The Cubs seem likely to pick up left-hander Cole Hamels’ $20MM option for 2019, Jon Heyman of Fancred writes. The club could instead buy out Hamels for $6MM, a sum his previous team – the Rangers – would cover, though that would be a surprise in the wake of his second-half performance. After the Cubs acquired Hamels in late July, he pitched to a 2.36 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 over 76 1/3 innings. Thanks in part to Hamels’ excellent results over the final couple months of the season, Cubs president Theo Epstein recently called the 34-year-old a “breath of fresh air.”
Here’s more from Heyman’s latest column:
- Surprisingly, despite his quality production from 2017-18 and his reasonable price tag for next season, the Blue Jays aren’t certain to exercise first baseman Justin Smoak’s option, according to Heyman. Toronto must decide whether to bring back Smoak for $8MM or cut him loose and pay $250K. But if the team’s uninterested in retaining Smoak, perhaps it’ll pick up the soon-to-be 32-year-old’s option and shop him to first base needy-clubs. MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently took a look at several teams that could pursue a deal for the switch-hitting Smoak, who slashed .242/.350/.457 (121 wRC+) with 25 home runs in 594 PA this year.
- Red Sox infielder Eduardo Nunez is “likely” to exercise his $5MM player option, per Heyman. Nunez could otherwise opt out and receive $2MM, but he’d be doing so on the heels of a rough campaign (heroics in Game 1 of the World Series notwithstanding). The 31-year-old hit a meek .265/.289/.388 (78 wRC+) in 502 regular-season plate appearances and accounted for minus-0.4 fWAR – the sixth-worst mark among those who totaled at least 500 PA. Notably, Nunez had a much better campaign in 2017, but he was still unable to secure a large guarantee as a free agent last winter.
- Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud is a non-tender candidate, Heyman relays. The oft-injured d’Arnaud is projected to earn $3.7MM in 2019, his last year of arbitration, but the Mets could deem that too pricey in the wake of another injury-shortened season. D’Arnaud, 29, suffered a partial UCL tear in early April, limiting him to four games. With d’Arnaud unavailable, the Mets ended up relying on Devin Mesoraco and Kevin Plawecki behind the plate. There’s also uncertainty with Mesoraco heading into the offseason, given that he’s a pending free agent.
- Astros superstar Alex Bregman is among those sticking with agent Brodie Scoffield, who recently left Legacy to start Tidal Sports Group, Heyman writes. The 24-year-old third baseman is coming off a tremendous season in which he hit .284/394/.532 (157 wRC+) with 31 home runs, more walks (96) than strikeouts (85) and 7.6 fWAR across 705 trips to the plate. Bregman’s in line to play his final pre-arb season in 2019.
- Some manager-needy teams recently requested interviews with Padres executive Moises Alou, but the 52-year-old spurned those overtures, Heyman reports. Alou, a big league outfielder from 1990-2008, joined San Diego’s front office in 2015. He doesn’t have any managerial experience, though it does run in his family. His father, Felipe Alou, managed the Expos (1992-2001) and Giants (2003-06) to a combined 1,033-1,021 record, and he took home NL Manager of the Year honors during the strike-shortened ’94 season.
I wonder if Moises still goes #1 on his hands.
Why is that always the first place my mind goes too?
It’s obvious why. As a Pirates fan the first thing I think of is what if Moises Alou wasn’t the PTBNL in the Zane Smith trade with the Expos and was the internal replacement for Barry Bonds’ departure in 93.
I bet it isn’t the first thing that Steve Bartman thinks when he hears the name Moises Alou
I bet Heymans going to be wrong about Hamels, Smoak, and Darnaud.
Smock is excellent
At what?????
Baseball
Keeping clothes clean.
The Cubs. When does Theo Epstein get some heat? He inherited the best farm system in baseball. Yep the World Series. But really. Jason Hayward? Yu Darvish? That lousy relief pitcher he overpaid for. The genius Joe Madden. Haha. Mr. Met could have delivered a championship with that core . Time to put up Genius Joe and Junior genius Theo,
Lets not forget Theo’s signing of Edwin Jackson and how horrible he turned out. Or the DJ Lemahieu trade for Ian Stewart.
@tonysdog01
Theo did not inherit the best farm system in baseball. He created it. Get s clue. Wow.
I try not to be negative to other posters but this is one of the dumbest posts I’ve ever seen. Epstein inherited I believe the 29th ranked farm system is baseball and built it ground up into a World Series champion. Baez is the only pre-Epstein Cubs farmhand that’s in MLB. Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber, Almora, Russell, Contreras, Hendricks, Gleybar Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease… all Epstein. Yeah the Heyward deal sucks…Darvish to small a sample size yet… pitchers get hurt. This happens.
