It was reported yesterday Ervin Santana is weighing one year offers from both the Blue Jays ($14MM) and Orioles ($13MM plus incentives) with two other clubs also expressing interest. Here's the latest on the top ranked free agent remaining on MLBTR's 2014 Top 50 Free Agents list:
- Orioles manager Buck Showalter told reporters, including MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko (Twitter), GM Dan Duquette told him nothing is imminent on the Santana front.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes the Twins offered Santana a three-year deal, but he prefers a one-year contract unless someone is willing go four years at his asking price.
- With all this recent action on Santana, Heyman tweets it may take a few days for the situation to resolve itself adding both the Blue Jays and Orioles have made strong one-year proposals.
- 1500ESPN.com's Darren Wolfson tweets he's been told Santana isn't coming to Twins with the hangup being length of contract (Santana wants one year and the Twins want three years).
I know Santana is working out and all, but if I was a GM I’d be pretty concerned by the potential effect this circus could have on his conditioning.
Kyle Lohse had no issues last year in an identicle circus so to speak. From the time he signed till his first regular season start it was like 2 weeks. Santana is preparing somewhere ready to go.(didn’t sign till March 23 or something)
Lohse wasn’t a part of a public agent dispute and his list of suitors wasn’t this public. There’s nothing identical about the two situations.
I Dont see how either issue will effect him at all. He is a big boy…not a child.
Agreed, this is standard baseball business, no circus at all.
He’d be wise to wait and see what happened to Medlin today.
Braves still have their first round pick. If they lose Medlen I doubt they make a play unless they don’t feel Like Beachy is ready.
Braves still have their first round pick. If they lose Medlen I doubt they make a play unless they don’t feel Like Beachy is ready.
If the Twins offer is a reasonable AAV, Santana should take it. Big park, AL Central, top farm system; it’s a no-brainer. He probably won’t get that good a deal next offseason after he’s pitched in the AL East and has aged a year, unless he dominates, but that seems somewhat unlikely.
LOL, I was thinking the same thing. Guess he feels he can establish value in the AL East and go back on the market next season, sounds nuts to me given the offensive talent level in the division from top to bottom, but whatever, his call.
I agree. He already had a good year. His value isn’t going to go up very much this year, and very likely goes down.
If he was smart you figure he would take the Twins 3 year offer and run with it. He strikes me as the kind of pitcher that will get lit up in the AL East of all divisions.
Is anybody keeping tabs on how many free agents have rebuffed the Twins this off-season? Just off the top of my head, Saltalamacchia, Pierzynski, Garza, and Santana have all turned down competitive deals from the Twins… I’d be interested to hear the inside scoop on what the league’s thinking about the state and trajectory of the franchise.
They did lose 96 games last season and need quite a bit to go right to make playoff run this year. They can offer competitive money, but not necessarily a competitive team just yet though that doesn’t really explain why Salty turned them down.
Salty is from Florida and he pays no state income tax there. Not hard to figure out.
But he pays it in whatever state he is employed that has an income tax.
Yes, but for half of his season, 81 games, he pays no state income tax. You don’t think that plays a part in a player’s thinking? By signing with Miami over Minnesota or Boston, he saved himself somewhere between $600,000 to $1 million or more in state taxes. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
With different tax rates for each states, doesn’t it make an unfair environment between teams? For example, compare the same contract offered by the Yankees and by the Rangers.
Baseball cannot control the tax rates, so no, it does make an unfair environment…
With different tax rates for each states, doesn’t it make an unfair environment between teams? For example, compare the same contract offered by the Yankees and by the Rangers.
Would also give TX teams an advantage. Are the property taxes making up the difference? I’m sure FL also gets quite the lodging/ amusement tax boost.
I don’t think free agents trying to avoid the cold early and late weather in MN can be completely disregarded.
Coming from someone who lives near Minneapolis still experiencing temps close to 0 I would not be surprised if someone didn’t want to play there.
I don’t know where you live, but it was upper 40s here today and supposed to hit around 50 tomorrow. And that’s from somebody who lives about 10 minutes from Target Field.
Yah highs averaging about 35 over the next ten days with lows still approaching 10. 0 might have been a little too low, regardless its still not very warm for players coming from the south and there is still piles of the white stuff.
