[EmpireWF]

Fox Sports says the Rangers are about to offer a one year contract to Eric Gagne worth $11 million. He'd be crazy to turn that down. And I think the Rangers are crazy to offer it.

Gagne has pitched nearly zero innings in the last two years and here they go offering him $11 million.

I wonder how much of it will be based on incentives...cause it has to be. Or else Tom Hicks is crazy.

[MJHMarc]

I could see Gagne rejecting this contract.

If Schmidt sign a deal worth close to $16M/Y, then he will want one too.

[MJHMarc]

Done Deal!

And the Dodgers start to search for a closer...

[Lefty Noob]

$11 mill for a guy who's had the kind of arm problems Gagne has? Wow... Hicks sure doesn't like money, doesn't he.

As much as I like Gagne, and I think the potential is there for a comeback, this is a stupid contract to offer if it's guaranteed money. The guy's a risk; you really don't know if he can ever be the guy he was 3 or 4 seasons ago again. I envisioned him getting a smaller deal from a team wanting to feel-out where he is physically.

[EmpireWF]

Does anyone think about the factor of ballparks? He was one of the most dominating closers while pitching in the Dodgers ballpark. A notoriously favorable park to pitchers. Now he's going to Arlington which his hitter happy.

Should be interesting to note how much his numbers change...not to mention the whole DH factor.

[soriano33]

All I can say is Gagnes record versus AL hitting is not that good...his most memorable games to me are forking up a HR to Soriano in the All Star Game, and Hank Blalock which ultimately gave the AL homefield that year. Plus he is the riskiest guy on the market

[Lefty Noob]

According to the AP, only $6 million is guaranteed. The remaining $5 million is all based on incentives. So I take back what I said; this is a smart contract. Although that guaranteed money figure is still a little high.

[ThePundit]

This is an outstanding contract. Compare that signing to the Jason Marquis. The Cubs have tied up 21 million in a lousy pitcher. Texas is only taking a 6 million dollar risk on a guy who was the best closer in the game a few years ago.

[MJHMarc]

I like Jason Marquis, from previous years.

Eric Gagne is a risk, but their reward shall be splendid.

ThePundit: You make it sound as if $6M is chump change.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by MJHMarc

ThePundit: You make it sound as if $6M is chump change.

In this day and age, with baseball contracts being what they are, isn't it? It is to these owners and players, at least.

[MJHMarc]

In the corporate world, you would be considered unrealistically successful if you pulled in $6M. For that is, a salary above $100,000 could take many years to reach (considering on the time period that you entered in the field).

[LSC9901]

Okay .. with all this talk about contracts and incentives does anyone know what a contract really looks like ? What I mean is from a basic view point a player is offered $8.66 Million a year. Generally how does that break down ? Cash, homes, cars, retirement investments etc. ??

Is there anywhere on line where a contract, old or new, can be viewed ??

[MJHMarc]

Investments?

These guys probably don't even know what "The Dow" is...

[Nuke]

Gagne's stuff has never been questioned. His talent is among the elite closers but he's always injured and they always are arm problems and they seem to me to be affecting him long term. Is Gagne on the decline because of his health?