Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon implied to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and other reporters Sunday that he’d be open to discussing an extension with the team (Twitter link). “Why not stay with one organization?” said Rendon, who has been a member of the franchise since it chose him sixth overall in the 2011 draft. The Scott Boras client has turned into an elite-level player since then, and he’s only two years away from free agency (he’ll make a projected $11.5MM in 2018). Unsurprisingly, general manager Mike Rizzo suggested earlier this week that the Nats would be interested in locking up Rendon before he’s able to leave.
More on Washington and two of its division rivals:
- The Mets’ front office enters each offseason “flying blind,” without an exact idea of how much money is available to spend, Marc Carig of Newsday reports. Carig reached out via email to Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon to discuss the team’s payroll, but the executive declined comment through a spokesman. As a result, Carig goes on to criticize the Mets for a lack of transparency and accountability, an unwillingness to spend like the huge-market team they are, and their almost nonexistent scouting presence in the Pacific Rim and Cuba.
- Even with Carlos Santana, Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek now aboard, the Phillies may not contend for a playoff spot in 2018. However, those signings are credibility-building moves that will help the team make progress in the win-loss column next season, thus making it a more attractive option for premier free agents in a year, Matt Gelb of Philly.com observes. According to Gelb, the club has done a lot of planning around next winter’s class, one that’s currently slated to include Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and other superstars.
- Reliever Brandon Kintzler turned down offers to close elsewhere to return to the Nationals as a setup man, Rizzo revealed Sunday (Twitter link via Mark Zuckerman of MASNsports.com). “Part of the thing we like most about him is he’s about the name on the front of the jersey, more so than the name on the back,” Rizzo said. More on Kintzler from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, who reports (Twitter link) that the righty’s agent, Kevin Kohler, asked Rizzo during negotiations if he’d re-up Kintzler to a one-year, $5MM contract. Rizzo said he would, but he expressed doubt that Kintzler would accept that. Kintzler’s camp then responded with a two-year, $15MM proposal. In the end, the sides settled on a two-year agreement with a $10MM guarantee and a chance for $6MM million more in incentives.
Every free agent, no matter how expensive, will sign with the Phillies.
hahah that’s what the phans are sayin
I mean, we SHOULD be able to scoop up at least one elite FA next year.
Harper/Machado/Keuchel/Kershaw/Donaldson/Blackmon are all available
I’d bet on them signing two of those.
Just two? You’re being way too cautious with your predictions…
Maybe Donaldson and/or Blackmon. Can’t see any of the other guys signing with them.
I can’t see either of them signing in Philly
Why can’t you see the Phillies signing Harper or Machado? They don’t want to play in Philly? I think where a player signs has much more to do with MONEY than anyone else. If the Phillies—or ANY team—outbids the rest, that’s where the player will sign. Very, very rarely does a player EVER sign for less than top dollar.
Because they want a ring and don’t want to wait 5-7 years for it. For openers.
It’s happened many many times. Will start with Oh from Japan for starters. I can name many on the Cubs roster.
Can name many what on Cubs roster?
They should really only concentrate on Harper & Machado. The rest leave a lot to be desired.
Kershaw…one of the best pitchers of all-time, no doubt, but a long history of back problems. A bad back is the only thing that is likely to age worse than a bad shoulder/elbow in a pitcher. Plus he’s going to get PAID dramatically. Might not get 10+ years that Harper/Machado probably will, but might get $45M/$50M AAV. I wouldn’t want to be the team paying him $250M for the next 5 years or so.
Donaldson…great production, but age is an issue. He’ll get 6+ years, meaning you’re paying top dollar into his late 30s.
Blackmon…same with Donaldson, also added bonus is his production is dramatically different outside of Coors Field…OPS+ is half on the road.
Kuechel…a very good pitcher, but not the absolute ace he will get paid like. Wouldn’t be a bad signing at around $25/M per year, but likely going to get Greinke money, and at $34M annually he’s not that great.
Kershaw will stay put in L.A. Almost zero chance he signs elsewhere upon opt out.
But that is likely only true because the Dodgers will outbid everyone else for his services. If another team outbids the Dodgers—and there’s a possibility of it, given Friedman’s history—then Kershaw is likely gone.
