done paying the defered payments to those players, keep payroll relatively low, and win. its hard to do, but possible with a smart scouting staff.

I have no problem with the Oakland style of management, as long as they really stick the plan and it's not a ruse to explain a tight budget.

 

[hafey]

No one goes to A's games though.....