I’m close to you. Not saying the weather is always a big deal…but it might be to a pitcher. Twin Cities is a great area. Always been a high # of players live there year round. I’d think the baseball side would be the larger issue.
I don’t know where you live, but it was upper 40s here today and supposed to hit around 50 tomorrow. And that’s from somebody who lives about 10 minutes from Target Field.
Coming from someone who lives near Minneapolis still experiencing temps close to 0 I would not be surprised if someone didn’t want to play there.
And it doesn’t get cold in Boston? Or Chicago? Or Detroit? Or….
I live in the upper Midwest… and no…no place in mlb might have as consistent cold in April or Sept as MN. Those other cities also are typically offering playoff caliber teams…or environment with Chicago. I’m also guessing typically more money. Now if Twins start winning… I’m guessing the cold weather just might be more appealing
Each had their own situation. Garza went for top dollar, Twins only offered 3 at a better aav. Pierzynski didn’t want to forgo an opportunity with the current champs and Santana is clearly delusional at this point
If I got two comparable deals from Toronto and Baltimore I’m on the next flight to be with the Orioles. I could not stand to play on that thing they call a baseball field in Toronto. Seriously I can’t believe MLB finds it acceptable. The next Commish should require them to build a new stadium.
They are getting new grass in 2017 or 2018…
They have to wait for the football team’s lease to run out.
I kind of figured it was a hybrid stadium, but I wasn’t sure. Hopefully with an actual infield, real grass, and some other changes it can look a little more appealing to the eyes. Its still extremely bland though. Whenever they build a new one I might take a trip there as Toronto is always considered one of the best cities in North America…a nice baseball park would be great.
How can you rip on the stadium if you don’t even understand it’s uses?
It is used for baseball and it does a pretty bad job.
It is pretty bad but with a large crowd in there it’s actually a pretty good atmosphere. The big plus is that it’s situated right in the heart of downtown Toronto, it’s very easy to get to. And like you said, Toronto is a great city.
I’ve been to at least 20 games at Rogers over the years. It’s lacks the character that defines many other ballparks, but it is a convenient park to get to by public transit, the staff are exceptionally friendly, and the atmosphere is pleasant regardless of whether or not the roof is open. I wouldn’t pick it over Fenway, but I enjoy going there.
Fix the field and I don’t think it will be that bad. Toronto really needs a roof, seeing as it’s colder than Minneapolis during the season. It’s a bit blue for my liking, but I think the stadium would be acceptable if they replace the field.
Toronto does have a roof. Unless you mean a permanent roof.
Yeah sorry, should have been more clear. I think that a roof is important, and they already have one. I don’t see a need to rebuild a stadium that really isn’t all that old. Plus I like the retractable aspect. Unless you in Florida/Texas/Arizona baseball should be played outside all the time in July if it’s not raining.
I thought it had a retractable roof?
^ it’s not colder than Minneapolis.
Not in January it isn’t, but during the baseball season it is.
Average highs
April T: 53 M: 58
May T: 65 M: 69
June T: 75 M: 79
July T: 80 M: 83
August T: 78 M: 81
September T: 70 M: 72
That’s only 1 month Minneapolis is colder
They aren’t building a new stadium any time soon but they have renovations that are being made to the stadium over the coming years.
The Stadium Formerly Known As Skydome is currently getting plenty of renovations both on and off the field.
There is likely to be state of the art new turf on the field some time over the next couple of years, new fan viewing areas have just been built, new fan areas are currently being built, and grass is planned for the field once the football team’s lease is up in a few years (though a new lease was recently signed, it was meant to buy the football team more time to build a new stadium elsewhere).
Canada is a pretty small world and despite the fact that the MLB team and its revenues could probably own the entire CFL, the Jays organization does not want to anger anyone with the Argos or the CFL.
From the outside, The Stadium Formerly Known As Skydome is a pretty large piece of concrete with some igloo-esque item stacked on top of it. The igloo moves, though.
Everyone blasts the Blue Jays for having turf, yet nobody criticizes the Rays for having turf? Yeah, okay.
Plus, the Blue Jays are getting grass within the next five years.
Oh Dont get me wrong Tropicana is a bad too. But they actually have an infield unlike that Sandlot design they got going on in Toronto.
