Closing the book on Fuentes

As reported, um… several days ago (timeliness is my specialty), Brian Fuentes, erstwhile top offseason priority for the Cardinals, has signed with his beloved hometown Angels.

This, of course, is excellent news if you’re Chris Perez or a fan of efficient payroll allocation. Fuentes, who ultimately signed for two years and $17.5 million (with a $9M club option for a third year), was rumored to have initially been seeking a deal in the three-year, $30M range. Ten million dollars per year for a pitcher who has averaged 65 innings during his past four seasons (when he has been de facto closer for the Rockies) is not an efficient allocation of payroll, and the Cardinals were wise not to meet those demands.

And at a shade less than $9M per, it still is a waste of payroll space. Especially when you have a player on the roster in Chris Perez, who will be paid the league minimum and whose minor-league track record suggests he can perform at least at Fuentes’ level, if not better (and who is nine years younger). It’s a calculated risk to be sure, but when $8.5M is on the table (the difference between their 2009 salaries), it’s a no-brainer to cast your lot with Perez.

Which brings us to the “proven closer” concept. The way that player salaries are spiraling ever upward, it makes little economic sense to pay retail for a “proven closer.” Especially not when you have players on your roster who were drafted specifically to become a closer and who make the league minimum.

Obviously, I’m just a mere blogger (and a lousy one at that), but is it really that difficult for a team to develop its own closer? Every team should be able to develop at least one or two flamethrowing kids to be used in the ninth inning. Use them at closer for the league minimum for three years, maybe buy out their arbitration years if you can, and when they stand at the precipice of free agency, thank them for their effort and cast them aside. Then bring in the next kid and start all over again. Lather, rinse, repeat.

See how easy that was? Using your own, cost-controlled kids in such manner frees up precious payroll for areas that are more of an immediate need. Such as adding to a sketchy rotation. I, for one, am not counting on Chris Carpenter for any meaningful contribution in 2009. Using the $9M or $10M the team wanted to throw at Fuentes could now be better spent on a guy like Ben Sheets. Sure, it’s another calculated risk given his myriad injuries, but spending $9M or $10M on a guy who could give you 180-plus above-average innings is a risk I would easily take.

Especially when it’s not my money.