He also made the trades that stole Strop and Arrieta for Scott Feldman, Cole Hamels and Daniel Murphy for virtually nothing, and signed Lester and Zobrist, who have been huge contributors to 3-4 straight playoff teams
This site doesn’t have to be just for baseball savvy users, but you should have some idea of what you’re talking about before you post about something again.
Murphy sure helped them go far. LOL.
Sure they didn’t win it but Murphy hit .297/.329/.471 with them and was a clubhouse leader and you paid zero talent and got the Nats to pay part of his salary. That was a really good move…. and it’s funny that I named like 15 players above and you’re like, “well, this one guy that he acquired for 2 months for nothing played well, but they didn’t happen to win the World Series this year.” That’s how good Theo is. Good enough that he hits on the vast majority of his moves, which is better than virtually everyone.
How was Murphy needed as a clubhouse leader, and how would you know that anyway?
Do you have a point Stu Baron?
Murphy was picked up for free off waivers. Ok you are on record as saying that was a bad move.
Ok you hate Theo. We get it. I disagree with you on the Murphy claim off waivers. Curious to see what others think.
Bencole
You make too much sense for these morons. They cannot handle the facts. They just want to hate and be negative.
No good move counts with the haters. Just the few that did not work. Forgot the fact he won two world series with Boston and won the world series in Chicago and we go into the hall of fame one day ….. none of that counts. Lol
But of all the loser negative comments I love the one alleging Theo INHERITED the best farm system in baseball. Thats my favorite moron. Lol
He never said Murphy was needed as a clubhouse leader. He just mentioned it was an added bonus. He was a clubhouse leader. If you follow the Cubs there have been articles on that and how the guys love talking hitting with him and how he carries himself.
The point was acquiring Murphy off wavers, meaning not trading talent or free agent money, was a shrew move. A fantastic move. The end result is not relevant to the fact it was a great pickup.
Now try again on your comment.
JKB, I never said it was a bad move, and I don’t care enough about the Cubs either way to have anything against Mr. Epstein. Don’t assume things that aren’t said. My only point was that even with Murphy, they still lost the WC game at home and were one and done, and thus didn’t wind up much better than 10 other NL teams that didn’t make the playoffs. In my book, that means he didn’t help them very much.
And did you skip school when spelling was taught? They acquired him on WAIVERS. Nobody WAVED.
muh “gOoD cLuBhOuSe GuY”
“he never said Murphy was needed as a clubhouse leader” Then why bring it up? A clubhouse leader is needed, and used to compensate for things..are you saying that was needed?
Murphy is the same guy who didn’t want gays on his team. How is that a clubhouse leader?
Calling those who disagree with you names. Now that’s a very mature response. How old are you, JKB, 12?
He’s old enough to be a great clubhouse guy…
Well said Ben Cole!
The Theo Trio actually drafted and traded for Rizzo. Lol. Drafted with the Red Sox and traded Cashner to bring him to the Cubs as like their first trade
Yes, He did all that while you the fan base suffered through one of the most famous tank jobs in ML history…how many years did the Cubs lose over 100 games?
Yes when you finish last and pick first you have to be right some of the time.
Don’t brag too much about getting something for nothing because the rest of the league isn’t stupid and catches up to that type of strategy quickly..
I know you are referring to 5th place finishes but technically the cubs have lost over 100 games one time. and since that 1 time they increased their win total each year until they maxed out at 103 wins in 2106
Since Theo took over the Cubs have lost 100 games once—-in 2012, his first season. By the way, the Cubs did not finish in last place in that season. The Astros were last in the division (107 losses). The Cubs have never picked first under Theo.
They have finished last twice (yep, that’s suffering through that famous tank job you refer to) and have been to the playoffs four times under Theo’s watch.
Theo recognized the organization was in such bad shape the rank job was needed. Just like in Houston. It wasn’t needed with teams like the Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers. Sometimes you just have to play the cards you’re dealt.
Slevin, I forgot about that statement by Murphy and it is concerning to me. I take your point there. That said, my statement about being a clubhouse leader was based upon reading several articles and a couple interviews with Cubs players. It’s kind of been discussed quite a bit in Chicago.
you shouldn’t make outlandish claims that a quick internet search can disprove, especially as an opening sentence.
