David Robertson was the 47th-ranked player on MLBTR’s list of the offseason’s top 50 free agents, yet the veteran reliever is still looking for a contract as the calendar approaches mid-April. Veteran starter Lance Lynn was an honorable mention on our list, and while there wasn’t any indication that Lynn was considering hanging up the cleats after 13 big league seasons, Lynn rather surprisingly announced his retirement two weeks ago.
On paper, both pitchers seemed like sure bets to land respectable contracts this winter, but what happened? USA Today’s Bob Nightengale explored the subject as part of a larger piece about the somewhat still market that several free agents (including even top names like Corbin Burnes) faced this offseason, or in past offseasons. As Lynn put it, “you know what you think you’re worth, you know where you want to be, but teams look to try to get a guy as cheap as possible…..I was in a weird market where every team could afford me, but 20 to 25 teams are not looking to compete. Every team has the same playbook.”
The Cardinals didn’t exercise their $12MM club option on Lynn for the 2025 season, instead buying him out for $1MM and sending the veteran back onto the open market. Robertson was also technically tied to a $7MM mutual option with the Rangers for 2025, but since mutual options are almost always declined by one or both sides, it was no surprise that Robertson passed on his side of the option and instead took a $1.5MM buyout.
Lynn had a 3.84 ERA over 117 1/3 innings with St. Louis last year, with a slate of below-average Statcast metrics and two IL stints due to knee inflammation. His SIERA was 4.40, though overall, Lynn’s secondary numbers were more or less the same as they were in 2023, when Lynn was perhaps unlucky to post a 5.73 ERA over 183 2/3 combined innings with the White Sox and Dodgers.
Acknowledging his age (37), injury history, and modest production, Lynn went into the offseason with an $8MM asking price, a significant decrease from both his Cards club option and from the eight-figure average annual values that he has earned over the better part of the last decade. Lynn was also open to the idea of moving to the bullpen and possibly a high-leverage role, and some teams expressed interest about this possibility. Still, the Cubs were the only team publicly linked to Lynn’s market, and Lynn heard from other teams that they were only willing to sign him for $4MM if he waited until around June.
“I didn’t hear anything for so long, then everyone started offering basically the same thing,” Lynn said. “Every team seemed to say, ’This is the best deal you’re going to get.’ When I kept saying, ’No, you’re only paying me half of what I’m worth,’ they said, ’What are you going to do, just not play?’ Well, my answer is yes.”
Obviously the concept of what a particular player is “worth” is subjective, and it seems like no team shared Lynn’s opinion that he would produce $8MM or more of value in 2025. Lynn’s stance doesn’t seem unreasonable, given his long track record in the majors and the simple fact that every team is always in need of pitching. Increasingly, however, teams have been less willing to pay past market-established prices for a veteran innings-eater type, as clubs prefer to cover those innings at the back of a rotation with multiple younger pitchers, relievers, or an even lower-cost veteran on a non-guaranteed contract.
Robertson’s situation is perhaps even harder to figure. Nightengale writes that the reliever was looking for a $10MM salary in his next contract, after earning $10MM in a one-year deal with the Mets in 2023 and then last winter’s $11.5MM guarantee from the Rangers. Ten different relievers (not counting Clay Holmes, who signed with the Mets a starter) inked deals with at least a $10MM average annual value this past offseason, so Robertson’s ask wasn’t out of line with the rest of the market.
Though Robertson just celebrated his 40th birthday earlier this week, he wasn’t showing much sign of slowing down while posting a 3.00 ERA over 72 innings with Texas last season. His 33.4% strikeout rate was one of the best of his career and one of the best of any hurler in baseball in 2024, and his cutter remained one of the game’s more devastating pitches. Robertson’s walk rate was below average and his hard-contact numbers were only okay, though he limited the hardest contact in the form of very strong barrel numbers.
Robertson’s impressive season came on the heels of two other quality years in 2022-23, so it wasn’t like he was having a sudden late-career revival. The Cubs (again) and Tigers both reportedly had interest in Robertson this winter, but no deals emerged anywhere, despite the long list of teams who were openly looking for high-leverage bullpen help. Looking at that list of other relievers who landed a $10MM AAV, there are several names on that list coming off less-productive and more injury-plagued seasons than Robertson, or who lack even his three-year track record of success (to say nothing of Robertson’s overall success across 16 seasons in the Show).
