Sean Doolittle is entering a winter with more contractual uncertainty than he’s ever faced in his career. Unlike most ballplayers who’ve been in the majors as long as he has, he’s never been a free agent before, and because of an early extension he signed with the A’s, he never even went through arbitration. Still, the 33-year-old southpaw is primarily focused on returning to Washington, per Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post. Doolittle and his wife are entrenched in the D.C. community, and she wants to stay in Washington. Of course, Doolittle knows nothing is guaranteed in free agency, especially coming off the season he just had. Inconsistency and injury kept Doolittle from ever really looking like the guy that has been the rock of the Nats’ bullpen for years. He finished the season with a 5.87 ERA over just 11 contests, but a strong final few outings provided some hope that this season might be a blip on Doolittle’s return to health – and dominance. As a two-pitch pitcher without elite velocity, there’s not a lot of room for error in Doolittle’s arsenal. But when he’s on, he’s a guy a team can lean on in a postseason run. The Nationals know that. Whether or not GM Mike Rizzo is able to re-sign Doolittle will probably come down to price point. Everything else points to Doolittle staying in the city that’s become his home over the last 3 1/2 seasons.
- Tomas Nido confirmed that complications from COVID-19 ended his season, tweets Newsday’s Tim Healey. Said Nido via instagram: “Unfortunately, my season was cut short after getting Covid and other related complications while trying to come back. Time to turn the page and prepare for a strong 2021.” Nido appeared in just 7 games for the Mets this season, his fourth straight of seeing time in the bigs. For his career, the 26-year-old backstop holds a .197/.234/.319 triple slash across 270 plate appearances. Veterans Wilson Ramos and Robinson Chirinos handled most of the catching responsibilities for the Mets this season, but both could be free agents. The Mets hold $10MM team option for the 33-year-old Ramos and $6.25MM team option for the 36-year-old Chirinos. Ramos has a $1.25M buyout, while Chirinos’ buyout is for $1MM. Nido remains under team control – and he’s out of options – so he’ll either need to be a part of the catching picture for the Mets in 2021 or risk exposure to waivers.
- Dellin Betances holds a $6MM player option for 2021 to remain with the Mets, and it’s unclear what direction he’s leaning as of now, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com (via Twitter). As DiComo notes, the option comes with a $3MM buyout, so Betances’ decision really comes down to a $3MM question. Even after a season in which he made just 14 appearances for a 5.56 ERA/4.34 FIP across 11 1/3 innings with 7.9 K/9 to 7.1 BB/9, it’s reasonable to expect someone to bid that much for a reliever with high-end upside like Betances. Still, it’s now been two seasons since Betances was a dominant arm out of the pen, and as a New York native who’s spent his entire major-league career in New York, he may look for a way to remain with the Mets. Betances averaged 93.4 mph on his four-seamer this season, a far cry from his days as a 96-97 mph high-leverage arm with the Yankees.
If Doolittle can’t find a deal in DC he should try Baltimore. They need relief help.
Phillies holding on line 2
not a bad fit actually
Phillies are a good fit, but the reason this guy mentioned Baltimore is because Baltimore is so close to DC, and Doolittle’s wife wants to stay in DC.
Why?? The DC area is really nasty.
Philly is pretty close to DC too.
Phillies are a good fit, but the reason this guy mentioned Baltimore is because Baltimore is so close to DC, and Doolittle’s wife wants to stay in DC.
So is Philly, really. Big league players spend half the year traveling anyway, and many make their official home far from their current club. It wouldn’t be inconceivable that the Doolittles could live in DC while Sean pitches for the Phillies. It’s a 2 hour drive or train ride away.
My initial reaction was Hard Pass (reminders of Neshek/Hunter/et al….but then I got a look at the prospective FA relievers?? HolyMoly, just a who’s who of 30+ guys who have been around the block numerous times….So I suppose a LHP in his mid 30’s with low 90’s stuff sounds about right.
Lefty bullpen arms will get paid even with the 3 out rule and I would take a flier on him. Tye real question is how the market looks from the lost revenue from losing 51 home games and no fans attending.
Betances made one final appearance against the nats this season after a month or so off recovering from a lat injury, and his stuff actually looked significantly better. He topped out at 97 on his fastball, sitting at about 95, and got 2 strikeouts on his traditionally filthy slurvy breaking ball. Still didn’t look the same as his heyday, but it could be an indication that there is a chance for him to return closer to his old form.