Theo Inherited a pretty weak farm system. of all the prospects he inherited, the only two that amounted to anything were a just drafted Javy Baez and some marginal 3b prospect named Contreras (whom Theo’s development system decided to make a Catcher)
Great point Petrie! Theo was huge on saying they needed to find a catcher and converted many prospects who were not making it to catcher in an attempt to find some gold there … and bam … Cubs now have an all star catcher.
Fat lot of good it did them beyond having one more guy in the All-Star Game, JKB. They still lost both the NL Central tiebreaker and the WC game and thus were barely better than the 10 NL teams who didn’t make the playoffs. Fact is, the Cubs had their moment in the sun two years ago and good for them, but now they’re not good enough to hold the Dodgers’, Astros’, or Red Sox’s jocks. Their pitching is mediocre and the farm system is stripped bare from trades. If saying that makes me a moron, then so be it. I just saved you the trouble of typing your usual intelligent response.
That’s just silly. One gameplayoffs are total crapshoots and the entire postseason tournament rarely is won by the best team – this year is an exception,, but I think there’sen lots of WS winners who got lucky at the right time or had one crazy outlier performance or good luck/fortune – whatever. 162 games is a much better measure of a team’s quality, the 7-game, 5-game and 1-game tournaments are fun and all credit to the winners, but in the end they’re small sample-size tournaments.
No, Theo built the farm system……by trading every productive player he had over 4-5 years for prospects, tanking and getting high draft choices.
Historically, Theo overpays for veteran pitchers as he can’t scout and develop more than a few of his own. They get revitalized and spike up for a bit, then continue their downward trend. Better then 50/50 that the NL adjusts to Hamels in 2019.
Next look for Theo to get at least one high-priced shiny new free agent for 2019. By late May, 2020 Cub fans will have had it with the player. Very seldom does Theo make an under the radar signing or trade to bring in a player that blossoms. He did it with Arrieta, then – as per his track record – let him go in free agency to sign the shiny new toy, Darvish, for far more money. Injuries happen? I knew the guy wasn’t right when they gave him a long-term contract.
Oh Samuel you must be a wizard. You knew he “wasn’t” right huh?
Tell me how Theo let Arrieta go again? So Theo did not want Arrieta. Did not offer a huge contract to him? Did not try to extend him? I guess your NOT a wizard after all then.
Arrieta CHOSE to leave and by the way Mr. Wizard Arrieta, after a hot 6 week start, got rocked the rest of the season. ERA went from 1.7 early to finish at just under 4 ERA. His ERA has gone up almost half a run for 3 years now and will again next year. Yes I am a wizard too.
so Theo takes a bad team, does whatever every other bad team these days does and takes advantage of a system that rewards getting worse, does it well by actually using the high draft picks on productive players, and then uses his team’s financial resources to fill in the gaps… and gets 4 playoff appearances and a WS out of it.
and you want to pretend those are all negatives?
good luck with that
And went hard after Maddon, making a very ballsy move
that too
Theo inherits a team that’s been badly managed for at least half a century, turns it into a model of modern baseball operations by being smart, aggressive, and willing to spend… and still some people wonder why Cubs Fans by a large margin are pretty satisfied with the guy
Every GM/PBO make mistakes, Theo no exception… but what he’s doing as a whole seems to be working pretty well
I’m reading all these comments thinking man people really hate the Cubs for no reason. Theo and company did what they said they were gonna do in Chicago and it still may not be over. Yes they are spending money, but it’s obviously money they can afford so who tf cares? It’s not your money and if you don’t like the Cubs tough crap. Go cheer on your team instead of constantly trying to ridicule another one. That is not what a real baseball fan does. Even as the Brewers were overtaking the Cubs I had nothing but good things to say about them and thought they had the best chance in the National League. Grow up people
Theo’s 1st Round picks:
Albert Almora, Pierce Johnson, and Paul Blackburn. All in 2012. His first draft with the Cubs.
2013, Kris Bryant.
2014, Kyle Schwarber.
2015, Ian Happ.
Luhnow with the Astros had a disaster draft, too. Was it 2014? (The Brady Aiken year. The whole draft was a bust).
I have nothing against the Cubs, simschifan. I outgrew “hating” teams many years ago. I just believe that they had their moment two years ago, and good for them, but now their pitching is mediocre, their farm system is stripped bare from trades, and perhaps they got a tad complacent after winning, although that can’t be quantified. I just think they’re no longer one of the top teams, having lost the WC game and thus being not much better than the 10 NL teams who didn’t make the playoffs.
Samuel, math lesson here—-Theo was hired after the 2011 season—thus if he traded every productive player he had for 4-5 years for prospects, tanking and getting high draft picks that would have been through the 2016 season. By that point he had already won a World Series.
