Fine print on Rolen/Glaus swap
TOWER GROVE — The forensics on the hot corner deal between the Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays hints at the decisions the players — rather, one player — had to make along the way.
As discussed in today’s article, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi first approached the Cardinals about the deal at the winter meetings. It was discussed, but didn’t get much tractions. The Cardinals were talking with Milwaukee and had engaged the Los Angeles, but found the first deal lacking and the second party relatively uninterested at the price. The Brewers, a fit for Scott Rolen that actually came up in private conversation during the 2007 season, and Dodgers were teams to Rolen’s liking … contenders, NL, etc.
During the holidays, Ricciardi and Cardinals GM John Mozeliak spoke again about the trade, but it wasn’t until the last week that it snowballed into a deal.
Could be that about that time Toronto gained approval from Rolen.
Or Troy Glaus agreed to play 2009 in St. Louis.
Whichever.
Both player still has an escape clause.
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Major League Baseball’s current collective bargaining agreement with the players erases a previous agreement that gave veteran players an out, a trigger in the fine print that colleague Joe Strauss directed me to. But players with multi-year deals signed before Oct. 2006 were grandfathered into this CBA and still have the right to escape a deal at the end of the season.
From Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the newest member of the blogroll:
A player with 5 years of service who has been traded in the middle of a multi-year contract may, during the off-season, require his new team to either trade him or let him become a free agent.
So both Rolen and Glaus, as at least five-year vets, have this right. Next winter, Rolen, for example, could tire of the artificial turf, the American League or any other number of reasons and tell Toronto he wants another trade. He has that right. The procedure, as detailed in the CBA:
– Within 15 days after the end of the World Series, said veteran player alerts his current team that he wishes to use his “right to require assignment”.
– The player can offer a list of six or more teams that he will WILL NOT accept assignment to.
– His team must attempt to deal him to a team not on the list or make him a free agent.
Exercising this right of forced trade/forced free agency does not come without penalty to the player.
Naturally, the player won’t be permitted to pull the same trick with his next team. He also, regardless of the length of his existing contract, surrenders three years of free agency. That means the team he is being dealt to will have arbitration rights and renewal rights for the years after the contract that does not reach three years after the deal. The player is bound by CBA to accept arbitration with that team. (Again, using Rolen as an example: His deal lasts until 2010, a forced trade would be 2009 and 2010 and his new team would be able to trigger.)
Oh, and the player won’t be a free agent until March 15.
Becoming a free agent in the middle of spring training could make for an interesting market, to be sure. Or, the player could on that day just say psyche, retract his trade demand and head back out for bunt drills.
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In addition to guaranteeing him a suite on the road (according to a couple reports), Glaus’ contract includes an interesting clause: The team is on the hook for some equestrian expenses. Glaus’ wife competes in equestrian events. The two live in Florida’s horse country. And, as part of his contract originally signed with Arizona, the team is required to cover some equestrian expenses for Glaus’ wife — $250,000 a year, or $1 million total over the original length of the contract.
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One of the best quotes from Rolen’s press conference in Toronto yesterday came from Ricciardi when asked if Rolen’s “defensive prowess” was a big part of the deal.
“He’s a plus defender,” Ricciardi said. “We like the total package. We like the work ethic, the grit, the grime. Look at our division. Boston has a bunch of dirt bags. The Yankees have a bunch of dirt bags. We have some, but we need more. The complete player is what interested us.”
Rolen, witty and dry as ginger ale throughout his press conference Tuesday, smirked and said: “Enormous compliment there, buddy.”
Sounds sarcastic. But it wasn’t.
Rolen has a distinct definition for what he believes a baseball player should be. Had a long conversation with him a few years ago about this subject and he said the highest compliment he can give a peer is to call him a “player”. He thought the word was holy. One of the people he used as an example of this supreme compliment will be familiar to both Cardinal and Blue Jays fans.
He’ll be standing to Rolen’s left this coming season.
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COMIC INTERLUDE
Can’t imagine that this guy would have been called a “player”, not by his spandex-sporting peers or anyone else, but he is one of the great superheroes from my childhood and from the bargain bins at comic shops. Plus, it’s a title that had some of the best covers going:
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Derrick Goold said he was going to Mizzou for capital-J journalism, but after growing up in the Time Zone Baseball Forgot he was really drawn to MU sitting between two major-league cities. Goold joined the Post-Dispatch in 2001 after working for The Times-Picayune and Rocky Mountain News, covering sports from LSU to NHL and every level of baseball in between. 
Thanks for the details dg. Rolen would be the kind of guy who might trigger this loophole. I hope both players succeed and their new destinations.
actually, i’m pretty sure that ‘mazing man is out for stepping on home plate. not to get too technical or anything.
Aren’t the Cards supposed to “officially announce” Glaus today? When is that happening and will he be answering questions?
I am glad to see Rolen and Edmunds gone. I won’t miss these two overpaid whiners who were frequently injured and unable to compete during the playoff. Last year, watching them bat was painful. Yes, they occasionally would get a big hit. However, the holes in their swings were huge and the opposing pitchers knew it. Whether or not Glaus is any better remains to be seen, but most of us have grown weary of Rolen. Watching Rolen whiff on high, hard ones was sad. LaRussa should have benched him more. And how smart was it for Rolen to try to run through infielders in his way??
