I quite like Nimmo as a player but this is ???
$20 M AAV doesn’t seem out of line with the CF market.
Can the A’s just announce the move and get started on a Vegas stadium?
Wow, big news and I might now join the camp that says enough. Let Pete in the Hall before he dies.
Two down, one to go.
The Mets are WAY over $300 million a year now. This is crazy.
Toronto, meanwhile, on the other eastern division, has inexplicably done… nothing. Well, they got Kevin Kiermaier, about four years after Kiermaier was a relevant player. Players they could use have been signed elsewhere for money Toronto could easily afford. They haven’t even extended anyone they already have, despite having some obvious candidates for that. The fans are angry and befuddled.
Their luxury tax bill is more than the budget of like 12 teams’ regular payroll.
People have been talklng about MLB’s financial setup destroying small market teams for a long time, but it’s definitely getting worse.
Twenty or thirty years ago a smart team could overcome financial disadvantages by just exploiting market inefficiencies, but those are vanishing. All teams have access to the facts and are driven to use them. The Mets can spend $300 million or more, AND draft and develop young players just as intelligently as the Rays or Pirates or whomever.
The Indians almost made the world series this year. The Rays won 100 games last year easily winning the toughest division in baseball. I understand why in theory it could get worse, but I don’t see any evidence of it thus far.
Also, as discussed earlier, the disparity isn’t between big markets and small markets. It is owners willing to spend and ones who are not. Some of that is driven by market, but some of it is driven by team situation, but the majority is driven by owner. SD didn’t grow in size, because they spent money. Nothing is stopping the Rays or Marlins or whoever from spending way more than they do. They will still be profitable. They will likely drastically their franchise value in the long run. But they don’t have to because they get enough revenue sharing to guarantee profitability. And some owners would rather just take that guaranteed earnings then invest in their franchise.
The deck is certainly stacked, that’s for sure. However, as a baseball fan, I appreciate there being different trajectories to success*. There will always be the Yankees, Mets and Dodgers throwing money at both free agents and personnel at paving their road to a trophy, but I absolutely appreciate the Rays, Indians and (goddammit, I have to actually say it) Cardinals way of going about intense player development and strategic long-term planning towards a shot at the title.
- “Success” being actual success in the standings, not in the ledger. I don’t mind the Royals not spending right now and possibly stockpiling cash - but I do want them to spend it in 2025 when their current crop should be primed for some studs to join them.
Carlos Correa to the Giants for 13 years, $350m.
The future holds a lot of former all-stars limping around, desperately trying to get their OPS over .600.
Heh. This is pretty much the same as Harper’s contract.
Of all the SS deals this off-season, this one makes both more and less sense. Correa has the benefit of youth on his side, since he entered the league so early. But he’s also at least a step slower than the rest. He has a tremendous arm, so maybe he moves over to 3B when Luciano gets called up. He had a down year last year at SS, but he’s been a tremendous defender - probably the best of the free agent crop. But he’ll always be the guy that flubbed a Morales’ grounder in the 2015 ALDS 8th inning to let the Royals steal one from the Astros and avoid elimination.
So the Giants paying that much for Correa might take them out of the Carlos Rodón bidding.
By reports that leaves the Yanks, Cards and Twins. The stumbling block is no one seems to be willing to go near the 7 years for $30,000,000 per year figure desired.
I like Rodón, he has solid numbers in the AL East ballparks, especially Yankee Stadium itself. Helps that he’s a lefty. He has great numbers against the Astros, especially in Houston. He is solid and pretty consistent.
I understand the Yanks hesitation is mostly about the 7 years. At least he’ll only be 30 next year.
I’m honestly surprised the Dodgers haven’t made a move for Rodon. They learned last year that you can never have too much pitching. I know they have a stocked farm system full of arms, but Rodon would make them so much more capable in the playoffs.
The only reason I remember the name is because he was on the Expos as I started to be interested in baseball. Had he been on some other team, I might say, “McGriff got traded for who?”.
Looking at BR transactions, he got traded for another HOFer: Tony Perez.
I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a relocation fee.
Question: What will happen to the Aviators when the A’s finally pull their thumb out? Granted, the Aviators are affiliated with the A’s, but do they just get dissolved? Sent to live on a farm upstate?
I didn’t see the terms of Kiermaier’s contract, probably just one year I suspect. He isn’t going to stay long. Wouldn’t be surprised if he got traded at the trade deadline.
Yes, it’s strange they haven’t locked up Guerrero and Bichette so colour me befuddled. I’m sure they have their reasons but many fans thought this would happen two years ago.
It was just reported in Tampa yesterday that the Kiermaier deal is $9 million for one year.
I also don’t know why Guerrero and Bichette haven’t been given bags of money. Did Guerrero slip a little this year? Sure… and he was STILL a really good hitter, won a Gold Glove, and will be just 24 next year, and has publicly made it very clear he wants to remain in Toronto. Give him the bag.