The Padres and catcher Nick Hundley agreed to terms on a three-year extension, the team announced. The deal covers the 2012-14 seasons and includes a club option for 2015. Athletes First represents Hundley, who drew praise from his new GM.
“Nick has developed into one of our club’s core players,” Josh Byrnes said. “He impacts the game on both offense and defense and has evolved into a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.”
Hundley had agreed to a one-year, $2MM salary via arbitration this offseason and was on track for free agency following the 2014 season. This means San Diego extends its control of Hundley by up to one season with today's agreement. Hundley will earn $2MM in 2012, $3MM in 2013 and $4MM in 2014, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports (Twitter links). The club option is worth $5MM and doesn't include a buyout, so it's a three-year, $9MM deal.
Hundley has a .255/.314/.420 career line in four MLB seasons, including a .288/.347/.477 line last year. 72% of stolen base attempts against the 28-year-old have been successful to this point in his career.
As Mike Axisa pointed out when talks heated up over the weekend, catchers such as Kurt Suzuki (four years, $16.25MM), Yadier Molina (four years, $15.5MM), Carlos Ruiz (three years, $8.85MM) and Chris Iannetta (three years, $8.3MM) signed extensions when they had between three and four years of service time. Iannetta and Ruiz were likely comparables for Hundley's deal.
Corey Brock of MLB.com first reported the deal. Photo courtesy Icon SMI.
Congrats Hundo.
Hmmm. I am a fan of Hundley, but with Grandal closing in (and Hedges behind him), I’d hope this would be for three years and an option year for a fourth.
I think you are probably exactly right. Two more guaranteed years tacked on (covering his arb years) with an option, perhaps he gets a slight raise on his already agreed upon 2012 salary. I like it in that they can keep him for two years, figuring he’ll mentor Grandal in ’13 and still be dealt with two years of control with only of which will be guaranteed.
Put me down at 3/11m (inc. 2012) with a 6m option for 2015. Grandal debuting around May or June of 2013 would be ideal, service time wise. Think there is real value in having Hundley tutor Grandal when the time comes. Not to mention being able to trade Grandal if they so desired, and using Hundley until Hedges is ready, right about when his deal would expire.
Nice move!
3 years for sure.
Padres deal with Nick Hundley is through the 2014 season with a club option for 2015.
Absolutely agree! Also, depending on Hundley’s production and Grandal’s advancement, I’d be okay with Hundley riding out the contract. What’s Hedges’ ETA? 2014?
Not to mention, if Grandal proves too good not to be the starter, Hundley is a pretty nice trade chip with this reasonable contract.
Hard to tell at this point on Hedges. I’d say a realistic time frame would be Sept 2015 call-up, with 2016 being his first full year. A 2014 arrival would be like the best outcome possible, which I’d say is no higher then 5% chance of happening.
I wouldn’t be opposed to signing Headley to this same kind of deal (lock up last two arb years w/option FA year). It’d probably take around 3/15m, but think it would only help his trade value if they do trade him, or keep his cost in check if they decided to keep him and move guys like Gyorko.
Really love how many options the Padres have going forward. The ability to get real creative in trades and such.
As the organization seems to be signing high-character position players to reasonable contracts, I would like to see Headley signed next. I know Hoyer spoke very favorably of him, but I don’t recall if Byrnes has mentioned Headley at this point.
Interesting to see the Padres’ take on contracts – sort of a contrast between the Rays’/Royals’ model of locking up young talent on high risk/high reward system.
Teams that would upgrade with Hundley’s production at catcher now or after 2012: Dodgers, Pirates, Mariners (if Montero doesn’t stick at catcher), Rays, Astros, Marlins, Mets, Royals, Cubs (If Soto has a bad 2012), Giants (if Posey is unable/not allowed to catch reguarly due to the shattered leg), Rangers (if unable to resign Napoli)
When talking catcher stats, I am familiar with the statement that “Hundley threw out 28%.” I guess it is more fashionable to use the opposite, base-runner based stat, but I don’t know why. I think this stat requires more sentence context than other stats, and we should say what the catcher did if we’re talking about catchers. 28% thrown out, instead of 72% of baserunners were successful against him.
Seems like a fantastic deal for the Pad’s. I could have seen Hundley getting up to 4 and 8 million in his next 2 years of arb considering he’s an average defensive catcher with 21 home runs in less than 600 PAs at Petco.