Baltimore Baseball: Greed Isn't Good

[weams]

http://www.baltimorebaseball.com/2017/02/03/myriad-orioles-thoughts-josephs-salary-arb-wins-manfras-legacy/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Quote

Joseph’s salary rose almost $200,000 despite the fact he had one of the worst offensive seasons in recent memory – hitting .174 with a .216 on-base percentage and a .197 slugging percentage.

He famously – or infamously – went the whole season without homering or recording a RBI. He had three doubles and 20 singles, but never drove home a run in 141 plate appearances, the most through a full season without a RBI in baseball history.

So, I heard from plenty of people over the past few weeks about how they were incensed that Joseph wouldn’t just take the $700,000 offered, be overjoyed and quietly move on. Several people described Joseph as “greedy.”

Well, I’ve known Joseph for years. I would use all kinds of words to describe the quirky reserve catcher; greedy would not be one. It might be one of the last to come to mind, honestly. Heck, this is a guy that was working Regular Guy winter jobs—like delivering packages during Christmastime — throughout his professional career because he needed to make ends meet. There may be no player that appreciates being in the majors more than Joseph, who spent seven years in the minors before making his big-league debut in 2014.

Now, I will say this: If I were dispensing advice to Joseph, I would have told him to settle with the Orioles before arbitration figures were exchanged and a trial approached. Frankly, it’s not worth the bad PR – and the “greedy” tag — to have a chance at a few extra hundred thousand (which, ultimately, he didn’t get).

 

[UpstateNYfan]

I agree. I have always rooted for CJ. I think there were some thing on this site that talked about and described his life in the minors. He was fortunate that Wieters got injured and was given a chance. Without that injury I believe he would still be in the minors or at least with another organization. He did take advantage of his "gift" and did well. He seemed grateful for the chance and the .5 million salary. So, despite his poor season, the O's offer about a 20% raise, and he wanted about a 100% raise.  He went into the hearings knowing the O's record and still went through the process. Greed is one thing, this was stupidity. I know he took one (and lost one??) in the groin last year. He must have had a couple off his head too to make him think he could win. I don't think the organization takes kindly to be challenged in that forum. There is never really  a winner. I would not be surprised to see CJ sent to the minors or possibly traded (for considerations) before the season opens. He has put himself in a bad situation and now has to live with the consequences (perhaps his brother too).

[backwardsk]

Do we even know that the Orioles offered him anything between 700k and 1M prior to the release of the arbitration figures?

[tntoriole]

He just did what his agent advised.  It is what you pay agents for. Bad advice and he could have said no, but, hey, its a business.  I don't think of him as any greedier than old man Potter.  Just business.  Caleb knows his life span as a pro is short- get all you can. 

[Frobby]

I seriously doubt that either the fans or the team are going to hold it against Joseph that he tried for a little more money.    But they'll hold it against him if his 2017 resembles 2016.    Play well, and nobody will care.

[Ohfan67]

I never understand why so many fans seem to root against the players when it comes to salaries. If I was Joseph's agent, then I would have recommended taking a deal because he had pretty much zero chance of winning with the arbitrator. That said, once they went to the hearing I was rooting for Joseph. Angelos doesn't deserve additional money any more than Joseph. Joseph is greedy, but the Orioles are not? The Orioles waste way more cash than that every year between eating salary when they release people (e.g., Miguel Gonzalez) to money spent on useless in season additions (e.g., see pretty much all of their "deadline" additions sans Miller). I don't think Joseph's arbitration hearing was the end of the world or anything, but the seemingly prevailing attitude toward the outcome is bizarre to me. That 300k is incredibly unlikely to help the Orioles later (DD may claim or imply that it helps, but the results speak for themselves). 

[MDtransplant757]

 

[weams]

1 hour ago, backwardsk said:

Do we even know that the Orioles offered him anything between 700k and 1M prior to the release of the arbitration figures?

Someone told me they had, but I would not count on that being gospel. Not anyone who would surely know. Tony may know. 

[Aristotelian]

It's not like CJ was holding out for $400M. He is a borderline MLB player who may play himself out of the league soon with barely $1M in career earnings. $1M does not go nearly as far as it used to. I do not begrudge him the chance to go for $300K more. 

[Redskins Rick]

Buck said it best, a couple of years ago, this is a business, while still a game that people love to play.

At the end of the day, you separate yourself from the business end of it, and tell yourself its just business and not personal, and then go about playing to the best of your ability.

[VICIOUS]

Perhaps if the Orioles had offered 600k they would have still beat him. It was truely a horrible year.

 

[Redskins Rick]

6 minutes ago, VICIOUS said:

Perhaps if the Orioles had offered 600k they would have still beat him. It was truely a horrible year.

 

why, in the end of the day is 100K out of a 155+ million dollar payroll something to really worry about.

CJ has played well before, no reason to not suspect he wont bounce back.

If he doesn't, I suspect they will DFA, and then the cost isn't even 100K more.

[VICIOUS]

I'm just thinking he is probably the worst player on our 25

 

[Tony-OH]

1 hour ago, weams said:

Someone told me they had, but I would not count on that being gospel. Not anyone who would surely know. Tony may know. 

I don't. Caleb is one of my favorite people and I think he will rebound this year. Saying that, coming off the year he had last year was not the time to go to Arbitration with the club especially with a club that has a reputation for winning their cases.

[Redskins Rick]

34 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

I don't. Caleb is one of my favorite people and I think he will rebound this year. Saying that, coming off the year he had last year was not the time to go to Arbitration with the club especially with a club that has a reputation for winning their cases.

It could also be his last MLB contract, so why not get what he can?

Its not like he was asking for stupid money. Sure, it was a bit high for a backup catcher, but so are other MLB salaries around the league.