Right-handed ace Trevor Bauer has been the No. 1 free agent on the market since it opened almost two months ago, though not much has been said about the type of contract he’s seeking. Now, though, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets that teams interested in Bauer “suggest” he’s looking for a five- to six-year accord worth $36MM to $40MM per season.
The always outspoken Bauer unsurprisingly chimed in, replying to Heyman (on Twitter): “I’m learning so much about my free agency from your tweets!” While Bauer and agent Rachel Luba may hope to control the flow of information regarding the 2020 NL Cy Young winner’s free agency, that may prove impossible given the number of team employees privy to conversations.
At the end of the day, the matter of Bauer’s asking price was largely sidestepped. And setting aside the pointed exchange between the involved parties, that’s par for the course for any player/agent combo when reports on asking price surface. It’s not in the best interest of Bauer or Luba to tip their hand one way or another regarding contractual expectations. Luba has declined to do so in previous appearances on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, as one would expect. Nothing about this, save for the social media finger-pointing, is atypical.
tom brunanskys black sock
Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
No.
Bart
Yes
afsooner02
Good safety tip….thanks Egon.
Robertowannabe
Ouuccchh!!!
24TheKid
Sounds fine.
NYYstateofmind
You’re pretty hip & far out man.
tonyinsingapore
Hahaha, like that…
bobtillman
Not until I get my stimulus check.
titanic struggle
You made over 22,000 last year and we’re supplementing your unemployment, why on earth should we give you a stimulus check?
bobtillman
So I can pay for my MLBTR subscription.
browner1979
Total protonic reversal
Cambio
Rapture?
Al Hirschen
Mets
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Good luck with that Trevor……
yankees2016rebuild
35 to 40 million wow looks like Tom brunanskys and Trevor Bauer are smoking the same thing. Cause they both sound nuts. I wouldn’t even go 25 million and the yankees need pitching.
joedirte4life
That happens everytime I use the bathroom.
Courtesy flush
tiredolddude
Entropy catastrophe. Rare. But not impossible. Are we talking Pirates baseball here?
Tim_Buck-Two
Trevor asking for money like that unexpected hyper inflation has already kicked in. M1, he should just sign a one year deal for 60 million then repeat his performance and ask for a 100 million 1 year deal the year after that cause that will be about what a year in baseball will be valued at. Bob Gibson got them to lower the Mound, Trevor Bauer gonna get them to raise the luxury tax
thomps07
Don’t cross the streams!
i like al conin
For a scientist he got it wrong – only photons travel at the speed of light.
angels1961
He’s going to Dodgers or Mets ourside chance Padres. Angels need more than 1 starter and cannot come near 35 mill a year. I heard that from a source I have.
SanDiegoTom
Dodgers or Mets can have him at 35aav. Bauer seems like an imminent disaster imo
Phantom X
When wasn’t he?
angels1961
last year
slowcurve
got heem
Phantom X
11 games mean nothing. Look at his stats. He’s a 4.00 ERA or higher pitcher consistently.
meckert
Exactly. I for one hope my team avoids him. Is it true he’s asking for a second locker to accommodate his giant intellect?
rct
Yep. His 2018 was stellar but outside of that, he’s been average or slightly above.
For anyone placing any value on his 11 starts in 2020 (aided by a crazy BABIP), please look at his final 10 starts of 2019. Whoever signs him to a megadeal will instantly regret it. I could see this as an Angels move all day.
believeitornot
I see him going to Anaheim. I don’t think he will be a bust but a disappointment whether it is 25 a year or 35. The Angels are great at bad contracts. They signed a 34 year old Pujols for 10 years and Hamilton was a disaster. Bauer would be much better than either one.
tonyinsingapore
Bauer is openly a huge proponent of modern science applied to pitching. That said, he’s openly stated that with all of the research and applied science, the only true way to get dominating spin is by cheating and doctoring the baseball.
As long as MLB allows pitchers to cheat Bauer should be pretty damn good…
letsgopadres
Please let it be the outside the NL West. I seriously wish him the best of luck but I don’t want the Padres committing that much money until after they lock up Tatis. I also don’t want the Padres facing him regularly.
