12-18-2008, 09:13 PM
And I see this is also in that link HTC posted earlier:
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Abreu's alleged price tag is contributing to the inertia. The word in baseball circles is that he wants a three-year deal or two years with a vesting option for $15-16 million annually. The Phillies just signed Raul Ibanez for three years and $31.5 million, and Adam Dunn, Manny Ramirez, Ken Griffey Jr., Bradley, Burrell and Anderson are among the outfield-DH-types still available, so Abreu's salary aspirations are destined to get squeezed.
"He's still a dangerous hitter," said an American League front-office man. "I just think that as a complete player, he's starting to go backwards. He's not the outfielder he used to be. He still has a decent arm, but it's not the cannon he used to have. And he doesn't have the foot speed he used to have. He's a solid player, but not a $14-15 million a year player."
Said a National League official: "He's going to end up somewhere and be fine. But it's not going to be for anywhere near the money he's been making or he thinks he should make."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Abreu's alleged price tag is contributing to the inertia. The word in baseball circles is that he wants a three-year deal or two years with a vesting option for $15-16 million annually. The Phillies just signed Raul Ibanez for three years and $31.5 million, and Adam Dunn, Manny Ramirez, Ken Griffey Jr., Bradley, Burrell and Anderson are among the outfield-DH-types still available, so Abreu's salary aspirations are destined to get squeezed.
"He's still a dangerous hitter," said an American League front-office man. "I just think that as a complete player, he's starting to go backwards. He's not the outfielder he used to be. He still has a decent arm, but it's not the cannon he used to have. And he doesn't have the foot speed he used to have. He's a solid player, but not a $14-15 million a year player."
Said a National League official: "He's going to end up somewhere and be fine. But it's not going to be for anywhere near the money he's been making or he thinks he should make."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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