12/21/24
December 09, 2005
JULIO FRANCO 2 year contract with Mets for 2 million plus: The Mets agreed to a $2.2 million, two-year deal with Franco on Friday, luring baseball's oldest player away from NL East rival Atlanta and giving them a, well ... `mature' backup for new first baseman Carlos Delgado. Most free agents in their mid-to-late 30s can't attract a multiyear offer. Franco has one at age 47 — and he wants to keep playing until he's at least 50.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool to baseball at 09:27 PM - 16 comments
Another example of a team with too much money to play with. A bad decision.
posted by sonomajoe at 10:13 PM on December 09, 2005
STUD...no BS about it. Could probably kick most of the asses in MLB right now! Look for "Moe" Selig and Congress to ponder metamucil as a performance enhancing powder.
posted by Thumper at 10:18 PM on December 09, 2005
dude wasn't he a pitcher for the Red's back in the early 90's??
posted by top8driver at 04:26 AM on December 10, 2005
top8, I think you're confusing him with his grandson.
posted by 86 at 06:48 AM on December 10, 2005
Dude, that was JOHN Franco that pitched for the Reds.
posted by blademan6946 at 06:59 AM on December 10, 2005
Another example of a team with too much money to play with. A bad decision. How does this constitute a bad decision? Unless his body suddenly breaks down completely, he fills a role all teams have. Franco knows what his role will be, won't whine and moan for playing time, gives days off to others that need it, and will probably help out Carlos Delgado quite a bit, seeing as how HIS body will break down at least once during the season, as it does every year. His regiment of taking care of himself and his body is also something many of the younger players need to learn from. Dollar for dollar, Franco will probably pay more dividends this season for the Mets than Beltran did last year.
posted by dyams at 07:46 AM on December 10, 2005
My mother-in-law is a Braves fan and loves Julio. She will be heartbroken that he left Atlanta.
posted by scully at 08:02 AM on December 10, 2005
I dont see what the big deal is. If the y guy can still play-let him. Terry Mullholland is another example of an older guy who can carry his wieght. I hope Julio makes his goal!
posted by daddisamm at 08:57 AM on December 10, 2005
If Julio wants to pitch for the Reds now, he would probably be their number 2 starter. And he wants to keep playing until he's 50? Isn't he like 55 now? What the hell is a 'y guy' daddisamm?
posted by Desert Dog at 09:59 AM on December 10, 2005
i think the mets overpaid for franco. the guy's 47 and isn't getting any younger. he's getting weaker and slowing down every year. he didn't do much with the braves last year and isn't going to do much this year or next with the mets.
posted by nort_12345 at 10:36 AM on December 10, 2005
he's getting weaker and slowing down every year. he didn't do much with the braves last year and isn't going to do much this year or next with the mets. I checked the stats and, yes, he didn't do much for the Braves last year. His batting was barely above average (105 OPS+), his fielding at 1B was below average, and he only appeared in 102 games last year. And he is getting worse and worse every year. His OPS+ has gone from 117, to 112, to 105 over the last 3 years. However, he's only going to be making $1.1million a year. That's about 1.3% of the total Mets payroll. It's also about average for what a veteran player in MLB would make in his position (regardless of age). Do I think he's going to positively contribute to the Mets? Probably not, but I don't think he's going to be some sort of sinkhole from the bench. Nobody should be pointing at this contract and saying it's a reason for the Mets failure. If they signed 6 or 7 guys like this (something the Pirates and Devil Rays used to do all the time), then there is something wrong. Or if they signed him for $3million/year, then it's a bad idea. But to add a single veteran player for this small (it's relative) amount of money, it's barely worth complaining about. This is one of those rare times where I support throwing a million dollars at "veteran leadership".
posted by grum@work at 11:42 AM on December 10, 2005
"Franco hit .275 last season with nine homers and 42 RBIs in 233 at-bats for the Braves, and he was surprised when they didn't offer him arbitration after four-plus years in Atlanta." I agree that "veteran leadership" could definately be a valuable commodity. I also agree too that if the Mets fail to materialize somthing next year that nobody can point the finger at Julio.
posted by T$PORT4lawschool at 04:30 PM on December 10, 2005
Okay. If you were 47 and you were able to sign a 2 year 2.2 million contract, you would. You know it. He's a contender still. Forget age. It's performance. There are guys out there who are in their mid 20's who will never be the play he is/was. I think it's great. Leave the guy alone.
posted by Irish Gal at 05:32 PM on December 10, 2005
Okay. If you were 47 and you were able to sign a 2 year 2.2 million contract, you would. You know it. He's a contender still. Forget age. It's performance. There are guys out there who are in their mid 20's who will never be the play he is/was. I think it's great. Leave the guy alone. I agree and I would play for half that amount. Of course I'd need a pinch runner in case some fool walked me.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 07:03 PM on December 10, 2005
Hell, I'd play for free, but the player's association would have none of it. The minimum salary would be a hell of a raise.
posted by dusted at 07:38 PM on December 10, 2005
Being a Cleveland Indians fan I can't believe they let the legend go (a long time ago), actully I can because Cleveland lets any good player go. Franco at 47 years old makes the story unique. Also it is free of steroids or violence or federal politics, the story anyway, is just good old baseball.