Yet dodger fans think they are getting Darvish or JA this year when they sent 5 guys to get under the Lux tax. Guess silly dumb fans don’t think and know this business. Then u think they are getting a bunch of FA next year. They still have to lock up the youth. Now add Lux tax. Haha good luck. Same goes with the Yankees. You really think they are getting Harper, Macho and an ace SP next year. That’s near a Billion dollars and stay under the Lux tax. Lol. Good luck with Stanton Yank fans.
I’m not sure how much is Dodger fans want Darvish after witnessing his World Series collapse. I know it’s small sample size and all but I was there and paid a bundle to watch game 7 be over after 8 pitches. Hard to get back on board for Darvish after that.
“us” Dodger fans. Damn autocorrect.
I doubt they are done this year. Look for one more SP and bat via FA or trade. Next year will take care of itself….1 or two FA then.
Yes. Soon the Phillies 25 man roster will be an all star team
Rendons comments dont scream enthusiasm to stay. Especially his manager comments which i wouldnt blame him for leaving because of. Looking at potential cost vs production id argue Rendon would be more important to keep than Harper.
They will sign 1 of Harper or Machado and best believe they will be offering the most money. More than likely Harper he will be going wherever the most money is thrown his way
Atleast 2 of those guys..I can see Machardo and Keuchel both going to the phillies and perhaps another pitcher. If they could acquire archer or stroman right now, a top 3 of say archer/stroman, nola, and keuchel would be tough to beat with that young offense.
Lots of assumptions here by Philly fans it seems. Don’t get your hopes up. Yes, you have lots of money. So do at least a handful of other teams. I’d be happy to get one of that group if I were any of you.
Happy is .500.. Money means playoffs, and a third WS championship
No matter how much $$ Philly has next year, the NYY & LAD will have more. Then the FA decision is: NY, LA, or…Philly. Don’t expect to win that competition with many of the premier FAs. Keuchel, yes. Blackmon, sure. Not Harper, not Machado, probably not Donaldson.
Without knowing the specifics of the team’s finances, it’s difficult to say which team will have the most money to spend. All three teams have extremely lucrative TV deals—I’d guess that the Yankees are first, Dodgers second, then the Phillies, but the differences aren’t all that huge when it all comes down to it. On another note the Phillies probably have significantly less debt than the other two teams. The Yankees have been battling local politicians to allow them to restructure the debt—public bonds they purchase, that are not legally allowed to be restructured—surrounding their $1.6B stadium. And the Dodgers likely have big-time debt payments on their $2B+ team purchase. That effects the bottom line.
Add in that the Yankees and Dodgers have been paying much higher salaries and the luxury tax while the Phillies have been pocketing profits, could have a big impact too. If the three teams are bidding on the same player—Harper for instance—and are all in the same general area, but the Phillies can sweeten the pot by offering a huge chunk—$50M-$100M of the contract—upfront in cash, that could tip the scales.
The Phillies have shown a willingness to spend at the top of the market, generate tons of revenues, and are sitting on a pile of cash with a billionaire owner who is not paying back tons of debt. They may not get their target, but they should not be counted out as major players on next year’s free agent market.
Don’t forget – if money is the prime factor to the player – taxation.
The state and local income taxes are considerably lower in Philadelphia than in NY, NY and LA, CA. Sales taxes are lower too.
I’ll get my hopes as high as I —- please, thank you very much.
Just for discussion how bout a 3 way deal with Machado coming to an extension after the 72 hour window
Dbacks = Machado, Kazmir & McCarthy
Braves = Greinke & Drury
Orioles= Markakis, Lamb, Newcomb & Allard
Switch lamb and drury Atlanta has stated in the past they don’t want him back
Very interesting proposal. I’m not sure if that would be enough to get Machado but from the DBacks perspective, it makes some sense. The only problem is that, if they plan to lock up Goldschmidt, they’ll have two monster contracts on the books that will likesly handicap them for a while. Having two stars surrounded by replacement level players wouldn’t make a contender
You can say the same thing about having Greinke’s contract instead of Machado’s then
No ones trading for ZG n getting stuck paying him 34.5 million at 36, 37 and 38.
Would you pay any player 34.5 million at age 37 or 38. I wouldn’t at 35 or 34. That’s what Arz has to do or any team that gets him. No thank you.
