This is not as crazy as it sounds. There are established routes for young players to work their way to the Majors, but no good routes for older players, even older heroes, to work their way out. These veterans have great value beyond their diminished abilities. They are continuity, the link between past and future, last season and next season, the historic continuum that is baseball. They are folk heroes, still draw fans, and elicit respect from all levels. Rather than just say goodbye, like Mike Timlin, baseball would be better if it devised a way for teams to keep them around beyond their top productive years, in a productive way?
I am talking players who are neither ready to retire nor coach, but are no longer major contributors and are entering that phase of their careers when they start to block young talent. Ken Griffey, Jr.?Consider the powerful clubhouse presence of guys like Kevin Millar., their value as mentors and role models to the young players coming up, their understanding of the team’s systems, their networks within MLB and MiLB, and their future as coaches and managers. They have brought much to the game, have more good games to offer, but are no longer star quality.
The normal exit route is to either hang on or retire. I propose another route, another Roster Category. For purpose of this discussion, I will use the Red Sox as an example, and the parameters proposed are merely suggestions for discussion during a chilly part of the hot stove season.
Proposed: Add 5 positions to the 25 man roster for these older, still active players who are nearing retirement, bringing the Roster total to 30. They will essentially be player-coaches, but with strictly limited playing time, and rank behind the full time coaches. These five positions will be a catcher, infielder, outfielder, starting pitcher, relief pitcher. Each of these positions would receive a salary no less than 3x league minimum, no more than 8x. They would be be in uniform, travel with the team, be in the dugout or bullpen, and be required to play no less than 20 games (position players) and no more than 40. Pitchers less, maybe 5 – 10. They can keep these roles as long as they are able to produce as players. I suspect the average would be 1-3 years. The players can use this period to learn how to coach, and if indeed they want to coach or move on. At the end of this period, they retire with honor.
Here’s a sample extended roster for the 2010 Red Sox: Wake in the Rotation. Timlin in the Pen. Tek at catcher. Cora infield. Millar OF. This would not only tie Bowden and Tazawa to the WS of 2004, but keep Wake’s calm presence in the dugout, working with young pitchers and catchers and coaches. It would keep Timlin in the pen playing spoons and providing veteran insights into a game’s strategy. Tek could use this period to mentor successors and young pitchers, etc. The painful debates about whether Timlin or Tek or Wake or Smoltz should retire simply wouldn’t exist, as they would move to a position of reduced play, but a place of honor and in depth contributions for a year or three.It’s just an idea, but it could resolve a long-standing dilemma that few have resolved. Few baseball greats finish their careers with their home team, and manage to do so in style, like Ted’s last AB. Most are either pushed off a moving train or jump. They deserve much better, and this way could not only keep them contributing beyond their best years on the field..