Tom Boswell has an interesting read today in the Washington Post about the Nationals signing of Jayson Werth. You can find the article here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn…T2010120607684
I agree with Boswell’s overall point that overpaying for a player can be worth it. I made that point repeatedly two years ago with Teixeira. I think you have to go a little further than Boswell’s point though, and make sure that if you overpay – it is for the right player.
Not every player has to be paid what they are correctly worth. You can certainly pay more for some, when large portions of your roster are making less than they should.
Where I disagree with people is when they say the O’s should trade multiple young players whose contracts they control, to obtain an established talent (Adrian Gonzalez was an example) and then sign that player long-term. The Orioles can afford to overspend financially on a couple of players, they can not afford to give up the limited player capital they have – and give the player they acquire a huge contract. That is not how you build an organization.
I don’t think Werth is the type of player you break the bank for, but I understand why the Nationals did it. Part of me respects them for it. I think the only player on the Free Agent market you can argue for the Orioles to go crazy for is Crawford. Even doing that for Crawford makes little sense since so much of his game is built on speed, and the O’s do have options with promise on the roster for LF.
Some will argue that Cliff Lee would be the other option to spend crazily for. The Nationals seem to agree with that point of view, if the reports are accurate (stories circulating that they are offering 7 years).
There are times that it is worthwhile to spend, and I fully agree it is hypocritical for any large market team to chide the Nationals for the contract they gave Werth.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.