Bleah!

The story on Scott Eyre is 2 years, $11 million. Yes. Correct. $5.5 million a year for Scott "career 4.52 ERA 1.52 WHIP" Eyre.

So, instead of BJ Ryan for $9 million as closer and $5 million to use Dempster as a setup man, we fans get the cheap route. We get a guy three and a half years older than Ryan. We get a guy whose ERA dropped 1.47 runs from 2004 to 2005. His 2005 ERA was 1.89 runs lower than his career ERA. His 2005 WHIP was 0.444 lower than his career WHIP (a lackluster 1.53). In short, Jim Hendry bought a guy coming off a career year. A a guy more likely past his prime, than in his prime like a BJ Ryan.

There's more:

Eyre's contract calls for up to $300,000 a year in performance bonuses. He will receive $100,000 for 70 appearances and an additional $200,000 if he pitches in 80 games. There is also wording that would give Eyre additional money should he become the Cubs' closer.

Great. Dusty now is incentivised to use Eyre as a closer.

Eyre is a nice addition as a setup man. BJ Ryan is an addition that a serious team makes.

Color me underwhelmed. Up next, just watch. Brian Giles, no. Bobby Abreu, no.

Dave Roberts? Yes.

:::UPDATE:::

The motion is seconded.

:::UPDATED UPDATE:::
Terms are better than originally disclosed. Eyre will earn $3 million in 2006, $4 million in 2007 and another $4 million in 2008 (player option). the contract also includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. That makes the deal much more palatable.

It also makes BJ Ryan still an option if the Cubs are serious.