Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad K
If you have guys asking a lot more than they're worth because they want extra to be part of a losing team, they'll lower what they want when they become free agents. You can sign them out of free agency because they forgot they wanted to leave.
Went back and checked. The Pirates finished 8th in 51, 5th in 52 and 3rd in 53. So they didn't have the losing team thing hanging in their minds. In 53 Bell signed for 5 years and Thomas for 6, in both cases taking them through their age 29 seasons.
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Thanks. Ironically, the '62 Mets have both Bell & Thomas near the end of their careers. Thomas won't sign. Bell we dumped on the hapless Senators for 29 year old Joe Hicks - a minor leaguer with a minor league contract who actually played for the Mets in '63. This game's a hoot.
The Bucs had a real farm system, more or less, with real prospects
coming up. The Mets are mostly barren at the start so we'll have to hit FA & Rule 5. Within the limits of the small budget, of course. No quick fixes like signing Mays & Mantle.