DrDan75
Bauer is from the LA area and has publicly stated that he wants to play for the Dodgers.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Dodgers better get him because the Padres just got quite a bit better over the last few days.
giantsphan12
@fred, until the Betts trade/massive extension, these big signings aren’t Friedman’s play. I don’t think the Dodgers are worried about the recent Padres upgrades and I don’t think they will counter with a 6/240 for Bauer. Giants best to stay away at that ask too!
StreakingBlue
I would hope for the Dodgers they would only do two years max on this clown. I can see his act crashing and burning any team if he is around a stable organization for too long.
floridagators
How is he a clown? Big words.
dan55
No way he goes to the Padres. They just traded for their pitchers and don’t have a rotation spot for him, plus they are already maxed out in payroll.
Likewise, the Dodgers also don’t seem to be a good fit, as they already have a good rotation and don’t really need him, plus they need to extend Seager and bring in a third baseman, so I don’t think they would want to tie up so much money in Bauer.
The Mets make perfect sense, as Cohen wants to win and a rotation that includes Degrom, Bauer, Syndergaard, and Stroman would pose a very real threat to the Braves in the NL East.
boltz82
I have to disagree in regards to the Padres. Firstly, all teams would upgrade their pitching staff if they could. The Padres have Darvish, Snell, Lamet, and Paddack. Who is the fifth starter? Maybe Gore but he has limited experience pitching at AA. The Padres current estimated payroll is $164M. Last years payroll was $168M. I don’t think it would be a stretch for the Padres to take on Bauer’s salary at $8M/year. That would only put them slightly higher than the 2020 payroll and give them the best starting five in baseball.
dan55
“Bauer’s salary at $8M/year?” What drug are you smoking? This article stipulates that Bauer is asking for $35-40 million, and I personally think he will end up with around $25-30 million a year. That would push the Padres payroll to about $200 million, and I don’t think the owners would approve of this. In regards to their fifth starter, I see Snell, Lamet, Darvish, and Paddack locking down our first four rotation spots, and I think one of Morejon/Gore/Lucchesi will be our fifth starter. Remember that Clevinger will come back in 2022.
frankiegxiii
The Padres would be ooonne lucky team to sign Bauer for 8M annually.
YourDreamGM
8 million a year for 80 years.
believeitornot
I don’t think the Nationals have much money but I am sure they would jump at Bauer for 8 million a year.
rct
While the Mets definitely need rotation help, I don’t necessarily see Bauer as an Alderson-type signing, though maybe the new GM and Cohen would disagree.
Stevil
‘I have a source’….
Is that ‘source’ commonly referred to as an acronym that starts with a ‘M’ and ends with a ‘R’?
bkbkbkbk
Lol, you have no sources.
DarkSide830
Pads dont need to any more payroll. principle of diminishing returns at some point.
padam
Padres just took on the Darvish contract without offloading the Myers contract. I’d say they’re done as far as big contracts go, nor do they need Bauer.
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
Anyone that gives him 36-40 mill a year is going to regret it. Track record all over the place. He’s had ONE good year… not even a whole one.
letsgopadres
I agree
juanpursuit
2018
CalcetinesBlancos
He could probably get pretty close to it if he was willing to stick to his original year by year idea. Bummer he wussed out.
jakec77
Year by year, I’d have no problem giving him $40 million. But on a multi-year deal? No pitcher is worth that, too much risk, and it’s not like Bauer is some sure fire Hall of Famer.
Aoe3
35-40mill a season is insane. Player salaries are becoming unreasonable, especially with todays economy/environment. I will laugh at any team that gives him 30mill+ a season.
DarkSide830
meanwhile in the NBA…
YourDreamGM
When you only have 5 players it makes more sense.
User 4245925809
Aoe3… Player salaries have been said to be “unresonable” since catfish Hunter was awarded free agency way back in ’75 believe it was. Charlie O’Finley, the owner Hunter ran away from and some thought a loon, but in some ways was prophetic.. Said FA would wreck the game.