It could be that teams simply couldn’t look past Robertson’s looming 40th birthday, and the added risk associated with committing substantial money to any player of an advancing age. That said, the exact same logic applied to Robertson heading into age-39 season, and that didn’t prevent him from landing a solid payday from the Rangers. It seems logical that Robertson would be seeking out a comparable salary coming off an even better season than he delivered in 2023, yet he remains unsigned. There hasn’t been much word on what Robertson’s next step might be, in regards to whether he is now looking at being an in-season signing, or if he might be weighing a year off or even retirement.
So basically “i want way more than im worth and at this stage in my life/career i still only carr about money, not winning” cooooool
Happy retirement ladies
What an incredible insulting and sexist remark. Did you even read the article?
Robertson had a strong year last season and was willing to accept decrease in salary, putting him the same tier with pitchers who performed worse. His worth seems to have been the going market rate, so it probably was a matter of others signing first and taking up teams payrolls before he could sign.
Maybe rethink your life choices, Sweetie.
Seems like the first comment summed up Lance Lynn’s mindset, not so much Robertson.
Then why did Robertson agree to the 2 year deal with a 2nd year salary of $7.5 Million. He gambled he could get more at age 40 and he lost … right?
Why shouldn’t GMs in this stat-driven era figure they can get equal production value from a young guy with health than an old guy with declining skills/stats and injury proclivity? Especially when half the MLB teams have had their TV revenues reduced by half? Mr. Lynn is kidding himself … which is his right, right?
The mutual option was to reduce the AAV. Mutual options are almost never exercised.
What declining skills? A 33.4% K rate is excellent, and a 3.00 ERA in 68 IP is strong. And the fact that he’s still pitching at age 40 may be as good an indication of future health as a young pitcher who hasn’t demonstrated he can stay healthy.
Maybe your second paragraph is just about Lynn…
The AAV for Robertson remained $11.5 million. The buyout was just deferred money until the beginning of the offseason.
Lance Lynn is anything but a lady. Purdy pathetic
At the end of the day, it’s still a job. And at this point in their lives being financially secure, they can set their price points. If a team doesn’t meet it, it’s not worth going to work when they don’t really need to….
Also though, Robertson was incredible last season (131 ERA+ in 72 IP; 12.4 K/9), despite his age. Lynn is younger, and was above average (108 ERA+), but I’d give Robertson his asking price sooner than Lynn, especially if we’re talking about 1 guaranteed year.
I wonder if it maybe hurt Robertson being self-representing, maybe not having someone out there knocking on doors for you like an agent would be doing at a certain point.
@RunDMC Good points. An agent can also explain to a player why they’re not getting the offers they think they should be getting, and can do so in a way that might makes sense to a dense or greedy player.
As for Lynn’s case, Jose Quintana looks like a significantly better bet–two years younger at a point in both careers where age is critical given teams have to be extremely aware that they may well be buying a player’s collapse year, the year after the final decent year of his career. Quintana’s 36, pitched 170 innings in 2024, 3.67 ERA, 4.56 FIP and with a better track record over the last 3 years, whereas Lynn pitched 117 innings, a 3.84 ERA, 4.31 FIP the year after he was about the worst pitcher in MLB.
Quintana ended up taking $4.25m. Why is Lynn worth twice that, particularly with his 4.99 ERA and 5.05 FIP in 2023-2024 and a similar quality 2024 but in 53 fewer innings?
An expected ERA for 2025 based on SIERA, FIP, xFIP that’s roughly 4.75 is something a lot of teams expect to get from pitchers like Griffin Canning (also a 4m salary, as it turns out ) if not from their minor leaguers for the MLB minimum. That’s not what you hope to get from the guy you’re paying $8m to 10m.
Nice comparison. Gave me something to think about.
Yes! Exactly!
The Cubs a looking for a SP and might just give him close to his asking price.
The game is getting younger and teams are willing to penny pinch to save money. Yet they are not wrong for feeling what they are worth. Some big contracts out there proves their point of how much they are worth. It’s all about when pitching injuries start to happen in the early part of the season. It’s more cost effective to let a young unproven kid take the spot over the vet. And you are seeing this in recent years it’s not like scherzer and verlander getting those contracts.
It’s also the case that pitchers like Quintana and Lynn offer projections at 36 and 38 that are only very slightly better than what replacement level pitchers offer. Teams also don’t care if they’re getting that performance from Lance Lynn or from three AAAA pitchers making the minimum, not to mention the upside of giving a chance to their young pitchers to prove themselves or to a returnee from the KBO or JPN on a cheap split deal.
