We don’t really know whether or to what extent extension talks will continue during the coronavirus hiatus. But as I wrote recently, it seems reasonable to think they’ll be explored. Some may already have advanced nearly to completion before the global pandemic intervened.
While we may have to wait to learn who the targets are and see what deals get done, there’s a silver lining: more time for rampant speculation! Okay, we’re not going to speculate here; rather, we’ll tick through some interesting possibilities on paper. Remember, we’ve seen an increasing prevalence of deals with less-experienced players (even some without any MLB service) and with new player types (early-career relievers and utilitymen).
In the present MLB environment, value is king and the old forms are fading. We’ve already checked in on the NL East, NL Central, NL West, and AL East. Here are some possible extension candidates from the AL West …
Angels
It seems the Halos have some level of interest in trying to keep peerless defensive shortstop Andrelton Simmons from reaching the open market. He’d be quite an interesting player to value after a down, injury-filled year. If he can continue producing otherworldly defensive work in 2020 while returning to league-average hitting, he’d be a fascinating player to watch in free agency.
There are a few other guys nearing free agency that could be considered. Tommy La Stella had a breakout in an injury-shortened 2019 season. He’s already 31 and there’ll be questions about sustainability. But perhaps the sides could share the risk and upside with a relatively modest accord. Reliever Hansel Robles and starter Andrew Heaney are both two years from free agency, though there’s no particular reason to rush into a commitment in either case.
Things get quite a bit more interesting when you look at players much further from the open market. Shohei Ohtani put a ton of faith in himself when he came to the majors for a pittance of a bonus. His two-way ability and near-limitless upside on the mound make him a highly intriguing extension candidate, though sorting out a fair value won’t be straightforward. There’s a clear map for a deal for elite outfield prospect Jo Adell, if both sides are interested, as the White Sox have reached successive pre-debut pacts with Eloy Jimenez ($43MM) and Luis Robert ($50MM). Beyond Ohtani and Adell, the Angels could consider much more modest pacts with utilityman David Fletcher and/or reliever Ty Buttrey.
Astros
There’s an abundance of star power to contemplate for a Houston organization in turmoil. Most pressing: outfielder George Springer, who’s entering his final year of arbitration. This is the final window to get a deal done; whether that’s a realistic possibility isn’t known. Not far behind him is shortstop Carlos Correa, who is two years from the open market. His huge ceiling and more modest recent play make this a suboptimal time to work out a deal, unless both sides are in the mood for compromise.
The ’Stros have a pair of slugging young left-handed hitters that could conceivably be candidates for aggressive early extensions. Yordan Alvarez burst onto the scene last year, but he has had a balky knee this spring and is mostly viewed as a DH. Meanwhile, Kyle Tucker is a surefire big leaguer with star upside, but he’s rather less established. On the pitching side, the Astros could potentially chase value by holding talks with Jose Urquidy, Josh James, or even Bryan Abreu. It may be early in all of those cases, but this organization did reach a then-unprecedented deal with Jon Singleton.
Athletics
The Oakland org has a bunch of candidates that leap off of the page in just about every service class. After a monster 2019 season, shortstop Marcus Semien is slated to reach free agency at the end of 2020. It would probably take a franchise-record deal to keep him from testing the market. Perhaps there’s more room to work out a palatable price tag with reliever Liam Hendriks, who has emerged as one of the game’s most effective relievers since being designated for assignment and then called back up late in the 2018 season. Outfielder Mark Canha had his own recent breakout; perhaps he’s also a candidate with two years left until free agency.
What the A’s really hoped for was a pair of long-term pacts with corner infielders Matt Chapman and Matt Olson. But both were not wooed by prior efforts and they’re both now within a season of arbitration. There is certainly still a window, but the Oakland organization will really have to open the wallet. Striking major pacts with either or both (not to mention Semien) would mark a big vote of confidence in the team’s plans for a new ballpark.
Further down the line in terms of service class are a host of intriguing candidates. Outfielder Ramon Laureano, catcher Sean Murphy, and prized southpaws Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk all carry eyebrow-raising talent. They’re also already controlled for quite some time. But this may be the optimal point for the A’s to achieve big value with a few of those players.
Mariners
Having already inked lefty Marco Gonzales and pre-MLB first baseman Evan White, the M’s have already accounted for their most obvious candidates. And the best of the rest aren’t likely in consideration this winter. Mitch Haniger still needs to get back to full health; top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez are probably a bit too green for even an aggressive deal.