I’m not dissing on FA, but there were complaints on salaries when guys were getting 2-300k per year then. Even pro rated to now money, the % of contracts going up has risen dramatically.
trout27
Agents can ask for as much as they want, getting it is another story. I don’t see a huge market for Bauer, maybe the Mets, Blue Jays and Angels. No one will give him anywhere near 36-40 million. I think he will have a choice of 6/150, 5/120 or a one year at 40 nillion max. Bauer doesn’t move the needle for the Angels or Jays. Cohen might want to make a splash but I don’t think he will go crazy for Bauer. 2020 was an outlier for Bauer, teams will take that into account. I would put less emphasis on the walk year especially a 60 game season.
Ma4170
Wonder if a team would do 3/100 and would he take it
DarkSide830
1.5 great years, the rest mediocre at best. no thanks.
boltz82
Right. A 12 win season with a 2.21 era isn’t good.
drasco036
I love Trevor Bauer…. I’m surprised it isn’t higher to be honest… I imagine TB in a liar like Dr. Evil saying “100 billion dollars”
Phantom X
Jon Heyman needs to stop while he’s ahead. Seems he is reaching for straws atm.
tom brunanskys black sock
Heyman has been making things up longer than Steven King.
its_happening
Heyman will continue to bitterly chase Bauer so long as he’s pitching in the majors. Truly unfortunate. Heyman is a perpetual make-believer while happily patting himself on the back for sparking a reaction from Bauer. Too bad he has a Hall of Fame vote. Bauer going after him is refreshing.
saluelthpops
Is it refreshing? The knock on Bauer is his lack of maturity. I’m not sure his inability to ignore comments on social media helps refute that.
its_happening
Sal – yes it’s refreshing. Heyman should be called out. He’s treated certain people poorly for reasons having nothing to do with baseball. He abuses the powers handed to him. Bauer is within his right to call him out.
rct
Do they have a history or do people just not like Heyman? I don’t know much about Heyman, but I was watching their back-and-forth unfold on Twitter and it was virtually all venom for Heyman.
its_happening
Heyman has venom for political reasons having nothing to do with baseball and has shown a pattern of it, showing he is not a baseball authoritarian, more of a petty human being abusing his powers.
377194
$36-$40 MM!!? He’s delusional.
julyn82001
Agreed. Wonder if he is also getting those $600 relief package the government is sending struggling Americans! Joke!
whyhayzee
Today news!
Nothing.
MoRivera 1999
Stop whining about MLBTR and just stop reading if you don’t like it.
PiratesFan1981
Anyone who gives this guy a huge contract, better have a solid rotation and something in the “shadows” before signing Bauer. One good short season and everyone thinks he’s a Gerrit Cole. Smh
Phantom X
Also, if Heyman does happen to be true, TB needs a reality check. 1 good season and a half does not equate to that amount of money. Especially since other seasons have been that of a #4 starter.
DarkSide830
$40 million is unheard of territory too. that’s way above anyone else’s.
pustule bosey
I could be wrong but I just don’t see a team in this market spending 240mm for a pitcher who has had a couple of stellar + a couple of good seasons who also has luggage he is bringing along
Phantom X
As I stated on here, he’s no better than a #4 starter. He’s going to be a worse Jake Arrieta.
dkcsmc1991
He is better than a #4. If you stayed it before then you’ve been wrong at least twice.
Phantom X
Look at his baseball reference sheet. 4.00 or higher is not a #3 starter. He had a short season of 1.73 and 1 other season 2.79. Everything else was above 4 with some at 5.
Evan Siggson
I thought 5/125 was a realistic contract. If mets sign Springer I’d assume he’d lose a suitor. I guess we will see.
bobtillman
Heyman just tweeted the O’s and Pirates are out of the running for Bauer.
frankiegxiii
The A’s and Royals are still in on him though right?
DarkSide830
he’s saving that news for another tweet
Nevrfolow
Make it incentive based. 28 mill base guaranteed plus 200k per game played and 500k per game with either QS or Win.
ABCD
QS and wins are not eligible stats for incentives.
DarkSide830
not accusing you of being wrong, but where are you getting this from? really just curious.
YankeesBleacherCreature
It’s in MLB’s Basic Agreement incentive clause. Players cannot be awarded based on individual statistical achievement.
