John Fay is clueless

[medford]

Patrick, once per year we usually agree my friend. I have a feeling it might happen twice in 2012 though. It's that kind of year.

That's what happens when the world is about to end

[hebroncougar]

I can't say about the future, but for this year only, it seems that the 1 year deal thing is the way to go. For the first time in a long while, most of the MLB clubs are watching their payrolls and budgets.

I think the 1 year deal for Madsen was a smart move. I've heard no mention of a club option for a second year though. Kinda wish there was. Or maybe they're leaving the door open for a Marshall extension and making him the closer?

I think this is true. If anything, the Madsen deal may push down the price for a Marshall extension. Truth be told, if you're a reliever, and you're not a lights out closer, if a team offers you a multi year deal, probably a good idea to take it. Madsen will be looking for major money next offseason. I don't think there is darn near anyway the Reds get an extension on him during the season.

[Roy Tucker]

John Fay is clueless

In other news, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

[mdccclxix]

Fay is pretty even keeled, which in twitter/blog world has some value. The only thing that irks me is his persistence on the limitations that the Reds have financially or otherwise. But that too acts as a buffer to some really ridiculous questions and comments that are out there. I also find his spelling misfortune hilarious and endearingly reliable.

[Strikes Out Looking]

I don't think it so much that Fay is clueless but that his sources are basically within the Reds organization and they treat him like a mushroom (keep him in the dark and shovel him you know what). To be really effective and top tier he needs to develop sources outside of the tri-state area.

[mdccclxix]

I don't think it so much that Fay is clueless but that his sources are basically within the Reds organization and they treat him like a mushroom (keep him in the dark and shovel him you know what). To be really effective and top tier he needs to develop sources outside of the tri-state area.

That's funny!

I think you often see the guys closest to the team know less because they need to be a non-threat to information. He can be controlled, so he is. Not a knock on him, though. Perhaps some of the guys in Chicago or NY seem to be in tighter, I don't know.

[kbrake]

I don't mind Fay. This place can be hard on all Reds beat writers at times.

[Vottomatic]

In other news, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

.....and in other news, scientists have determined through a $100 million dollar grant, that water is wet.

Woo-hoo!!!!

[RollyInRaleigh]

I don't mind Fay. This place can be hard on all Reds beat writers at times.

This place can be tough on everyone and everything.

[REDREAD]

I don't mind Fay. This place can be hard on all Reds beat writers at times.

I agree. Fay is a good writer.
He sticks his neck out at times and is wrong, but I can sympathize with him.
I'd rather he give out everything he gets over the winter and be wrong sometimes than just sit on all info (because none of it can be verified).

Thankfully, it really doesn't matter what they offered Coco now
But what Fay says is not implausible.
Coco was coming off a 12 million dollar salary. Looks like the Reds had about 8 million to spend on a closer. They pretty much had to sign one (IMO).
I could see a situation where both Coco and Madson had similiar offers on the table.. Or perhaps Madson was offered 8.5, given a "soft deadline" and was told that money would be offered to Coco after the deadline if Madson didn't.

I don't doubt that the Reds were using Coco as leverage to pressure Madson into signing. There was a quote from Walt a couple days ago (about Coco) saying he wanted to get it all resolved this week. Now we know what he was talking about

[Hoosier Red]

I believe you are correct that he was at first. But considering that a better closer who is a Boras client didn't hold out for a multiple year deal, I can't imagine that Cordero was still holding out for one at this point. If he was, he needs to fire his agent.

There's a difference though for Madsen and Cordero. The 1 year deal for Madsen actually benefits him. He gets to go have a big year(hopefully) and then sign a 3 or 4 year contract. This will be the possibly be the last contract Cordero signs. So a 2 year $5 million/year contract would actually be better than a 1 year $6 Million contract.

[Blitz Dorsey]

I agree. Fay is a good writer.
He sticks his neck out at times and is wrong, but I can sympathize with him.
I'd rather he give out everything he gets over the winter and be wrong sometimes than just sit on all info (because none of it can be verified).

Thankfully, it really doesn't matter what they offered Coco now
But what Fay says is not implausible.
Coco was coming off a 12 million dollar salary. Looks like the Reds had about 8 million to spend on a closer. They pretty much had to sign one (IMO).
I could see a situation where both Coco and Madson had similiar offers on the table.. Or perhaps Madson was offered 8.5, given a "soft deadline" and was told that money would be offered to Coco after the deadline if Madson didn't.

I don't doubt that the Reds were using Coco as leverage to pressure Madson into signing. There was a quote from Walt a couple days ago (about Coco) saying he wanted to get it all resolved this week. Now we know what he was talking about

I disagree. I don't think there is any conceivable way that Madson and Coco had "similar offers on the table." I guess I just don't want to believe that Walt could be dumb enough to offer Cordero anywhere near what he offered Madson. Nearly everyone in baseball would agree that one of them is much better than the other.

I think the Reds are classy and don't want to trash Coco publicly. But truth is IMO, they gave him a "low-ball" offer which didn't approach what they offered Madson. I bet Madson's offer was nearly double what they offered Coco. Yet, there is Fay still insisting that Cordero was offered $7 or $8 million from the Reds. No way.

[Homer Bailey]

This is Fay's breakdown of the trade:

RT @ajr0031 do you think this is an upgrade at the closer spot?//4 fewer blown saves. Thats big. Cordero's WHIP was slightly better.

Sigh.

[OesterPoster]

Yeah, I saw that one too Homer. I tried to reply, but I couldn't figure out how to tell Fay that his analysis was bunk in less than 140 characters.

[nate]

I think Chip's nickname for Fay is apt.