Biggest Deal so Far Not Lee to Phillies
December 15th 2010 16:09
So far we have seen tons of trades and free agent signings but to me the best deal so far has been and extension.
Jay Bruce and the Cincinnati Reds have agreed on a six year extension worth 51 million.
actual article from Kevin Goheen
Jay Bruce has many times over seen the video of the home run he hit this past September that put the Reds into the postseason for the first time in 15 years. The 23-year-old right fielder is ready to create some more memories with the Reds for at least the next six years.
The Reds officially announced the signing of Bruce to a six-year contract extension at a news conference Tuesday at Great American Ball Park. The deal, first reported last week, is worth $51 million. There is an option for a seventh year that could push the value of the deal to $63 million.
It is the first step, general manager Walt Jocketty said, in building upon last season's run to the National League Central title.
"This will be the first of, hopefully, many young players that have been drafted and developed in our organization who will now be signed to a multiyear contract," said Jocketty. "We talked about this as an organization and felt that this is the right time and the right player to go forward with a contract like this. As I told Jay at Redsfest a couple of weeks ago, this is not something that we just casually do."
Bruce was 18 years old when he signed his first professional contract with the Reds.
"I've learned a lot from people," said Bruce. "I think that's just something that happens over time. You learn and I have a better understanding of what needs to happen. Not everything has to happen right now."
Now that Bruce is in the fold, high on Jocketty's wish list is first, baseball, and then NL MVP Joey Votto.
Jocketty said Tuesday that he has not had any discussions with Votto's representatives since last week's Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and likely won't until after the holidays, but he is hopeful an agreement can be reached at some point. Votto, 27, is eligible for arbitration this offseason and can become a free agent after the 2013 season.
Bruce sounded optimistic that he and Votto will be teammates for more than just the next couple of seasons. Bruce said that Votto has expressed his desire to stay in Cincinnati and isn't looking to leave town if it can be avoided.
"I think people are construing it a little different than it is," said Bruce. "What people have to understand is that Joey and I are in different situations. He's almost four years older than me. Joey wants to be here, he doesn't want to go anywhere, and for people to think that he does is not the right thought."
Bruce is coming off a season in which he hit .281 with 25 home runs and 70 RBIs in 148 games. No moment for him, or the Reds, was bigger than his solo home run off Houston reliever Tim Byrdak leading off the ninth inning on Sept. 28. That gave the Reds a 3-2 win and clinched the NL Central championship.
He is young enough that he could have waited another year and, with similar production, gone after a bigger contract then. He decided now was a better time for more than one reason.
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I agree its alot of money for a kid who hasn't done it yet but for this eam the need him and Votto to stay for a long time.
Crawford to Boston, Dunn to Whitesox, Heck Konerko staying in Chicago any of these deals could be consider the best move so far this year.