I’d be shocked if Betances opted out. Too much risk given the pandemic to assume he’ll get a better one year offer. Also remember he didn’t have to move to go from the Bronx to Queens. Given the pandemic, I wouldn’t want to move if I didn’t have to.
We’re judging a reliever now on one inning of work?
When a pitcher who consistently sat at 97+ mph for many years is reduced to a 93.4 average for multiple outings, then sees a noticeable jump back to normalcy in one outing after an injury layoff, I think it’s fair to look at it as a promising sign. I never suggested that this singular outing is indicative of assured improvement. Quite literally used the words “could be an indication.” His velocity in that final outing after an injury break was distinctly higher when compared to the rest of his season, so it absolutely warrants consideration.
I just don’t think one inning can ever be an indication of anything
It could be an indication of something.
Cosmodeus—this is a weird crusade you’re on, man. A guy throws 97 for a long time. Then he doesn’t come close. Final game of season he throws that hard again. Promising sign. Really don’t know how that math is too arguable lol
Wouldn’t call it a crusade. You wanna judge a player by a handful of pitches that ticked a bit up from where he was previous, fine. I personally think it’s absurd and wouldn’t even begin to make an assessment until I saw much much more. It’s still just one inning and there’s more to pitching than velocity.
I’m so confused. I’ve been very tempered in my assessment of that performance. I even noted that he “didn’t look the same as his heyday.” I’m merely pointing out that an uptick in velocity is a better sign than no uptick in velocity. Doesn’t assure anything at all, which I’ve noted. It may very well be an aberration, but it’s a better sign than him sitting in the low 90s yet again. And, yes, obviously velocity isn’t everything. I don’t think I ever suggested otherwise. I’m super confused as to what you’re hoping to prove or say here.
Supposedly in the spring of 1984, there was a question of whether Doc Gooden needed more time in the minors. Mgr Davey Johnson watched Doc warm up in the bullpen for a bit and said “he doesn’t need more time in the minors “ with a laugh. The rest is history.
Doolittle, I wonder what his ancestor did (or didn’t do) to earn that surname. lol
He was a doctor.
of animals?
Politician
Betances got paid $10MM this year for below replacement performance. Further proof how the players strike that almost happened is just silly.
Betances was paid a prorated portion of his $10m salary (something like $3.7m). No player earned a “full season’s” salary this year. This comment is just silly.
Forgot it was prorated, whoopsies. Still 100% sunk cost though. Mets made a lot of bad FA signings last offseason.
You roll the dice, you take your chances.
I agree. Betances was a good gamble. Would folks rather the Mets just pocketed the money and have a deadbeat like Jacobs Rhanes the chance instead?
I agree on the good gamble but the pocketing the money comment seems like advocating spending for spending’s sake. If I didn’t think it was a good move at the time, yes, I’d rather they had “pocketed” the money. I don’t want them signing contracts just to rid themselves of cash.
Betances got a 5.3m signing bonus, 2.2m in salary (~800k because of COVID) and gets a $3m payment if he opts out, or can roll the dice on $6m next year. So he made $6.1m in cash so far for 2020. He could get up to $9.1m from the Mets and walk away.
I think he opts out and takes the $3m payment. With the uncertainty with COVID its always best to take the money to the bank. Maybe he gets more, maybe the season is shrunk and he gets less because of COVID again.
He got paid less than $17 million for his entire Yankee career, which in the regular season alone was 393 innings with a 2.52 ERA. Being overpaid this year (on only a prorated basis) doesn’t nearly make up for how underpaid he was for the best years of his career.
Though I doubt he does, I’d love for the Pirates to sign Betances to a 1 year “rebuild your value” kind of deal if he opts out.
He already has that deal with the Mets if he doesn’t opt out
Doolittle is 34 years old, not 33. Also, this post oversells him as “the rock of the Nats’ bullpen for years”. He was very good with Washington in the second half of 2017 and superb in 2018, but in 2019 and 2020 combined he had an ERA of 4.26 (FIP of 4.70) and a WHIP of 1.345. He’s old and he hasn’t been good in two years.
This year was basically a non-season for him. Yeah, he had a down year in the regular season last year, but he was also a relief ace for 10 innings of work in their playoff run last year, which isn’t an inconsequential thing to leave out.
Doolittle is old and backsliding. Not exactly leverage for Mrs Doolittle to want to stay in DC unless they are prepared to take a significant pay cut.
