Larry LaRue says today that Raul Ibanez will decline arbitration, further noting that ten teams are interested in signing Raul. The rest of the story is typical Raul fluff, but hey, now that we don't have to deal with his defense anymore, it doesn't raise my ire.
Since there's not too much else to the story that we haven't already talked about, how about a game of guessing his team and contract? The poster who gets closest to his actual contract, without going over, gets to be mod for a day*
I'm going to say the Phillies at three years and $30 million
* offer void in Utah, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Hawaii, South America, Papua New Guinea, Europa and wherever you actually live or currently are both physically and spirtually.
0 recs | 96 comments
Mets
3 years 25 milli
Dewey N - December 7, 2008
Also you didn't guess his team
Dewey N - December 7, 2008
As long as it is not the Cubs I will be happy.
Sec 108 - December 7, 2008
If he signs with the Cubs that will make me very happy.
Cubs: 3 yrs / $34m with 4th year option of $12.5m and a buyout of $1m
FlaskInSafeco - December 7, 2008
3 yr/28M
Cubs
waldo rojas - December 7, 2008
Wooo, draft picks!
Since 2000, the only years we’ve had more than the standard number of draft picks were 2007 (1, Mangini) and 2001 (2, a second rounder and a third rounder, but that draft was pretty awful overall). Three times’ we’ve had less than fifty picks.
I favor systems that theoretically bring us good players on the cheap. Roster flexibility is crucial.
JY - December 7, 2008
3 yr / $33m
Cubs. Hellooooo, Sweet Lou.
ThundaPC - December 7, 2008
3 at $31.5m
Going to the… Yankees!
I will miss Raul, but god it’ll be nice to not have to watch him in the field.
AtomicGarden - December 7, 2008
I would go to EVERY Yankees game to watch Raul in pinstrips!
mark sobba - December 7, 2008
3 yr/$34.5 mil
The Mets. How can Omar Minaya resist?
DKCecil - December 7, 2008
3yrs/$27mil from the Mets
Well, that is what I hope happens. That would give the M’s the 25th pick in the draft. Of the teams going after Ibanez, the Mets would give us the best compensation.
The M’s could be looking at a really nice draft this year, particularly if they don’t sign Fields. If the Met’s sign Ibanez, and don’t sign any higher-ranked free agents, the M’s could end up with the #2, #21, #25, and #40 in the first round. That would be a pretty interesting draft.
Jerry - December 7, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaJUEXxf8pY
JI - December 7, 2008
Angels, 3/30
JI - December 7, 2008
Oh no! If he signs with a divisional rival we will rue this day for years.
FlaskInSafeco - December 7, 2008
I will miss the laughter the most
JI - December 7, 2008
aw, what are the odds that if he signed with a rival they'd actually let him see the outfield?
msb - December 7, 2008
We can hope!
The Angels seem unable or uninterested in defense. They would put Raul out there for a 100+ games.
I’m sure he will have enough options to choose the team that will allow him to be an everyday starter.
mark sobba - December 7, 2008
Raul in left, Hunter in center, and Anderson in right! Yes!
.Taylor - December 7, 2008
It's the black hole, might as well have nobody out there
Fuzz - December 7, 2008
Garrett Anderson's contract was not picked up for 2009 by the Angels.
But!… they still have GMJ. His defense is definitely better than Anderson’s, but I don’t know exactly how great he ranks defensively.
Wilder. - December 7, 2008
Since he can still run he's not a defensive disaster on a corner
or so one would think.
JI - December 7, 2008
What about metaphorically?
3 years/24 MM from the Cubbies.
Frosty Raptor - December 7, 2008
Toronto, 3/35
HARRYP09 - December 7, 2008
Dodgers
Two years guaranteed for $12 mil per, third year option at $13 million
Trent - December 7, 2008
Phillies
2 yrs/22 mil plus option for third year at 12 mil
Scrupio - December 7, 2008
Ha
This was EXACTLY my guess. Gillick can’t pass up the opportunity to sign Ibanez through his ‘advisory’ role a second time.
By way of differentiating, I’ll knock Ibanez a bit for the economy and say 2/20 with an $11 mil third year option.
slamcactus - December 7, 2008
Mariners
5 years/$70 million
Teej - December 7, 2008
That's just not funny.
SethGrandpa - December 7, 2008
I'm still trying to kick the whole pessimism thing.
Teej - December 7, 2008
"Actaully" isn't a word, I expect to be made mod for a day when he signs with the Mets for 2/21
seattlebruin - December 7, 2008
Mets
2/23 with a third year option at 12.5 and 1.3 buyout.
Vatinius - December 7, 2008
He signs with the Mets for 3/30
Blicks - December 7, 2008
white sox
2/21
WoodburnDave - December 7, 2008
Yankees, 2/23m, 3rd year option for 13m
Nick S - December 7, 2008
3yrs/$20m with a 4th year option
My Prediction: The Dodgers
My Hope: Angels
I think he wants more years than money.
mark sobba - December 7, 2008
Would there be any residual hard feelings between Ibanez and Lou from their previous Coach/Player relationship?
Lou didn’t seem to believe Raul was starter worthy at the time. So does Raul believe Lou hindered his progress?
Most likely the best monetary offer wins.
BOGUS - December 7, 2008
LaRue wrote:
I imagine there are no hard feelings. And Raul probably wants to play for a winner.
Teej - December 7, 2008
Dodgers
3/27 with 4th year option at $10M
Wilder. - December 7, 2008
Cubs
3/30, something like 9.5/10/10.5
baetown415 - December 7, 2008
Dodgers
3 years/$32 Million
Goose - December 7, 2008
So we want to root for the worst team signing him so we get the best picks yes?
