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Broussard Signs

by Ryan on Jan 25, 2006 10:46 PM EST in News

Signed 1B Ben Broussard to a one-year, $2.48M contract

The Indians were offering $2.2M, and Broussard wanted $2.6M, so in this instance, Ben won out. The contract also contains bonuses for plate appearances (525, 550), but with Eduardo Perez around, that probably isn't happening.

This is really a make-or-break year for Broussard. Ryan Garko is pretty much ready offensively, and the Indians aren't going to go another year of arbitration with Ben if he puts up another .255/.307/.464 line.

Interestingly enough, Broussard's #1 comp at baseball-reference is Paul Sorrento. Sorrento was non-tendered after 1995, his age 29 season.

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Re: Broussard Signs

and sorrento's #1 most similar batter is Lee Stevens. what a small small world.

does anyone else when they're bored on a bus or plane or something try to take an indians and go back as far as they can remember to how they got here? for example, i grew up in the 80's and joe carter was my hero before he was a world series hero.
carter begat baerga
baerga begat kent/vizcaino
vizcaino/kent begat williams
williams begat fryman (my all time favorite indian)
fryman retires years before his time

by brad on Jan 26, 2006 12:35 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

It's not clear to me that the Indians will go another year in arbitration regardless of how Broussard performs. That's just not where their juice is. Maybe if he's an All-Star they'll be willing to gamble a $6 million salary for one year.

by Jay on Jan 26, 2006 12:52 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Exactly. Even if he has a good year, he's blocking Garko, who's going to cost about $350K in 2007, so we can't afford to give him $4M+ next season. It is a make or break year for him simply because a good year might allow him to start for another team in 2007, but he won't be back in Cleveland next year barring an incredible 2006.

Kos

by Kos @ Let's Go Tribe! on Jan 26, 2006 1:26 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

This is one of those things about sports that amuses me. If I were to go into my annual review and explain that my performance from the previous year had dropped to the point that I was a detriment to the organization's success and that, subsequently I wanted a raise, I would be laughed out of the room and/or fired.

by Fios on Jan 26, 2006 8:02 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

That is funny. Of course, the difference is that when you get fired, there wouldn't be other employers lining up to pay you a couple million dollars a year. Actually, that might not be a difference in this case.

As for first base, at what point this year does Garko take over for good? I vote for Spring Training, though it would be easier to throw him out there if we had upgraded RF.

Does anyone know if Garko has much of a split?

by dgcambridge on Jan 26, 2006 8:36 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

I can't find any info. on Garko's splits, but I think that I remember hearing that he's pretty consisent against RHP & LHP, though he has some problems with breaking pitches.

by jdudas on Jan 26, 2006 10:06 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

I actually read that he is the rare righty who can't hit lefties. Shapiro said it himself when the fans were clamoring for him to be called up in the summer.

by Joe. on Jan 26, 2006 10:22 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Thanks, I went and found that Shapiro quote, from Aug 16 of last year on whether to bring Garko up before Sep 1:

"For one thing, he is not ready to play first base in the majors. He is not going to catch over Victor Martinez or DH ahead of Travis Hafner. And, he is batting less than .200 against left-handed pitching. You have to look deeper than overall stats."

Makes you wonder if a potential platoon at some point would be Perez and Garko.

On the other hand, I can't imagine they would want to cut off Garko from seeing left-handed pitching. Obviously they want his whole game to develop. But that's always a question with platooning young players.

by dgcambridge on Jan 26, 2006 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

I wouldn't sweat that LHP thing. First of all, I didn't see how many ABs it was, or if it was consistent with his career. Secondly, he had only been in full season ball for less than 2 years at that point, and I don't think its uncommon for many hitters to have to adjust to the quality of LHP they see in the minors vs. high school or college.

Okay, that and it would be super-duper extra weird if he really couldn't hit LHP long term. Like weirder than the rules of Quidditch weird.

by Thommy on Jan 26, 2006 11:12 AM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

I think that we all have to assume that Broussard plays himself out of Cleveland this summer. And I mean either with a good season or a bad one. If he repeats last year's line, he gets non-tendered. If he has a very good year (someone correct me if I'm wrong on procedure), he gets picked up as a free agent. I see the Tribe's decision as whether to offer arbitration to get a draft pick. The problem is what happens if he puts up a 25 homer, 810 OPS line? In other words, just good enough to consider keeping. That's probably another $750K (just a SWAG) onto his salary in arbitration. Even then, we'd be looking to trade him next winter.

by Buzz on Jan 26, 2006 3:00 PM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

We cannot get a draft pick for Broussard. With a player not eligible for free agency, either you tender him a contract or you don't -- the second option is what's called "non-tendering" a player. If you do tender him a contract, then the salary is determined through arbitration or you agree to terms ahead of that.

The draft-pick compensation system is only for players who are eligible for free agency and are offered arbitration.

by Jay on Jan 26, 2006 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

That said ... if Broussard were to have a great season, perhaps a 920 OPS, I think we'd keep him another year and eat the $6 million or whatever it would take. You have to keep in mind, arbitration-eligible players do carry the advantage of always being on one-year contracts. So not only is their salary still lower than it would be for a free agent, but the risk is much, much lower.

by Jay on Jan 26, 2006 3:22 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Or you could trade him (a la Lyle Overbay). Granted, not many teams would be willing to give up a lot to first baseman due to make $4-5M, but if Garko has proven he can play the position, then why wouldn't they deal him?

by Ryan on Jan 26, 2006 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Broussard could be the next Shea Hillenbrand, just waiting for some foolish team to come acquire him. Giants, Nationals, Red Sox?

by Jay on Jan 26, 2006 4:44 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Shea Hillenbrand is a star in the making, did you not know that is redoing his swing and will hit 30-40 hrs this year? And it's not his fault that he has two left feet and throws like a girl, come on give the guy a chance, he could be the Indians 1st baseman this year. Read that somewhere.

Fan in Texas

by fanintexas on Jan 26, 2006 7:37 PM EST reply actions

Re: Broussard Signs

Will...or could? And even if he does hit 30 (which is what he projected), he will still have a low OBP and be a below average fielder or a DH.

Kos

by Kos @ Let's Go Tribe! on Jan 26, 2006 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

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