Given the financial impact of coronavirus and the increasing trend of non-tenders, expect a record number of non-tenders this offseason, writes Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs. Last year’s 53 total non-tenders was already a record, and it’s safe to assume MLB will surpass that number this year. There are success stories from this field, of course. Take Kevin Gausman, who was non-tendered last winter before being extended and accepting the $18.9MM qualifying offer just a year later.
Increasing DFAs is an issue that compounds on itself, however, as those non-tendered players enter the available player pool, giving teams more and more options to consider opposite their own arbitration-eligible players. Specifically, Longehagen points to catchers, power first basemen or designated hitters, and infielders without power as three pools of players likely to hit the open market.
- Longenhagen also provides interesting analysis about the changing dynamics of the catcher position. The eventual implementation of electronic strikes zones diminishes the important of pitch framing, which has long been on the league radar. But Longenhagen also notes that the universal DH makes the catcher spot the most likely place for a pinch-hitter. The universal DH does seem to be on its way, even if it doesn’t happen in 2021, and the two-back system, so to speak, is already in use for much of the league. Still, the specialization of the catcher position is shifting ever so slightly. Whether we see arm strength and blocking ability more valued in free agency this season remains to be seen. Electronic strike zones could alter the pitching market too, of course, but any shifts in that regard are more likely to be in the development and drafting stages than free agency.
- The Mariners cancelled their last two instructional league games due to a pair of positive COVID-19 tests, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). One of the two also had a pair of negative tests, while the other is isolating and following protocols. There were no other positive tests and contact tracing was performed, but the Peoria facility is still being shut down – as has become the standard – out of an “abundance of caution.”
Gary Sanchez will be ok that non tender list.
I guess pitch framing will go the way of making contact as skills inherent to the game of baseball that we just don’t need anymore because we don’t want to pay for them.
Making contact was a prime feature to the concept of baseball as it was originally invented and developed for over a hundred years. Tricking the umpire into making mistakes was a bug, not a feature. Good riddance to umpires deciding games.
Robo umps has nothing to do with money.
Pitch framing is theoretical. Some umps just call more strikes, imo. Making contact is a much more exact science.
I’m ready for the robo balls and strikes. Tired of pitch framing being such a huge factor of which catcher can catch a ball and frame it in the strike zone. Seems like that is all the umpires rely on. I have seen pitches right down the middle, but since the catcher was setup outside and had to move his glove to catch it. Goes as a ball.
During the lockdown with no sports they had classic games from the 70s and 80s. Amazing to watch how fast the pace of game was. However, the umpires were calling strikes seemed like the second it crossed the plate, not waiting for where the catcher caught the ball.
There’s a lot more to the game today vs. 50 years ago. The economics are vastly different including salaries, ticket prices, franchise values etc.
Additionally- the metrics and technology are substantially more comprehensive and the audience (thinking younger fans especially) judge the entertainment value differently.
All of that means the game is at least subtly different and IMO much more than that, The non-tenders are a reflection of that, as well as, covid financial impact,
plus significantly the fact that the arbitration process over prices every year and more so in a limited game scenario like 2020.
In absolute terms any MLB Player gets paid well- every full year player makes more at least 25% more than the POTUS!
It is (or was) a $10B industry. Players should get their cut of the pie. Civil servants, including the President, know the pay is less than in private industry.
Somewhere north of 40% of that pie went straight to player payroll… in most industries in the real world that number is usually between 15% and 30%
In most industries, the workers are not the product.
Excellent points to this whole thread
That probably explains why the number is already higher
Good riddance to the crappy umpires. Some balls and strikes are so egregiously incorrectly called it can ruin a game.
Agreed and they seem to throw a make-up for call to even out their suck like it has no impact on the game. 3-1 vs 2-2 is a huge difference positive or negative depending which side your on.