Fett42 - December 7, 2008
Kind of depends
Remember, the first 15 picks are protected.
Jeff Sullivan - December 7, 2008
We want him to sign with the worst team that finished in the top half of baseball record-wise.
Teej - December 7, 2008
And...
also isn’t planning on signing any free agents that graded higher than Raul.
JY - December 7, 2008
Good point.
Teej - December 7, 2008
The Dodgers...
If the Dodgers sign him we get the #16 pick.
SethGrandpa - December 7, 2008
Wait no, #17...D-Backs are #16...
GO NL WEST!!!!
SethGrandpa - December 7, 2008
If there's one thing Arizona doesn't need, it's an outfielder.
Goose - December 7, 2008
I think they can make an exception in this case.
;)
Wilder. - December 7, 2008
Mets, 3/30.
BrianL - December 7, 2008
Cubs. 3@$30M. $8M 1st year $10M 2nd $12M 3rd. Mutual option for 4th year at $14M (a token gesture) $1M club buyout.
I assume Ibanez a little less expensive than Abreu and Ibanez maybe more open to lesser front money allowing the Cubs to receive lefty bat now and let new owners shoulder the higher dollars in other two years.
I’d save the draft pick and opt for Abreu or Dunn.
BOGUS - December 7, 2008
Hmmmmmmm
What if multiple people are close to the actual deal?
My guess the Marlins 3 years/around 32-34 with a option for a 4th year
Slurvey - December 7, 2008
Then everyone who was close gets to not be a mod.
Teej - December 7, 2008
Phillies, 2 yrs, $16 million
SuperShadow - December 7, 2008
Houston, 2 years 20 million, third year option for 12.5 million
If you can count on anything, it’s Ed Wade’s stupidity.
The Typical Idiot Fan - December 7, 2008
I thought Houston was in extreme cost cutting mode.
JI - December 7, 2008
Well they just gave Mike Hampton $2 million that they could've just thrown into a fire instead.
It would’ve be a much faster.
SethGrandpa - December 7, 2008
I look forward to him unseating Hunter Pence in RF
JI - December 7, 2008
Ibanez isn't a reliever.
Goose - December 7, 2008
Not until he goes the Jeff Cirillo way.
.Taylor - December 7, 2008
2 years and 24 million
Edgar for Pres - December 7, 2008
Team?
HARRYP09 - December 7, 2008
It's just going to fall from the sky.
Wilder. - December 7, 2008
Man you guys don't miss anything
I’ll say the White Sox after that trade
Edgar for Pres - December 7, 2008
The Dye trade didn't happen, if that's what you're referring to.
Teej - December 7, 2008
Yeah I need to read things before I posted this
I was hoping I could leave it and not say anything. Fine…I’ll be boring and say the Mets.
Edgar for Pres - December 8, 2008
Mets, 3/26
Mbad - December 7, 2008
Neat little contest
My guess here
Robert - December 7, 2008
Cute.
HARRYP09 - December 7, 2008
Robert you're a clever sumbitch
tootthekazoo - December 7, 2008
You are soooooooooo going to go over.
Wilder. - December 7, 2008
Tim McCarver is now in my head explaining how you covered all the bases.
And how it’s such a veteran move. You don’t know how much therapy it took to get his voice out of my head. You sir, are the devil.
dpseadv - December 7, 2008
Wow, you have WAY too much time on your hands.
Goose - December 7, 2008
I wrote out all 11,000+ scenarios individually in just 20 minutes
Robert - December 7, 2008
this is not necessarily something to be proud of
pdb - December 7, 2008
That takes dedication
JI - December 7, 2008
The prize seems like it could be interesting
Robert - December 8, 2008
uh
pdb - December 8, 2008
Once I win, I plan not not sleeping or leaving the house that day.
JI - December 8, 2008
There's a loophole
Dewey N - December 8, 2008
How long do you think it would take to ban Jeff Matthew and Graham?
JI - December 8, 2008
Using the terms of winning this contest
I’m betting it’ll take a long, long time.
pdb - December 8, 2008
Since I would be a mod for a day if I won
I think it would take less than a day
JI - December 8, 2008
Pretty sure if you read the small print that you won't be mod for the day though
pdb - December 8, 2008
I think you need to read the article again.
JI - December 8, 2008
Are you going to argue that your spirit is somewhere else?
Aaron Campeau - December 8, 2008
If that fail I can kick myself for not stealing Matthew's blackeberry
JI - December 8, 2008
The case could certainly be made
that one whose spiritual being is separated from his physical being might be a wise choice for mod status.
Aaron Campeau - December 8, 2008
All i have to do to become a mod is win this contest and shed my mortal coil!
JI - December 8, 2008
What if I agreed to kill myself at the end of my term?
Robert - December 8, 2008
I'll go low:
Mets, 18 mil (8 first year, 10 second), team option 12 million third year.
CapSea - December 7, 2008
Phillies 4 years @ $11M
Fuzz - December 7, 2008
Cubs
3yrs/$33M.
katal - December 7, 2008
Rays 2 yrs 25M club option for another at 14 with a 2.5 buyout
Figured I would try one of the least likely destinations, but hey, they do need a lefty DH.
hcoguy - December 7, 2008
No way the Rays give him that much. They don't HAVE that much.
staplemaniac - December 8, 2008
Cubs, 2 years @ 10mil per year, team option 12 mil 3rd year with 2mil buyout
Though I wouldn’t be all that surprised if he is a Mariner next year
Smith18 - December 8, 2008
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