The Red Sox looked into a long-term extension with Mookie Betts last winter, but both Betts and Xander Bogaerts are comfortable in year-to-year deals for now, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports. Betts is already making a nice sum in endorsement deals, so it perhaps isn’t surprising that he (and Bogaerts) are in no rush to pursue a multi-year contract. Bogaerts was arbitration-eligible for the first time last winter and is earning $4.5MM for 2017, while Betts will get his first run through the arb process this coming offseason, so while the price tags for both young stars will rise considerably, the Sox are still getting an overall bargain.
Here’s more from Heyman’s notes about the American League and National League from earlier this week…
- There still haven’t been any talks about an extension between Carlos Santana and the Indians. One executive believes Santana can land four years and $60MM in free agency this winter.
- The Rays aren’t looking to sell, as they have a winning record and are in the thick of the AL East and wild card races. Tampa Bay has been constantly cited as a potential seller given their financial limitations, with pending free agent Alex Cobb reportedly a candidate to switch teams. Still, the Rays’ rotation has been thinned by Blake Snell’s demotion to the minors and Matt Andriese’s hip injury, so the club could hold off on any pitching decisions until closer to the deadline.
- The Rays made a “creative” offer to Jose Bautista last winter that could have become a three-year deal if all options had been exercised. The Rays were one of relatively few teams that were linked to Bautista (Heyman also mentions the Indians had interest) this winter, and ultimately, the slugger chose to stay in Toronto for more guaranteed money. Bautista is earning $18MM this season, with a $17MM mutual option (with a $500K buyout) for 2018 and a $20MM club option for 2019 that can vest based on games played.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman is in his last year under contract but the team will give him an extension if he wishes. The same is also true of manager Joe Girardi. The Yankees generally wait until after the season to explore new deals for management, though with the team performing so well, Cashman and Girardi both seem very likely to remain in their current positions.
- The Braves are expected to look into trades for pending free agents such as Jaime Garcia and Brandon Phillips. Both players are performing well, with Phillips on pace for his best overall offensive season since 2011 and Garcia bouncing back ERA-wise (even if his peripherals are somewhat middling) after a disappointing 2016 season.
- Speaking of the Braves’ Garcia, he has hired Michael Moye as his agent. In another representation change, White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia hired Gene Mato in April. For more on who represents who in the baseball world, be sure to check out MLBTR’s Agency Database.
- A rival executive believes Jake Arrieta will get “at least five years” in free agency this winter despite a shaky performance thus far in 2017. Arrieta’s 4.64 ERA over 77 2/3 IP could be in part due to some bad luck (a .319 BABIP, 65.8% strand rate and a spike in his home run rate), though his velocity and ground-ball rates are both down from last season and he is posting his highest hard-hit ball rate since 2010. A sixth guaranteed year could be possible if Arrieta can so easily obtain five years, Heyman reasons, though given the Cubs ace’s struggles and his age (32 next Opening Day), I have my doubts.
- Greg Holland’s outstanding comeback season with the Rockies could put him in line for a free agent deal similar to Mark Melancon’s four-year, $62MM contract with the Giants from last offseason. Scott Boras, Holland’s agent, is aiming even higher, reportedly looking for a deal in the range of the record-setting (for relievers) contracts landed by Aroldis Chapman and Kenley Jansen.
- One Nationals source says the team thinks the Dodgers could be Washington’s biggest competition for Bryce Harper when the star outfielder reaches free agency after the 2018 season. Harper has seemingly been linked to the Yankees for years, though as Heyman notes, Aaron Judge’s emergence in right field could mean that New York instead pursues Manny Machado first among the star-studded 2018-19 free agent class before looking into Harper. Then again, if the Yankees are able to “get below the [luxury tax] threshold, there’s no telling what they may try to do” that winter, given how their tax penalty clock will be reset just as multiple superstar players will hit the open market.
Arrieta might get the 5-6 years but he’s not gonna get the 200 million, he’s looking human this year
I wouldn’t sign Arrieta for more than one year.
He looks shot out.
Maybe a world series hang over? Because lester doesn’t look like himself from last year either.
World series hang over? Lol Arrieta has only been good in three of his 8 yrs in the mlb. I’ve always believed he is over rated.
this.
