It would be interesting to look into the history of contract incentives like that to see how often a player juuuust comes up short of the required appearances due to some managerial wrangling.
Hanley isn’t getting 497 plate appearances this year unless he hits like Babe Ruth.
Has the Players Association ever filed a labor grievance against a team or manager, alleging chicanery of that fashion? I can’t remember hearing of any, but it seems like something nearly impossible to resist, especially towards the end of the season.
Would it even be against their collective bargaining agreement?
It strikes me as comparable to the mini-controversy that ensued when Chicago had Kris Bryant start his rookie season in the minors for the first 19 days or so, so that his major league service clock would give the Cubs one additional year of control over him.
Did anything come of the Kris Bryant grievance?
Can anyone think of an instance where a team obviously limited someone’s playing time to avoid an option year kicking in?
It would be interesting if Hanley Ramirez hit like Barry Bonds all year, but then was suddenly benched for all of September with 495 plate appearances. Of course it wouldn’t happen in Boston because they are geared towards winning. I could see it happening in Miami, though.
In AL East news:
Jaime Garcia to the Blue Jays.
Eduardo Nunez close to a deal with the Red Sox.
Andrew Cashner signs with Baltimore.
That’s common. The Rays did it to Evan Longoria too.
Teams playing with the pesky details of the CBA is… well, what the hell are the players complaining about? They agreed to the conditions.
I’m not a guy who begrudged athletes their big bucks. They earn it. But to complain about things like the Bryant callup, or teams avoiding the appearances clause in options, is just spoiled insanity. The reason teams do that is because players are paid so well. The fact that teams are putting more and more effort into manipulating the roster rules in this manner is a direct product of how incredibly wealthy the players are getting. The Cubs held Bryant back because they knew that would save them millions and millions of dollars in a future season. If it was a difference of fifty thousand bucks or something it wouldn’t have crossed their minds; when it’s maybe a difference of eight million bucks, yeah, you’re going to play the CBA game. It would be fiscally irresponsible not to.
Any GM worth his salt is perfectly capable of telling an arbitrator “We didn’t think the kid was ready on Opening Day, but he was three weeks later.” All part of the fun of labor relations.
That’s got me wondering if Rafael Devers needs a little tuneup in Pawtucket at the start of the year.
Yep, on the same note, everyone is expected Gleyber Torres to spend about 3 weeks in AAA before he takes over 2b for the Yanks.
I recall when Coco Crisp came to the Indians late in the 2016, he was told he woudln’t get enough additional playing time for an option to vest (or perhaps it was get a bonus). I’m pretty sure they were upfront about it, though it might just have been the TV announcers talking. I do think that’s a bit different though. He wasn’t likely to get it where he was either.
It will be interesting to see if the Astros deal Collin McHugh - he frankly seems to have a lot more value as some other team’s fourth starter than he does as a middle reliever/second emergency starter option for the Stros.
Look out, other teams: the Mets’ Matt Harvey still has “a lot left in the tank”.
“As a new manager, (Mickey) Callaway has emphasized a focus on the process instead of the results, and building a nurturing environment in which Harvey can thrive.”
He may go 5-10 with a 6.30 ERA, but he’ll be adequately nurtured.
I imagine they’d trade Harvey but no one would take him.
Contract: 1 yr/$5.63M, they could trade him, they wouldn’t get a lot for him, but they could trade him. I can promise they could get Ellsbury and at least $42 million and a non-top 100 prospect.
Cron to TB for a PTBNL
Odorozzi to Min for a scrub 20 yr old SS
Hosmer to SD
An orgy of activity
What a dreadful decision by San Diego.
Hosmer is only 28 this season. It is an 8 year contract, front loaded for only $144 or a tax hit of $18 per year. He does have an opt out after 5. So he will be weighing his value for age 33+ in opting out vs the remaining guaranteed 3 years at around $13m per year is what I am reading. I don’t think this is so bad.
He has missed very little time in his career, will probably remain a 20+ homer guy for most of the contract with a legit chance of picking up a little more pop as he is now hitting his prime.
So what is dreadful about this deal? I know I’m missing something, but it looks solid too me.
I think the Twins got rotation help for a steal unless there is something negative about Odorozzi we don’t know.
Looks like Boston is only paying Nunez $4m this year with a player option for $4m next year. This puts them $12.28m over the tax limit of $197m and as it is the $20m there are additional penalties. I would guess JD Martinez is not in really in their plan for this year. But as they didn’t pay in 2017 they might push it.
http://www.mlbplayers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=34000&ATCLID=211336404
First of all, I would guess in any given season Hosmer’s chances of hitting 20 home runs aren’t even fifty-fifty per year over the course of this contract. He’s done that twice in his seven-year career. and while they were the last two years,
San Diego is paying a big, heavy first baseman $144 million for having his career year with another team. Look at his career numbers; he is NOT an elite hitter. 2017 was his best season by far and it wasn’t exactly Jason Giambi.
If Hosmer keeps having 2017 over and over again for awhile, sure, they got their money’s worth at that point, but I am not at all optimistic that’ll happen.
The fact this is his age 28 year, gives me hope he can continue his home run number. This is typically when players like Hosmer (1b/DH) come into their prime as hitters. In the meantime is glove is solid for first base, probably a little above average so he seems like a solid get for the money.
Not that I care that much in the end, few teams concern me less than San Diego. It just seems like a solid enough deal as he is young enough with a good health record. 8 years deals are almost always crazy, but this one is front loaded at least.