Add to that the older pitcher not having options, which cramps your roster, and there are several good reasons not to take on a very marginal SP in his late 30s unless your farm doesn’t have competent prospects in the upper minors.
Btw, if Lance Lynn honestly thinks that as many as 25 teams aren’t interested in competing, I wouldn’t be thrilled about the chances he’ll have the brains to adjust well to decreasing stuff.
So, they’re old and fat?
Lance and Lynn?
Twice the pitcher for half the price
I get holding out for what you think you’re worth but claiming 20 to 25 teams aren’t trying to compete is BS.
For sure. We all know the math: 6 out of 30 teams make the playoffs, only 24 miss out. To say that anything close to 24 are not looking to compete just doesn’t add up.
The only way this makes any sense is if he was referring to the number of teams willing to compete for his services.
geoff, 12 out of 30 teams make the playoffs.
LOL… right. 6 in each league. Brain freeze on my part. That only makes his statement all the more preposterous. I’ll shut up now, before I say something even more stupid.
I think Lynn is right on the money. Most teams have a number payroll-wise. The are willing to spend up to that number for the sake of appeasing the fan base, but they will not go beyond that number to cover injury or underperformance.
Lynn is just saying that only 5-10 teams are trying to win at all cost. Everyone basically understands that. It’s not a huge secret.
The expanded playoff format has cost this tier of player. Most teams don’t feel as much pressure to win because they believe they can hang around until later in the season utilizing cheaper players and then make a better assessment of their true needs.
Even most of those “win at all costs” aren’t really that. The Yankees and Phillies for instance both shied away from some moves this past winter because of where their current payrolls sit and the added costs the CBT would add to any additional money paid out. There’s really only 1 MLB team recently who has ignored all costs, the Dodgers, and that’s only because of the massive advantage their local media contract gives them over everyone else.
Awesome! I am quitting while I’m only a little behind. You travel to Vegas with that attitude!
I think some teams add players with name recognition to appease fans. Most I’d say have a budget they stick to.
Teams like the A’s night spend to appease, but that is to protect a larger chunk of revenue.
I think Lynn’s obviously overstating the number by a lot, and I’d take issue with “not trying to compete” vs legitimately rebuilding but he’s not entirely wrong.
If he’d said “rebuilding” instead, I’d agree with him. For example, the Nationals. Mike Rizzo’s rebuild is built around Gore/Wood/Crews and minor league 3B Brady House or Cayden Wallace. I wasn’t a big fan of Trevor Williams 2-year $14 million deal, and he’s five years younger than Lynn. When you’re not “ready” to compete, why spend $7-8 million a year on a guy like Lynn? You’re still not getting into the playoffs in a division like the NL East.
Robertson has a problem in that not only is he 40 and asking for $10 million, teams are devaluing using a single “lockdown” guy.. They’d prefer to mix and match, The “value” of the save, at least in terms of contract negotiations, is going away. Having said that, if he’d drop his price and is wiling to pitch in the middle innings if necessary, the Nats ought to sign him. Their bullpen is abysmal, but it doesn’t make sense to spend $10 million on one player to improve it.
Robertson also had the one terrific year after two ordinary years, both with FIPs around 3.50, before which he threw 18 inning in 3 years.
He’d be a good fit on a lot of teams as you suggest–if he’s willing to take on a flexible role (I assume he is), but a contender isn’t likely to rely on a 40 year old to be their closer, and teams otherwise tend to not sign $10m relievers for flexible roles.
That’s 12 out of 30 that make the postseason, all of them were trying to do so, and more than that were “looking to compete.”
Yeah it’s more like 22-24
I mean look at how teams operate and tell me they are trying to compete. “Win 82-84 games and manage to get the second wild card” isn’t trying to compete, it’s doing the least possible to try and get lucky.
Lynn would have taken them from 82 84 wins to 90 or 100!!!!!!
Old broke down full of it. Why no one really wanted him. All but a handful of teams are trying to win.
Why would anyone give this guy 8m lol. Could get a better pitcher and a lefty for 5m.
If he wold have said that by february when most clubs have allocated their budget and that 20 to 25 teams are not going over, I get what he was referring to, next time don’t wait until the end.
That’s basically all I came in to say. Lynn thinks only 5 teams compete, but 12 teams make the playoffs, and probably 20-25 at least try.
Idiots like this annoy me. If you think you’re worth more, fine. Retire if you want. But this came off as a total whine.
If you are 40 year old RP who has already pushing 9 figures in career earning, what’s better, signing for a full season, including spring training, on a team that could turn out to be mediocre, or signing mid-season with a more certain contender?
