According to mlbtraderumors, it's two years, $14.5M guaranteed ($7M in each of 2012 and 2013, plus a $9M option year in 2014 with a $500,000 buyout). Looks like a potentially low-risk, high-reward move by Jon Daniels, although $14.5M isn't chump change.

And although this thread is about an off-season move in Texas, can I just say: hurrah for Sidney Crosby! That is all.

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Had really been rooting for Nathan.

No, really, Tam, let us know how you feel about this! :-)

Actually, I had been hoping TEX would keep Nefti in the closer role. He is dadcumgreat at it.

I'm kind of afraid to name anyone else I'd like, for fear that once you name it you lose it, lol.

I'll just say he plays at a high altitude and is reportedly available.

greenfrog

I don't think signing a 37 year-old Reliever can be considered low risk even if your name is Rivera.   Signing either must be considered a high-risk move.   If you consider the high-reward potential more valuable and $7.0 MM is chump change, then go ahead.

In regards to http://www.battersbox.ca/users.php?mode=profile&uid=4338 .   No.   Yes, restrictive.  To get a compensory draft pick for a loss of your own Quality Free Agent, you must offer (replacing offering arbitration to them) a Guarenteed one-year Contract of at least $12.4 MM to that person, even if you don't want the player back.   The risk is the offer being accepted.

Mick, I believe the standard practice is to report the total dollar amount of the contract rather than the per-year salary. I only say that because I nearly had heart palpitations thinking the Rangers got Nathan for $3.5 million per year. I would have been very surprised if Anthopolous didn't beat that offer (although that doesn't necessarily mean Nathan would have signed with Toronto anyway).

At $7 million per year, it's not quite as team-friendly as I thought. Nevertheless, Nathan had a strong season after he struggled for the first six weeks or so and, given the injury he was coming back from, some early-season struggles are entirely reasonable. I think this is a very good move for Texas, as they have money to spend and can move Feliz to the rotation to replace Wilson, if they lose him, and probably not experience a huge drop. Meanwhile, Nathan is a good closer and, if he turns out to struggle, Mike Adams is a more than adequate replacement.

I'll just say he plays at a high altitude and is reportedly available.

Jean Machi? :)

Richard, everything is relative. If Papelbon flames out, the Phillies are out $50M - that's high-risk. If Nathan struggles, the Rangers are out $14.5M. Not chump change, but not franchise-crippling. In that sense it's low-risk (considering how good Nathan was before his injury).

Btw: is Francisco definitely done as a Jay? I thought that AA had an option on him for 2012 for around $3.5M or $4M. Given the way the reliever market is moving, it might be worth hanging on to him for another year.

I am a bit sad to hear that the Rangers bought a closer.  There seemed to be a glut of closers this year.  I think the Jays are waiting for the top tier to be overpaid and get a discount closer.  In the end, there may be no discount to be had and we will have a simular closer situation to last year and the year before.

I would like to see the Jays get K-Rod.  He would come at a discount and could become good trade commodity.