Nevrfolow
Well it was fun to think about and thanks for the info. It’s good to know that stats cant be part of a salary incentive.
bluejaysfan
I like this idea. I may go with games started or innings pitched. Even start the base at $25 million if that’s the case.
steven st croix
If Heyman says it, it’s not true. That guy is garbage. How does he still have a job?
its_happening
He makes sure he’s on the proper ‘side’ and is a yes man to the company he works for. Deceit is not a right but don’t tell a sports journalist in the mainstream; they feel they have that privilege under the guise of doing their job.
Sliderdownandin
Dickie Dunn wrote this. It’s gotta be true!
YakAttack
That’ll buy a lot of drones.
YourDreamGM
I would pay a pitcher 35 million a year. Just not for many years. If he wants 200 million plus it better be a 9 year deal.
Sideline Redwine
My goodness would that be an overpay. He was great last year, but otherwise? One good year, others average; he may end up repeating last year, but geez that is a lot of $.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
Bauer “suggest” he’s looking for a five- to six-year accord worth $36MM to $40MM per season.
Oooooooo no wonder why the O’s haven’t kicked the tire and why the Padres traded for their pitchers
Makes sense now.
ricanrob14
Bet the Dodgers won’t offer more than a 3yr deal but probably @ 35-40 mil per. He’s gonna end up with the Mets. They will give in to the 5-6yr deal.
junkmale
Of course he’ll end up on the Mets. It’s all a part of NYM’s master plan to add as much as they can do payroll while continuing to be the worst team in the NL East with zero plan for the future. They’re executing it masterfully.
metsfan104
Isn’t this the guy the threw that ball over the center field fence and could have hit a fan?
joeshmoe11
He threw the ball where there was no seating
metsfan104
…because that makes him less of a head case…HOW?
DarkSide830
yeah God…he has anger issues but at least he was lucky with where he threw the ball.
junkmale
To be fair, he threw the ball at the Royals’ ball park. There were no fans in attendance.
metsfan104
NOW THAT is the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.. thank you!
DrDan75
That was in KC when Bauer was still playing for the Indians. I think he was traded to Cincinnati a day or two later.
I don’t care for Bauer. He’s a decent pitcher, but he strikes me as a prima donna and kind of a jerk.
DarkSide830
arguably the best depiction of Bauer as a whole
beyou02215
Big fan of Bauer but if that report is correct, I suspect his market will be very limited. Mets. Dodgers. Maybe the Jays or Giants.
stymeedone
If that report is correct, I suspect his market will be at least 4 teams smaller than you think it will be.
Capital_Dave
No offense to the author, but these are 250 words that say very little. MLB Player makes unrealistic high salary demands. Bauer confronts someone on Twitter. No one knows precisely what is going on behind the scenes. Water is wet. Move along.
MoRivera 1999
You’re right. We’d rather be reading the brilliant articles you’d come up with. Like your comment.
Spare Tire Dixon
$36-40mm per year? No SP is worth that. Certainly not Bauer
joeshmoe11
Why wouldn’t he ask for that? Doesn’t mean he won’t sign for that
DrDan75
He’s worth what the market will bear. I don’t blame the players for trying to get the best deal they can Sports careers tend to be very short and fleeting.
sicrash
Steve Cohen please do not spend that kind of money on Bauer
Wow
dirkg
TB is a numbers guy. With 1 WAR equaling approx $8M, with 2020 being his best season, he produced 2.7 WAR. That equates to $21.6M a year. He knows hes “worth” to front offices about $22M – $25M; my guess he’ll be in that range. These $30M – $40M numbers are ridiculous click bait.
joeshmoe11
2020 was 37% of a season. Over a full season that’s $57.6 million. #numbers
dirkg
I truncated my response because it was too long. If you factor TBs last 7 seasons, not counting his small stint in AZ and his CLE cup of coffee in 2013 (both neg WAR), ironically you get a yearly avg WAR of 2.6, which is about what he got in a shortened season (hence the 2.7 WAR). 37% of a season doesnt factor dead arm, fatigue, etc. of a full 162. His numbers show hes a 3 WAR pitcher, which is about $25M a year (esp going into his age 30 season). #numbersindeed
metsfan104
Sorry, Jake deGrom is making less and is a MUCH BETTER PITCHER than Bauer could dream to be. This is a COVID market….good luck with that. People are losing jobs and barley making ends meet and this a** wants HOW MUCH? the ballz on this guy.
junkmale
He’s a cocky Republican from LA who grew up in a bubble. Like he even believes COVID is real.
jvent
Screw Bauer let him go to the Angels lol
Vizionaire
angels may give unreasonably long contracts but won’t pay anyone that much.
angels1961
We will not spend that much for him we need 2 starters minimum plus bullpen help.
dirkg
For the price of Bauer, the Angel’s can pick up Luis Castillo and Kyle Hendricks while eating bad contracts from the Reds and Cubs (respectively). Obviously theres some minor league value going back as well, but I dont see how Bauer is a good fit for the Halos when such a rare opportunity of cash strapped teams are largely available.