But there are a few more to consider. Shed Long and J.P. Crawford each had solid showings last year and could make sense at the right price. Perhaps the Mariners could even consider less-experienced outfielders Kyle Lewis and Jake Fraley, though that’d make for a surprise in either case. It’s frankly difficult even to suggest another candidate; reliever Austin Adams could’ve been of some interest but he’s rehabbing a major knee injury.
Rangers
You could make a case for a few guys here. Young slugger Willie Calhoun might be a worthwhile target after a strong 2019 showing, though it took the club some time to find him a spot in the majors and he’s now nursing a broken jaw. Veteran starters Mike Minor and Lance Lynn are nearing free agency, with the former entering his walk year, though the Texas org already took on some pitching risk this winter and may not want to over-extend itself with older hurlers.
Really, the Texas extension situation is all about one man: slugging outfielder/first baseman Joey Gallo. The game’s preeminent three-true-outcomes batter, Gallo is in his first of three arbitration-eligible campaigns, so he has entered the big earning stage of his career but hasn’t yet been paid huge money. He was limited by injury (oblique, hamate) in 2019 but put up monster numbers when available, with 22 long balls and a .253/.389/.598 slash over 297 plate appearances. It’s easy to forget that Gallo is a valuable outfield defender and baserunner, making him one of the higher-ceiling all-around players in the game.
Dalton1017
I love Gallo but thinking of an extension for him is kind of scary.
Ricky Adams
Agree. He seemed to take a turn last season, but that’s just 1 season and it was injury shortened. If I’m job Daniel’s, I wanna see it over a full season and I back to back seasons. And this being his 1st arbitrator eligible year, no rush. We dont need another odor mistake extension that hampers financial and lineup flexibility.
Michael A. Gould
At least Gallo walks, and is young enough to be an asset in the OF defensively. He’s obviously an eventual 1b, but that could be 4 years down the road.
IF (and yes it’s capitalized) Rougie turns into a 1.5-2 WAR player, he’ll be just barely worth his contract.
Gallo is a 5-7 player over a full season (3.1 through 70 games last year). I don’t think Gallo out and out rejects 6/$125. with an opt out after 4 years?
dirtholio
You pay him now with a chance he fllops or you wait and have to bid with everyone else if he keeps developing. I say extend him.
angelsfan4life
As much as I like Simmons, Fletcher can take over short. Heaney is straight garbage pitching on the road. La Stella would be an overpay, let’s see if he can repeat his season from last year first. Robles, was the most underrated player on the Angels last year. Even most Angels fans didn’t realize how good he was for them last season. With the influx of middle infielders in the Angels farm system, if Jeremiah Jackson had the same stats at rookie ball he did last season, but was in the Yankees, Roid Sox or Dodgers systems, he would be close if not in the top 100 prospects already.
prov356
I think the Angels keep Simmons. Fletcher is too flexible to stick him in one spot. Plus I think Simmons brings a lot of stuff to the clubhouse that would be missed. He’s always smiling and seems to truly have fun playing the game. Not to mention he’s one of the best SS in the game.
If Heaney can have an injury-free season with solid numbers, then I’d like to keep him. He just needs to stay healthy so he can live up to the potential I think he has.
Vizionaire
however, fletcher’s best position is 2b and many see him as future gold glove winner only if the team allows him to play there.
prov356
Ultimately I’d like our infield to be Rendon, Simmons, Fletcher, LaStella from left to right.
OntariGro
I’m absolutely 3/4 with you on that infield, but not too hot on La Stella at 1B as he’s never played the position and that he hasn’t taken a meaningful AB since June, I don’t trust that he’s fully recovered ’til I sees a little of Tommy from last season’s first half.
prov356
Onta – I got you. I have confidence in Stella to repeat. It’s good that his injury was based on an event instead of it being a chronic reoccurring issue. We will see.
ayrbhoy
Angelsfan4life- Early last year LaStella rose quickly into a pretty decent mlb fantasy contributor. There’s a handful of really good top tier options at 3B – you guys signed one of them, but outside that top tier there’s not a whole lot of stud 3B. He had the added appeal of playing two positions 2B/3B. It’s interesting to me how he can currently be found on waivers on both Yahoo and ESPN Fantasy projections. He’s owned by just 19% in ESPN 15% in Yahoo leagues. I think Fantasy experts feel last years uptick power numbers were driven by the ‘juiced ball.’ It will be interesting to see if the 2020 baseball will change fantasy power numbers.