I am totally ok with opinion, but don’t throw out stuff that is simply NOT FACT. You’ve listed the Arrieta scenario as a “track record” of letting players go via free agency to sign the “shiny new toy”.
Here’s a few under the radar traded for or signed players that in some way blossomed: Kyle Hendricks, Anthony Rizzo, for a portion—Addison Russell, Dexter Fowler, Mike Montgomery, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey, Carl Edwards Jr, Travis Wood, David Ross…….and I’m leaving off guys like Tommy LaStella, Jason Motte, Justin Grimm, etc that contibruted for stretches during Theo’s reign.
Theo built that farm system, he didnt inherit it (yes, Baez and Contreras were already there). Darvish signing so far is a mess but Theo is the reason the Cubs finally won a title.
Wonder what the Mets would want for d’Arnaud. Kaleb Cowart fair?
yea as they might just let him walk.
Yeah this sounds like a fair change if scenery trade for both.
I think D’Arnaud needs a change to another team and play only when lefty’s pitch. The Rays should trade for him since he will be in their price range and can offer that.
Theo and the Cubs are certifiably insane if they give a soon to be 35yo pitcher 20mil. Where are the young pitchers Theo promised to develop? I’m not optimistic about anyone in the minors anytime soon.
Big question is what would you do if you were Theo? What’s out there that’s better? The pitching staff isn’t getting any younger and the window of opportunity with the potential the bats can bring is small. 2-3 years.
Possibly offered John Lackey half that amount over the last winter and no need for this dilemma to begin with, nor the deal and an entire season of a dependable starter/rock that has been for over a dozen years, excepting when he tried to pitch with the torn tendon in his elbow in 2011.
Why is it insane to give a 34 year old pitcher $20m for one year. Its a one year option to be picked up. The way he pitched its a no brainer
He’s 35 on December 27th 2018 and he’s pitched 2500+ MLB innings.
Because it’s one year, and guys like Alex Cobb cost $57 million and a number 1 draft pick
People like this are generally White Sox fans, are just mad that both Theo and the Cubs are consistently among the very best in the game, and they wish they had something to talk sh*t about to Cubs fans.
ziIP8….Not all carriages turn into pumpkins at the stroke of midnight and not all pitchers implode at 35 and 2500+ innings.
Never understood the malice Cubs fans have for the White Sox. I’ll admit I had little respect for the Cubs growing up. Piss poor organization ran by penny-pinching buffoons. That’s changed recently, which is a good thing for Chicago, and much needed for baseball. Cubs fans should be glad the Sox won a WS in ‘05. It put more pressure on the Cubs organization to get it done for the most loyal fanbase in the league.
ZilP8
So what? So 2500 innings is the max then? Its not a free agent multi year contract. It one year! So 2300 innings is ok but 2500 is the Max.
And he will be 35 so what? How old is Colon? Verlander? The list of starting pitchers being effective at 35 is a lokg one. So whats your point.
I think the Rangers would have to pay Hamels’ buyout if $6million. So the Cubs could risk buying him out, and then resign him for $14million. Hamels would still get the same $20m.
Hamels would get a lot more than 20M on the open market.
One-year, 20 million…it’s never about the amount, just the contract length,…remember that.
I need somewhere to post how mad I am at Dave Roberts. Boston is begging you to pull hill and he answered their request. He had let up 1 hit and was dominating and frustrating the Red Sox hitters. He puts the game in the hands of his shakey bullpen. Idk who Alexander is, but he looked bad yesterday and doesn’t seem like a guy who will get things done, and then brings madson in who has let every inherited runner score on him. I get the options in the pen are limited, but that’s why you stick with the starter. Those are Series losing moves. And the orioles didn’t see a need for Steve Pearce but he can find his way to the third spot in the World Series
machado is a dirty player, hope he never gets a ring
Ya like he cares about a ring…..give him his 350M, keep the ring…but you’re right, he’s a dog, and showed it by stepping on Pearce’s foot….just a pig……
To be fair, the Pearce thing was different from the Aguilar thing. It didn’t look intentional at all and just seemed like an incidental thing that happens at the bag occasionally, but given who it was and his history, I get why people are lumping the two instances together. Notice Pearce didn’t react to it because I sincerely believe he knew it wasn’t intentional. That said, machado has shown his character and I’d be incredibly weary of signing him, even with his production
Machado seems to have a lot of “incidents” and “accidents”. The guy is just flat-out dirty. He will get his come-uppance at some point. Some pitcher will get fed up and fire a 102-MPH heater at his head or an infielder will land an unfortunate stomp on Manny’s hand.