NYYstateofmind
The whole thing is preposterous! He’s eleven games over .500 with a career ERA of almost 4.00. “Oh sure Pete Rose can play comedy, love the idea, LOVE IT!
tom brunanskys black sock
Imagine still believing wins has any tangible value as a statistic for an individual player. It must be a simple life.
NYYstateofmind
Imagine being the village idiot where parents point at you & tell their children, see what happens when you drop acid & chase it with cheap wine. Well I guess you actually don’t have to imagine it.
Moneyballer
Oh snap! Welcome to thunderdome, one weapon each please.
jvent
For $36-40 mil the Mets can get Odorizzi,Hand,Bradley Jr and Hendricks
jvent
Or Springer and Odorizzi
Dorothy_Mantooth
That package would cost closer to $50M but I agree that would be the better move than signing Bauer. Hendricks is looking for $14-$15M per year. Not sure he’ll get that but he’ll definitely cost more than $10M per year.
Moneyballer
I think Hendricks gets about that much on a 3-year deal. 3/40 seems like a good number.
BAT1126
He’s off his nut…..now if he were to sign for $20-$25MM a year in say NY or LA he could make up the ground in endorsements but that is the ONLY way he is gonna see the $35-40MM range.
Moneyballer
I don’t know about that, he’s about as marketable as a migraine headache. I can’t see companies lining up to have trevor freakin bauer sell their products!
pcwizblue
At least we all know who will be in the playoffs in 21 from the National league.
Braves, Nationals, Padres, Dodgers, St,Louis, Mets or Marlins
baji kimran
Bauer’s numbers were skewed last year by all those starts against the Pirates, Royals and Tigers. Only three times all year did he face a team with a winning record (twice the Cubs, once the White Sox). He’s a head case and it will take a bigger head case to give him that much money.
YourDreamGM
Cubs bats weren’t exactly hot last year. He was still great though. Not like he would of had a 3 era if he was in another division.
CalcetinesBlancos
Teams are getting a preview of the petty, asinine BS they’ll get to deal with if they sign Bauer.
Moneyballer
Can you imagine that ego getting even larger one he’s the highest paid player on the team? I get pukey just thinking about it.
Twinsfan79
Start high I guess.
BobSacamano
I’ll would gladly take Kluber and Wainwright over him any day.
YourDreamGM
I think the prove it contract pitchers is where the value is at this year. I will pass on the 10 to 20 million range guys.
Moneyballer
Really? Geez not me. Kluber pitched like one whole terrible inning last year and Wainwright is in the twilight of his career! Be real. Bauer blows those guys out of the water!
Rangers29
I saw a video the other day about how his spin rate jumped 400 points in 2020 compared to his other seasons. It was a conspiracy theory video, but it brought up points about how Bauer said that the only way his spin rate could get that high was by cheating. I love Bauer, so I hope it was just a feeble attempt by a conspiracy theorist to take a shot at Bauer, but it seemed plausible. Even if it was true, honestly, I’d still love Bauer. He’s great for the game.
Vizionaire
i watched only about 20 games this past season. i watched a pitcher after another seemingly using foreign substances. most pressed their thumbs on underside of their caps. one kept touching inside of his belt with top two fingers.
tiredolddude
Undoubtedly it was something to kill 99.9% of germs including COVID. Who can blame them? That they got extra spin was just a bonus
dan55
@Rangers29 – I watched that video too, I think it was called “Trevor Bauer cheats and nobody cares” or something. It was pretty good. I honestly think he is trying to expose the whole pitcher cheating phenomena in MLB, as he is the first active pitcher that I can think of to really talk about how foreign substances can affect spin rates.
