Players with zero to three years of service time are under team control and don't have the power to negotiate their salaries. Most of these players agree to terms with their clubs on deals worth $400-500K, but some don't agree to terms and their clubs renew their contracts instead (it doesn't affect the player's timeline for arbitration or free agency). Here's the latest on the NL East, including news on some contract renewals:
- The Nationals announced that they have renewed the contracts of right-handers Tyler Clippard and Jordan Zimmermann.
- The Marlins renewed the contracts of four of their own players, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (on Twitter). The team did not agree to terms with Logan Morrison, Gaby Sanchez, Mike Stanton or Ryan Webb.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan shows that Jason Heyward is uncharacteristically mature for a 21-year-old. The Braves right fielder tells Passan that he can improve upon his standout rookie season, something that would please new manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Capozzi’s tweet says they did renew LoMo, Gaby, Stanton and Webb.
Jason Heyward <3
Marlins are looking really good for the future. Stanton, Morrison, Sanchez, Coughlin, Ramirez good start of a line-up.
they have some great players, but their system says that they will be better only by maturity. They need to restock the farm or raise their pay-roll and I would agree whole-heartedly.
Braves need to really try and lock up Heyward at some point during the season before he either goes the way of Boras like Hanson and Jurrjens, or puts up a .290/.410/.535 line.
As much as I love Heyward and want him to be a Brave for forever, I’d say it’s too soon. Heyward isn’t even arbitration-eligible the first time until 2013, so I’d say let him play this year and see if his awesomeness advances before locking him up.
Waiting could be dangerous because I do honestly feel that line, along with 30+ HR, 15+ SB, and GG-caliber defense is a legit possibility, which would make him a lot more expensive.
Extending too early can be dangerous, too. The line you say is a possibility, but so is a torn knee or such. I personally wasn’t a fan of the Tulo or Bruce extensions and those guys have proven more than Heyward. Let him play out 2011 and if he progresses as we all (Braves fans) hope then lock him up in a long term deal like they did McCann.
Excellent point. The Braves ought to do what the Rays did with Longoria and sign him long term at a similar dollar amount that he Longoria got from the Rays. Heyward is going to be crazy good and might as well get him signed to a team friendly deal before later in his career he lands a mega deal.
Ha! If Heyward will sign a Longoria-esque contract then by all means lock him up. Sadly for the Braves I don’t think any player that is as highly regarded as those guys will be dumb enough to sign such a team-friendly contract after all the static Longoria has gotten.
Heyward is hurt again. Groin pull. It’s a scary trend for a 2nd year player.
What trend? He has “left groin tightness” and last year injured his hand. Two unrelated, minor injuries doesn’t make a trend.
There’s no trend. He injured the thumb in May last season while sliding head-first. The groin tightness is a day-to-day thing. He still put up his great numbers last season while playing 75% of the season injured.
Brian McCann signed his six-year deal after just 189 games with the Braves, so there’s both good reason and precedent to consider locking Heyward up.
EDIT – this is a reply to billreef.
Probably just a coincidence…but went and seen a nats game yesterday with my wife and friends, and again sat next to some ignorant Marlin fans, who were yelling some nonsense at Nat players…dudes just relax and enjoy the game…I guess it was just too many beers or something but the one guy had his 2 sons with him…that bothers me….2nd time I’ve seen this…haven’t seen much like this when we (the Nats) play other teams down here.
Its Florida, its an exhibition game for gods sake…relax, enjoy the sun, have a few beers, seats are cheap, nice stadium, good baseball…get a life…sheesh