Start the dominoes…
Bobby Howry agreed to a $12 million, three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, becoming the second free agent reliever in a week to join the team’s restocked bullpen.
So now what? Hernandez becomes more important, no? Talk about a jump in salary. Howry made $900k last year.
That starts a lot of dominoes…
If the Indians did sign Ryan, especially to a three-year deal, it might be difficult to re-sign set-up man Bob Howry. Not only is Howry seeking a three-year deal, but a report out of Chicago said he’s close to signing with the Cubs. Ryan made $2.6 million this year. He’s in line to make much more.
Does Wickman get approached to fill Howry’s role? Or is he just sent packing?
ESPN has a good story on how Ronnie Belliard went from just some guy to getting his $4 million option picked up for next season.
The Indians didn’t expect Belliard to develop into one of the league’s premier middle infielders when they signed the chunky free agent in December 2003. They figured he was a temporary fix at the position while Brandon Phillips developed in the minors or until they found someone else.
Does anyone care about Brandon Phillips anymore? Where is he? Does anyone think we’ll see him play next year?
Sometimes, I wonder if Roger Brown is just drunk.
Cleveland sports fans are notorious for being slow to accept change. That’s why many fans still refuse being pried, finger by reluctant finger, from their death-grip embrace of the Indians’ Chief Wahoo logo – an emblem that hasn’t become any less insulting or racially offensive since it debuted some 60 years ago. But, even given that, the current hysterical fan reaction to Ronnie Duncan, the Cavs’ new high-energy PA announcer, defies belief.
That might be one of the most idiotic pieces of writing I have ever read in my entire life.
Terry Pluto at the ABJ is running rings around the PD’s writers in his latest column. He breaks down rumors that Jim Thome might be back in Cleveland.
For Thome to come to the Tribe, the Indians would have to determine that his elbow is healed and that his back could withstand playing lots of first base. They then would have to convince the Phillies to pay nearly all of the contract. That’s a lot of ifs.
It’d be nice to see, though, wouldn’t it?
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