From Matt Moore to Chris Carpenter, extensions for players not eligible for arbitration happen all the time. More commonly, though, arbitration eligible players are locked up to multiyear deals in January or February. 176 players are eligible for arbitration this offseason. Of those, Matt Kemp, John Danks, Skip Schumaker, and Tony Gwynn Jr., have signed multiyear deals, 19 more have signed for 2012, and Landon Powell was designated for assignment. Those on one-year deals can still potentially sign multiyear pacts, so the field of arbitration eligible extension candidates is large and merits narrowing to about 50 players. My possibilities for multiyear deals:
- Catchers: Mike Napoli (Rangers), Russell Martin (Yankees), Miguel Montero (Diamondbacks), Nick Hundley (Padres)
- First basemen: Michael Morse (Nationals)
- Second basemen: Howie Kendrick (Angels)
- Shortstops: Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians), Erick Aybar (Angels), Elvis Andrus (Rangers)
- Third basemen: Pablo Sandoval (Giants), Chase Headley (Padres)
- Outfielders: Hunter Pence (Phillies), Andre Ethier (Dodgers), Jacoby Ellsbury (Red Sox), B.J. Upton (Rays), Michael Bourn (Braves), Carlos Quentin (White Sox), Adam Jones (Orioles), Nelson Cruz (Rangers), Alex Gordon (Royals), Shin-Soo Choo (Indians), Brett Gardner (Yankees), Dexter Fowler (Rockies)
- Starting pitchers: Tim Lincecum (Giants), Cole Hamels (Phillies), Matt Garza (Cubs), Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers), Jeremy Guthrie (Orioles), David Price (Rays), Shaun Marcum (Brewers), Anibal Sanchez (Marlins), Jair Jurrjens (Braves), Jason Vargas (Mariners), Gio Gonzalez (Nationals), Brandon Morrow (Blue Jays), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Justin Masterson (Indians), Brandon McCarthy (Athletics), Tim Stauffer (Padres), Ryan Vogelsong (Giants), Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals)
- Relievers: Mike Adams (Rangers), Brandon League (Mariners), Joel Hanrahan (Pirates), Andrew Bailey (Athletics), Tyler Clippard (Nationals), Daniel Bard (Red Sox), Glen Perkins (Twins), David Robertson (Yankees), Sergio Romo (Giants)
Some of these players, such as Upton and Garza, are more likely to be traded than extended, but the Danks extension showed anything is possible. Also, arbitration eligible clients of the Boras Corporation shy away from extensions, and Andrus, Bourn, Choo, Ellsbury, Fowler, Jurrjens, and Scherzer are part of that group.
Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend with family and friends.
An extension for Ells would certainly prolong Christmas for a lot of Sox fans…
happy holidays to you too.
Thank you, Yanks. And best of luck to you guys next year, as well. Looking forward to another competitive season.
How could Ryan Vogelsong not get the Comeback Player of the Year award?
He didn’t really comeback. A more accurate statement would be he had a breakout season.
Before last season, the last time he pitched in the majors was 2006 and couldn’t keep an era under a football score. I thought that was considered more of a comeback than Berkman because Berkman was contributing to both the Yankees and Astros in the prior season.
Comeback Player means he was once great, had some bad seasons, and “came back” to be being. Ryan was not good before.
Berkman contrubited little to The Astros, and essentially nothing to The Yankees the prior season.
You have to be a star level player in order to make a comeback.
Oh I see, like when Fernando Tatis won. Makes sense. My bad.
Skip Schumaker has also already signed a multiyear extension. yay
Yeah, we will resign Upton long term right after we get Fielder signed.
A Price extension is also extremely unlikely for anything more than his arby years, if we could afford him long term, that would be awesome.
Only extension I see (besides Moore of course) is one mentioned here yesterday, Matt Joyce, who should be very cheap right now.
Do these arb eligible players know something we don’t like who will pay them if they have a serious injury rendering them disabled resulting in them being non tendered before they break the bank and sign a huge contract. Boras must have insisted on them taking out some kind of a giant Disability policy to cover himself.
Ells could sign a 4 year extension for $12.5 M per year guaranteeing him $50 M which he could probably live on. If he blows a tire he’s got something guaranteed.
matt kemp just got 8/$160M. jacoby is a year older and an extra year away from free agency, but 4/$50 is a ridiculous dream
Not saying 4/$50 is reasonable but Kemp was performing up to expectations. One has to wonder if Ells power will be a consistent part of his game.
scott boras doesn’t
Forgot who we were dealing with. My bad.
I don’t see the Yanks being motivated greatly to extend either Gardner or Robertson at this point. Whatever they might get in arbitration probably won’t be prohibitive for any team let alone the Yanks. It’s not like either are going to walk away with a $10 mil + decision. Martin they may want to lock in on a 2 or 3 year deal just to be safe. He would be a safe plan B if Romine ends up not being able to take the starting job in 2013.
I would like to see the Angels lock up Kendrick for maybe 4 or 5 years.. i think he is going to have huge numbers hitting in front of Albert and dont want him going to free agency
I think the Giants wait on a multi-year deal on Sandoval since he has only had 1 productive and injury-free season so far (2009). Romo could hopefully be an option for a mid-season extension if he has a strong start