Let the drama that is Joe Crede begin

[chisox2334]

TUCSON, Ariz. – It didn’t take long for the camp’s first controversy to show itself.

General manager Ken Williams stated on several occasions late last year and over the winter that the White Sox had reached out to Joe Crede and his agent Scott Boras about signing a contract extension to stay on the South Side.

 

 

The idea behind it for the club was a show of faith that Crede’s back would bounce back from season-ending surgery last year, as well as giving the free agent-to-be some security in what was a cloudy time for him.

Well, now there seems to be two versions of the story, with Crede arriving into camp on Saturday – given clearance by Major League Baseball to arrive early because of his comeback from the injury.

According to Crede, who has signed a series of one-year deals to avoid arbitration each offseason, no multi-year deal was ever on the table.

“I was never offered any amount of money of an extended number of years from the White Sox, Kenny, no one,’’ Crede told the Sun-Times. “You can’t sign a long-term deal if it’s not there. That’s the business side of baseball.’’

The business side of baseball is also one in which trade rumors take on a new life each and every day. Crede is no stranger to that, especially with good friend – and former Sox outfielder – Aaron Rowand now playing in San Francisco, and the Giants needing a third baseman with some pop.

While Crede did admit to speaking to Rowand within the last few days, he maintained that it wasn’t a recruiting conversation in which the outfielder was playing GM.

“I’ve never really talked to him about [coming there in a trade],’’ Crede said. “It’s more about him and what he does in the winter … trying not to get hurt.

“Yeah, the rumor is there, but I’m taking the approach of being here and playing the full year in Chicago. I think I’m playing here this year.’’

That remains to be seen.

[SkokieSox]

Supposedly Boras refused to negotiate with Crede's intention to test the market. Why offer a contract when you're being told not to.

[southsideirish71]

Kenny's Response. He talked to Boras and Boras said no.

 

 

"We were in Detroit, I called from the bus to see if they were open to the idea of talking multi-year so that Joe wouldn’t come into this last year and feel the added pressure, rather than taking the time," Williams said. "But I was told point blank that he was going to be taken into free agency and there was no interest in that discussion. So that’s where we left it and we haven’t revisited it.’’

Williams had a suprised look on his face when he was informed that Crede talked to him this off-season for a clarification.

“He had talked to me?’’ Williams said. "No, I haven’t spoken to Joe about a contract … I wouldn’t speak to him. I would speak to Scott.’’

 

[zenryan]

the quicker he is moved the better.

 

 

[elrockinMT]

Why wouldn't Kenny talk to Joe? Alex R talked to the Yankmees without Boras. I am still holding out hope that this attitude changes.

[southsider2k5]

Bye, bye Joe, thanks for the memories.

[Kalapse]

Why wouldn't Kenny talk to Joe? Alex R talked to the Yankmees without Boras. I am still holding out hope that this attitude changes.

ALEX initiated talks with the Yankees not the other way around, big difference. The GM goes to the Agent when discussing contract extensions, going around the agent to the player is considered bad business. Now if Joe were to ignore the advice of his agent and go directly to Kenny/Haun that would be acceptable.

[jackie hayes]

Iirc, it also violates the collective bargaining agreement to go around the agent. That's why Boras was nominally involved in the ARod contract negotiations. I believe KW has no choice but to go to Boras.

[Kalapse]

Iirc, it also violates the collective bargaining agreement to go around the agent. That's why Boras was nominally involved in the ARod contract negotiations. I believe KW has no choice but to go to Boras.

Correct

 

From the CBA:

 

ARTICLE IV—Negotiation and Approval of Contracts

A Player, if he so desires, may designate an agent to conduct on

his behalf, or to assist him in, the negotiation of an individual salary

and/or Special Covenants to be included in his Uniform Player’s Contract

with any Club, provided such agent has been certified to the

Clubs by the Association as authorized to act as a Player Agent for

such purposes.

