Transaction Reaction: Aaron Hill

The Arizona Diamondbacks sign Aaron Hill to a two-year contract worth $11 Million.

• I think that this is a tremendous deal for the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Back in the "Value in a Vacuum" column, I argued that Hill was among the best values to be had this offseason.  As a second baseman, he is only two years removed from a season in which he hit .286 with 36 home runs.  That is a "Sandberg-ian" type of production.  Granted, the last two years have not been quite as pretty, but the potential is there, and after he was traded to the Diamondbacks, Hill hit .315 in 124 at bats.
• In addition, the risk-level on this contract is very low.  $5.5 million dollars?  In MLB terms, that is tuppence (to quote Mary Poppins).  Plus, if for some reason Hill goes through a rough patch or two, they have super-sub Willie Bloomquist backing up both middle infield positions.  
• By the way, if you were to go to Aaron Hill's page on baseball-reference.com, do you know who they list as statistically the most similar player through age 29 in all of baseball history?  Brandon Phillips.  Just for some financial comps, before having his $12 million dollar option picked up this year, Phillips was reportedly looking for something in the ballpark of $48 Million over four years.     

Transaction Reaction: Ryan Madson and Willie Bloomquist

This will be the first of what will be many posts in our "Transaction Reaction" series.  Over the course of the offseason, the day after major transactions occur in MLB, we will be providing evaluative reaction.

• Ryan Madson agrees to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies for on a four-year $44 million dollar deal
• This is a horrible move for the Phillies.  I saw this one coming when I wrote in a previous post: "Madson is a good pitcher, but he is going to get a huge contract for half a season of successfully finishing games."  The closer is easily the most overvalued position in baseball and the Phillies just committed not only big dollars, but big years to a guy who hasn't even proven himself to be consistently good at closing games.  I'd like to think with the sort of contract, they could have attracted more proven commodities like Jonathon Papelbon or Heath Bell.  
• In addition, the Phillies really should have allocated these resources in other places.  Their expensive players are getting older (see: Ibanez, Raul; Utley, Chase; Polanco, Placido) and hurter (see: Howard, Ryan), and the roster is quickly becoming a sinking ship with many gaping holes leaking water.  And they just took their biggest cork and put it in the smallest hole.   I guess they figured that they had the $13.5 million from Brad Lidge's contract already earmarked for a closer...
• Willie Bloomquist signs with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a two-year $3.8 million dollar deal   
• I think this is a great deal for the Diamondbacks.  Bloomquist is an established veteran presence on a young team who has proven his ability to play numerous positions, including an extended stint as the starting shortstop last year, while providing decent offensive value.  And the price tag is very affordable.