And beyond the turf the overall shape is weird, the OF walls look bad..its old and boring simply put. I cant say I like anything other than the hotel.
EDIT: Also look up any ballpark ranking…most seem to put Tropicana anywhere from 28-30. No one likes it and apparently its a pain in the you know what to get to make matters worse.
It’s only hard to get to because fans there are babies and don’t like to drive over a 30 minute bridge to get there. I got confused a bit at down town St. Pete, but the parking is simple and cheap.
I just wish they’d build the stadium in temple terrace instead of downtown tampa like what the braves are doing.
I always thought it was a bit ridiculous people tried to blame attendance struggles because people can’t get there easily…but then again I mostly go to Miller Park where you drive off the freeway into your parking spot only stopping to give the guy $10 for the parking pass.
Hopefully they can build the new stadium outside of town and change everyone’s diaper so they can be happy…that is if they ever build one, I here more talk than doing from those people in Tampa.
Indeed, the concrete mammoth that is Tropicana Field is pretty much just as appealing to the eye as the concrete mammoth that is The Stadium Formerly Known As Skydome.
I hope the Mariners are still engaged in this situation. We could definitely use his arm.
So he’d rather leave 3 years of guaranteed money in a place he could succeed and rather get a 1 year deal to sign in the AL East where he will most likely get smacked and prob lose money in the process… Why?
How was this article posted at 3:15 CST? That’s ~20 minutes from now…
nit-picked
Daylight Savings today. Did you set your clock forward?
Yes, but they didn’t… hence the comment.
They are still stuck in CST, but even then the time would be wrong… confusing.
Ah, I see. In all probability they rolled forward but the “CST” isn’t reflecting it.
If Santana is looking for a one-year deal at this point, I wonder if he’s better off signing with a team without playoff hopes. He might be able to get a handshake agreement not to offer a QO from the Orioles or Blue Jays — but then again if he plays half a season with a non-contender, he could get traded to a contender if he pitches well and then be assured he escapes a QO.
That kind of agreement is not allowed, if I remember correctly.
Hence why he said handshake agreement…not paper agreement
This is all hypothetical, but if Santana proves he can perform well for another year, then surely other teams would be interested in signing him, which would make his team feel good about giving him a QO; either they get another year of Santana or a draft pick. Wouldn’t it seem a little odd if his team didn’t offer him a QO? I don’t know if there are any repercussions for such an agreement, handshake or proper, but I doubt any team would want to deal with it.
Of course it’d be great for the team. Like you said, a draft pick or another year of Santana (assuming he performed up to standard). The only reason these kind of agreements would be made is for the player’s interest. Being tied to a pick lowers your value significantly, especially if you’re not a top tier FA.
Why would a non playoff team give up the draft pick to help Santana?
Because they could get (a) player(s) back in the trade?
“the Twins offered Santana a three-year contract, but he prefers a one-year deal unless someone is willing go four years at his asking price.”
So he prefers a 4 year deal, then a 1 year deal, then a 3 year deal?
Am I missing something? Why would he choose 1 year over 3?
The amount of money he can make in 2017 is going to be a lot more if he signs a 3 year deal next off-season than if he plays out a 3 year deal and then tries to get another deal. In all likelihood.
He’s been fed bad information from the start. The only explanation I can think of is he thinks that if waits another year that big payday will come but that doesn’t seem likely.
Why not? Seems the only thing holding him back is questions of consistency and health. Had an awful 2012. If he has a good year in 2014 that answers to a lot of those concerns. Not like not taking the QO has hurt him. He has 1 offer on the table at about what the QO was.
Next year he will be a year older and he is already coming off one of the best seasons. He already has everything going for him and still cannot get the offers he wants, I don’t see how that will change next year. There’s plenty of room for his performance to drop or injury.
But he’ll also be older. And plus, heading to the AL East to establish your value doesn’t seem like the most brilliant idea.
I’d guess that the AAV of the Twins offer isn’t quite what he has in mind, either, and he feels confident that he can pitch well enough on a one-year deal this season to earn the 4-year contract he wants next winter, too.
I don’t understand why the Twins don’t say, “Fine, let’s work out a 1-year deal.” If it goes well, the club would have the options of trading him to a contender this summer, making a 1-year qualifying offer after the season, or negotiating an extension for him. If he flops, oh well, it’s just a 1-year deal. Why insist on offering 3 years?