It’s from 2 straight years of 250 IP in those long runs in the playoffs.
Finally i read something that ive always said Arrieta is over rated if he kept pictching in the national league he would get murdered
He’s had an ongoing cut on his right thumb, it keeps worsening as each game progresses and he loses command. If it heals he will be back.
That’s funny. Did he get that last year? Must be a lingerer.
Also, I’m pretty sure he said it was fine after his last game. He blamed that performance on “being sweaty.”
Sounds like a bunch of excuses from someone who can’t figure out what he’s doing after losing significant velocity…
Some dumb GM will pay him, but he’s not worth it…..at all.
He has peaked and this is the down slope. I mean, out of his whole career, he has really only had two excellent years. The rest were mediocre. He’s on the wrong side of 30, he seems to get shelled in almost every outing, and he has lost 2 mph off his fastball.
This ain’t gonna get better.
Tons of people have pointed out that his windup is all out of sorts this year, but I swear his inward stride has become even more pronounced in recent outings. He used to stand pretty tall and stride towards the right-handed batter’s box, and now he bends back like he’s doing the limbo, then strides towards the away team’s on-deck circle. Hence, what was once 94-96 is now 91-92.
200 million? Anyone that gives him a big contract is dumb period. He deserves Ian Kennedy money. Thats it.
He’s no bum but he might get 140 mil stretch it out how you want 4-5 years I would go 4 120mil that’s what he is playing like
Boras will do his typical song and dance for Arrieta this offseason. I expect he’ll play up Arrieta’s competitiveness, conditioning, durability, and postseason experience. He’ll market a selective track record of Arrieta’s performance. He’ll try to pacify concerns about Arrieta’s rising ERA and declining velo by instead focusing on Arrieta’s career-best K/9 (i.e. he doesn’t need his old velo to miss bats) and attributing any unattractive peripherals (e.g. ERA, HR/9) to bad luck or flukes. (This assumes Arrieta continues at his current pace.)
Given his demands, I doubt Boras will get many serious bites. GMs (w/a couple exceptions) and analytics are too advanced these days to overlook Arrieta’s red flags (which also include a huge drop in GB%). Boras generally plays the long game (and every card he has), but I think he’ll eventually resort to a “creative” contract structure, such as a front-loaded 5-yr/~$130M deal that includes player opt-out clause(s). Under that structure, Arrieta would earn $28-30M/yr for a year or two. If he pitched well, he could then opt out and sign another contract for 3-5 yrs @ a higher AAV. If he failed to rebound and/or continued to deteriorate, he could choose to not opt out and stay put for another few years @ ~$20-25M/yr.
I’ve had both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado linked to the Phillies. I don’t see anything in the way of that. The Phillies will have a payroll commitment of the MLB minimum that winter and they are a team that could pay tax on the payroll.
The Phillies could afford four players like Harper and Machado and surround them with farm talent. That’s what a successful rebuild would look like for the Phillies.
The Phillies need to get the first pick in the draft this year and then tank for it again next year. I want Harper, Machado and the first pick in the MLB Draft in 2019.
Tanking in in baseball for a number one pick doesn’t translate the same as in the NFL or NBA. So much of what happens depends on an organization’s minor league development. Phillies need to play good baseball and let scouting and development take care of the rest.
Ask the Nationals how well back to back No. 1 picks worked out for them.
It’s not just the Nats. Look at the first overall picks and then look at the eighth pick for the same five or ten year stretch.
Then consider how it should have been obvious that Kris Bryant should have been the first pick overall rather than Mark Appel .
The MLB Draft is only a “crap shoot” if you don’t know what you’re doing. Same with the postseason.
that might be one regret the astros have in getting Appel instead of Bryant
And that regret has been passed onto Phillies fans who lost SS Jonathan Arauz because some idiot wanted Appel in the Velasquez deal.
Yes, because Zimmerman, Murphy, Trea Turner, Rendon haven’t done much. Harper is a stud, but if you take away Zimmerman and Murphy’s contributions this year and they’re only a few games up of ATL on the division race. WSH lucked out with those #1 picks, but it’s been more than just that, a lot more. Scherzer is one of the 3 best pitchers in baseball, so they don’t have to rely on Stras nearly as much, similar to Greinke excelling in LAD beside Kershaw.
