chase headley jumps to mind, but he might be overpriced when trading.
- flyers420

Headley's bat isn't exactly "big". Not a bad target though.

I agree he could be overpriced because of a bidding war. Lots of interest, apparently

Yea, but that's something I'm sure the Phillies brass wouldn't have a problem doing either.
- canadianpenfan

Point taken.

However, I think they're pretty much at their upper limit budget wise. They would have had to send a good chunk of change the other way too, which doesn't happen very much in baseball.

I sure hope Doan's reported contract demands have scared the Flyers away.

Let's go to war with this group Homer! Keep that cap space! Keep those assets!

- MBFlyerfan

Unless we could get Ryan for a reasonable return....I agree

Point taken.

However, I think they're pretty much at their upper limit budget wise. They would have had to send a good chunk of change the other way too, which doesn't happen very much in baseball.
- Giroux_Is_God

For sure. Baseball trades are more about dollars than talent. I should know, I'm an A's fan.

Doan needs to lay off the dope. Good lord. No way he gets that much, for that term, on an over 35 deal? Forget it. Actually I almost hope the Pens or Rags give him that and he becomes a cap albatross.

For sure. Baseball trades are more about dollars than talent. I should know, I'm an A's fan.
- canadianpenfan

Well I'd play with that statement a little and say trades are more about dollars and building for the future.

I'm sure you know- Team A trades (insert big name here) to Team B in exchange for (insert 2 top prospects and 2 decent ones here). Team A agrees to eat most of (insert aforementioned big name here)'s salary for the next season.

Yea, but that's something I'm sure the Phillies brass wouldn't have a problem doing either.
- canadianpenfan

Actually they would. They are real close to their spending limit. And might be looking to make a deal to avoid paying a Luxury tax this year.

Doan needs to lay off the dope. Good lord. No way he gets that much, for that term, on an over 35 deal? Forget it. Actually I almost hope the Pens or Rags give him that and he becomes a cap albatross.
- Lexington Flyer

He is the top remaining Free Agent Forward left. With many teams interested. He can name his price.

Well I'd play with that statement a little and say trades are more about dollars and building for the future.

I'm sure you know- Team A trades (insert big name here) to Team B in exchange for (insert 2 top prospects and 2 decent ones here). Team A agrees to eat most of (insert aforementioned big name here)'s salary for the next season.
- Giroux_Is_God

Oakland's been doing that since the 80's. To go over a list of players that have been groomed by their system only to be traded for prospects when it was time to pay them bring tears to my eyes. The no name kids have it going right now though.

Actually they would. They are real close to their spending limit. And might be looking to make a deal to avoid paying a Luxury tax this year.
- MJL

I don't pretend to know their inner limits but you would have to agree, that isn't a franchise that has been against handing out ridiculous money the last 6 or so years if it makes the team better.

Headley's bat isn't exactly "big". Not a bad target though.

I agree he could be overpriced because of a bidding war. Lots of interest, apparently
- Giroux_Is_God

having the yanks jumping into the 3B hunt doesn't help the phils cause.

having the yanks jumping into the 3B hunt doesn't help the phils cause.
- flyers420

What about Willingham? Minnesota isn't going anywhere and he's having a really good year...

Oakland's been doing that since the 80's. To go over a list of players that have been groomed by their system only to be traded for prospects when it was time to pay them bring tears to my eyes. The no name kids have it going right now though.
- canadianpenfan

Oakland fan?

He is the top remaining Free Agent Forward left. With many teams interested. He can name his price.
- MJL

Sure he can, and any GM with a shred of sanity can reject that price. No way, no how is Doan worth what he is asking for. I'll be surprised if he signs for anything close to that, Phoenix or otherwise.

Oakland fan?
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Yes sir.

Sure he can, and any GM with a shred of sanity can reject that price. No way, no how is Doan worth what he is asking for. I'll be surprised if he signs for anything close to that, Phoenix or otherwise.
- Lexington Flyer

Not if he wants to play on a contender. Only teams I see willing to pay him that much would be ones trying to get to the floor. Which I don't think he would have on his 'list'.