DarkSide830
it would be funny if he was cheating after peddling the buzzer conspiracy story himself
YankeesBleacherCreature
He has explicitly accused Gerritt Cole of using pine tar resulting in higher spin rates prior to him signing with the Yankees (whom I’m a fan of). I don’t disagree with Bauer. It’s the umps’ and MLB’s job to investigate but if they aren’t, he’s probably doing so himself. Just don’t be too obvious. Pitchers using foreign substances to effect grip has been around since the dawn of baseball.
Moneyballer
You just trashed him and spread an unfounded rumor then said but I like him, he’s great. I don’t get that one at all.
Rangers29
I spoke of something interesting I saw in a Youtube video the other day, not a dossier about the new aged political system. It could be (and most likely is) false. I just thought it was interesting.
I still love Bauer despite some unfounded YouTube video, if thats what you mean.
Moneyballer
Aka spread a conspiracy theory suspecting him of cheating but hey I’m sure he love’s the fact that you “like him”!
Rangers29
I’m not “spreading a conspiracy”, it was a popular video that I just wanted to bring up on this thread. I thought it was a fine topic to bring up on a Bauer related thread because it was… Bauer related! It’s not for the sake of trying to slander him, instead, it was just because I found it interesting.
It isn’t unparalleled to like a player while sharing an info-wars-esque YouTube video on him! Not “spreading a conspiracy”, but instead just talking about it!
Moneyballer
Whatever you say. It’s exactly what you were doing.
Yep it is
Bauer should think the Nationals for their stupid over pay on Strausburg that led to the Yankees over pay on Cole and the Angels desperation over pay on Rendon. How many times does the market jump almost $10 million on those type of players?
YourDreamGM
I wish I knew what the runner up offered those guys. All 3 terrible contracts. They usually are.
dan55
I don’t think those are terrible contracts. Rendon has been criminally underrated his entire career, Cole is one of the top pitchers in the game, and while I personally think Strasburg is a little bit overpaid, you can’t deny that he is a very good player.
Moneyballer
They aren’t worth what they are being paid, that’s just the truth right there. When you consider the system of paying players and how youth works against you – it will always be the young talented guys in which organizations get the most value from.
robb5215
Its how owners view Bauer. But as with any player, you are paying for past preformance hoping for high points and not the low. And too no one can predict injuries, therefore longer contracts come with higher risk.
Moneyballer
Also if he’s going to throw the ball over the centerfield wall in the middle of a game!
Rsox
Bauer+large market+big money contract=disaster waiting to happen.
That kind of money on a two year deal fine. But that kind of money over five or six years would be a mistake. And Bauer and his agent should both know that reporters like Heyman, or Morosi or any of them are going to make up stories, they should also know if there is anyone else but the agent and the GM in the room someone is going to leak something
cheetobandito
If he pitched 200 innings he would get paid $200,000 per inning.
Give him that offer. $66,666 per out recorded. Purely performance based.
Dorothy_Mantooth
You can’t pay pitchers on those types of stats. You can pay incentives on IP or appearances, but not on outs recorded, strikeouts, WHIP, ERA, etc.
Play the Game
No way he gets 5/200. 3/75 tops
dan55
That’s way too low for Bauer. If he takes a three year deal, he’s probably going to get paid something like $35 million/year. If he takes something like a five or six year deal, he will probably make something like $25-30 million/year. He won’t take $25 million/year for only three years.
GoLandCrabs
Easy to see why Cole and Bauer did not get along at UCLA. Bauer has to make a spectacle out of everything while Cole could not possibly talk less.
Moneyballer
That’s cuz bauer is an asshat.
I Beg To Differ
I see him signing a similar contract that Cespedes signed.
1 year 25 mill for 2021
Player option for 4 years 120 mill.
2nd year 25 mill for 2022
3rd year 30 mill for 2023
4th year 30 mill for 2024
5th year 35 mill for 2025.
Id be shocked if he got over 30 mill a year with owners crying poor without backloading a contract.
