After 600+ words on the Padres 2006 catchers, Piazza signs with them.
He is clearly their best offensive option. The question is whether his defense and health allow him to get 110 games played.
If they do, then he will be one of the top hitting NL catchers.
PETCO is notoriously pro-pitcher, but the RCF fence in being moved in from 411 to 400. It is too early to tell how that will affect its reputation but a spike in Padre power will go a ways towards changing it. And given Piazza's power to RCF, the move may not hinder him at all.
2 comments:
I'm very suprised over the numbers on the Piazza deal. I thought he would want $4-$6M, and he got a 1/$2M deal. I think he has a hefty $8M mutual option for '07, but if other teams knew they could have gotten Piazza for $2M he would have been picked up early in FA. Then again, Piazza may have given a discount to San Deigo so he could go back to Cali. Either way it's a good deal for both sides.
This may be similar to the situation a few years back when Tino Martinez became a free agent for the first time. (Johnny Damon, too.)
He asked the Yanks for 4 years $44 million. The Yanks balked and Tino signed with the Cards for 3/$21MM.
With Piazza, he may have had his price too high, and then the market dried up on him.
I cannot imagine the Twins not being stunned at the price. Piazza was a perfect fit in Minnesota - part-time catcher/full-time DH.
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