Good question, but an purely academic one. It all depends on the individual’s situation. Does he have kids, and how old are they? Its not hard to see someone who has made over $50 or $100 million in his career say that he’d rather spend time with his kids than settle for some number that doesn’t move his needle.
You sign whenever they pay you
Both guys just didn’t want to play. Could’ve got deals on playoff teams if they really wanted
They didn’t misread the market. They banked a lot and made decisions that they didn’t want to commit for less than a certain amount. In Robertson’s case, he could get $10m prorated and be fresh in October.
Ageism!
In 2024, David Robertson posted a 33.5% strikeout rate over 72 innings, marking his highest since 2017 and ranking in the 96th percentile among MLB pitchers.
20-25 teams not looking to compete!? What kind of garbage take is that. It’s well known that with the addition of the wildcards there are quite a few more teams who are competing.
Yeah that makes no sense to me. Even undermanned and bad teams like the Pirates and A’s are actually “competing”. The only ones you can say aren’t are the White Sox and Marlins, and even they look scrappy. I think the Rockies actually want to compete, they just have no idea what they’re doing. Nationals are slow building their team. Cardinals quiet quit the offseason but didn’t get rid of pieces that would signal a clear rebuild.
He sounds bitter.
These guys need a reality check. There is a laundry list of SPs younger and healthier than Lynn that signed for $7 million or less.
As for Robertson, the market for non-closer relievers has collapsed over the past couple of seasons. Front offices have accepted the reality that the vast majority of these arms fail in a rotation spot before transitioning to relief and adjusted their offers accordingly.
Both were players were prideful and stubborn and got exactly what they deserved. The market doesn’t make exceptions to protect egos.
Dank, respectfully your take on Robertson doesn’t seem to make sense. He was looking for a deal similar to the last two and based on his performance, he felt he deserved it (so do I).
I don’t and neither does the market. Of the 10 relievers receiving 8 figures listed in the article, a majority were more valuable than Robertson based on volume and/or per rate production last season. One of the players, Jose Leclerc, was signed by the Athletics to avoid a grievance from the MLBPA.
The article specifies he wanted a $10 million salary, but not the number of years he was looking for.
Call it collusion if you want but it would be purely speculative given the information available, provided by Robertson’s camp. Personally, I don’t think it’s a conspiracy that all 30 teams passed on him at $10 million per.
He got one year deals from the Mets and Rangers and performed or outperformed them. Why would he not expect a similar deal?
The market for relievers clearly cooled off this offseason but the questions cut both ways.
What happens when a team needs to cross a luxury tax threshold to sign him if they’ve offered departing free agents qualifying offers? Was he looking for 2 years at $10 million per? Would signing him preclude any deadline acquisitions?
I get the underlying logic. Teams would prefer to develop as much young pitching as possible and then let things sort themselves out.
“What are you gonna do, not play? Well yes”
There you go, you won, at the cost of your own playing career.
These guys had long careers and made alotta money. At this point in their lives, they’re only going through the grind if a team pays them enough to make it worth their while….
Conversely, what’s “worth their while” won’t always be in the best interests of the team. If the cost of signing Robertson is crossing a luxury tax threshold, the draft pick compensation on departing free agents will be diminished.
In other words, sometimes an acquisition helps teams in the short term while setting them back in the long run. Plus, relievers are one of the easiest types of players to replace.
I get why teams would prefer to forego Robertson as part of a strategy of developing as much young pitching as possible. Lynn was an even easier call given the $8 million ask.
Never forget David Robertson struck out Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman in one inning, twice, on back to back nights vs the Dodgers in 2024.
Understand their perspective.
I think it’s a consequence of the massive inflation at the top of the market. Teams want to “fill out” the rest of the roster with younger, league minimum guys, since they now have to commit so much money to the top 5 guys on their team.
So the few extra million here and there that you would normally throw to Lynn, Robertson, has to go to your big free agents, to get your offer over your competitors.
Teams have a payroll budget. If the top players make more and more, the rest of the roster will start to suffer. In some ways, the players have done this to themselves by continuing to advocate for CBA changes that mostly benefit the top earners.
The Yankees could use a reunion with both, their pitching is putrid.
A solid 90% of the commenters here would be totally fine with bringing back the reserve clause. Keep those owners’ boots clean everyone
Wait until the lockout. 90 percent here are pro player. ” No one is paying to watch owners play”
I would pay to watch someone pitch John Henry high and inside.
I’d bet the line to see Nutting or Stu in the box taking some medicine may be even longer!
