12:31pm: A’s general manager David Forst tells reporters (including John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group and CSNBayArea.com’s Joe Stiglich) that he hasn’t yet had a chance to speak to Reddick’s agent since the two sides have been playing “phone tag” due to travel and other assorted issues. At this point “it’s impossible to say” if an extension can be worked out before Opening Day, though Forst is happy to hear that Reddick wants to stay with the club.
10:59am: The Athletics have yet to engage Josh Reddick’s representatives in talks about a long-term extension, the outfielder told reporters (including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle). Despite the lack of activity thus far, Reddick reiterated that he was still very interested in remaining with the team for years to come.
Both Reddick and Billy Beane expressed mutual interest in continuing the two sides’ relationship earlier in the offseason. It seemed like negotiations would begin once Reddick’s 2016 contract was finalized — he and the A’s avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $6.575MM deal for the coming season — in mid-January, though over a month has passed with no apparent progress. This isn’t necessarily a bad sign since many clubs wait until Spring Training to fully engage in extension talks. It does, however, create a shorter window to reach a new deal; Reddick, like most players wanting to avoid distractions, has stated that he doesn’t want negotiations to last into the season.
Reddick, who just turned 29 earlier this week, has hit .255/.317/.441 with 83 homers over the last five seasons (including a 32-homer outburst in 2012) and, except for last year, has posted excellent defensive metrics as a right fielder. With another solid season in 2016, Reddick will position himself for a very healthy free agent contract next winter, especially given the overall weakness of the 2016-17 free agent class. This could make it difficult for Oakland to lock Reddick up, particularly given the A’s have generally shied away from pricey extensions under Beane’s management. Reddick could have more value to the A’s in terms of the compensatory first-rounder he could net the team if he rejects a qualifying offer and signs elsewhere next offseason, or he could possibly be a midseason trade candidate if the Athletics aren’t in contention.
Reddick is not dumb seeing how many average outfielders like him are getting big contracts he will test the market. there is always that GM that over pays for a player.
Josh Reddick is hardly an average outfielder. Most of the premium ones who were available this offseason including Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Alex Gordon signed for considerably less dollars and years than their projections at the onset of free agency. Others in the next tier like Dexter Fowler and Austin Jackson remain unsigned with spring training already underway.
All that being said, Reddick does figure to get paid next offseason since he may very well be the elite outfielder available in a generally weak overall class. He likely won’t approach Jason Heyward type money short of a Cespedes type walk year in 2016, even in the possible event that the A’s deal him by the summer trade deadline making him ineligible for a qualifying offer and it’s resulting stigma as a FA.
In my opinion, Reddick will not sign an extension with the A’s before opening day, the A’s will not be serious contenders for a division title or wild card birth by the trade deadline and Reddick gets dealt to a legitimate postseason challenger for a younger MLB player with team control or some prospects.
Kind of crazy how correct you were about this.
Well, as the saying goes., “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while”.
Or was it an “acorn”? LOL
I just don’t see the A’s, who already gave a huge contract to a seemingly-franchise player who had no injury history, only to watch him immediately have his career derailed by injuries and made the team irrelevant from 07-11 in Eric Chavez, I don’t think it makes sense to give the same deal to a guy who already has been established as being injury prone. Reddick has only topped 600 PA’s once in 4 years as a regular. The A’s also have Matt Olson converting to RF, who
It also doesn’t work for Reddick, who if he unlocked that power he showed in 2012, in combination with his new plate approach, could be borderline elite at the plate and in RF, if he has a monster year he could get far more money on the open market.
Who does Beane think he is kidding? Like the A’s would ever actually give anyone an extension. Reddick will be gone by the trade deadline if he is putting up another solid year, and everyone knows it. That’s by far the best case scenario for Reddick anyway.
Billy Beane gave Eric Chavez an extension, signed Hiroyuki Nakajima for 2/6 to never suit up for the team, paid Jim Johnson $10M, paid Billy Butler $30M.
Reddick’s in line to get overpaid, and the A’s are smart to not overpay him, as they already have a potentially superior hitter in Matt Olson in the wings.
I’d love if they signed Joey Bats for 4/100 just to silence critics like you.
The Chavez extension was like 10 years ago. Plently of talented players have come and gone since then. But I agree that Reddick will get overpaid, so why the dog and pony show about an extension? The day the A’s sign any top of the market free agent talent instead of trading young, cost controlled top of the market talent I will eat my shoe. Enjoy the last couple years of Sonny Gray.
As a Jays fan, I could see Josh getting paid in Toronto next year if we don’t sign Joey Bats (which I don’t think we will). Josh should be able to get 5/75 on the open market IMO, and if that is the case, maybe the A’s resign him?
If he is going to test the market the A’s need to trade him. If he has another solid year and gg on the defensive side with no injuries he will be more valuable at the deadline. Gives Matt Olson a chance to get his feet wet at RF in AAA for a bit before coming up.
I’m a big fan of Reddick, but really can’t see the A’s locking him up. Given his injury history, waiting to deal him at deadline could be risky. If a team is willing to give up some real value for him, I feel like they should probably pull the trigger. That could also open the door for a Fowler signing. It doesn’t seem like he is going to get a contract to his liking. If he signs a 1 year with A’s their 1st rounder is protected. If bullpen makeover works and A’s are a solid team they keep him and offer a QO, and he has replaced Reddick on top of whatever they get for Reddick. If A’s don’t compete he gets dealt to a contender and doesn’t have to worry about a QO being attached to him again. Probably a long shot, but somebody I feel is going to get a bargain on Fowler
I like the idea of the A’s going after Fowler, or even Bruce at this point.
Supposedly the 3 team deal that fell though with Jays, Angels, and Reds had Bruce at a pretty low price. I’d be interested, but I think A’s might actually be on his no trade list if I remember correctly? Doesn’t mean he wouldn’t waive it but still…