Jody Gerut gets Shortchanged.

[Alex]

$325,000????

That's it?

What a joke.

Whether the Indians are ready to spend money or not, you still need to pay cornerstones of your team more than then barely above the league minimum.

Jody Gerut got a Rookie of the year award! This is the kind of disrespect over a couple of hundred thousand dollars that drives players away from Cleveland the moment they are free to leave.

"But if we pay more for Jody than we have to, then every Indians rookie who wins a Rookie of the Year Award will expect more money. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

What a bunch of dolts. I have heard of other teams doing what the Indians did but then re-signing the young player to a multi-year deal within a week or two. I can only hope that is the strategy Chris Antonetti is following, but I doubt it.

[The Crank]

One year does not make a cornerstone Alex.....

[Alex]

All the more reason to reward a Rookie of the Year season with a bit more change. Jody said it best, the offer doesn't feel right.

Jody played his heart out in the field. He should have gotten the MOST money ever offered a second year player. He should have been offered $500,000 as a bare minimum.

Frankly, he should have been paid a million dollars this year.

[The Crank]

Let him earn it by producing again this year.

[Alex]

How can he "earn it" this year? If he has an incredible year this year, he still only makes barely above the league minimum one year after being rookie of the year, there's no bonus incentive in his contract for this year.

Jody Gerut, although I've never met him, seems to be the consumate, ultra intelligent, hard working ballplayer.

Jody's assessment of the contract negotiations is very powerful. Jody said, "It doesn't feel right". And that was all he said.

The Indians front office has to know when they have a special, hardworking talent and not treat him WORSE than the way they treat their "bonus baby" draft signings who have yet to pitch or hit in the majors but already have been paid several times more than what Jody will be paid through this year and probably through next year.

[The Crank]

Alex....

1) Gerut is property of the Indians - not eligible to be a free agent until 2007, 2008....
(at which time he will be, what, 30-31? probably on the downside of his career at that point....)

2) the Indians have a potential strength in OF - many players project out as having higher ceilings then Gerut....

3) this is a one year contract only - hopefully IF Gerut produces similar stats this coming season (not the given you want to make it out to be) then he will be recompensed appropriately - hopefully good enough to get him thru arbitration - altho i would not expect that....

Basically speaking you are making an issue out of something that is not an issue. Which really doesn't surprise me at all.

[Alex]

Crank!!!!!!!!!

You're not serious are you?

[The Crank]

Yes Alex I am...

[The Crank]

Thats the old Tribe Alex. This is a new team. Doesn't mean Jody shouldn't be signed to a long term contract, but doing it for this season is a big mistake.

Surely Alex you know plenty of circumstances where a player had a great year and then disappeared off the face of the planet. Say a Joe Charboneau for instance? Not saying Jody Gerut is in that territory, but to compare him to Manny is ridiculous as well.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ March 12, 2004 08:38 AM: Message edited by: The Crank ]</font>

[Alex]

Comparing him to Manny is not ridiculous. They even had the same BA last year for May on. All I'm saying is don't only pay Jody a paltry $325,000 for this upcoming season.