 

The Association shall provide the Office of the Commissioner with a

comprehensive list of the certified Player Agent(s) whom each Player

has designated to act on his behalf for the purposes described in this

Article IV. Further, the Association shall provide the Office of the

Commissioner with any changes to such Player Agent designations,

including the Player Agent designations of Players who have been

added to a Major League roster, on a weekly basis.

 

If the Association has notified the Office of the Commissioner that a

Player has designated a certified Player Agent or Agents to act on his

behalf for the purposes described in this Article IV, no Club may negotiate

or attempt to negotiate an individual salary and/or Special

Covenants to be included in a Uniform Player’s Contract with any

Player Agent(s) [this includes the player himself] other than such Player Agent(s).

 

A Club may require a Player’s physical presence only once during contract

negotiations. This limitation shall not apply to telephone conference

calls, at reasonable times, with a Player and his certified Player

Agent. A Player required to be physically present during negotiations

shall be entitled to be paid by the Club for round-trip first-class transportation

and first-class hotel costs.

 

Upon execution of a Uniform Player’s Contract by the Club and Player,

the Club promptly shall submit the Contract, in duplicate, to the

Commissioner for approval. Within 20 days of receipt, the Commissioner

shall approve or disapprove the Contract (with notice to the

Association), or provide the Association with a written explanation of

why the Contract has not been approved. This period is extended to 30

days if a Contract is received by the Commissioner between February

15 and April 15. Within ten days after the Commissioner is to provide

an explanation of why a Contract has not been approved, the Commissioner

shall approve or disapprove the Contract. (See Attachment l.)

 

Any Grievance challenging the Commissioner’s conduct under this

Article shall be handled by the Parties on an expedited basis with

documents being exchanged within 10 days of the filing of the Grievance,

a hearing commencing within 15 days of the filing of the Grievance

and the Panel issuing an Award (with an opinion to follow, if

necessary) no later than 15 days following the commencement of the

hearing.

[Soxfest]

As soon as Crede plays a couple of good games he is San Fran bound.

[The Beast]

Why does Crede going to San Francisco make sense and what is everyone expecting to get for him in return?

[SoxAce]

Scraps. Crede is worth very little right now.

 

Correct. But if Joe has a good spring, it could change things especially with Sabean over there. I'm gonna hold out hope for... let's say.. Jonathan Sanchez (SF would rather shop Lowry) who has good stuff and can bring it (95+) and hasn't been given a real chance yet, even though he is better as a starter (only 25 yrs. but still a bit raw, lefties only hit .197 off him last season) Getting him for Crede alone would be excellent.

 

Sanchez

[JDsDirtySox]

I won't be surprised if the Tigers beat us to the punch and trade Inge to the Giants.

[The Ginger Kid]

I won't be surprised if the Tigers beat us to the punch and trade Inge to the Giants.

great point

[witesoxfan]

Why the hell would they want Inge? He's not very good, he's got an ugly contract, and he's going to cost more than Crede.

 

If I'm the Giants, I much prefer Crede to Inge.

[Chisoxfn]

Look at their roster. It's pretty self explanatory.

Scraps. Crede is worth very little right now.

Personally I'd rather move Fields and Contreras elsewhere for a starter (not necessarily in the same deal) but if you packaged Fields with some prospects you could get a very good starter in return, and than move Contreras off the books which would enable you to resign Crede to a 3 year 21M deal with incentives that could push it into the 30-33M range. I don't know if that is not enouhg money for Crede, but I think it would benefit the Sox (but that is because I would do almost anything to get another starter here and Jose elsewhere).

[santo=dorf]

Paying Crede up to $11 million per is absurd which is why the Sox won't deal with Boras. You move Fields and we don't have a 3B in 2009 or we have a below average-average, injury risk making $10 million per at third.

[Reddy]

if crede has some good games, the lowry thing will probably happen. i'm not thrilled about it - but you could get worse. Lowry's value has dropped and dropped and no one else besides us has shown any interest so... i say it'd probably happen.

[daa84]

Why the hell would they want Inge? He's not very good, he's got an ugly contract, and he's going to cost more than Crede.