Chance the Brewers sign him? lol
Yeah even Trump questioned it.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who pitches for LA. Boston is the best team, hands down.
The simple fact is if a World Series team bullpen can’t hold on to a 4 run lead for 3 innings with basically all the momentum in the world on their side, well can that team really say they deserve to win.
Hill had thrown 91 pitches and his stats show he’s not a guy who does well the third time through a lineup. Roberts played the numbers game and it didn’t work out. BUT look at the other side, had he kept Hill in and the same thing happened then wouldn’t people just be screaming about why didn’t Roberts pull Hill.
This wasn’t a bad manager move, this was a case of you can’t contain an offense like the Red Sox have for 24 innings without expecting an eruption.
They contained them for 18 innings the day before.
I don’t know if I’d say they “contained” them. Dude – its 18 innings! They’re up 2-0 and haven’t spent themselves anywhere near the way LA has with the past teams they faced to get to the WS. Dudes get tired. Not to mention their bullpen isn’t near LA’s and they’re STILL running those fools through the ringer. LA crumbles in playoffs.its been seen. It’s BEEN done
18 from game 3, 6 from game 4…. simple math makes that 24.
OMG it was a terrible managing move and by the way your comment that had he kept Hill in and the same thing happened people would get mad is, I am sorry but so ignorant, I cannot believe that is your defense.
You see … Roberts did not leave him in … and 9 runs suddenly appeared the next 3 innings but you thinks its ok since well maybe Hill would have done the same?? Wow!
Hill let up oke hit. Maybe Hill shuts them out and the world series is then tied and Dodgers have momentum going into game 5 at home … but no you say its more likely Hill would suddenly let up 9 runs! Ok whatever you say.
In case nobody’s been paying attention, Dave Roberts is given “direction” on who to play and how long pitchers should stay in by the FO. It’s not news, they were discussing it on MLB Network Radio … during the PRE-game. The dodgers are the most analytics driven team in the game; Roberts is just the guy in the dugout that is paid to do what he’s told and take the blame when things don’t work out.
Read closer. I proposed a hypothetical, not a definite.
There seems to be this overwhelming belief that had Hill stayed in the Dodgers would have won. Why? Because he was doing well through the first 91 pitches? Hill told Roberts he was feeling tired and his numbers reflect he typically fades later in a game. How is Holt walking and Moreland hitting a home run no longer possible? Because Hill had been doing well? Can you honestly say you’ve never seen a pitcher be utterly domineering through 6 innings only to see them falter later on? It happens pretty much every week during the regular season.
The point I’m making is Roberts played the bet that Hill was right and didn’t have anything left.
As for my assumption about people being anger in the HYPOTHETICAL situation where Hill isn’t pulled and POSSIBLY gives up a three run home run then how would fans feel if after the game they heard Hill said he wasn’t sure if he had anything left.
You’re calling me ignorant for assuming there’s a POSSIBILITY that nothing would have changed. How is the assumption that Hill would have been fine been any different?
One more thing to add. Apparently Hill himself thought he was running out of steam, so Roberts is not the goat here.
I felt Cora left Rodriguez in too long.
Hill was pulled at the right time. Just should have used someone else. Baez and urias have been great. Jensen can pitch multiple innings.
I agree. Madson has appeared in every game this series. Madson has inherited 7 base runners; All 7 have scored.
If he calls Madson one more time and score isn’t 19-1 (for either team) call investigate into Roberts’ finances.
And that’s just barely scratching the surface of Roberts’ mismanagement. This guy can’t manage a used car lot.
/rant
Hoping for a Dodger WS miracle!!
For being such a supposedly analytically minded manager, he seems to make indefensible anti-analytical decisions every game. Watching it, he almost appears to be a guy trying hard to pretend he’s one thing when in actuality he is not much of anything at all – completely in over his head, over relying on the most basic of ideas and personal preferences
His handling of pitchers especially, both this year and last, show a trend of odd obsessions with certain guys and an almost refusal to go with anyone else. When he likes you or feels you’re one of his horses, he will seemingly ride you to death despite everything everywhere saying it shouldn’t be done.
More and more it looks as if the Dodgers are a winning club in spite of him, not because he compliments and adds to the team himself.
Roberts is just an awful manager
“Awful managers” typically don’t get the WS two years in a row…..Roberts has an intrusive FO, a couple of certifiable nut jobs on the roster, and a team that just plain and simple isn’t as good as the Red Sox….
