The Right Type Of Risk

Every baseball team’s dream at the beginning of a long season is to win the World Series. The hardest part is fielding an all-around team that can last the 162-game season and a lengthened playoff schedule with plenty of off days. What’s the best strategy in completing the difficult task? Developing talent through the draft and the minor leagues? Signing top free agents to big contracts hoping for success? Hoping for that team that can produce lightning in a bottle? Sometimes there is no explanation for a team that wins the World Series. The Marlins in 2003 with a payroll of only $63,281,152 (which ranks 20 out of 30 teams) managed to climb their way to the top with young stars embracing the challenge and rising to the top. On the flip side, the New York Yankees, with a 2008 payroll of $209,081,579 haven’t won a World Series since 2000. So maybe big spending isn’t the best scenario. Maybe there is another way to fight your way to the top. The Red Sox have seemed to find out how and continue to show it this offseason.

Low-risk, high-reward players are who the Red Sox targeted this offseason. With players like John Smoltz, Takashi Saito, and the re-signing of fan favorite Kevin Youkilis, the Red Sox have had yet another successful offseason so far. The Cubs on the other hand have made choices that might be looked at by some as questionable. It started with the trading of fan favorite Mark DeRosa. There is clearly a logjam of players on the Cubs who can play middle infield. Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, and Mark DeRosa can all play everyday for many clubs. So the Cubs pulled off a move and traded away one of them. Problem is, they traded away a man who could lead a team and could play more than just middle infield. Then, a week later, the team made another dicey decision when they signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30 million contract. Bradley has had his eruptions before. Whether it is throwing balls and bats onto the field of play or arguing with an umpire which led to an ACL tear, Bradley is the type of risk that could make or break a team. Bradley is coming off a career year in which he hit a career best .321 with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs. But those numbers might be overshadowed by the disruption he can cause to a team. Camaraderie and chemistry are vital parts in a championship team and Bradley could be the risky player to break the Cubs chances.

The low-risk high-reward players like John Smoltz and Takashi Saito could provide a spark for a team that tries to win it’s third World Series title in six years. See: Brad Lidge for the Phillies. Smoltz is a future Hall of Famer who brings experience and leadership to a team that can never have too much leadership. Saito is a shut-the-door reliever who has an ERA just slightly higher than the unhittable Jonathan Papelbon. The only risks of the two players is injury. Smoltz is coming shoulder surgery and Saito had elbow problems last year that kept him out of action for almost two months. On the flip side (or the high reward), both players do not bring baggage and can help a team climb to the top if they can remain healthy.

So it all comes back to what it takes to build a championship team. Developing talent, big free agent signings, and a little bit of luck are always nice ways to bring home a winner. But it’s the little things such as signing the right type of player that could make or break a team and franchise. The Red Sox capitalized on their opportunities while the Cubs made questionable moves that could prove fatal come crunch time.