David Robertson decided to act as his own agent while jumping into free agency this winter, eventually landing a two-year, $23MM deal from the Phillies (plus a $12MM club option for 2021). While the final result was successful, Robertson told Philly.com’s Scott Lauber that he had a few nagging doubts once other relievers came off the board and he was still unsigned as the calendar turned to 2019. “That was probably one of the times during the process when I kind of thought, ’Am I doing the right thing?’ ” Robertson said. “But I tried to stay calm and level-headed and see the bigger picture and know that I have a good set of skills, that the right teams I had spoken to were interested, and it was just a matter of figuring it out and getting an actual deal done.” The self-representation stance also created an interesting dynamic on the other side of the negotiating table, as Phillies GM Matt Klentak admitted “when you’re talking directly to a player about contracts, sometimes I found myself being a little more guarded with what I would say than I might be with an agent.”
Some more from around the National League…
- Greg Holland had a much rougher trip through free agency in the 2017-18 offseason. The veteran reliever described his quest to sign a contract and subsequent rough 2018 season to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale as a situation that “snowballed for me and spiraled out of control for me.” Holland’s services were weighed down by a qualifying offer, and he said that talks with the Rockies abruptly ended after Colorado pivoted to sign Wade Davis rather than wait for Holland to further test the market. As a result, Holland didn’t find a new team until he signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals on Opening Day, and the lack of a proper Spring Training led to disastrous on-field results. “Physically, I felt great, I felt healthy. But you’re throwing to college guys, and a week later you’re pitching in the major leagues in a tie game,” Holland said. “You can only emulate so much of a big-league game….The quicker you can get into a scenario where you’re facing Major League talent on a consistent basis, you’re going to be more successful.” This winter, Holland signed a one-year, $3.25MM deal with the Diamondbacks, as the right-hander looks to get his career back on track.
- Holland’s slow start could factor into the Cardinals’ decision about pursuing any current free agents this spring, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak implied that if the team did add any new faces on minor league deals, a stint in extended Spring Training could be required or even “demanded” of any new signing. “So, lesson learned from last year perhaps? I think for sure,” Mozeliak said. “You have to take something away from that. The outcome [with Holland] was not what we wanted. I think we did learn our lesson.” Goold also observes that the Cards could face something of a roster crunch as they juggle multiple out-of-options players, so some trades could potentially come later in the spring.
- Mike Moustakas was hoping to return to the Brewers, and the third baseman reportedly turned down a multi-year offer from another team, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets. Moustakas and the Brew Crew agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal today that includes a mutual option for 2020, providing at least a chance at a longer-term stay in Milwaukee for the third baseman, though mutual options are rarely exercised. The Angels, Phillies, and Padres were all known to have at least checked in about Moustakas at various points this offseason, though The Athletic’s Dennis Lin notes that San Diego’s interest was “tempered.”
- Potential new additions have “not been a heavy part of the discussion” between Cubs skipper Joe Maddon and the front office, Maddon told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times and other reporters. “That doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen; I’m not saying that,” Maddon said. “But…I anticipate what you see showing up tomorrow [at camp], the [Opening Day] group’s going to be derived from that group.” It has been a quiet offseason for a Cubs team that is seemingly dealing with strict budget restraints, as the Northsiders try to stay under the $246MM payroll mark (to avoid a larger luxury tax penalty).
jshap219
Holland wasn’t getting pounded when he came up with the Cards last year. He just couldn’t throw a strike to save his life. It was hard to watch
xabial
Still shocked, Holland got more with the Cards, than Lynn got with the Twins, that wierd 2017 off-season.
Maybe more shocking? Lynn got 3 years this off-season
jbigz12
I’m not all that surprised a closer of Holland’s caliber coming off the better season while pitching at Coors Field got more than Lance Lynn. Lynn came off a 4.81 FIP season headlining into FA. His underlying metrics came back to their normal levels this season even with his rocky spring training less start. I’d be perfectly fine giving him a 3/30 now with no QO attached.
CIVIoney
My eyes bled
Payne Train
Hollands quote should say “ I Waited until the last minute to sign a deal, paying me a fraction of what I thought I was worth … I’m dumb for waiting out for an extended contract offer that I never got… I’m lucky to have gotten the 14 million and last year was my fault due to me being greedy and not signing until the first day of The MLB season… I apologize to the Cardinals and agree to pay Andrew Millers salary for 2019.” “Oh, and my agent is a moron”.
Boomer14
Haha that’s good.
Melchez
I thought at the time, why don’t closers take that qualifying offer? Relievers usually get short term contracts and that’s a one year 19 mil offer. Just take it.
Ejemp2006
That quote is from The Athletic (subscription required)!
stevewpants
The defense won’t be as good as last year but the Brewers offense has the potential to be quite punishing. If the SP improves and bullpen can be similar to last season they will be tough.
twentyforty
Good luck replicating that six week stretch. That never happens.
619bird
God Bowtie just needs to shut up and quit throwing excuses out for not doing his job.
Holland just need to shut up! You’re not a closer anymore and lucky enough to get what you got last year from Dewitt. Free money to suck you bum!
dmarcus15
Holland run in STL was horrible he came not ready to play then refused to go down to the minors to figure it out. Some blame is on the cards too he wasn’t doing to well at the end of the season with the Rockies.
chitown311
Dumpster Divin’ Theo!
PopeMarley
What a surprise a White Sox fan trying to criticize big brother…
ChiSoxCity
Hahaha, “big brother”
Bryzzo2016
That’s actually a compliment, the way the city and really the entire baseball world treats the Northwest Indiana White Sux, they’d be more like the red headed step kid, probably adopted… likely from a family tree that doesn’t fork… yeah, it explains their obsession with anything Cubs. So “lil brother” is a really nice way of putting it.
