Sunday Baseball Brunch: Nathan and Blackburn

by AdamOnFirst on Mar 7, 2010 12:29 PM EST

Joe Christensen has a couple new developments for us via his blog at StarTribune.com:

Joe Nathan is heading to the Twins cities today to have an MRI done on his surgically repaired right elbow. While this certainly represents a new level in the seriousness of the medical attention the elbow is receiving, there may yet be reason to keep the concern somewhere below full fledged panic:

"We're going to get some pictures just for some piece of mind," Nathan said.

Nathan said he would have taken a couple days off from throwing anyway, so he'll get the elbow looked at, comparing this MRI exam with one that he had before undergoing surgery.

We will all, certainly, be anxiously awaiting the results of this test.

Second, the Twins have signed a young player to a long term contract - no, not that one. Nick Blackburn has signed a 4-year 14 million dollar extension with the club. This contract also includes an 8 million dollar option for 2014. This deal is a bit of a surprise as it comes a year before Blackburn is eligible for arbitration, and deals such as this are risky for young pitchers, but it gives the Twins cost certainty and allows the team to keep Blackburn at a modest price for his first year of free agency if they so choose.

Edit - There has been some confusion about this in the comments section: Blackburn's deal covers this year, his final year of serfdom, and his three years of arbitration. The option year would be his first year of free agency.

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Blackburn

This deal covers Blackburn’s final serf year, his three arb. years, with an option for his first year of free agency. If it’s similar to Baker’s deal, the first year is probably around $500k, and the remainder will be cheaper than going year-to-year in arbitration if he keeps the same production. Not a bad deal at all.

by cass22 on Mar 7, 2010 1:09 PM EST reply actions

I think they got confused.

We were chanting ‘Sign Joe Mauer!’ and they accidentally signed his doppelganger instead.

Honest mistake.

by Twins4Life on Mar 7, 2010 1:17 PM EST reply actions

Facial hair

Probably especially confusing with all of the facial hair changes Mauer has been putting them through. Poor twins. They must be so embarrassed today; and here they thought they were getting such a good deal.

Anyway, good move…contract certainty will help with planning down the road.

by dctwin on Mar 7, 2010 1:29 PM EST up reply actions

Anyone know what he might have expected to make in arbitration?

With the likes of Pavano getting 7 million in arb, 2 arb years and a FA year of Blackburn for 14 doesn’t sound so bad.

by Luke in MN on Mar 7, 2010 1:27 PM EST reply actions

I agree

If the Twins can get league-average production from him, which I don’t think is too much to ask, it’ll be a very good deal for the Twins. The past two years, his numbers have been very similar and have been worth 2.5 and 3.0 WAR. The accepted marginal value of a win is about 3.5 million dollars, so the Twins are getting good value here.

by JTW on Mar 7, 2010 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

60% of free market value during arbitration usually 40% year 1, 60% year 2, 80% year 3.

The Twins are paying for 6.4 WAR at 3.5M/WAR, 5.6 WAR at 4M/WAR. Given that he’s been worth 2.5 and 3 WAR in 2008 and 2009, I think it’s a small discount. It’s nice to have a team option for his 1st free agent year. That option may seem reasonable in 4 years if salaries begin to inflate again.

by Jon Kammerer on Mar 7, 2010 2:27 PM EST up reply actions

Even if

Even if they don’t, it’s probably a bit under the market rate still.

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