Seems like players will need to wait till 2022 or 2023 for bigger money to kick in on contracts back loaded that they sign this offseason.
dan55
Bauer would probably like a contract like that, especially with his earlier stated preference to only sign one year deals. An opt out would give him flexibility, plus he could become a free agent again once the market goes back to normal.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Mookie got that monster extension during the middle of the COVID pandemic so some teams are willing to open their wallets for the right type of player. Bauer is certainly not on the same level as Betts but I can see a team paying him 2/$70M or 3/$100M+ guaranteed. I really don’t see anyone offering Bauer a 5-6 year deal at Garett Cole money. His results and his personality are too volatile to invest that much money & term in him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up opting to sign a 1 year deal; it will just need to be the highest AAV in MLB for him to do so which I believe is $37M+. Anyway you slice it, Bauer is going to be a very wealthy man once he agrees on a contract. He’s also a advertiser’s dream if he ends up in the right marketplace.
I Beg To Differ
Teams aren’t interested in opening their wallets for 2021 and 2022
Moore Betts contract structure epitomizes that.
2020 was prorated and didn’t earn it all
2021 is 17.5 mill
2022 is 17.5 mill
2023 is 20 mill
2024 is 25 mill
Teams can dish out large contracts but 2021, 2022, and 2023 won’t high as high AAVs as the back years of the contracts.
YourDreamGM
The betts contract surprised me. He was fantastic though. But if he was a free agent would another team beat that money? Great payday with so much uncertainty.
Moneyballer
You just said what will actually happen. BACKLOADED CONTRACT. It will look ok on paper but it will be so backloaded that if he acts like a child out there they can just cut him or pawn him off to another desperate team for nothing.
Dunk Dunkington
I got a feeling he will sign with the Giants, but that at that insane amount he is demanding. He is not getting Cole money.
chip chipperson
Yeah and I want a bj from Christine Taylor
uvmfiji
April Fawls!!!
chip chipperson
Home run uvmfiji!
My mouth is dry…
Moneyballer
That’s so gross. She’s old and is Ben Stiller’s sloppy everything. You’re one sick dude!
wright1970
Bauer is worth 5/125 and thats it!! he isnt Degrom or Cole…
Moneyballer
I hate trevor bauer, such a waste of a human being but I disagree with you. From strictly a baseball only perspective, he outpitched both Cole and DeGrom last season so he is worth the money statistically speaking. Question is do you want his stupid brain and terrible persona leading your franchise? I don’t.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
So you would trust Bauer after a covid shortened season when those pitchers have pitched great seasons continuously?
dirkg
He pitched in the NL and AL Central bubble. You could probably pitch a 4.00 ERA in that cake-walk schedule.
angels1961
Bauer will use Angels to jack up price, Do not do it Artie set your price then move on. Do not wait for him to decide then nothing will be left
SwingtheFNbat
WHATEVER! HAHAHA! It’s social media, you can’t believe everything u hear. Only way he touches 30m aav is on a 3 year deal or less. The 25m for 5/6 is more believable. To funny
Jal179
I hope no one signs him. He’s such a knob.
Cambio
Bauer isn’t someone I would spend nearly that much money on. He likes to pick fights with people on Twitter, which can be a distraction. I have also met him in person at some pitching clinics during my college years (we are the same age). He came across as quite a tool. It’s a shame for someone with that much talent to have that kind of attitude.
Dorothy_Mantooth
I find him rather refreshing vs. the “I’ll do what’s best for the team” or “I’d like to thank God for giving me this opportunity” canned responses we get out of most MLB players. He certainly pushes the envelope and can be controversial at times but it’s so much better to hear than the usual mundane responses to interviewer’s questions.
Cambio
There is nothing wrong with being humble though. The two responses you mentioned are examples of people being humble. Not Bauer’s M.O.
its_happening
Until Heyman and others show proper respect to the game, Bauer should hold him and others accountable. If you don’t believe me, wait a couple weeks when we revisit Heyman’s annual childish behaviour around Hall of Fame voting time.
Orel Saxhiser
Refreshing? You must be easily amused.
Moneyballer
That’s cuz he is a tool, a massive one!
DarkSide830
nice to see one of these phony “insiders” get put in their place. “he might want a large AAV and many years.” impeccable insight Jon.
uvmfiji
Traded for Puig. He’s got Gerrit Cole’s arm and Crispin Glover’s brain.
Dorothy_Mantooth
But he has Danny Glover confidence (Lethal Weapon style).