 

If I'm the Giants, I much prefer Crede to Inge.

well, both are roughly .260 hitters with .310-.320 obps and both are ++ defenders....crede might hit a few more HR (maybe) and hes been healthier than crede....oh and he can catch and play the Of....so im not really sold on crede being considerably better than inge, as for the contracts, inge makes only 1 million more than crede and is at least signed for couple more years, crede is a FA after, so id say crede has the uglier contract.

Edited February 17, 2008 by daa84

[jackie hayes]

Why the hell would they want Inge? He's not very good, he's got an ugly contract, and he's going to cost more than Crede.

 

If I'm the Giants, I much prefer Crede to Inge.

The health issues don't change things?

 

I don't know how to balance them, but Inge doesn't look too bad to me. He's erratic with the bat, and he was pretty bad last year, but he's still one hell of a defensive 3b. His averages over the last three years are about a .320 obp and a .420 slg in a tough AL Central. Put him in the NL, those'll improve some. And you don't have the serious health issues you get with Crede. And, you don't have to wait to see if Joe looks healthy. Joe has a higher ceiling, but this still doesn't sound implausible to me.

[whitesox94]

The health issues don't change things?

 

I don't know how to balance them, but Inge doesn't look too bad to me. He's erratic with the bat, and he was pretty bad last year, but he's still one hell of a defensive 3b. His averages over the last three years are about a .320 obp and a .420 slg in a tough AL Central. Put him in the NL, those'll improve some. And you don't have the serious health issues you get with Crede. And, you don't have to wait to see if Joe looks healthy. Joe has a higher ceiling, but this still doesn't sound implausible to me.

 

Both are a little past primes, and Joes injuries probly get worse as his career goes on, And Inge can hit 250. with 25 Hr+ and great D

[bighurt4life]

Inge has a career line of .241 .304 .394 Crede is .259 .305 .446 on top of this, Crede's ops was increasing every year while Inge has had decreasing ops for several years except for '06 when he hit career high HR which was an anomaly. If Crede can prove his health I'll take his offense over Inge any day of the week, also, if his injury problems come back then you're only on the hook for a one year contract. If Inge continues to decline in his offense then you're on the hook for another 3 years and 18 mil, not so appealing

 

Also, I'm not sure that the Tigers want to trade Inge, they are gearing up for a title run right now and he can be a great late inning defensive replacement for Cabrerra and he can also spell Pudge as a backup catcher with a decent bat, you need guys like that on your bench for a title run so I don't see any moves being made with him.

[elrockinMT]

ALEX initiated talks with the Yankees not the other way around, big difference. The GM goes to the Agent when discussing contract extensions, going around the agent to the player is considered bad business. Now if Joe were to ignore the advice of his agent and go directly to Kenny/Haun that would be acceptable.

 

 

I think the Sox should be looking to the future with Fields as a DH/3B/1B/LF type player and Crede at 3B. Thome is what 37 yrs old now? He might only have a couple left before retirement. We have traded too much talent away from this team and need to think of the future. Reports on our farm system indsicate we have no one ready to step up to the bigs for at least 2-3 or so years.

[elrockinMT]

The health issues don't change things?

 

I don't know how to balance them, but Inge doesn't look too bad to me. He's erratic with the bat, and he was pretty bad last year, but he's still one hell of a defensive 3b. His averages over the last three years are about a .320 obp and a .420 slg in a tough AL Central. Put him in the NL, those'll improve some. And you don't have the serious health issues you get with Crede. And, you don't have to wait to see if Joe looks healthy. Joe has a higher ceiling, but this still doesn't sound implausible to me.

 

 

Health issues? Joe had back surgery and is healed. It isn't a career ending issue as it might have been 10-20 years ago

[southsideirish71]

Health issues? Joe had back surgery and is healed. It isn't a career ending issue as it might have been 10-20 years ago

 

Well can you give us the rest of your prospectus on the recovery doctor, or are you speaking as a member of the Joe Crede 4 life fan club. He is going away. I suggest you get used to that before you become like the Rowand fan club.