Balfour/Frieri

[wopphil]

Don't know whether or not this has been discussed on here, but with Frieri now racking up the saves, his salary is going to escalate very quickly in arbitration (as evidenced by the $3.8 mil the Angels gave him to avoid arbitration).  So I have to wonder what would happen to his salary if we brought in Balfour and put Frieri back in a setup role. 

 

If Frieri remains the closer, we can expect his salary to escalate to $6.5+ mil next year, and $9-10 mil the year after, for a total of $15.5-$16.5 mil over two years.  But if we bring in Balfour and give him the closer position, isn't it likely that Frieri's salaries in 2015 and 16 would be far, far less?  In other words, maybe acquiring a guy like Balfour would also have the effect of reducing the amount paid to Frieri the next two years, making the "real cost" of Balfour far less than his contract price. 

[HaloMagic]

I trust Frieri will blow enough saves in important games to keep his salary down for us.

[monkeywithahalo]

I think you're spot on, wopphil. It would save the Angels a bit of money in arbitration as save numbers play well in that structure. Even without that, I think it is a pretty sound strategy to add Balfour to the bullpen and sign a lower end starter like Maholm, Hammel or Capuano rather than signing Garza if his price tag starts to get too high.

[HaloMagic]

First it was Tanaka, then Garza/Balfour, now Maholm/Balfour. What's next? Maholm/Marmol?

[Brent Maguire]

Balfour would be a great add. 

 

I'm still uncomfortable with this bullpen as it stands so adding Balfour would help a ton. 

[gotbeer]

So pay a closer around $7 million so that you can push a closer that makes $3.5 million down to a setup roll, spending $10.5 million.  So that the former closer won't make as much in arbitration 2, where as a closer he would make $5 or $6 million, but with the compensation system and how it's structured, as a reliever he would make $4 million.  All in the while, your new closer will make $7 million in a multi year deal.  

 

In other words, to save $1-2 million, spend $14 million.  

[monkeywithahalo]

So pay a closer around $7 million so that you can push a closer that makes $3.5 million down to a setup roll, spending $10.5 million.  So that the former closer won't make as much in arbitration 2, where as a closer he would make $5 or $6 million, but with the compensation system and how it's structured, as a reliever he would make $4 million.  All in the while, your new closer will make $7 million in a multi year deal.  

 

In other words, to save $1-2 million, spend $14 million.  

You also have to factor in the value Balfour provides. If he can be worth two wins over those two seasons, the production on the field offsets the additional expenditure. Also, he makes the Angels better and isn't that ultimately the point? The monetary savings on Frieri are just a happy side effect.

[Angel Oracle]

Balfour did slump after the 2013 ASB (4.00+ ERA and nearly 1.50 WHIP), after putting up a 1.63 ERA and just over 1.00 WHIP before the 2013 ASB.    That plus his being in his mid 30s is a concern. 

 

He was bordering on wild after the ASB (14 BBs in 24 innings), following just 10 BBs in 36 innings before the ASB. 

[wopphil]

So pay a closer around $7 million so that you can push a closer that makes $3.5 million down to a setup roll, spending $10.5 million. So that the former closer won't make as much in arbitration 2, where as a closer he would make $5 or $6 million, but with the compensation system and how it's structured, as a reliever he would make $4 million. All in the while, your new closer will make $7 million in a multi year deal.

In other words, to save $1-2 million, spend $14 million.

No, what I am saying is that if you bring in Balfour, you may save $4-5 in Frieri the next few years, making the actual cost of Balfour far less.

[ispy45]

Grant Balfour's era for when he played at home in Oakland vs away.

[ettin]

That is a valid point wopphil.

[AngelsLakersFan]

Don't know whether or not this has been discussed on here, but with Frieri now racking up the saves, his salary is going to escalate very quickly in arbitration (as evidenced by the $3.8 mil the Angels gave him to avoid arbitration).  So I have to wonder what would happen to his salary if we brought in Balfour and put Frieri back in a setup role. 

 

If Frieri remains the closer, we can expect his salary to escalate to $6.5+ mil next year, and $9-10 mil the year after, for a total of $15.5-$16.5 mil over two years.  But if we bring in Balfour and give him the closer position, isn't it likely that Frieri's salaries in 2015 and 16 would be far, far less?  In other words, maybe acquiring a guy like Balfour would also have the effect of reducing the amount paid to Frieri the next two years, making the "real cost" of Balfour far less than his contract price. 

 

His salary can't get much higher before the Angels will have to non-tender him.

[DW711]

I don't think Balfour has the mentality to be a set-up man right now.

[Halos of Anaheim]

Capauno/Balfour please.

[LAAMike]

Although he is a league of his own, it will be interesting to see the Kimbrel arbitration play out. He's in his first year of arbitration and is asking 9.0 versus 6.55.  Since the Braves are a "file and trial" team, this will be resolved in February.  I wish that this whole arbitration period could be moved up so that the decisions are not so close to Spring Training.

[Angel Oracle]

I don't think Balfour has the mentality to be a set-up man right now.

Judging by his post-2013 ASB numbers, I also don't think he has the command anymore to be either a key setup man or closer.

[VariousCrap]

I would think that Balfour's price has come down a bit since his last deal fell through.

[HaloMagic]

Judging by his post-2013 ASB numbers, I also don't think he has the command anymore to be either a key setup man or closer.

He had one bad game against DET where he gave up 4 ERs. Take away that and his post-ASB ERA is 2.70. You seriously don't believe he could even be a setup man?

[gotbeer]

He had one bad game against DET where he gave up 4 ERs. Take away that and his post-ASB ERA is 2.70. You seriously don't believe he could even be a setup man?

 

IMO, this is the reason why the Angels are in the problems they are in now.

 

They had 2 cheap firstbasemen.  Instead they decide to shell out $250 million to another.

 

They had a bunch of cheap outfielders.  Instead they decide to shell out $125 million to another.

 

We have a cheap closer.  But instead people want to shell out more money to another.  

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

@JeffFletcherOCR: Dipoto also said #Angels are not looking for any relievers “with closer experience.” No Balfour.