I’d agree that he doesn’t add much to the win total, but he hardly subtracts any…in other words, a typical manager….this WS, every time Cora steps into a pile of poop, it turns into gold…that’s more luck than skill…..I don’t think either of them will be confused with Larussa, or even a Showalter….
Robert’s should absolutely be fired.
1. He shouldn’t have taken Kershaw out when he did.
2. He shouldn’t have taken Ryu out when he did. And, dang sure shouldn’t have put Madson in.
3. Once again, he shouldn’t have taken Hill out.
The Dodgers should be at least tied up with Boston if not ahead in this series. And, honestly, Cora hasn’t managed much better.
“Keep an eye on me,” Hill said at the moment and later confirmed. “I’m going to give it everything I have, but let’s go hitter to hitter. Just keep an eye on me.”
You have to listen when your pitcher tells you that after the sixth inning. And Roberts did.
Meanwhile Cora makes the worst gamble ever and luckily no one is even talking about it. I am of course talking about leaving ERod to face Puig a right handed bat.
Puig is a reverse-platoon guy. Struggles against left-handers.
Hill had told Roberts before taking the mound that he was done, and to keep an eye on him. That was not Roberts’ fault with the quick trigger.
if the jays buy out smoak that may be the dumbest move of this front office.
8 million is cheap and clearly will have value if they trade him
Agree
Buying out Smoak makes absolutely ZERO sense…..Heyman gets paid for this???????
If they cut Smoak loose then the entire Jays front office should be fired on the spot. I understand that the market for corner infielders isn’t great, but c’mon guys, let’s use our heads a bit here.
Pick up Smoak option. I would also say extend him. Dump Morales. Bring up Tellez. Use Smoak and Tellez as Dh/1B combo
The Cubs will decline the option and sign Hamels to a 2 year $28MM contract, He gets $34MM over the next two years. Cubs save $6MM next year.
I would find it hard to believe that Texas would not include language in the trade preventing a decline and sign. Think about it….if dozens of people on here have thought. about it I would imagine they did too.
MLB contract rules don’t allow for those kind of contingency agreements.
petrie000……Can you give specifics. I have read through the CBA’s (both 2012-16 and 2017-21) many times as well as the MLB Constitution and don’t recall ever seeing those stipulations.
Petrie dish is the smartest fella on this site. How dare you question his brilliance!!! Lolol
petrie000…just to clear up any confusion, I am not saying that Hamels won’t get the $6M owed if the Cubs decline. What I am saying is it would have been foolish for the Rangers not to include a stipulation stating….we will pay the $6M if you decline his option but if you do and then turn around and resign him to a new contract then you, the Cubs, pay the $6M.
The Marlins/NYY trade states that if Stanton does not opt out after 2020 they pay NYY $30M. On the other hand if he does NYY get squat. Yes it’s a different scenario but it shows a safety net for Miami. Still waiting for a link that shows a safety net for the Rangers would not be possible. If they didn’t include such language they are idiots.
Good call Petrie
Care to explain JKB? There is nothing in the CBA or MLB Constitution stating that. As a matter of fact teams are required to deal in good faith with each other.
you’ve also probably never seen any stipulations allowing things such as ‘sign-and-trade’ deals or the trading of draft picks. MLB does not allow teams to make trades involving players not under contract.
Hamels contract ends if he’s get bought out, therefore the Cubs and Rangers can’t make a deal concerning a player who would be under contract by neither team by adding contingency language, as it would impinge on his rights as a free agent at that point.
and you, Southpaw, may be one of the most worthless, sadly…
As I stated it is in regards to who pays the $6M and has no bearing on Hamels status as a FA. You still have not offered any proof of your “MLB contract rules don’t allow for those kind of contingency agreements.” statement.
If the Rangers did not stipulate a safety net don’t you think they would go to Manfred? After all the scenarios offered here are certainly not an example of dealing in good faith.
As to this comment “you’ve also probably never seen any stipulations allowing things such as ‘sign-and-trade’ deals or the trading of draft picks”, those situations are covered in the CBA.
and those situations ARE NOT ALLOWED. That’s not semantics.
The CBA doesn’t work on the principle of ‘it’s legal until stated otherwise’, the CBA works on the principle of ‘it’s ilegal unless allowed’
read it again and tell us if you can find any situation where a team is allowed to make deals regarding players not under contract… my guess is you won’t find it.
two teams making a deal about the future of a player neither team controls at that point is not allowed under current baseball rules. If Hamels is bought out, he’s a free agent. if there’s an existing deal in place that rewards or punishes a team for where he chooses to sign next, it’s a violation of his rights as a player. It’s why you will find no existing examples of the kind of arrangement you’re talking about, the Union would have a fit.
