Matt Kemp is going to be here for awhile...

I just took a read of Soriano's career stat and your point is well taken. At least we are signing Kemp to a big contract after he had a year being all that folks thought he could be. It seems like Soriano was signed on Potential similar to if we had signed Kemp long term after 2009. I watched Soriano with the Nats and I wonder if he was taken out of his element and would have thrived somewhere other than Chicago.

 

After watching Votto, Prince, and Albert get what they did I dont think anyone can say this wasnt a major steal, in terms of market value anyways. I think a couple things are key when you talk about this extension. First of all, in 2011 he did make significant and very real improvements in terms of pitch recognition and overall pitch selection at the plate. Secondly, he has exceptionally rare plate coverage and elite power to all fields. His BABIP is less of a factor of speed (Argument only really relates to infield hits anyways, which are not even close to a big part of his game) than the fact that he's capable of absolutely mashing the ball regardless of where the pitcher puts it in the strike zone. Thirdly, even when his speed inevitably declines in the latter half of the contract, it's not farfetched to assume that his arm and raw power will profile beautifully in a corner. If the guy keeps up his physical regimen during the offseason I think he has an excellent chance of maintaining plus speed into his early - mid 30's in any case. Whether or not the decline in production is steep, I think the surplus value we're going to see him generate in the first half of the deal will be enough to make the deal make objective sense (that is, not just in comparison with other stupid deals that were and will be given out).

Like any big, long term deal, the last few years of the contract likely wont be pretty, but I think in hindsight given the reinforced proof this season of the improvements he's made in his game, along with the stunning upward trend in free agency, the deal is impossible to be argued with. They locked him up starting at the beginning of his absolute prime seasons, he's incredibly marketable and personable, and his deal looks like Evan fucking Longoria's in comparison with the Vottos, Fielders, and Pujols deals of the world.

This is my thought out version of what I posted in here at the time - I was pissed at the negative reaction to the deal and scribbled something down in here. Keep in mind my optimistic view is undoubtedly skewed by his start to the season, but I think most of it rings true. In any case, this thread merits a bump given what we know now.

 

Still do

 

Didn't like it when it happened, but after seeing Prince and Votto's deal, think it's below market value, so I'll be content with that.

Also with the new owners IDC about money. They'll spend no matter what, they need to win fans back, so whatever.

 

This deal is a steal. I think there's a good chance he is just as good at the end of his contract as the beginning too. He will only be 34 in the final year of this deal, and with how physically gifted he is I don't see him falling off too much (if at all) by then.

Base stealing speed will be down, but he should still have decent baserunning speed and fielding speed. Stolen bases are overrated anyway... look at last night, how many outs did we give away on the bases?

 

I quote myself because I make sense.

 

The Tigers have appeared to be as stupid as the Nationals.