With that said I hope you get him at that price...

Fingers crossed.

Yes sir.
- canadianpenfan

Beautiful - seems like we are few and far between. Quite the run they are on!

Beautiful - seems like we are few and far between. Quite the run they are on!
- BoomGoesTheCoburn

Living in Calgary I can honestly say I don't think I've ever met another Oakland fan in my ife.

They are lights out right now, surprising yet really nice to see. I hope they can hold on.

I don't pretend to know their inner limits but you would have to agree, that isn't a franchise that has been against handing out ridiculous money the last 6 or so years if it makes the team better.
- canadianpenfan

I agree, but they don't have an open checkbook. If they go over the Luxury tax threshold this Season. The percentage will be higher if they have to next Season. It's incremental.

Sure he can, and any GM with a shred of sanity can reject that price. No way, no how is Doan worth what he is asking for. I'll be surprised if he signs for anything close to that, Phoenix or otherwise.
- Lexington Flyer

Since when has Free Agency been about what players are worth? It's really about what they can command on the open market.Let's look in deeper. Look at the salaries that the top Free Agents who signed long term deals, are getting in the first few years. With low salaries on the back end to lower the Cap hits. With Doan being 36, he can't get that. So 7.5M a year for a top Free Agent Forward, isn't out of line. You can argue that he isn't as good of a player as a Parise or a Semin. But the demand is there. And when teams bid against each other, the price goes up.

I agree, but they don't have an open checkbook. If they go over the Luxury tax threshold this Season. The percentage will be higher if they have to next Season. It's incremental.
- MJL

Gotchya.


I have a hard time feeling sorry for them when Oakland carries a $55 mill payroll and the Phillies are $120 mill higher.

Not if he wants to play on a contender. Only teams I see willing to pay him that much would be ones trying to get to the floor. Which I don't think he would have on his 'list'.

With that said I hope you get him at that price...

Fingers crossed.
- canadianpenfan

Hadn't considered that. Seems like a possibility, but I agree that he probably won't be heading to any cap basement teams anytime soon. He is a good option for a lot of teams but he isn't being realistic, posturing or not.

Hadn't considered that. Seems like a possibility, but I agree that he probably won't be heading to any cap basement teams anytime soon. He is a good option for a lot of teams but he isn't being realistic, posturing or not.
- Lexington Flyer

He is absolutely being realistic. Let's look at Parise and the deal he signed. If because of Doan's age, let's look at a 3 year deal. If you take Parise's salary for he first 3 years, his Cap hit based on that would be 11.6M. He's getting paid 35M in the first 3 years So Doan asking for a deal worth 7.5M , and being paid 22.5M , for 3 years, is completely realistic based on the market price.

Since when has Free Agency been about what players are worth? It's really about what they can command on the open market.Let's look in deeper. Look at the salaries that the top Free Agents who signed long term deals, are getting in the first few years. With low salaries on the back end to lower the Cap hits. With Doan being 36, he can't get that. So 7.5M a year for a top Free Agent Forward, isn't out of line. You can argue that he isn't as good of a player as a Parise or a Semin. But the demand is there. And when teams bid against each other, the price goes up.
- MJL

We have yet to see what the demand is given his current asking price. Would teams like to add him, no doubt. I just cant see many (any?) teams signing him at a 7.5mil cap hit over 4 years on an over 35 deal. He plays a power forward game. Those guys don't last forever and when the decline they do it fast. Look at LeClair or more recently Knuble. Siging him for what he wants would be a big risk for a GM.

We have yet to see what the demand is given his current asking price. Would teams like to add him, no doubt. I just cant see many (any?) teams signing him at a 7.5mil cap hit over 4 years on an over 35 deal. He plays a power forward game. Those guys don't last forever and when the decline they do it fast. Look at LeClair or more recently Knuble. Siging him for what he wants would be a big risk for a GM.
- Lexington Flyer

It would be a risk. That doesn't stop it from happening.