Do you practice at being obtuse or does it come naturally?
One again it has nothing to do with his status it has to do with which team is responsible for payment. Hamels was not a FA at the time of the deal and language stating Texas would pay the $6M was included in that deal if the $20M is declined. Since we have not seen the actual written terms of that trade neither you or I know what else may be in it.
There is not any reason whatsoever that language stating that if the Cubs try to decline and sign. (thereby sticking it to Texas) could not have been reported. Texas would also have every right to accuse the Cubs of bad faith.
i’m not being obtuse, i’m being very direct.. You’re just choosing not to pay attention because you have a preconcieved notion you will not let go of
it does not matter if Hamels was under contract at the time the agreement was signed, it matters if he’s under contract at the time any contingency kicks in. If Hamels is not under contract, and money is changing hands based on what he chooses to do as a free agent (other than what he agrees on), it’s a CBA violation.
It’s also not bad faith on the part of the Cubs if they buy him out and resign him, because this was a scenario the Rangers should have been well aware of as a possibility. If the Rangers made a deal they didn’t fully think through, as far as contract law is concerned : ‘sucks to be them’
It’s like talking to an eggplant…..have a nice day
this statement is the internet equivalent of ‘well, if i’m losing by 12 i’m gonna take my ball and go home so i can tell myself i didn’t lose’
don’t argue a subject you don’t, and don’t want to, understand.
No it was fact and add I had things to do.
You continue to say it will affect Hamels as a free agent etc…It will NOT…he will get paid if they decide to do the buyout. The Cubs are responsible for the buyout as he is their player with the Rangers agreeing to pay the Cubs $6M. Why is this so hard for you to understand?
One more time…Hamels gets paid and the rangers cover the cost…they don’t pay him directly but are responsible …to the Cubs. The Rangers paying Hamels directly would be a violation as his UPC is signed with the Cubs….geeez
What I have said is if the Rangers did not have some decline and sign language, especially in the scenarios mentioned here they are idiots. I also believe if the Cubs do the buyout and then turn around and sign Hamels for $14-$18M as people keep suggesting the Commish will step in as it would be bad faith.
No I am done as this is just circular crap.
You wanting something to be true does not make it true. Not matter how many paragraphs you devote to it
You cannot have an agreement in place affecting a player not under contract. They killed that when they got rid of the Reserve Clause.
It’s also not ‘bad faith’ if the rangers didn’t think of this. So no matter how many fools complain, the commissioner won’t care because he actually understands this. Bad faith requires actively misleading someone
That’s not circular, that’s pretty straight forward. You have misconceptions that have been corrected.
That makes a lot of sense to let Hamels have the $6m from Texas and used in that 2 year offer. Makes sense
Nuñez, to be fair, has been playing with a weak knee this whole time and never fully recovered from end of 2017. Only reason he didn’t sit out and let that thing get better was because Pedroia was on the shelf and never got off
If some of you Cub fans are sour on Theo, send him to Philly. Our guy (Klentak) is clueless. His FA signings look like a casting call for the movie, “Monsters Ball”. Don’t like Madden, either? I’ll swap you Gabe Kapler for him in a nano second.
At the trade deadline, when the Phillies we’re still atop the NL East, I was hoping Klentak would trade for Hamels or JA Happ. We got neither and then watched the team go 15-32 over its final 47 games!
If the Cubs are foolish enough to pass on Hamels, I hope he comes back home to Philly.
Smoak might be an option for the D-Backs if they go for a rebuild and trade Goldy. I’m saying that whether the Jays pick up the option or not. He won’t cost a huge return in prospects.
why not make the rangers pay the 6 mil buyout on hamels and then either re-sign him for 1 year at $14m. Hamels makes $20m in 2019 still and the cubs only have a $14m hit towards the payroll. Or ink him to a 2 year $30m deal or something. Seems like there is a much more economically friendly way of bringing him back than just picking up the $20m option. Not that I care or fret about team payroll – I’m not paying it – but I do like it when people make smart financial decisions. Tell him they’re going to have the Rangers but him out and give him $6m…. but work out an offer and get an agreement before doing so. then he gets bought out and right after signs the new deal with the cubs. Just seems logical money management could happen here…. in a society that pisses money away (and then complain they’re broke) it’s rare and nice to see financial sense happen.
And then, some team comes in with an offer of $18 mil and the Cubs get gamed. Personally, i think Hamels pitched over his head for the Cubs, so i hope they keep him and get burned.
