Trevor Hoffman signed a 1-year $8 million deal, with a mutual option for 2011.
As we all know, each free agent signing helps to define the market for the remaining free agents. In ESPN's Rumor Central section, we see this:
For one thing, the $8 million that Hoffman received has to make guys like Valverde and Rodney smile.
Even though Hoffman had a better year than Valverde (Hoffman: 37 saves, 1.55 ERA; Valverde: 25 saves, 2.33 ERA), Valverde is 10-ish years younger than Hoffman. Valverde made $8 million with Houston this year, will Hoffman's deal push him over the $10 million mark?
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