The Twins would still have to give up their second-round pick if it’s a one-year deal or a three-year deal. I’m guessing they’re willing to do that for three years but not for one.
He wanted a 4 year deal AT HIS PRICE. He was offered several 3 year offers, including 3/30. He wants a better AAV than that. If he can’t get it, he’ll take a pillow contract and try again in 2015.
If he has a terrible year, which would come of little to no surprise especially if it’s for an AL East team, then he’d be lucky to get a multi-year deal after next year (this is if he signs a 1 year deal this year)
I’m not saying it’s smart or not, just trying to explain his logic.
At least he won’t have draft pick compensation holding him back, Might be better off having a poor year, having a great one last year did not help
At least he won’t have draft pick compensation holding him back, Might be better off having a poor year, having a great one last year did not help
Indeed. As long as he does not have too poor of a year, having a relatively poor year could possibly be advantageous for Santana on next year’s free agent market. If only there was a way to know if he could control these things, but I can imagine many scenarios where this is possible.
Wait are you guys serious right now? If it’s sarcasm, I’m definitely missing it. Please explain exactly how a poor year will help. lol
You are aware of how draft pick compensation for free agents works, yes?
Yes, so please elaborate. Sure, he might not be given a QO, but if a team isn’t willing to pay $14M for one year, why would other teams be willing to do so for 3-4 years?
If he performs worse than last year but better than phil hughes/jason vargas i can see this working out. I’m not so sure why you see this as a difficult situation to imagine, and it is clear you do not understand how draft pick compensation works. Teams were not willing to give Santana his contract due to losing a draft pick, and he still got it anyways….
Probably because the AAV on the 3 yr offer is too low, and his odds of getting a good deal after 3 years is low.
Eg, if someone offers 4 years and 15 AAV he grabs the 60 million.
If someone offers 3 years and 35 million he does not. The reasoning being that a 14 yr 1 yr deal has a chance of getting him a 3 yr 45 million dollar deal after 1 yr, or at least a 2 yr 30 million dollar deal, giving him a total of 44-60 million over 3-4 years
Probably because the AAV on the 3 yr offer is too low, and his odds of getting a good deal after 3 years is low.
Eg, if someone offers 4 years and 15 AAV he grabs the 60 million.
If someone offers 3 years and 35 million he does not. The reasoning being that a 14 yr 1 yr deal has a chance of getting him a 3 yr 45 million dollar deal after 1 yr, or at least a 2 yr 30 million dollar deal, giving him a total of 44-60 million over 3-4 years
The Blue Jays need Santana a [BEEP!] of a lot more than the Orioles do. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone the pitching the Blue Jays have needed.
Wow! Three straight seasons of looking like they didn’t give a care in the world about who was pitching that day, and now the Twins are throwing high-dollar, competitive offers at any FA starter worth mentioning. Who’d a thunk it? Way to go Twins!
Personally, I think Santana would be mistaken not to at least entertain the offer after badly overplaying his hand this offseason. Does he actually think a year in the AL East in going to RAISE his stock?
The Twins have some serious talent coming out of the minors. They know it and are trying to get some pitching behind it. Sano went down, but when he and Buxton arrive.. the Twins are going to be a.very good team.
Braves are gonna jump into this with both feet if Medlen’s MRI’s bad. This sets up nicely for Santana.
Santana is bound for Camden IMO.
As the Santana turns……..
My guess is the Yankees will swoop in at the last minute and sign him. This is the Yankee way. They seem to show no intrest until the dotted line is signed. There’s no way they’re going to let divisional rivals like the Orioles or Blue Jays have him.
Like the Yankees need him…
Pineda/Phelps/Warren/Nuno>>>>>>>>>Homer prone Ervin Santana at 14 million and cost of draft pick.
Chances are slim, but if he is taking a 1 year deal, he might just return to the Royals. If not I wish him luck. He was outstanding last season. And his slider is rated as the highest % swing and miss pitch in baseball at something like 55%. He is a deserving pitcher and he was a very good clubhouse presence too. On a one year deal that would buy the Royals one more year to develop our SP prospects with more polish. But the downside is, the money spent would probably mean no chance at resigning Shields, and the supplemental pick we’d lose is quite valuable to KC.