Gonzalez's contract renewed: $500 above MLB minimum

by pjbno4 on Mar 1, 2007 5:51 PM PST

"General Manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday the club will renew Gonzalez's contract at $380,500. The club had offered $391,500 and Gonzalez had sought $418,000."

So, we're pretty much saying "f- you" to our best offensive player over $26,500?

Makes sense to me.

This FanPost was written by a member of the Gaslamp Ball community and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Gaslamp Ball managers or SB Nation.

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hmm.... this is kind of misleading

He has so few years of service time that $400k is about right. HOWEVER, the Padres will probably give him a multi-year deal sometime in the next 4 weeks.

Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by TheRevRun on Mar 1, 2007 6:09 PM PST reply actions

totally agree

Listening to Scott and BR interview him this morning, I was getting irritated as they tried to MAKE Adrian mad at the Padres by slanting their questions.
ONE YEAR! ONE! Every young ballplayer knows they need to put in their time and show they can play consistently over a period of years and THEN they get the ungodly money. At which time, everyone who is now complaining that Adrian is not making enough after his one good year will start bitching that he is overpaid.
KT said this morning that he will try to lock up Adrian just as they did with Peavy. Adrian needs to prove that he can build on last year and I firmly believe that the Padres will take care of him. Unlike Khalil who has NOT strung together solid seasons so he keeps getting one year deals only.

Christina

by Christina on Mar 2, 2007 9:21 AM PST up reply actions

Can't believe I'm going to do this....BUT...

I couldn't disagree with you more, Christina.

The fact of the matter is that this was a dispute over $26,500. Yes, I realize that they offered him a little more than they were obligated to...but this was the team MVP last season. Why not just give him the small raise that he was asking for as a gesture of good faith for the future? Aid is saying all the right things right now, but when he finally is able to negotiate from a position of strength, he is not going to forget that they nickled and dimed him in this negotiation.

This is nothing but Sandy being a hard-ass in a situation where it's not warranted.

I listened to Scott and BR this morning as well. They weren't trying to make Aid mad at management...they just wanted to hear his true feelings. The fact of the matter is that he IS mad at management. "I'm not playing for them. I'm playing for my teammates...". He's obviously pissed. And he's not the only one. Trevor spoke out as well.

"They should tear up the contract and talk about a multiyear contract," closer Trevor Hoffman said. "Adrian's been very quiet about it, very professional. He hasn't whined or shown any discouragement. But these lashes cut deep."

What's funny is you mention Peavy and Khalil. In basically the same situation, Peavy got a 16.66% raise over league minimum (which was well deserved) and Greeney got a 12% raise over league minimum. Why was Aid only offered a 3.02% raise?

And as far as him only having one good year in the bigs...well, what about Kouz? He has 56 at-bats in the majors and he's going to make more money than Aid will this season. I know that the Padres didn't negotiate that particular deal...but you see my point.

I just think that there are now some hurt feelings, bad publicity and a distraction in the first few days of camp that just aren't worth $26,500. Instead of talking about the Brothers Giles running around naked and Greg Maddux urinating on rookies in the shower...we're back to talking about how cheap the Padres are. It's just disappointing and it puts a bit of a damper on what was supposed to be a fresh start.

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 2, 2007 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

It's all good

I understand your point. Pretty interesting how two people can listen to the same thing and get totally different views from it eh? I love it! It's probably good if we DON'T always say the same things :->

Christina

by Christina on Mar 2, 2007 11:29 AM PST up reply actions

How sweet...

Our very first "fight".

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 2, 2007 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

This wasn't about the $26,000

It was about not giving him more than Hensley and that makes sense. Adrian has no reason to be upset. He could have taken the deal offered to him and hell he can still hammer out a long-term deal.

In A.J. We Trust
E-mail me

by Richard Wade on Mar 3, 2007 12:54 AM PST reply actions

How?

I think Clay is a hell of a pitcher...but just becuse they have the same amount of service time doesn't mean it makes sense. Did it make sense when they gave Sean Borroughs a 13.33% raise over the minimum salary? If this is truly "club policy"...they need to stick to it with everyone.
And yes, I know they can work-out a long-term deal...but it's about perception and this was a stupid PR move, plain and simple. It pissed off Adrian, other players and fans...it wasn't worth it.

"People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw a baseball." ~ Sandy Koufax

by Drama on Mar 3, 2007 12:41 PM PST up reply actions