PIAZZA to choose either Phillies or Padres!

[DODGER DEB]

NBC Sports is reporting that both the Phillies and the Padres want MIKE PIAZZA, and he will make his choice soon. Read more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11088975/from/RS.3/

c.

[chisox2k5]

Sunny California vs. Philly....

No question on where I'd go.

I'd give up money to goto SD

[Honus Wagner Rules]

So, no DH for Piazza?

[Mattingly]

I'm hearing something about a deal having been signed, but no link. There was talk of even an $8m option for $2007, but I'll have to check further to verify this.

Here's what I've got so far, from padres.mlb.com, posted less than 1.5 hours ago:

Report: Piazza to sign with Padres
Backstop eliminates Phillies, will ink one-year deal

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- All-Star catcher Mike Piazza agreed Sunday to a $2 million, one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, giving the defending NL West champions a marquee player they think can still contribute.

Piazza, 37, had been interested in signing a free-agent deal with an AL team to become a designated hitter. Instead, he'll stay in the NL and return to the West Coast for the first time since the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Florida in 1998.

The 12-time All-Star holds the Major League record for most career home runs by a catcher (374). He has 397 homers overall, and is a career .311 hitter.

The deal is expected to be announced on Monday. It includes a mutual option for 2007 at $8 million.

(emphasis added)

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

I'm hearing something about a deal having been signed, but no link. There was talk of even an $8m option for $2007, but I'll have to check further to verify this.

Here's what I've got so far, from padres.mlb.com, posted less than 1.5 hours ago:

Report: Piazza to sign with Padres
Backstop eliminates Phillies, will ink one-year deal

(emphasis added)

8 million$$$$$$$$$$$$
What the heck!

[chisox2k5]

Yeah he signed with the Pads.. took a genius to figure that one out huh?

[Mattingly]

8 million$$$$$$$$$$$$
What the heck!

That's exactly what I was thinking. I've also never heard of a mutual option. They both have to agree that he returns in order for that option to work? I'd also like to know what the buyout for this option were.

Someone mentioned to me that ESPN said that Piazza was told by the Pads that he can catch as many games as he wants. I figured he'd to put less pressure on his knees, but that "offense by a catcher" must be something he's interested in continuing. If he were more interested in catching than being a DH/1B/backup C guy, then I figured that's why he hasn't signed onto an AL team so far.

[bluezebra]

2 million for 2006, 8 million option for 2007.

Bob

[rockin500]

That's exactly what I was thinking. I've also never heard of a mutual option. They both have to agree that he returns in order for that option to work? I'd also like to know what the buyout for this option were.

Someone mentioned to me that ESPN said that Piazza was told by the Pads that he can catch as many games as he wants. I figured he'd to put less pressure on his knees, but that "offense by a catcher" must be something he's interested in continuing. If he were more interested in catching than being a DH/1B/backup C guy, then I figured that's why he hasn't signed onto an AL team so far.

yep, thats how a mutual option works. its a bit more involved than that, but thats the basic gist of things.

[Mattingly]

yep, thats how a mutual option works. its a bit more involved than that, but thats the basic gist of things.

I'd love to hear more about those things.

If he has a year similar to his 2005, can the Padres complain, since that's what he'd done last? I'm figuring there have to be certain criteria he'd have to reach before this one became automatic. Instead of the club going "eenie-meenie-minie-mo", they could say, "Mike, you have 400 ABs, hit .275, 20 jacks, 75 RBI, we'll give you the $8m for 2007".

Either case, I can't just see a club just saying "maybe, maybe not" on a contract like this, especially when the player has a vote in this.

[ElCaminoSS]

Will he ever quit? jeez their gonna have to drag him off the field

[UnderPressure]

Well this means LoDuca will be a Padre in the future...

[ReignInBlood]

We'll probably gonna get Ramon back when he's 38 also.

[Dasperp]

I wish Piazza hadn't gone to SD. I've always like him, and Petco is not going to help him. He will have played his entire career in extreme pitcher's parks, and still put up by far the best numbers of any catcher in history.

[Mattingly]

I wish Piazza hadn't gone to SD. I've always like him, and Petco is not going to help him. He will have played his entire career in extreme pitcher's parks, and still put up by far the best numbers of any catcher in history.

That's the amazing thing about him, that he's never been in bandboxes, yet still cranked 'em outta there. You can't say that he chose the easy way of getting to his milestones.

Still, at this stage of his career, after having given the Mets about the best that he had to offer when they'd gotten him in his prime, I think that nobody would question him if he'd gone to an AL team with a smaller park. He must love putting pressure on himself.

Now let's see if his body can cash a check that his he's signed for on the dotted line. BTW, that's slang for "can he deliver what he's promised to do?"