Those were, literally, the two cases I can thin of where the #1 picks were determined well in advance of the draft (I n Harper’s case, everyone knew he was going to go first overall three years before he was drafted, and Boras even steered him to JUCO to ensure the Nats would take him.). Strasburg and Harper were special cases. There’s also the Bryan Bullington and Matt Bushes of the world.
See the thing is you’re not just playing for the 1-1, but you’re also playing for pool money. In theory you’re hoping 1-1 is going to be an absolute stud, but whether or not he pans out you potentially cash in a haul if you play the money game right. If you don’t know what you’re doing it can be a disaster.
the phillies are also linked to Stanton if the marlins do decide to put him on the trade block.
No they’re not linked to Stanton. They won’t be linked to Trout either until he’s a free agent.
NO__TRADES.
NONE.
Only trades are someone like Altherr, Herrera or Nola for good high ceiling prospects.
This is the last rebuild.
I saw an article that the phillies would be interested in getting stanton if the marlins put him on the trading block.
Perhaps someone in the Phillies organization has a death wish?
The Phillies are not going to “build around” anyone. They are going to have a core of prime time superstars.
Harper, Machado and Trout for starters. They are going to be surrounded by young athletic talent, not old men over thirty or Long Island Ducks masquerading as MLB players.
Who is older, Harper, Altherr or Machado?
look it up.
There is a 0% chance the Phillies land Machado, Trout, and Harper.
Less then 0..this guys batCrazy!
Sh**
Lol this guy.
I would doubt they trade him to Philly
Not trading for Stanton, period.
1)Too many strikeouts. 2)Good pitchers handle him. 3)Stanton is always hurt.
Correct so correct
And then of course Garcia sucks yesterday.
But BP won the game…for whatever that’s worth (not much).
We won’t get much out of either of them admittedly that I wouldn’t even follow their markets.
No offense Phillies fans, but players like Machado and Harper aren’t signing with your team until you start winning. Not when contenders come around offering similar money
I think that is when the phillies will actually start winning , If they add Machado put him at short stop because Crawford looks like a bust.
The money won’t be similar, it will be more.
The Phillies are loaded and those guys play for money first. Ask Zach Greinke.
Diamondbacks look pretty good these days…
It’s unlikely that Santana will be extended. He changed agents this winter and has never been free agent eligible. If the Indians were inclined to sign him, I highly doubt they would commit to the years required for Santana and his new, hungry agent to ink. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Indians try Michael Brantley at first base next spring in hopes of preserving his health. Bobby Bradley still needs a lot of work and Edwin Encarnacion is no longer a viable option for everyday usage in the field.
Lol comparing machado to harper. Just because Judge is in RF shouldnt have anything to do with their pursuit of Harper. Harper is a once-in-a-generation player, machado is obviously great but he’s clearly a tier under harper, especially with how he’s playing this season.
LOL
I do not see it for Santana. He has not been very good this year and he plays 1B/DH. Remember how well those players did last season? Pedro Alvarez was a part timer last year and his numbers were much better. He got a minor league deal. I am not saying Santana is going to get that but I think Trumbo or Morales deal is more likely.
Dodgers don’t need Harper, I’m pretty sure if they were going to pay a player 40m a year they’d want it to be worth it
I think they will go depth over I’ve big star also they will have to extend Kershaw that winter so they might not have that much money
I don’t think any player in any sport is worth more then 25 Million a year and that’s me being generous! It all comes down to us the fans paying for that contract. It will come to the point that I will only watch sports on tv and not go to games anymore, those prices are getting crazy! I Served my country for 24 yrs in the US ARMY and never made more then $20,000 a year. So those salary numbers for athletes are crazy and I am not paying for them! Enjoy giving your money to the rich!
If you’re watching baseball on TV you are paying the salaries of baseball players far more directly than if you were going to games. MLBAM is the driver of revenue in baseball, as are the TV contracts. The money that comes into a stadium usually stays mostly in the stadium. There is tremendous overhead in putting on a game.
Would be awesome if Bryce played for the Dodgers but didn’t he already come out saying he wants to play with the Cubs?