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by Jeff Sackmann on Aug 3, 2006 4:10 PM CDT in Milwaukee Brewers News

Luke Hochevar, the #1 overall pick in the June draft, finally signed with the Royals:

Hochevar will sign the contract on Saturday, Aug. 5 and be placed on the Royals 40-man roster. He is only the fourth No. 1 overall pick in the last 20 years to sign a Major League contract, joining Delmon Young (2003), Pat Burrell (1998) and Alex Rodriguez (1993). Hochevar signed his contract quicker than three of the last four No. 1 overall picks.
...Note: Our sources indicate that the deal is as follows: $3.5 mil signing bonus, $5.3 mil guaranteed, $7 mil w/ incentives.
Jose Reyes signed a four-year deal with the Mets today for a mere $23 million. It includes an option for 2011. We can only hope that JJ Hardy plays well enough next year to make this contract relevant to the Crew.
Nate Silver chimes in with his take on the Carlos Lee deal, comparing it to several others. On the group of Brewers deadline deals:

I don't know if Doug Melvin is eating too much chorizo, but this is a strange series of moves by the Brewers. I'm not sure that I can remember a team hedging its bets in this fashion at the trade deadline before. That said, "strange" doesn't necessarily mean "bad." Mench isn't that big a downgrade from Carlos Lee, and will provide a respectable, arbitration-eligible bat in 2007 and 2008 while the team leverages its young talent and addresses other areas of need. Cordero is a good "buy low" guy, and comes to a team that can make good use of him--his impact could be even greater than what's represented here if we consider that he'll be pitching high-impact innings for a team that plays a lot of close ballgames.

The Crew starts a weekend set with the Cardinals tomorrow night in St. Louis. Start thinking negative thoughts about Tony LaRussa...now!

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wow..

that's a lot of cash. I thought Ricky signed Major league contract....or was it just a big signing bonus?

by iluvlamp on Aug 3, 2006 5:51 PM CDT reply actions

Weeks

You're right, he signed a major league contract. However, he was not a number 1 overall pick.

by BroadwayJoe22 on Aug 3, 2006 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

duh

that's what i get for hurried skimming:)

by iluvlamp on Aug 3, 2006 7:45 PM CDT up reply actions

More expert opinions

MGL on Mench/Lee:

All the other trades that were made, including the Carlos Lee trade (barely an upgrade on Mench, who is a very good player overall), are not worth spit.

by battlekow on Aug 3, 2006 6:34 PM CDT reply actions

Wow

I should have read farther before posting. Get a load of this:

It was absolutely horrible for the Rangers. They traded away a better player for a worse one who is making almost 5 mil more per season (and both are FA in 07). In addition, they gave away a way underrated good, young, cheap player in Nix, and one of the best relievers in baseball who is vastly underpaid.

This is one of the most misunderstood trades in baseball history by almost everyone and I am here to set the record straight!

You guys really should read the whole post, it's fascinating.

by battlekow on Aug 3, 2006 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

But wait

he also came back later and redeemed him/herself

"I forgot about Cruz. I don't know anything about him, but his MLE's over the last 3 years are excellent, especially for a CF'er. If he is of average defense in CF, or even a little worse, he is in fact gold. If he is a corner OF'er, then he is not worth all that much given his MLE's and at his age. But you are right. He must be included in the equation.

My main point was the assumption that Lee was much better than Mench, which is patently false, and that people seem to forget or ignore how great Cordero is and has been. Thinking Lee is so good is a perfect microcosm for what is wrong with player evaluation in baseball. "

Carlos Lee (MIL) is traded to LAA for McPherson, Morales, Saunders, Kendrick, Wood, Aybar, Mathis, Je. Weaver, and Napoli...

by ufoboy90 on Aug 3, 2006 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

quotes

how do you do that sweet quote thing, anyway?

Carlos Lee (MIL) is traded to LAA for McPherson, Morales, Saunders, Kendrick, Wood, Aybar, Mathis, Je. Weaver, and Napoli...

by ufoboy90 on Aug 3, 2006 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions

blockquote.

<div class="blockquote">
fancy quote
</div>

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Aug 3, 2006 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

thanks

for finding that battlekow, great to know i am not the only one who thinks the trade was brilliant.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Aug 3, 2006 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

best of all...

the guy who agrees with you is smarter than most of us. Smarter than me, anyway.

Which doesn't mean I'm giving in and agreeing with you, though ;)

by Jeff Sackmann on Aug 3, 2006 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions

yes, yes

i'm well aware of lichtman's contributions to baseball fandom and sabermetrics. pardon me for taking the easy shot at grouping myself with MGL there. :)

to be fair, he's analyzing what the rangers got versus what the brewers got. it seems that the vocal complaint here is that the brewers should've gotten something different, not necesarily that they got robbed. (wasn't that nice of me to provide ya'll with a nice out.)

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Aug 3, 2006 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions

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