Bocephus
“big brother” More like the favorite brother…
timewalk42
The Cubs have totally dropped the ball they sold the farm for two years of contention now they have crap for assets coming up the pipeline and a very old pitching staff and the worst outfield in the central.dies anyone really expect Baez to repeat last seasons success? Rizzo has lost some contact and Bryant is definitely not the same force he was brace yourself on the North Side it could be a long summer
classicmixup
A lot more than two years of contention. They were in the playoffs the last 4 years and in the NLCS three years in a row.
rondon
Man, don’t waste your time with ankle biters.
PutMeinCoach88
lol dude the Cubs won a world series what more do you want? the farm might be thinner now but they won it all so that’s all that matters.
Tim Newport
Take it from a White Sox fan…it disappears in the rearview mirror faster than you can believe..
Bryzzo2016
Can’t compare the 2. That 05 team was a group of vets that exceeded expectations. Not a young core that could sustain success. Of course it disappeared, because the Sox went right back to being bad and irrelevant.
2id
In a few years 2016 will be the equivalent of 1985.
GarryHarris
We should put it into perspective: There are 15 teams per league and if all was fair and even, the Cubs get to the World Series again in 2030, 2031 or 2032.
WWJMD(;
Worst outfield in the NL Central? So Schwarber in left may be a liability in the field but what team in the Central wouldn’t take on that potential liability for his enormous upside at the plate? Oh and Almora in CF and Heyward in RF are arguably two of the best defensive players in the league. If you haven’t seen Albert Almora Jr. Play CF then you do not know what you are talking about.
jay13
Almora jr. will make Schwarber look a little better. The range that kid has is pretty wide.
petrie000
Schwarber was among the best defensive OFers in the league last season, if you do by actual data instead of just a collective assumption.
WWJMD(;
Touche.. I think this furthers the argument against the Cubs outfield getting worse etc at least defensively that is.
amishthunderak
Yeah, I’m so mad that the Cubs traded alot of their prospects and all they have to show for it is a World Series title.
Scrap1ron
So what’s the take of a sports agent who negotiates a player’s contract? A flat fee or percentage?
batty
It’s a percentage.
Cat Mando
Scrap1ron
There is not “cap”, like the 3% in the NFL. The palyers agree on a % with the agent with most running between 4-5%.
There is at least on “cut-rate” agency that charges a flat 1.5% but the only service they offer is contract negotiation.
Despite, some postings on prior articles Boras charges about 5.7% based on his approximate 2017 contracts (1.9 billion) and reported approximate gross income $(1.3m).
Scrap1ron
Thanks. If a player receives bad advice or is unhappy with his agent’s representation can he get a portion of his money back?
augold5
For everyone that said trading for a player mid-season doesn’t have any factor in where a player signs in the off season should take a closer look at this Moose signing. Obviously it’s not always positive, but these players are not robots. Team dynamics does play a role in where a player signs, its not always just who will pay the most.
PutMeinCoach88
well you put familiar faces together it usually works. Moose and Cain in the same clubhouse again helped for sure.
Cardinals17
The Cardinals John Mozeliak is, for lack of a a better term, a promise all before season tickets goes on sale. Then he is a liar after season tickets are sold. A do nothing person as far as free Agency because he picks the oft injured Low Hanging Fruit to big contracts (Dexter Fowler
CardsNation5
Cardinals17, say what you want, but Mo is very successful. It’s not his fault that players got injured. That’s the main reason that the Cardinals didn’t make the playoffs and the fact that Matheny mismanaged the bullpen and made players feel unwanted behind the scenes. I’ve been a Cardinals fan for over 35 years, so I know that organization inside out. Mo knows what he’s doing. Hell, baseball is taking a page out of his notebook of not overpaying for free agents and using analytics. Year in and year out, whether they make the playoffs, they’re always in it until the end. So people need to stop bashing John Mozeliak, because he has continued to keep the Cardinals very competitive.
stymeedone
So please explain to me his desire to sign Goldshmidt to a long term. Did he decide that letting Pujols go was a mistake, and he wants to be the Angels this time?
Lanidrac
If the Cardinals do resign Goldschmidt, it will only be for a max of 5 guaranteed years, and Mo and Girsch have never been stupid enough to backload a deal to a player in his 30’s.
Cardinals17
CardsNation5….I respect your opinion. However, I’ve been around Mozeliak since before he ever became the general manager. Back when Walt Jockerty was GM. Have you ever talked one on one with John Mozeliak recently. He’s not the same person he was in his good early years. Numbers are fine, but where he use to combine the human side with the numbers, (as with Beltran
377194
The Rockies did not need to wait for Holland to test the market. He screwed himself.
Jim Lahey
This is a great gimmick piece. It was written for the sole purpose of trying to lessen the blow of the impending “work stoppage” because players all feel entitled to massive 10 year contracts.
Bubba 5
Typical cheap Cardinals “ pursing any spring signings”. They will use any excuse. They don’t sign during the off season. 12 infielder – outfielder team. Everyone plays 9 spots no continuity. They should jump into their own division with the Braves. Both are don’t wanna be’s. Always some lame excuse not to spend and win. Just enough to sucker the fans.
Cardinals17
Just another excuse from the Cardinals John Mozeliak to not take advantage of some top free agents on the current market. Now is the time to get them cheaper since regular players are just reporting to Spring Training to work out the kinks. Even on a one year deal!!