As I sit here and watch the news wire on news of a Miguel Cabrera extension I notice that the Tigers went ahead an extended Nate Robertson today. The deal is a 3-year, $21M dollar extension that puts him in the rotation through 2010.
There were some stipulations to the salary though:
Robertson will earn $4.25 million this year, $7 million in 2009 and $10 million in 2010. He would earn $11 million in the third year of the deal if he throws a combined 400 innings in 2008 and 2009 or 200 innings in 2009.
So all told, it could mean $22M for Nate. I can only assume that Detroit wanted these stipulations in-case last year’s ‘tired arm‘ turns out to be more than it was, but that isn’t much of a savings. If there were to be any problems, a back of the rotation pitcher with a 4.45ERA and $7M & $10M due would be hard to move.
All-in-all I’m pleased to see this as Nate gave the Tigers several tremendous outings which were, unfortunately, usually followed up by some bad outings. If he can gain a bit of consistency, even a little, this would be a decent deal for Detroit.
Don’t you think it would have made more sense to keep him through 2009, as they could have, and then think about a long term extension?
I think that they believe that he would have gotten near as much, at least this year and next, or more in arbitration. It’s possible.
I do like Nate though and hope to see him eat up innings just a bit better next year.
I can only assume that Detroit wanted these stipulations in-case last year’s ‘tired arm‘ turns out to be more than it was, but that isn’t much of a savings.
Well, but of course, he’s also not likely to get 200/400 innings if he stinks, ‘tired arm’ or not.
I’d rather have Robertson that Silva, to whom the Mariners just gave a rather bigger contract . . .
I’d take Robertson over Silva, certainly.