When was Edmonds ever unable to compete during the playoffs? Give credit where credit is due. Jim Edmonds was, and is still, a “primetime” player.
If it werent for edmonds bat we wouldnt have won the series in 06, or many other playoff series prior to that…..edmonds is clutch. And just wait till glaus makes 15 or 20 errors this year and see how bad you miss rolen then! Oh yeah and check this out
Glaus’ best offensive year - 2000
AVG .284 OPS 1.008 SO 163 RBI 102 HR 47
Rolens best offensive year - 2004
AVG .314 OPS 1.007 SO 92 RBI 124 HR 34
Your gonna see glaus strike out way more that you saw rolen fan last year.
Dont forget that Between Rolen and Edmonds there were like 14 or 15 gold gloves, and 10 or 12 allstar games… overpaid my arse, they are 2 of the biggest stars in the game. I hope they both have great years this year, eckstein too
[...] Fine print on Rolen/Glaus swapSt. Louis Post-Dispatch - TOWER GROVE The forensics on the hot corner deal between the Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays hints at the decisions the And, as part of his contract originally signed with Arizona, the team is required to cover some equestrian expenses for [...]
when it’s the dog days of summer, and it seems like the season will never end. and you’re at the plate with two out, nobody on, and you’re down by five. some guys still try hard and hit twenty points higher than those others. edmonds and eck never quit and hustled like nobody’s business. they were both, along with rolen, “players.”
that being said, i like the new direction the club is taking. young players with the right mix of old guys can create the kind of excitement cards fans are used to. in case you can’t tell, i’m ready for some baseball.
Rolen was an alpha player.In the field he expected any ball near him was HIS.He clashed with alpha managers Larry and LaRussa.As Bernie alluded, he stirred things up at times knowing it would get back to Tony.I would rather have a player on my team like that, than someone who apathetically goes about his business day after day.Fire is an underrated personality trait in any sport.Yes, it may come back to burn you and your team, but championships have been spawned by such conflicts,also… Good luck Eck,Jimmy and Scotty…and thanks for the memories…
Edmonds gone. Rolen gone. To me it just feels like the end of an era. Personally, Glaus doesn’t do it for me. I like LaRussa’s stance of “play and shut up.” I’m with Greg. I think we lose in this deal.
I’m ready for baseball,too.As far as “Play and shut up”, I’m fine with that,also…Unless it becomes personal and detracts from our team.From what I’ve gleaned over the years,managing primarily involves not imposing your weaknesses over your teams strengths.This season should be a minor reflection of LaRussa’s HOF creds:Will he subvert ego, or will he lash out in spite of the hand he was dealt?
He’ll lash out Cardiger…he always does. Why do you think Rolen is in Toronto?
That’s a good description, as good as any I’ve read — Rolen is an alpha player and he clashes with alpha managers. I’m sure Rolen is not an alpha personality (domineering, bombastic, etc.), but he has a view of how the game should be played and how he can change it, even when he’s not healthy. That could lead to clashes with managers who have different thoughts.
If it feels like an “end of an era”, that’s because it is.
dg
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Understood, garylobo.To be honest,I was stunned by our WS victory.WE got there in spite of Tony’s managing, yet on a personal level, I am glad he supped from the cup.Things happen for a reason and that was a dream come true for many.I just feel this may be a truly comical season to observe, considering the youth factor and the owners’ decision to have LaRussa oversee it.
If you are looking for a perspective from Toronto I can say that you are getting a good player in Glaus, he never complained while he was here and played through a lot of pain. You could tell he was really struggling with the turf. He will provide some nice protection for Pujols. Yes he will strike out a fair amount but La Russa will love him as he is a grinder. The only downside is he can be a defensive liability. I am looking forward to having Rolen at the hot corner, Eckstein and John McDonald at short and Aaron Hill ( a very under rated second baseman) plugging up the middle.
off topic, but selig got a 3 year extension today. i can’t believe it. good, scathing review of him below:
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/17/money-beats-out-integrity-selig-gets-3-year-extension/
From an Angels and Rams fan…you guys got a steal on this deal. I think Glaus will show you guys some decent power this year that you have not seen from Rolen in quite a while. Glaus is a quiet type, so he will not have any conflicts with LaRussa. Good luck to you, the St. Louis Angels, over there! I wish our two teams could meet in a Series!
The Cards and the fans will the play of Jimmy Ballplayer, Scotty Rolen and Eck, they gave us many exciting moments. Too bad ownership chose LaRussa over these great people. No surprise he already ran off Ozzie Smith, Tony wants no ballpalyer to ever question his over managing. Hopefully he will be gone in less than two years.
Joe R.
To the guy posting Rolen’s stats for his best year. Would you please post his stats from the last 2 years, along with Edmond’s. Then you’ll understand why they are considered Overpaid!! Watching Rolen swing at an outside fastball in 2007 made me cringe. He was the best defensive 3rd baseman in the game but less than 10 homeruns from a corner infield spot doesn’t cut it in “The Bigs” anymore. Also Edmonds is nothing more than a shell of the player he once was, keep track of exactly how many games he plays in this year or how many times the trainer has to come out to him when he dives for a ball knowing he’s on T.V. At least you got the “Primetime” part right.
Thomas…
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Eric…
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Jessie…
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Very good stuff.Thanks for the great read.