There’s just the risk that if they do go the buyout route, some other team might give him 15 million or more.
So Heyman thinks the Blue Jays won’t pick up Smoak’s option. Um ok. Let’s pretend he’s right for a second…
This says the Blue Jays front office has called teams with questions at first base, and every team does not have Smoak as a priority. Is that believable? Kinda. Rebuilding teams won’t want to deal prospects for him, and contending teams may already have first base covered. Then there are the teams that believe in their first baseman and believe they’d be a better option than Smoak, right or wrong.
The right play is to pick up the option and take the risk.
Haha pretending Heyman is correct is the only way he ever is!
Not a fan of playing devil’s advocate for a man with a reckless tendency to mislead baseball fans while abusing his voting right for the Hall of Fame. I hear you loud and clear JKB.
Looks like the Jays by perhaps not exercising Smoak’s option are really playing smart. They have probably found out that no one wants him for 8 million so why should they pay him 8 million ? Justin has been a useful loyal Jay for many years but with so many overpaid players (Martin, Tulo, Morales) on board who all can probably play a bit of first base , what can you do ?
I’d honestly hate that. Smoak is the only one of that trio who I’m confident will deliver value. Unless they believe Tellez is ready to be the full time starter, they should not be buying out the only legit middle of the order bat.
Agreed. $8mn for Smoak is a bargain. Tellez is unproven at the major league level, and do you want the fans to know anyone on the field or not? Or excercise his option and trade him for something in return instead of just letting him walk for $250K (sort of like they let Donaldson go for nothing but a soon-to-be 29 year old broken minor league arm)
You can give the Twins a call and see if they’d be willing to pick up Ervin Santana’s $14-mil option and deal Smoak for him, salary for salary. To offset, you throw in Travis.
Jays lose the deal? Technically yes. It gives them an arm for 1 season and the Twins need to fill the right side of the infield. By trading both you give Tellez a spot and free up the clogging infield.
Option 2 is Kansas City.. See what it would take for Ian Kennedy and if they’d be willing to take Morales for a year. Huge long shot, but Kennedy makes $16.5-mil per season the next two seasons.
Option 3 is Colorado if they are willing to put Desmond in the outfield.
Other options are far reaching. There are options and huge risk involved. Jays are in the position to pick up the 8-mil. If not dealt now, possible trade in July. Tellez would be in AAA.
If Colorado is an option, they should bring Desmond back in any Smoak deal. That contract would come with a couple actual prospects or maybe even a player they seemed to sour on, like Gray?
I don’t think Colorado is ready to give up on Gray unless they are major players for arms in the offseason. I don’t see that. But I’d be fine with Gray and even Desmond coming back. The Jays could package Pillar with Smoak as the Rockies need an OF with Parra and Gonzalez leaving. Having Pillar/Dahl/Blackmon in the OF that’s pretty good D.
For the Jays, dealing Pillar and Smoak this offseason would justify Desmond (and Travis somewhere). You hope Desmond performs so you deal him at the deadline.
Seems like the smarter financial move for the Cubs would be to decline the option then give him a qualifying offer. Rangers pay the buyout of 6m, Cubs save 2.1m with the 17.9m QO, and Hamels gets paid 23.9m instead of 20m. Considering the trade was made based on Hamels option not being excercised anyway, no need to be ‘considerate’ to the rangers here.
players traded mid-season aren’t eligible for qualifying offers the next off-season. You have to have been with your current team for at least a full season.
Wonder what Hamels’s value would be on the opne market.
Wish they could try to lock him up for two years instead of one.
And that’s the right thing to do and then try to sign Nathan Eovaldi. 4/75. Only because of his injury history. Or Trade chatwood, happ, and Russell for Jacob deGrom Schwarber to Seattle for 3 players 1 ML ready player. If they do that as much as I dont want him. I think he could be going to the Cubs.
Chatwood, Happ and Russell for deGrom? Turn the PlayStation off and chill. Your ignorance is showing
Steve Pearce was the World Series MVP and David Price was lights out, going 3-0 this October with a 2.66 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. He started, he relieved. According to his manager, he wanted to pitch every day. They’re both former Jays and World Series Champions. Sad that’s about as close as Jays fans can get to being champs… Shapkins didn’t even make an effort to resign Price after 2015 when he’d gone 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA down the stretch. We still have Morales, Tulo and Martin, but not Pearce, Donaldson or EE. #FireShapkins
We Rays fans also had Pearce, Price on our team and congrats to them and Nathan Eovaldi who the Rays repaired from TJ. surgery as World Champs!. We would still have you on our team if we could afford you.