Wickman re-signs

[Baseball Guru]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=fanball-indianswickmanresign&prov=fanball&type=lgns

by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Wednesday, November 24, 2004

News
Bob Wickman is coming back for another year in Cleveland. The Indians have agreed to terms with the veteran closer on a one-year, $2.75-million contract. In October, the Tribe declined to pick up Wickman's $5-million option for next season. Wickman missed the entire 2003 season and spent the first three months of the 2004 season on the disabled list recovering from Tommy John surgery. He finished with an 0-2 record, 4.25 ERA and 13 saves.

[Timberwolf]

Indians had to resign him to provide stability for the closing spot. You saw what happened when Wickman was in the injured list. Riske and Jimenez was blowing saves left and right.

[60ft6in]

I think this was a good move to resign wick. the indians can't seem to find anyone else that can do the job. If the bullpen doesn't blow up, maybe we'll be able to see some saves from wickman.

[BigEd]

Yeah, they had to re-sign Wick-y after they realized Percival and Benitez were probably both asking for way too much cash.

Frankly, I don't know if either of those 2 guys is all that much better than Wickman. Both are better, but are they a couple million dollars better? I don't think so.

I think it's a good move - save the cash for another starter. Plus they still might be able to find a "bargain" bullpen guy who can maybe close every once in awhile.

Any word on who they are looking at as a starter? I heard Jon Lieber's name but didn't get very excited. I like Lieber but he doesn't exactly get my blood pumping. ;)

[Special_K19]

I have a feeling that people in Cleveland aren't going to like this. GM Shapiro said they were going to be players in the market with around 10-12 million to play with. With that they wanted a closer and a #3 starter, but the Tigers and Mets overpaying for Percival and Benson means that the Tribe isn't going to play. Instead of a Percival and a Clement the Tribe's looking at a Wickman and Wright combo, which won't seem like opening the wallet to fans.

I like the signing, of the four closers the Tribe was looking at, Hermanson had little experience, Percival has back problems and Benitez never struck me as a good closer (from his Baltimore days). So Wickman I always felt was the best of the four.