Francisco Cordero Agrees to Deal with Reds

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Cordero strikes prelim deal with Reds
Top free-agent closer slated to sign 4-year, $46M pact
Updated: Friday November 23, 2007 9:23PM


CINCINNATI (AP) -- Free-agent closer Francisco Cordero has reportedly reached a preliminary agreement on a four-year, $46 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

The deal, which includes a club option for a fifth year, is subject to Cordero passing a physical exam, ESPN.com reported Friday.

The agreement was first reported by FoxSports.com.

The 32-year-old Cordero was second in the National League with 44 saves last season for Milwaukee and made the NL All-Star team.

Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky didn't immediately return a message seeking comment Friday night. David Weathers led the team with 33 saves last season, but will be 39 next year and has been a setup man for most of his career.

Cordero, speaking Friday on a sports radio program in the Dominican Republic, hinted that he had received a lucrative offer from Cincinnati.

"There still isn't anything concrete," he said. "I would have liked to stay in Milwaukee, but it's not up to me. We will see what happens with the management and the owners of the Brewers, because we are willing to hear their offers."

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he offered Cordero a four-year, $42 million deal with an option for a fifth year.

"I thought we had a chance to keep 'Coco,"' Melvin said. "Our offer was competitive. As important as he was to us, we just felt (the bidding) was getting to be too much."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/11/23/reds.cordero.ap/index.html

[TheTruth]

THis really helps the Reds out. Weathers and Burton now move into the primary set up roles, and Cordero slides into the Closers spot. The whole Bullpen was strengthened with this one move. Now we get a solid 3rd starter and we are set.

[DOMINATOR]

head scratcher.
reds were more than a closer away from competing. at least it weakens the brewers.

[leemajors]

good lord chad balls better not be the stros closer next year.

[TheTruth]

head scratcher.
reds were more than a closer away from competing. at least it weakens the brewers.
There bullpen was horrendous last year. Getting Kiki to close lets us move Weathers into the main setup roll and also lets Burton continue to work the 6th and 7th innings. This will only strengthen our starting pitching. We had too many blown games in in the 5th - 8th innings. The offense is there. Always has been. This makes the pitching stronger. Not much of a head scratcher.

[DOMINATOR]

There bullpen was horrendous last year. Getting Kiki to close lets us move Weathers into the main setup roll and also lets Burton continue to work the 6th and 7th innings. This will only strengthen our starting pitching. We had too many blown games in in the 5th - 8th innings. The offense is there. Always has been. This makes the pitching stronger. Not much of a head scratcher.
not saying it's a bad move i just think the reds are farther than a closer away from competing.
i also dont think buying a bullpen is good either. i would only give that kind of money to only a few relief pitchers in baseball. (K-Rod, Papelbon)

[TheTruth]

The guy had 44 saves last year. Yeah, they paid a lot of money. But it's only 1 mil more per season than the Brewers were offering. I guess it's just nice to see the Reds spend some money. Been a fan since the early '90s and we've sucked since the early '90s.

[T Park]

The guy isn't the best in tight studly situations.

ALA the pennant race from last year.

It helps in that it weakens the Brewers and marginally helps the Reds.

[K-State Spur]

There's a finite number of closers worth $10+ million per year, and Cordero is not one of them.

He was close to dominant last year, but he's 32, and his track record is that of a good, but not great pitcher. Take into account the natural fluctuation in stats for bullpen pitchers, and it's hard to justify spending that large a percentage of payroll on this pitcher.

In addition - as I think most of the baseball watching world is starting to realize - saves are one of the most overrated stats in the game.

[T Park]

saves are, but a reliable closer is worth his weight in gold.

Cordero is a semi reliable closer.

God his contract now makes Isringhausen's look decent.

Never thought I'd see the day.

[K-State Spur]

A "great" closer (i.e. Mo in his prime) is worth his weight in gold.

Good/reliable closers aren't typically worth that many more wins than a mediocre one over the course of 162 games.

[BeerIsGood!]

Too Much Money.