Ian Snell Was A Mistake

June 29, 2009 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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Yea, you read the title right. Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said pitcher Ian Snell’s contract extension was a mistake, and did so very publicly. It’s no surprise that the deal was a mistake but it is surprising to see Huntington come out so blatantly about it. I’d agree this deal was a mistake but not for the reasons one would think.

“As we stand here today, it certainly feels like a mistake on our part,” Huntington said. “On paper, you had a sub-4.00 ERA, a 200-inning starter, we didn’t guarantee a fourth or fifth year, and we got a year of free agency. On paper, removing the human element, it made all the sense in the world.”

The Pirates are calling this a mistake based on Ian’s performance this season. It’s hard to argue with them seeing how Snell currently sports a 2-8 record after 15 games and a 5.36 era. Even worse he was just demoted to AAA last week, something done by his request.

On paper like Huntington would say yes this was a mistake. I say on paper because he’s the one who offered the piece of paper that Snell signed. The mistake was actually offering the extension based on one good season. In 2007 Snell did pitch 200+ innings and had that sub 4.00 era, but that was the only solid season in his career.

Based on the two seasons before that, Huntington probably assumed the pitcher was coming into his own and about to make his own mark in the game. He probably thought let me buy out his arbitration years now instead of risk an astronomical raise one season. In fact he was able to even buy out his first free agent season. All at affordable prices, $3 million this year and $4.2 in the following AND two years of club options.

Barring a complete 180 by player and management we know the club options won’t be picked up. “Our focus now is to salvage something from this situation,” Huntington said, “whether that’s a trade, or Ian comes back — maybe that’s in the bullpen — we’ll see.”

I’d say that turn around is not completely out of the realm. Snell could go to the minors and regain the form he had in 2007. In fact there is some reason to believe he can. In his start last night he struck out 17 batters in 7 innings. Even more impressive he struck out the first 13 batters of the game.

I’ve always liked Ian so hopefully some time in the minors lets him regain that form of 2007. He’s only 27 so there is a chance he could still be a serviceable starter or reliever in the big leagues.

“It has to be the right contract, the right player, the right time,” Huntington said. “We had the right contract, the right time, but you could argue very easily that we missed on the player. When I came here, I was determined to learn from mistakes I’d seen elsewhere, where teams don’t take advantage of knowledge of their own players. At the time, we felt it would be a minimal risk. It’s certainly not a $50 million mistake. It’s not a $20 million mistake. Standing here today, it still feels like a mistake.”

Regardless its wrong thou for his boss to come out and call him a mistake so publicly. One can see why Snell requested the demotion to the minor leagues. The one he requested for being around too much negativity in Pittsburgh.

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