Not true. MLB is a free market for players after 6 years of service. Lynn and Robertson have their opinions of their worths in 2025, and the 30 teams have their opinions on their worths in 2025. To date, there is a gap in between them. It might change down the stretch on either side, or it might not. Time will tell.
Sorry Lance, but you came off as a whiner. You’re 38, and probably slot in as a #5 on a weak team. Enjoy retirement.
I don’t really think so. But I would say this: many of the moves made by the players with respect to the CBA have mostly benefited the top of the market players.
Also, adding more teams into the playoff mix certainly changes the need for more on the edge talent.
No one has to play for a salary we don’t think values us appropriately, unless we need whatever money was coming in. Robertson obviously didn’t need it badly enough. His choice, but before we pile on him, I wonder what offers he actually received–if his best were $7M, I’d wonder why he didn’t sign. But if it were $3M?
Why do people care? Some people would play for free some just want $. Not a big deal.
Lynn has been horrible. I heard an interview and he said if he takes less than he is worth he is hurting other players markets. His ego is a bit big for where he is at right now. I wouldn’t pay 4 million for him. He is lucky someone offered him anything. Staying home is where he should be and you aren’t hurting baseball by sitting on the couch.
It’s a pity after his horrific 2023 Lynn didn’t have the barls to say “I was horrible. I can’t accept the idea that players as lousy as I was can still make $10m+ a season because of scarcity at the position, not talent—therefore I’ll play for the minimum until i get my act together.”
Sorry gbs. Didnt mean to hurt your femalings.
Im still just a simple old fasioned man “a man”
Keep cute, girlfriend! 😉
Great answer! Only took you an hour to respond. Meanwhile GBS got twice as many likes than you did.
Both got buyouts, so I doubt their families will starve.
So he’s had a good career and made plenty of money and can retire before he’s forty, good for him.
Nightengale told a huge number of lies in one short article.
If I see Leclerc get as much money I’d have asked for double. How Robertson doesn’t have a job for anywhere around that much is beyond me.
Leclerc’s 31 and has a better track record over the last three years than Robertson does. That Leclerc was unlucky on balls in play in 2024 doesn’t mean what you think it means.
2025 also won’t be the last season of Leclerc’s career. If Leclerc’s getting 1/10m, 1/6m for Robertson is more than reasonable.
Lol im concerned, paula!
In the first article that was posted on here about Nightengale’s article, Nightengale was caught lying by Burnes’ comments about his deal, so he tried to pivot to another complete load of BS.
Then there is this load of BS from that same article. Then even more BS about Luis Castillo and the Mariners.
If everything I said was wrong all the time, very quickly I would get fired. How does he still have a job?
@websoulsurfer
Weathermen are wrong most of the time and they’re not fired.
Multitude of factors here, the primary one is teams still feeling the effects of the RSN collapse. Not an ownership apologist, this is just math but teams committed $ in the form of long term contracts with the expectation they’d get their RSN $ and the $ didn’t come and these teams are having to right size their payroll as a result of the new $ figure. Yes owners are wealthy however for teams that are partnerships, capital calls (a request to put more $’s into the team) just are not common. So we see San Diego, Seattle, St Louis, Houston, Texas, Minnesota, Cleveland all off-season try to reshuffle their rosters yet keep payroll flat or down.
When MLB rosters expanded to 26 there wasn’t a corresponding change to the 40 man roster. For many teams this is less so about the $ but rather the 40 man roster spot these very veteran 1yr player take AND the prospect they can no longer hold. This has caused the rise of the MiL:B contract with an invite to Spring Training for so many veteran players. Make the team by opening day and teams will get injured players onto the 60 day IL creating 40 man space.
MLBPA needs to find a solution to this, I know the NBA has one and I believe so does the NFL, despite both leagues having caps. This is a “veteran exemption” in MLB it would be a 41st roster spot. Similar to the NBA, the contract $ value for this exemption can be higher if you’re under the CBT vs over. Depending on how over, maybe a team isn’t eligible for a 41st spot at all. If a team receives revenue sharing and pays at/near the top of the exemption $ range, they could get a compensation draft pick provided they don’t trade him during the season.
