The Giants locked up Matt Cain yesterday and the $112.5MM contract has generated its share of headlines and discussion since. Here are the latest links from Cain’s division, starting in San Francisco:
- Madison Bumgarner told John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle that he’d have interest in a multiyear deal “if it was worth it” (Twitter link). The left-hander said his agent hasn’t addressed a long-term extension with the Giants’ front office. Tim Dierkes discussed Bumgarner as an extension candidate in December, suggesting a five-year deal in the $23-4MM range would be a big win for the 22-year-old.
- Infielder Mike Fontenot has cleared release waivers and can officially sign anywhere, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The Giants released Fontenot last week.
- Stan Kasten, one of the key members of the group that won the bidding for the Dodgers, may be looking for another baseball man, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter). Kasten has talked with Tony La Russa, who is expected to join MLB this season.
- Now that Joey Votto and Prince Fielder have signed mega-deals, Matt Kemp's $160MM extension looks better than ever for the Dodgers, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times writes. Fewer elite players are reaching free agency, so Frank McCourt's decision to spend on Kemp seems like a good one.
As much promise Mad-Bum has shown, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Timmy should be locked up first.
timmy doesn’t like long term deals
Might be too late on Lincecum and if they do get something with Bumgarner? Get more than 5 seasons, or at least 2 team options with 5 years guaranteed. make it worth the gamble for the club.
Boston has done these type of deals with Lester, Pedy, Youk, Bucholz.. The entirety of the young core, except Boras and his client Ells who isn’t going to do one and you want those team options for FA years
No lock up Bumgarner and Posey to avoid potentially large arbitration cases than focus on Tim.
you have to see how much injury affected posey, before getting a long term deal with him.
you’d also maybe want him to play more than half a season – especially at catcher – before committing to anything long term.
as a Dodgers fan I can tell you: he could be Mike Piazza, but he could also be Russell Martin.
I say give Bumgarner a similar deal like matt moore got.
Bumgarner is going to get much more than what Moore got. Unlike Moore, Bumgarner already has two years of service in the big leagues in which he has succeeded along with the fact that he pitched very well in the playoffs in 2010 as a bonus. Bumgarner is arbitration eligible next offseason, and if he were to sign an extension similar to Moore, than he would be losing out on a lot of money.
Bumgarner would get more than Moore, but he could still be locked up on a long term deal for cheaper than he’ll cost through arbitration, and the Giants could buy out some FA years. It’s crazy to think Bumgarner is two months younger than Moore and already has almost two years service time…!
Bumgarner is going to be so good for so long, he’s 22 years old and already this developed for god’s sake! Sign him long term now (with option years in the style of The Rays) and The Giants will have a phenomenal workhorse for relatively cheap for many years to come. Timmy on the other hand has already gotten too expensive…trade him at the deadline next July for four top prospects, and spend some of the money that would have been used on him on a great bat or two instead. The Giants have virtually no power from the outfield, and with Gary Brown and Joe Panik coming up through the farm system adding a big bat in a corner outfield spot could make the team offensively potent in a year or two. Cain and Bumgarner atop the rotation is enough for me. I just can’t justify giving Lincecum $25 million a season, and he could really help replenish a Giants farm system lacking in starting pitching…I would trade Wilson next July too, he’s going to get $8-$10 million a year to close and that’s just not worth it for the Giants, who have Heath Hembree waiting in the wings to the tune of $480,000 a year.
Couldn’t have said it any better myself. I’m a huge Giants fan, and that is 100% what I’m hoping happens (unless pigs start flying and Timmy would sign for less than we all expect). Bullpen is stacked, so losing Wilson is not a major blow, and if we can get back a combination of young bats and starters, we could potentially be a better all-around team without Timmy and Wilson if we get the right guys.
What is people’s obsession with La Russa? Absolutely terrible idea. Please join MLB, Tony and stay far, far away.
A Bumgarner extension may hinder on whether he reaches Super Two status or not. He currently sits at 1.127 service time. Last year the Super Two cutoff was 2.146 whereas in 2010, it was 2.122. However, the new CBA increases Super Two eligibles to include the top 22% (rather than the top 17%).
This would result in nearly $4m difference in Bumgarner’s 2012 salary. He would either be looking at $500k or somewhere around David Price’s $4.35m salary earned as a Super Two this past offseason. Also, remember many thought Price would earn over $5m as a Super Two.
Obviously both SFX and the Giants will want to know the answer to this issue before entering into extension talks.
So Frank saved money .
Kemp must be hitting his head against the wall.