Dbacks would be giving up a lot for 2 mediocre pitchers and an elite 3B they wont be able to sign after 2018
And my post clearly states the 72 hr window with an extension so quick to criticize that you don’t fully read the post
Its unrealistic machado signs an extension. No chance
Oh boy metseventually. Marc Craig calls it like it is and you are not posting. I wow err why?
You’re one to try calling someone out after you went on for weeks saying how Rutherford is an untouchable prospect. Don’t be a jerk.
Isn’t it weird how this guy tries to call out people he doesn’t know?
A few questions El dude…
Where did you get your info?
What part of Colorado is your grass grown, cause you sound like you’ve inhaled too much.
Just sayin.
Sorry man, I don’t spend my life glued to my phone and making useless comments on social media all day long. Get a life.
Wow you are back. I’m on this for 10 minutes a day while I warm up with a strong coffee.
How is your decaf Eventually?
Is this social media? Haha
I’m sure Harper would love to go to Philly so he can be booed by the Philly fans for 81 more games a season! It’s going to take a half a Billion to get him in Philly! Good Luck with that!!!
Just like they booed Hamels, Utley, Howard, Rollins, Ruiz, etc. for 5 years.
If we go for any big free agents next year, I want an ace like Keuchel or Kershaw. As I’ve said before:
Blackmon’s a product of Coors, Manny has on base problems and while Harpers a great player, the consistency is a bit of an issue if we’re talking about that contract.
And besides, we have so much outfield depth. No need to overpay for one when you already have Hoskins, Dubs, Williams and Altherr.
Clayton Kershaw will never put on a Phillies uniform and that is a guarantee. Better chase Dallas Keuchel
I’d trade dubs for an arm. Get Cole or Stroman for him.
I doubt philly gets either. Kersh will stay in LA I’m 100% positive. N Dallas K already said he wants to stay with the Astros.
Sure he does. That’s why he hired Scott Boras.
I don’t buy that. Keuchel will only re-sign with Houston if they pay the market value which will be determined in the months following his free agent filing.
As a Phillies fan you don’t want them chasing Kershaw. Too much money, too much risk. He’s a HOF pitcher, but with his back issues not someone you want to commit big dollars to in his 30s. Let LA overpay and keep him.
I’d like to see them target Keuchel, but only up to a certain price point…maybe $26M/year 5-6 years at most.
Between Harper and Machado I think Harper is the safer bet…People want to talk all the time about his inconsistency, and then talk about overpaying for previous production. With Harper it’ll be about paying for his future production/potential. Same with Machado, but where I see the difference is in position and injury history; Machado plays a more physically intense position, and has had knee problems already. That, to me, seems more likely to recur and become problematic than what Harper has been through.
According to sources Washington Nationals have officially offered Lorenzo Cain a 3 – year contract, emerging as a surprise suitor for the outfielder.
In Addition, the Oakland A’s have made an offer for Mets RHP Matt Harvey. If A’s cannot complete deal, they are also interested in Royals RHP Ian Kennedy.
Would the Nats be signing Cain as a preemptive move to soften the blow of Harper’s departure? They don’t need an OF right now
Marc Craig is right to call out the Mets for their lack of transparency and obvious small market operations in baseball’s biggest market. Mets fans deserve to know how much longer this will continue. By all counts the Mets should be numbered among the teams who will pursue Harper, Machado, etc next winter, but no one in the media has even dared to speculate about it. Exactly how much money did Fred Wilpon lose in the Madoff Ponzi scheme again?
Solaris-you are right to think that a team playing NL baseball in one of the two largest markets that also NEEDS stat position players would be transparent about the opportunity next fall.
However the Mets have never planned their spending. It’s never been based upon a strategy.
Instead it’s frugality to an extreme and once they are embarrassed they throw money around like they don’t know how to spend it. Often late for the best target or best fit, they end up with misfits.
Though a few of their fans here are blind and tender about it we should not stay silent. When NYC baseball was at its best their were two NL clubs that called NY its home. There was plenty of room for everyone (and the Yankees won more than their share of WS championships).
We had a whiff of it in 2000, however the Mets were playing on shoe strings and stopped showing up deep into the post season.
What is going on now is like a Ponzi scheme. Jeff and Mutt steal hard earned money from their fans and buy Brooklyn Dodger trinkets. It’s time to chase them like Miami has done with Loria and LA has done with their parking lot owner!