Moreso Robertson than Lynn, whether he knew it or not, he was playing a game of musical chairs and the music stopped on him. I believe he had offers, maybe not the exact $ or geography he preferred and then the music stopped. Because of his cutter, Robertson fits literally on any team
As for Lynn, he and the market disagreed on his value, period end of story. Depending on how his body, his arm really feel Lynn should look at Rich Hill as a model for continuing his career if he wants to go that route. To some extent this too works for Robertson.
this isn’t a terrible point and while it’s not the huge issue you’re making it out to be, I could see the logic in 41 man rosters to fit the expanded 26 man active rosters
Tell that to the MLB veterans who aren’t getting an MLB deal in the off-season and instead get a MiLB deal with an invite to Spring Training. The two guys highlighted in this article, one was top 50 free agent, the other honorable mention. This is 100% about how teams value prospects as opposed to any veterans who can’t command more than a 1yr contact in the open market.
So players with a platform year like Robertson or in year prior Brandon Belt, a 2.0 WAR OPS+ 135 in 400 PA and then no offers, specifically no MLB contract offers. You know who has an MLB job last year and this, Rowdy Tellez.
baseball-reference.com/players/b/beltbr01.shtml
baseball-reference.com/players/t/tellero01.shtml
The 26th roster spot really hasn’t played out the way MLBPA thought it would. Many teams have middle RP & 5th starters who have options and there’s a carousel of players earning service time who bounce up and down between MLB and the MiLB. This and the new extra inning rules probably aid somewhat in staff health but the infatuation with velocity probably counters any benefits of the season workload being spread over more arms.
Look, Colin Rae only got 5M (from the Cubs), and he had a decent season last year. For a guy like Lynn wanting more than that, well, sorry, but teams aren’t stupid anymore. It seems to me like Lynn was alluding to collusion amongst the teams, but I think the data is available, and teams are using it to make smarter decisions. That said, Robertson has more of an argument to make.
Funny you mention the Cubs and teams not being stupid. Their bullpen has not been good for a minute, for whatever reason this front office has been incapable of putting a pen together. Late January they traded a Single A starter now #25 in Houston’s farm to acquire Ryan Pressley from the Astro’s. They assume $8.5M of his contract when Robertson was there to be signed it would seem at $10M.
Robertson had a much better 2024 than Pressley, it’s a 1yr commitment for each so to save $1.5M Cubs traded a prospect. It’s not like the Cubs don’t know Robertson, he pitched for them in 2022 and pitched well before being traded at the deadline where he pitched even better in Philadelphia.
As best I can tell, the Cubs just barely went over the CBT in 2024 and ownership is adamant they reset in 2025. So maybe $1.5M savings was a big deal to them. At the same time if you’re a Cubs fan, you’re not putting the best team on the field. I say this purely scouting the stat line, I don’t work for an MLB nor evaluate MLB for a living.
Memo to both men. It’s not what you think you’re worth; it’s what the market will pay. You have limited playing years. If some team offers you five million and no other team tops it and you still want to play? Take it. These athletes have no perspective on money.
Add to that Robertson’s around 50% at age 40 to be worse than useless in 2025, regardless of his track record, and it’s easy to see why teams don’t want to pay him what the A’s paid Leclerc or what the Cubs were willing to part with to bring Ryan Pressly on board.
If he hasn’t taken the trouble to understand this, well, as with Pete Alonso turning down a 6/$136.5m extension, ignorance can be very expensive.
Lynn I get. Robertson less so.
lynn is a backend inning eater type that can be replaced by a prospect and hope.
Robertson is one of the better pen arms of the generation. I don’t like the idea of paying 10m for a 40yo relief pitcher but the market and his performance makes it reasonable. Truly surprised he hasn’t gotten it.
Philly could use Robertson right about…
NOW.
Robertson to the Angels 1-8mil prorated
The bottom line: They both have an ask that is higher than teams are willing to go ( for whatever reason). If they want to play they’ll either wait or accept the lower offers. End of story.
As the article mentions, Robertson, like Mariano Rivera before him and Kenley Jansen currently, features as super effective cutter that sort of is age defying. Oddly enough Jansen did get a 1yr $10M deal in early February.
As I alluded to in my first post, whether he knew it or not there was a game of musical chairs going and Robertson didn’t sit down as teams spent their available $. Volatility for RP is high however Jansen getting $10M shows that Robertson’s ask was in-line who is to say however he had his geographic preferences.
I do wonder if St Louis held up the RP market a little as their inability to move Arenado lead them to hold onto Ryan Helsley who was set to make $8.2M. As a trade target before the season began teams at least had the possibility of offering him a QO to recoup picks in trade along with the cheaper salary.
If Robertson pitches in 2025, he’s going to be able to pick where he goes and at a minimum likely gets pro-rated $10M for the balance of the season as his floor.