Paying Forward

The Red Sox announced the signing of Nathan Eovaldi on Monday, after word came out on Friday. Since Eovaldi was a key contributor to the Red Sox World Series victory, most Red Sox fans wanted him back in Boston. So, when the deal was rumored to be done, most fans were pretty darn excited. The Sox rotation was full, and if Eovaldi is anything like he was for the Sox, the rest of the league better watch out.

Of course, the EEIdiots weren't happy.

Radio hosts were going ballistic over the terms of the deal, which were actually pretty reasonable. Well, reasonable within the inflated world of free agent contracts. What was their problem with the deal? There isn't the history in his career to warrant such a contract. We still don't know what he is, let alone what he will be.

The problem with that logic is, by the time a player has shown you what sort of player he is...he's too old to be paid like it.

This isn't the first time that the radio heads have said the Sox signed a player too early. After the Sox traded for Rick Porcello, they extended his contract five years. “Too soon!” they yelled. He hadn't even pitched a game in a Sox uniform yet! Don't give him the money yet! But, the Sox did. Porcello rewarded them with a Cy Young, and a ring. Not bad at all.

So, this time the Sox didn't extend the guy right away, and it might have hurt them. I'm not saying it was an option, but imagine if the Sox had offered Eovaldi an extension immediately after trading for him? I bet it would have been much less than what they just gave him. But, they waited it out and saw exactly how he could pitch. He can handle the AL East...especially the Yankees. He doesn't wilt under the bright lights of the playoffs. He seems like a pretty good guy to go after. But, apparently, we still haven't seen enough out of him.

How much do they expect a team to look at a player?

How about Chris Sale? We've seen him a couple years now. So, the Sox should extend him for a multi-year nine figure deal, right? Well, not so fast. He's getting older now. His arm is starting to give him trouble. Is he someone you want to give a contract to?

You can't have it both ways.

Either you make an educated guess on the future of a player and get a deal, or you overpay for the past of a player whose career is in a decline.

Now, if the Sox had given Eovaldi (or even Porcello) David Price money? Yeah. That would be silly. That would be overpaying for a past that didn't even happen.

Is it possible Eovaldi never reaches what we assume is his potential? Of course it is. But that's the chance you take by signing him early. Lower cost, higher risk. If you want less risk, you have a higher cost. The EEIdiots want low risk at low cost, which in the read world doesn't exist.

Although, since when does talk radio exist in the real world?