OntariGro
I think missing the entire 2nd half of the season with the fractured tibia took him off people’s radar. Now having Rendon firmly ensconced at 3B and Fletcher making a darn convincing case to be the err-day 2B, a fantasy-worthwhile amount of playing time is no guarantee either.
bhambrave
I noticed after I read this article that I had scrolled past the Astros section. I really have no interest in reading anything about them.
thomasg1951
Kyle Tucker – sure fire future star? Obviously this is written by the Astros. They missed getting anything for him. Has to have the longest swing in baseball.
slapnuts
I don’t get the love for Semien… did had one above average season after 7 below average seasons and now it’ll take a “franchise record deal” to keep him? SMH
arc89
i agree. Given his age and history for him to repeat those stats for more than 2 years is impossible. You never give out contracts to players that peak. Not many can do it for more than 3 years in a row.
OntariGro
His first season was a cup of coffee with the White Sox at 22, followed by 60+ games at 23, getting his feet wet. at age 25 he hits 27 HRs along with superlative defense on his way to a 3.5 WAR, after an injury shortened ’17 where he was on pace to match that WAR, 2018 he put up nearly 5, with 35 doubles, a little dip in power and another year in the field just a step behind Andrelton Simmons in terms of defense. 2019 was his big breakout year but there’s nothing about it that suggests it’s flukey.
So the love comes from him being a pretty darn good young SS who has steadily, then rapidly progressed into a great SS in his prime.
arc89
Semien will be 30 by the time he is a free agent. Every number he put up last year was a career numbers. better serve the A’s to offer him a QO than attempt to sign him long term to outrageous pay.
OntariGro
Oh I’m not suggesting the A’s sign him long-term. I’m an Angel fan, I don’t care what they do! The OP said he didn’t get the love for him and described his career as “one above average season after 7 below average seasons.” Besides that being the wrong amount of seasons, I didn’t think it was an accurate characterization of Semien/his career, so I tried to explain why people think he’s awesome.
arc89
If you watch him his defense is good but not Simmons type of defense or even close. Having the best 3B in the league on one side of him lets him cheat up the middle to increase his range. He also has the best fielding 1B in baseball to lower his errors. He is a good hitter but i want to see him duplicate those numbers instead of think he peaked and over pay him.
arc89
Chapman will not sign a extension unless it is a Trout like extension. Boras is his agent and already said no extensions.
OntariGro
His agent is Troy Caradonna at ISE Baseball who has said no such thing.
From The Athletic in February
“Simmons said he would welcome being an Angel for the long term.
“I’m comfortable here,” Simmons told The Athletic. “It’s a business. I understand that they’re trying to save money here and there. But I don’t know. It is what it is. I’m here if they want to talk.”
““I think just something fair,” Simmons said of what he would want in a theoretical Angels extension. “Something fair, what I would consider fair to me. My agent would also have to kind of tell me that this is good (value). That would be it, really.”
Vizionaire
uh oh!
arc89
look it up matt Chapman agent is Boras. there is even a article here on mlbtraderumors about it. April 16, 2018 article on this own site.
OntariGro
Apologies! Totally scrolled past a post with “Simmons” in it really fast and ended up misreading yours as being about him! Whatadumbdumb!
Rangers29
Go extend Minor, cause he’s just one of the better PITCHERS in the league. When I say pitchers, I mean guys who have to fool batters with their stuff, and not just blow a 100 mph fastball by them. Minor, Greinke, Hendricks, ect. I see Minor being a nasty pitcher for a while with Texas, so go extend him.
As for Gallo, I’d wait until the end of this season. You see what his highest productivity is (about a 1.000 ops, hitting .260) and you seen his lows ( 40 homers .200 average). Go make sure last season wasn’t a fluke, and see if he can repeat it (without the injuries).
californiaangels
let’s get Fletcher locked up for life!
californiaangels
I’ll pass on Simmons, I would be absolutly fine with Fletcher taking over at SS.
Asfan0780
Olson and laureano seem affordable, semien gone after this season and chapman i say is traded within 3 years
Sealbeach Comber
Astros still trying to figure out how to extend the guy who bangs the trash can. It’s a harder job than it sounds.
The Human Rain Delay
Small correction- Robles a free agent after this year not next
OntariGro
Nope. Arb Eligible in 2021, FA in 2022.
The Human Rain Delay
Hmm spotrac has him a fa next year but they do have discrepancies every now and then …ill take your word…def a value for 3.85 mill this year
GeoKaplan
Jo Adell is a Boras client. 99 times out of 100, he will never contest an arbitration hearing and bide his time for the player’s free agency.