I believe the deciding factor for dolittle will be his pets.
I’m sure he’ll talk it over with them.
The pets will Doolittle to influence his decision…. I’ll show myself out.
If the buyout is payed out all at once for betances, it may make sense to opt out with the uncertainty of another shortened season pro rating the 6m.
Betances would be silly to opt out after back to back injury plagued seasons
That’s what I’m thinking. Does anyone really give him more than 3 million or whatever it is he leaves on the table?
He will get more than $3 million for a longer term. He would opt out for the chance at a longer term/security deal.
in this scenario he is not taking much of a gamble. He gets 3M regardless of what does from the mets. If he stays with the mets he gets another 3M. Veteran minimum is what like 1M ish so he is risking 2M and name alone and his pre injury track record i think he could play the still recovering from injury card, covid wackiness, and he is young enough. I think he would get probably 2.5 to 3 at minimum plus incentives even with what has happened the past 2 seasons.
I wouldnt mind Betances back with the mets at 3M for the year because the 3M buyout is gone no matter what.
2 million is nothing to sneeze at for a guy who could be on his last, or second to last big league contract.
I agree that 2 million is nothing to sneeze at but there is a very very small percentage you are at that floor as nothing is ever certain as covid has taught us. Hell he could break his leg tomorrow and can never walk again let alone pitch. There is a very high chance he can make more than the 3M he is getting now. Look at the likes of Joba chamberlain, Oliver Perez, Matt Harvey, Drew Storen. All these guys had lost their stuff most were injury free at that point for a couple of years but came back after bad couple of years and still got a decent contract.
Im not saying Betances is gonna get chapman money but i can easily see a team ponying up 2.5-3M (his breakeven) then have incentives where some the total salary for year up to 8-10M. Some are pretty hard incentives but are potentially there. So would you risk it? Its double or nothing basically with a very very low chance of nothing. I probably would take the risk if he is willing to move. He will have a better opportunity most likely as the mets bullpen is in shambles and mismanaged currently and could potentially land a setup / closing job elsewhere.
Happy birthday, Mr. Doolittle!
I’m wondering how there is any actual discussion of Betances opting out of guaranteed money during an uncertain time, and his health status at this point in his career.
He’s about as likely to opt out as Giancarlo Stanton is.
I know that’s an exaggeration, but I just love always using Giancarlo’s contract as a comparison to these situations. After all, we know how Jeter gifted the Yankees Stanton.
It’s not as good as the Betances or the Cano gifts to the Mets, but Jeter did gift Stanton to the Yankees. That’s the gift that keeps on giving…to the Marlins.
.Disagree- he will receive at least that much per year for MORE years. Locking in security. Lots of teams would take the chance on him.
I doubt it. $6 million, even prorated, in the current market of uncertainty for a player with questionable health is a lot of money for a player. Remember, 2/3rds of MLB teams are not big spenders. And of the big spending teams, which ones have the need to the point they’d be willing to commit that kind of money to him?
Nobody knows how long this Covid situation is going to affect the world and sports, so tossing money out like a drunk sailor is less likely to happen.
Betances wouldn’t get 6M from anyone. He’s been on a downward slide for 2 years now with no sign of slowing down.
I’d like to congratulate MetFan22 for being correct on so many statements this year.
“Even in 60 games, the Marlins will finish 15 games out of fourth place; 25 games out of first place.”
“The Braves aren’t as good as people think. The Mets are better.”
“Mets bullpen and pitching staff is the best in the division.”
“Mets have the best lineup in the division.”
“Mets have a better lineup than the Braves…Ozuna is not as good a hitter as any of the Mets OFs.”
During the season: “The Marlins will be in last place very soon.”
He should be hiding in Strike Four’s stolen tent.
Probably is. Amazing how MetsFan22 was such a big homer and defensive of his team when he thought they were all-world, but the minute reality hit this season, he bailed on them weeks ago.
Oh yeah, and I forgot one of his other in-season classics…
“Mets have had more health problems on their roster than all of the other teams in the division. Mets’ health and roster problems are worse than the Braves’ and the Marlins’ health and roster problems.”
I’m a Nats fan and I love Doo, but you have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. He no longer has the velo or spin rate to live on the high FB anymore. Several guys (Rainey and Finnegan at least) have passed him on the depth chart, but the Nats still need BP help.
We will see.