“It’s just been revoked”
Moneyballer
Cmon man why you have to bash crispin glover like that?!
Bochys Retirement Fund
Homeboy wins one Cy Young without having to produce 30 starts and now is barking like the top dog in the league. Chill Trev.
vtadave
6/240….seems reasonable.
Orel Saxhiser
Why do you think that’s reasonable?
Moneyballer
un. unreasonable.
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
So… Bauer is more valuable than Trout?
Sliderdownandin
Unless he finds a team that overpays, I am not sure why he would want to sign a long term deal in this Covid influenced market.
Maybe he doesn’t feel like he can follow up his shortened 2020 season. If he’s not willing to bet on himself, not sure why someone else should.
SalaryCapMyth
Going down these comments I didn’t realize Bauer was so polarizing. I had thought he was a favorite among fans. Or maybe a lot of posters are just reacting to the report from Heyman?
Either way, Bauer is a very intelligent person. I don’t think he really expects to get that much. It’s just a negotiating tactic of starting high.
dan55
I personally love Bauer but I can see how he is a very polarizing person. He is known to have outbursts on the field, and he doesn’t get along with everyone. Also, a lot of old-school people probably don’t like the way he is trying to build his brand off the field(for example, look at recent comments about the NFL by Booger Mcfarland).
Orel Saxhiser
Everyone starts out by negotiating high. Why do some fans use the word “intelligent” to describe him and not other players? Are you one of the Bauer Myth Buyers?
SalaryCapMyth
Do you have proof that Bauer being intelligent is a myth or should I just take your word for it? I’m not even going to dignify your question with a response as to my opinion of the guy because I just don’t care enough too.
As for his intelligence, that I will respond too. I have watched some of his more extensive vids and he demonstrated his understanding of science behind the game and his employment of it. That is what I mostly base my opinion on.
@Dan. My surprise was in regard to fans. I can definitely see how some players, staff and industry personnel might not be so fond of him.
Orel Saxhiser
Why are some people predicting Bauer to the Dodgers? That is in no way the type of signing they would make.
dodgersvictoryagain
I’ll guess 4 year deal w opt outs after one or two years max.
Orel Saxhiser
The team that signs him will be praying that he opts out.
Moneyballer
Haha this update is just a report on a twitter exchange! We’re digging at the bottom of the barrell on this one! He wants 200 million, yeah no kidding. Too bad the club that signs him has to deal with his off the field garbage. Probably the most immature professional I’ve ever seen. Watch him reply to this, wouldn’t surprise me.
steelyd89
I found it odd Bauer/Luba called out Heyman as a liar (“it’s not true” (that Luba declined to comment) and Luba stating “was on a flight, haven’t opened your texts yet”) and that all Heyman said was “she texted back” to decline comment? Of I were Heyman, I’d be screen capping her text and posting it to protect my credibility…
tom brunanskys black sock
This assumes Heyman has any credibility left.
angt222
Bauer should get no more than say 6 yrs/$180M. Still think Angels are the ones who sign him.
377194
I’d offer him 4 yrs/$60M with incentives that could double it with good performance.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I love how they acknowledge ace when his career FIP is close to 4 and he has really had only two great seasons, albeit one being an insanely small sample size. Anyone who pays this guy 35 million a year is ridiculous.
GoGiants2021
2 years 60miL that’s all I’d do. A career near 4 ERA. A couple flashes here and there. And he’s now over 30. Good luck to him.
carlos15
This guy is delusional. He had a career 4+ ERA and just had 11 good starts in a shortened season. $36-$40m a year is insane. If he gets more than $20m that contract will be an albatross the minute he gets lit up in his first 3 starts and his new team realizes what they really have in him.
28cf
The Angels will get him. And they’ll overpay. Because that’s what the Angels do. But he’s not the pitcher that the Angels need.
costarican chata
“… nothing … is atypical …”
what does that mean ?
thank you .
hossmandu
@costarican chata — it means that nothing is irregular or unusual. Writer is basically saying that, outside of Bauer’s activity on social media, everything about the process so far is normal.
fundude
After the trade of Yu Darvish the Chicago Cubs need pitching depth now more than ever and I believe that Trevor Bauer would be a perfect fit for them!