Though Pablo Sandoval and the Giants have tabled extension talks during the season, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports that the two sides at least got a bit closer together in terms of contract length during negotiations. The Giants initially pitched a “conversation-starting” three-year, $40MM extension and then expressed an openness to do a four-year deal with an option for a fifth year.
Sandoval and agent Gustavo Vasquez were known to be looking for “at least” a five-year, $90MM deal and Heyman hears that they’re actually aiming for a five-year contract in the $100MM range or more. As MLBTR’s Transaction Tracker indicates, only a few third baseman have found five-year/$100MM+ contracts in recent years and none of those big deals came on the free agent market. (Alex Rodriguez was a shortstop when he signed his initial free agent deal with Texas, and obviously that contract isn’t at all comparable to Sandoval’s situation.) The Giants have been proactive in signing their own stars to extensions, though as Heyman observes, the fact that they haven’t yet done so with Sandoval and are seemingly taking a harder line in negotiations is rather telling.
While a five-year, $100MM deal could be available to Sandoval on the open market given the relative lack of impact free agent bats next winter, a number of factors could cloud Sandoval’s case. He’ll obviously need to improve from his slow start to the 2014 campaign, his market could be dampened by a qualifying offer from the Giants and teams around the league (like the Giants themselves) have concerns about Sandoval’s conditioning. Heyman quotes both an NL scout and an NL executive praising Sandoval’s hitting ability but questioning his ability to stay in shape.
Vasquez implied to Heyman that he isn’t planning to reopen talks, as the Giants “know what they have [in Sandoval], I’m sure.” The agent also said that the Giants wanted to settle the extension “in a rush,” which would seem to counter the belief that the team was waiting to determine if Sandoval’s offseason weight loss would stick before deciding on whether to offer an extension.
Wow. Going anywhere near the 90-100 mill range would be a huge mistake for the Giants. Their initial 3/40 seemed like a fair deal IMO. Although considering I’m not a Giants fan, maybe I should be rooting for them to sign him to that 5/100.
Yeah. I’d maybe go 4/55. $90-100MM (18-20 per season) seems way too high.
Agreed. 4/55 should be the absolute ceiling.
I think 3/36-40 is about right.
Just imagine how much food this guy will eat with a $100 MM contract.
It’s crazy what players think they are worth after having only a few good seasons. If Pablo doesn’t put up MVP like numbers this year the Giants should just let him walk, put Posey at third and Sanchez behind the plate. I know Posey likes catching but hopefully he would be willing to do what’s best for the team.
Susac>Sanchez
Posey’s long term future should be at third base though.
I’d rather have Headley at that price.
He’s off to a terrible start this season. He has 15 homerun power and ~25 doubles which isn’t really anything special at 3B. Also considering all his weight issues in the past I think they need to be careful not to overpay.
Honestly, if Sandoval can stay in shape and stay healthy, he’s the type of guy who could hit 25-30 hrs with a .300+ BA, which is pretty special for 3B (even his overall numbers now are above average compared to the rest of the league). For example, when he got in shape before the 2011 season, he was having a great season:
2011: .315/.357/.552, 23 hrs, 70 rbis in 117 games.
I’m sure he could have reached the 30 homer plateau that year had he not missed part of the season. His first full season was also his best, hitting a slash-line of .330/.387/.556 with 25 hrs and 90 rbis in 2009. He has the ability to be a much better hitter than he was in 2010 and 2012-13, especially given he’s still only 27. The reason why the 2012-13 seasons were not up to his fullest potential was because he struggled initially coming back from wrist injury.
100 mil, Good Luck with that.
There’s no way that Kung Fu Panda ever gets 5/100 with compensation attached. I was surprised by Pence’s contract, and I can’t imagine that the Giants would give Panda the same or a very similar deal, and they’d be dumb to not offer a QO. Panda’s fWAR has broken the 5 mark twice (09 and 11), but he has only reached 2.5 fWAR one other time in his career. If the Giants offered something in the 4/60 range, then he’ll probably have been better off taking it.
For me, 4 years $60m absolute and UTTER MAX.
If he asks for more than that, let him go and pity the club on the open market who gives him it.
There’s no way that Kung Fu Panda ever gets 5/100 with compensation attached. I was surprised by Pence’s contract, and I can’t imagine that the Giants would give Panda the same or a very similar deal, and they’d be crazy to not offer a QO. Panda’s fWAR has broken the 5 mark twice (09 and 11), but he has only reached 2.5 fWAR one other time in his career. If the Giants offered something in the 4/60 range, then he’ll probably have been better off taking it.
Sandoval asking for 100 MM next offseason will go just as well as Cruz asking for 75 MM this offseason
Alex Rodriguez was both a free agent and a third baseman when he signed his current contract.
This is how negotiations work. If they “compromise” at splitting the difference of 5/100 and 3/40, or 4/60-70, then, had Sandoval began his demands at 80 MM or lower he might be looking at a lower figure. His agents are going to play him as unlucky/whatever and a true talent 5-WAR player or something, I’m sure, and they’ll aim for the sun with the way the economic landscape is increasing (Choo, 130? Pence, 90? All these extensions, Freeman, etc.)
I don’t think they should even consider re-signing him. Look at the batting averages. He is hitting about .165 so far, and they bat him 4th or 5th? Seriously.. .how about hit him 8th. There’s got to be a utility second or third stringer from another team who is available at a whole ton less than Sandoval wants. $90 or $100 million? Nice that the tickets we buy pay for his salary. Plus from what I’ve read, he has an attitude to boot.
Cut him…. very very very overrated player.