Dempsey suggests Frazier and Robinson good fit for Giants

[Rog]

Former pitcher Mark Dempster today on the MLB Network expressed his belief that White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier would be a good fit for the Giants.  He stated the obvious, that Frazier would provide more power than Eduardo Nunez.  Frazier knocked out 40 home run last season while batting just .225 with a .302.  I have several thoughts here, but I'm curious as to what others think.

Dempster also suggested that the Giants also go after David Robertson, a fairly highly rated closer with 110 saves the past three seasons, although Dempster recommended the Giants obviously acquire him as a set up man.  Both Frazier and Nunez are eligible for free agency a year from now, while Robertson will be paid $25 million over the next two seasons before becoming eligible.  Frazier earned $8.25 million in arbitration in 2016, so he won't come cheaply either.  The White Sox have been holding what shouldn't be called a fire sale but perhaps an improvement sale.  They raked in huge hauls for both Chris Sale and Adam Eaton.

Another power hitter mentioned on the show was first baseman Chris Carter.  Carter hit a homer more than Frazier, but hit just .222 with a .321 OBP, and was non-tendered by the Brewers after earning $2.5 million in 2016.

John Smoltz spoke to how much harder pitchers are now throwing, but suggested they be trained and allowed to pitch deeoer into games.  Sadly Smoltz's choice for breakout player of 2017 was Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias.  Smoltz cited that Urias was just 20, but already knows how to pitch.  He spoke to the strength of the Dodgers rotation, although it has more depth than it has healthy, proven starters (my comment).

So what are our thoughts on Frazier and Robertson?  How about Carter?  Intriguingly, the soft spot in the market seems to be power hitters.  The Giants could use one as much as any team, but they would need to get creative financially.  Dempster didn't mention that, so I suspect he is unaware of the Giants' budgetary constraints.

[sfgdood]

My memory of Ryan Dempster the person is that of a brain dead meat head

[Islandboagie]

For a moment there I thought you were going to talk boxing.

[Rog]

My mistake. It was indeed Ryan Dempster, not Mark.

You apparently didn't misinterpret me here, Randy. Even though I had the wrong name. I appreciate that. What is your point though in saying you consider him to be brain dead? The topic wasn't about Dempster, but rather about ideas for the Giants. I referred to some things that were stated yesterday on the MLB Network that I thought might pertain directly or indirectly to the Giants.

I for one would be interested in your opinion on these statements, Randy. What you think of Dempster isn't really all that important here, is it? It's what you think of his IDEAS. Almost everyone comes up with a good idea once in a while.

It often seems that when opinions other than "the Giants are selling out their fans by not spending as much as the Dodgers and Yankees (if not more)" are appropriate, you go off in another direction. I'd really like to know your opinions on things.

[Rog]

I'm not one who thinks we should denigrate someone without reason. Other than his having been an average pitcher with a long career and a sixth-place finish in the 2008 Cy Young voting and that he is an analyst for the MLB Network, I didn't really know much about Dempster. (Apparently not even that his name was RYAN!) So I looked him up on Wikipedia.

Wikipedia stated that "Dempster is widely known for his laid-back attitude, constantly joking with fans and teammates, and is said to be a positive contribution to a team's clubhouse." Not too bad so far.

They also wrote " On December 5 (2014), it was announced that Dempster would be taking a job in the Cubs' front office as an assistant to general manager Jed Hoyer and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein." Epstein and Hoyer are pretty well thought of, being two of the top architects of the World Champion Cubs. Epstein and Hoyer don't sound like the type of guys to hire a meat head as their assistant.

That the MLB Network hired him doesn't seem likely for a meat head either. Wikipedia also noted that Dempster was "Named one of the 99 'Good Guys' in professional sports by The Sporting News." Hm. Also that he won the Tip O'Neill Award in 2000. "The Tip O'Neill Award is given annually to a Canadian baseball player who is 'judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to the highest ideals of the game of baseball.'"

Perhaps Dempster is indeed a meat head. But I have been able to find nothing to substantiate it, and a lot that would seem to refute it.

If we develop a negative attitude about someone, wouldn't it make sense to check it out?

Once again you have helped me to learn here, Randy. I thank you for that. Until now, I didn't really have much of an opinion about him, other than that I remember he was a good pitcher in at least one of Tim Lincecum's good seasons, and that I didn't think Ryan was in touch with the budgetary restrictions of the Giants. Heck, I couldn't even get the guy's name right!

[Rog]

One more thing that came back to me when I read that Dempster had been hired as a Cubs' assistant. I mentioned when Jon Lester signed with the Cubs that Jon and Ryan were apparently friends, and that Dempster's going to the Cubs likely didn't hurt them with regard to signing Lester. IIRC, I even had the wrong name, and Mark corrected me that it was Dempster.

Incidentally, Lester has pitched better for the Cubs than I expected. He still has four years left on his contract at a cool $100 million, plus a $25 million option for a fifth season ($10 million buyout). The Cubs will pay Lester at least $110 million when he'll turn 33 on Saturday, but he's certainly been well worth the $45 million they've paid him for the first two years of his contract.

I have a question regarding Lester and Johnny Cueto. Jon is 33 years old. Johnny is 13 months younger.

Jon and Johnny have some similarities regarding the remainder of their contracts. John will be paid either $110 million for four more seasons or $125 for five more. Johnny will either make $22 million this season and then opt out, make $109 million over the next five seasons, or make $126 million over the next six seasons.

Johnny has been better over this present decade, but Jon has been slightly better the past three seasons, posting ERA's of 2.46, 3.34 and 2.44 compared to Johnny's 2.25, 3.44 and 2.79. That's really about as close as two pitchers can be over three seasons. Lester has gone 46-28 in those three campaigns, while Johnny has gone 49-27, also pretty close. This surprised me a tiny bit, but Johnny enjoys the innings pitched advantage, 675 to 627.

Right now, given their contracts, which one would we rather have? What would our reasons be? Lester or Cueto? Cueto or Lester?

As a related question, which contract was the better one? Why?