EE Contract Extension

[powersackers]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

27M for 3 years. With 10M club option in year 4.

I think AA and Toronto made a good choice locking him up.

[RedEye]

Well, I guess Rolen's intangibles for 2010 -- and his first half stats -- contributed to a Division title. EE is a good hitter though...

[cincrazy]

I think it's a risk on Toronto's part. He brings nothing to the table defensively, and has always been a streaky hitter. I don't think it's a bad investment, per se. $9 million a year won't cripple anyone. But it will be interesting to see if he can continue to do this going forward.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I think it's a risk on Toronto's part. He brings nothing to the table defensively, and has always been a streaky hitter. I don't think it's a bad investment, per se. $9 million a year won't cripple anyone. But it will be interesting to see if he can continue to do this going forward.

Now that's being a bit unfair. He brings NOTHING to the table defensively? He's got excellent range and above average hands, he's also got a cannon...albeit a loose one. He's certainly athletic enough that if given enough reps he could play 1st or left fairly effectively I'd think. It was always his throws to first & 2nd that were his problem defensively IMO.

[cumberlandreds]

Now that's being a bit unfair. He brings NOTHING to the table defensively? He's got excellent range and above average hands, he's also got a cannon...albeit a loose one. He's certainly athletic enough that if given enough reps he could play 1st or left fairly effectively I'd think. It was always his throws to first & 2nd that were his problem defensively IMO.

EE is playing almost all 1B or DH this season. He has appeared only one game 3B. I think the Jays saw him as a not very good defensive player and made him a DH. I always thought EE would probably end up a DH in the AL.


http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...ncared01.shtml

[REDREAD]

I guess I see this as a risky move.
Not really sure I'd want to make a long term commitment to EE, but maybe he's matured since he's left.
I agree that if he maintains this level of prodution, it's a good investment.
He just seems to be a "one year wonder" candidate.
However, I have not watched him play, so maybe there's some legitimate adjustments he has made.

[mdccclxix]

Glad he's doing well.

Glad he's gone.

It's a nice 3 year deal, but I think it's too much.

Imagine this in no way possible lineup:

Phillips 2b
Bruce rf
Votto lf
J. Hamilton cf
EE/Dunn 1b
Frazier/EE 3b
Mezanigan C
Cozart SS

Bench
Stubbs
Heisey

I don't know how running a team works, but the Reds never have been one to move players to new positions with any success. Alonso was a disaster. But Dunn and EE to 1b was always imminent. Votto to LF could have been planned for and decided in 2004 or 2005. Who knows. Where's that "What if..." thread...

[_Sir_Charles_]

EE is playing almost all 1B or DH this season. He has appeared only one game 3B. I think the Jays saw him as a not very good defensive player and made him a DH. I always thought EE would probably end up a DH in the AL.


http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...ncared01.shtml

I don't disagree with that. Being in the AL makes that decision much easier of course. But to say he brings nothing defensively...I just thought that was a bit harsh towards EE. He's horrible in regards to throwing accuracy...but he does have SOME plus skills defensively.

[mdccclxix]

I guess I see this as a risky move.
Not really sure I'd want to make a long term commitment to EE, but maybe he's matured since he's left.
I agree that if he maintains this level of prodution, it's a good investment.
He just seems to be a "one year wonder" candidate.
However, I have not watched him play, so maybe there's some legitimate adjustments he has made.

You can often look for some really great, sometimes career best, years from 29-33 year olds. Especially in the slugging department. I think that may be what we see from EE. I think of Phillips too, when the time comes, he may beef up even more and bomb 30 again in the coming years. Certainly not out of the question if you ask me.

[MartyFan]

Glad he's doing well.

Glad he's gone.

It's a nice 3 year deal, but I think it's too much.

Imagine this in no way possible lineup:

Phillips 2b
Bruce rf
Votto lf
J. Hamilton cf
EE/Dunn 1b
Frazier/EE 3b
Mezanigan C
Cozart SS

Bench
Stubbs
Heisey

I don't know how running a team works, but the Reds never have been one to move players to new positions with any success. Alonso was a disaster. But Dunn and EE to 1b was always imminent. Votto to LF could have been planned for and decided in 2004 or 2005. Who knows. Where's that "What if..." thread...

ummm...Pete Rose, Tony Perez and Brandon Phillips all say hi!

I agree that has usually not been a great success with Dunn or Kearns when they tried either one of them at 3B or 1B...of course I think while he was in a Reds uni, Dunn was fat and lazy.

[reds44]

Brandon Phillips was moved to a new position?

[klw]

Brandon Phillips was moved to a new position?

If this is true I am surprised, nay shocked, no one ever suggested moving him back to shortstop.

[reds44]

He played 3 innings at SS in his career with the Indians. He was a 2nd baseman.

[klw]

He played 3 innings at SS in his career with the Indians. He was a 2nd baseman.

Though he was also used a 2b, he was primarily SS throughout his time in the minors.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=philli001bra

For more on how he was viewed, here is a Baseball Prospectus write up on the Bartolo Colon trade from 2002.
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/ar...articleid=1544

Bartolo Colon was obviously the Indians' most attractive player and he netted what was likely the best collection of prospects that were available in shortstop Brandon Phillips, left-hander Cliff Lee, and outfielder Grady Sizemore.

Phillips is a multi-tool athlete in the Barry Larkin mold. His power is starting to emerge as he physically matures and gains experience. The 21-year-old has been able to maintain a high batting average, though he could stand to be more disciplined at the plate (18 walks, 39 strikeouts this year). Phillips hit .327/.380/.506 with nine home runs and six stolen bases in 245 at-bats for Double-A Harrisburg, and was hitting .257 in 35 at-bats for Triple-A Ottawa. Defensively, he has the range and arm strength to play shortstop in the majors, though he does not always show consistency. His baserunning is more instinctive than a reflection of his speed.

The Indians sent Phillips to Triple-A Buffalo and will keep him at shortstop, but because of the crowded Cleveland infield, his eventual position is up in the air. Omar Vizquel still has two years and $15 million left on his contract, while Gutierrez is in the first year of a three-year, $11-million deal, making it tough for Phillips to break into the middle infield. Travis Fryman has a club option for 2003 that the Indians certainly won't pick up, which would open a spot for Phillips. He did play third base in the 2001 Arizona Fall League on a semi-regular basis, so he has experience at that position. The Indians' system was almost devoid of middle-infield prospects, so the acquisition of Phillips fills an organizational hole.

I think you could make the argument the Reds did not move Phillips as much as the transition to 2b had begun prior to the acquisition.

[cincrazy]

I don't disagree with that. Being in the AL makes that decision much easier of course. But to say he brings nothing defensively...I just thought that was a bit harsh towards EE. He's horrible in regards to throwing accuracy...but he does have SOME plus skills defensively.

We can agree to disagree. He may have good range and hands, but his throwing accuracy totally cancelled the rest out, IMO. He was awful at 3B for the Reds, has no impact at 1B whatsoever, and obviously as a DH is never in the field. They're paying him essentially for what he can do with his bat, and his bat alone. And I'm not sure he's a good enough bet going forward to justify that contract.