As we all know, one of the players on the Covington roster is first baseman Frank Nunn. Nunn, of course, was one of the All-time greats. He was the second player selected in the initial draft and won the Outstanding Batter award twice (2002, 2004).
Nonetheless, despite having a very good season in 2005 (.298, 37 HR, 100 RBI) many of us were shocked when the Austin owner offered the 35-year old Nunn to a six year deal worth $20 million a year. We were all sure that he would fade well before the last year of the contract.
Well, as it turns out, that's exactly what's happened. Last year, he barely hit his weight (.199 vs. 195 pounds), finishing the year with a .644 OPS (almost a 300 point drop vs. 2007).
Some owners began to express sympathy for the new Covington owner, since he didn't sign Nunn to his ridiculous contract and now he's stuck with him for another three seasons. Some of them had expressed an interest in seeing Nunn freed from his contract.
As it turns out, I've been looking over Nunn's contract and found some interesting clauses in it. One of them is the "Escape Clause" which states as follows:
"In the event that the owner who agrees to this contract (who must have been under the influence of one too many beers when he offered it) is no longer with the league after the 2008 season, the new owner can petition to have this contract terms changed to a salary of 1,500,000 dollars for the 2009 season and the player shall become a free agent after the 2009 season (unless the new owner offers him an extension).
So, since the owner asked to be relieved of the contract, I am putting the matter to a vote of the other owners. Shall Frank Nunn's escape clause be excercised?
Zev
Abso-freaking-lutely.
ReplyDeleteSouth Bay votes Aye.
ReplyDeleteI threw out a leader on a trade last season for him, with the knowledge that I'm probably the only owner in the league who can afford a $20m bench player.
Can we extend this clause league-wide? Say, once every ten seasons you can execute the Frank Nunn Escape Clause on a player to whom you regret giving a long extension?
-- Michael, who doesn't anticipate regretting the 7-year deal he just gave Ricky "Outstanding Hitter" Peppers.
I don't know Mike. Part of the reason that I'm sympathizing with Aaron is because *he* didn't sign Nunn to the contract; he inherited it with the team.
ReplyDeleteWe all knew the contract was going to blow up in the previous owner's face when he made it; but he didn't stick around and left Aaron with the mess. If he was still around, I'd vote against modifying the contract.
Zev
I agree with Zev. My sympathies are with Aaron because he didn't sign the deal. If he had, I'd let him live with it.
ReplyDeleteI only suggested it as a way to spice up the league. (Part 2 of the proposal: the owner is still liable for half of the player's remaining salary.)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I got the idea from another league I was in, which had a lot of participation (five sims a week!) and ideas like that. Another good idea was to allow owners to build new stadia for their teams.
Yeah, I'm sympathetic to Aaron here because the owner who committed the move bugged out. If Aardon had done it I'd have little feeling for him.
ReplyDeleteAfter the beating everybody put on me this past year, I'm glad to see you guys really *do* care. ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm all for this deal. Imagine my surprise when I saw who had the highest paid player in the league the first time I loaded the game. Especially when I saw the number.
Aye.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, the offer was only made because the owner who signed him was afraid he was going to lose all his surplus cash if he didn't use it. That's the "explanation" for you, I guess.
I vote for escaping the deal.
ReplyDeleteP.s. off the subject, but do we have the Japanese and Cubans, turned on? In my other leagues I get a message when they become available.
Yeah, let's turn the Japanese on.
ReplyDelete(I really think so.)
(Sorry.)
I vote no. I am affaid how it will hurt the finacials in the game, but I will offer a trade for Nunn.
ReplyDeleteI like the NBA and I hated the Allen Houston rule. I will take on the salary for my own Piggy purposees. Bwhahahah If there is a deal no issue I think. I dought there will be another Nunn salary. I will Send Covington the offer.
To be honest, I think that even if we don't adjust the contract, if Aaron (or Will) just stick him in A ball all year, it will probably force his retirement (or at least speed it along).
ReplyDeleteZev
If Will is willing to eat the salary because he's concerned about the game's financials, more power to him. I bow in the direction of the Supreme Piggy.
ReplyDelete