The Cardinals and Yadier Molina are closing in on a five-year deal in the $70-75MM range. Here are more updates on extension talks around the league…
- The Cubs will sit down and discuss a deal with Matt Garza, GM Jed Hoyer told David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com. "We're hoping to get something worked out, but you never know and we'll keep it private when we do," Hoyer said. Garza also expressed enthusiasm about an extension, a possibility I discussed during the offseason.
- Ian Kennedy is open to a possible extension with the Diamondbacks, Steve Gilbert of MLB.comreports. The pre-arbitration eligible right-hander said agent Scott Boras hasn't discussed a deal with the team, as far as he knows.
- Asdrubal Cabrera said he doesn't want to jump from team to team and hopes to finish his career in Cleveland, Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer reports. The Indians have discussed an extension with Cabrera, who is set to earn $4.55MM in 2012.
- When the Royals announced major contractual news yesterday, many assumed Alex Gordon had signed an extension. The outfielder says there's "nothing new" on that front, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. The extension went to catcher Salvador Perez, in case you missed it.
- Texas assistant GM Thad Levine joined Mike Ferrin and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio and said the Rangers and Josh Hamilton have a different idea of what a long-term deal would mean (via Bowden on Twitter).
- David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News wonders if a five-year, $65MM extension might make sense for the Phillies and Shane Victorino right now. The outfielder is scheduled to hit free agency after the 2012 season.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs examines the Molina deal and decides that the Cardinals' decision looks better upon close examination. Cameron explains that Molina is a premium player, even though he's not signing at a bargain rate by any stretch.
I’d rather keep the terms of a Victorino deal to three years. We still don’t know how Mayberry’s situation is going to play out and who knows how long Victorino’s going to be able to man center.
Let me ask you this..
utley’s situation will be coming up after 2013. Maybe Hallady. Pence will come up after 2013. Hamels comes up after this season.
But there is little coming off the books. Blanton, ruiz. that won’t pay for 1 of those guys.
i don’t understand signing the “secondary” players when key people like Hamels, Hallady and utley’s situation are hanging.
i understand victorino is the spark plug, but the ‘engines” have to be there one would think? Maybe let pence go, even Victorino. Rollins should have been gone and prioritized on hamels, halladay and utley with anything left for Victorino?
Just asking…
I personally wish that the Phillies would let Shane walk. I think that that making a play for Bourne would better for this team. I understand that Shane is a fan favorite but he is a tab overrated. I think that signing another player that is 32 to a 5 year contract is just a bad idea. Bourne may not give you the HR that Shane gives but he gives you better speed and could eventually replace Jimmy for the lead off spot.
I agree. Why overpay for a guy who will be 32 after this season. Gets on only like 200 times a year.
I’d peg Hamels as a must sign.
Halladay will be what? 37-38 when his contract ends? Is he going to have the desire and enough left in the tank to pitch? Is he still going to command $20 million dollars? Are Trevor May, Jessie Biddle, and Brody Colvin close to contributing at a high level?
Is Utley going to stay healthy enough to warrant another contract?
I don’t know if I’d prioritize Victorino over those guys… I’d make an effort to resign him, just not at the type of numbers Murph’s throwing out there. If they can get him at a discounted rate, I’d do it.
With you on Hamels also, think Utley would be a must sign as well though. Halladay?? Who knows how long he can go, but then he has been a horse for it seems forever.
Maybe I should have made the main point of the original topic as.. What direction exactly is Philly going to go? Win now at all costs, let the payroll stay high with these aging, veteran players (ones I mentioned as well) and hope that by the time some expire that they can infuse some of those younger players onto the roster and then drop the payroll down as Lee, Howard, Paps contracts expire?
It’s just that they seem to be in a Catch-22 situation ATM.. Their main players are all 30+ and really, not dicing the situation at all here, just this is one team that I go over the payroll situation regularly and see troubles no matter which way they go.. Continue resigning the Vets to maintain status as the powerhouse team to beat in the NL, with the core getting older by the year.. Or allowing a supplemental piece to walk every now and then and infusing a younger player.. But taking the chance the team could slip a few wins.
it’s tough even being on top in the Phillies case.. Even though they didn’t get to the series..yeah, but think everyone knows this is the team to beat in the NL the last few seasons.
why are all of u thinking that we must resign utley? his numbers have consistently dropped over the last 5 seasons and he has never been a great defensive second basemen. the main concern is that he has been hurt basically every year and his knees are just about shot. i love chase as much as the next person in philly but he has gotten a totally free pass given his steady decline when a guy like howard puts up consistent and huge numbers and gets killed around here. when his contract is up i think its time to move on from chase.
Here’s how I see it. Either Hamilton feels that playing for a great clubhouse, with a great fan base, who is fighting for a World Series appearance every year is the most important thing to him, or the most money is. No one knows what he’s thinking, and I won’t fault him for going after the biggest paycheck. After his battles, he has the right to chase the biggest check for his family, hopefully he stays with the good guys, but if not, let’s make this last year a good one.
That’s wonderful news on Cabrera. He has a huge chance at being the Yankees next shortstop if he wants it. Of course, just because a guy “wants” to finish his career somewhere doesn’t mean he will, and he might just be talking, but it’s positive news. I’d love to see a four year extension get done. The only thing that worries me is that arguably the Indians best prospect is a shortstop, but I guess that makes him good trade bait (if he pays off, and if Cabrera does indeed stay).
Lindor will not be here for 3 years IMHO at that point in Asbubals career I would think if Kipnis has panned out Cabrera or Kipnis most likely gets pushed to LF .
Lindor right now is a better fielder than Caberra but the bat needs to be there there is a very good chance that we could see Lindor in a Indians Uni prior to his 20th Birthday.
He is about as close as a can’t miss gets if you want to see him with your own eyes check him out at Lake County manning the SS position with Wolters most likely at 2nd.
Lindor shot at being here before he turns 20 would not be the Indians rushing him it would be because he shoved his way through the system experts like Law, Gammons, Olney as well as Indians former GM John Hart have all said the same.
I look for him to finish this season at Hi A this year and because of his bat they may have to move him sooner than they originally plan.
When have the Phillies ever regretted letting one of their good-but-not-superstar outfielders walk? Rowand, Werth. Victorino is already 31 and will be 32 when he starts his next contract. Why on earth would they give him five years at $13m per year? And why sign him now when he’s coming off a year he’s unlikely to repeat in 2012?
As a Mets fan, I really hope the Phillies sign Victorino to a 5 year, $65m contract extension which kicks in after 2012.
I can’t wait until I see Brian McCann on a list like this. Maybe I’ll start sleeping at night.
Well written piece on Yadier’s deal. I agree.
When players take a higher offer from another team, they’re greedy. When teams refuse to match other teams’ offers for their players, they’re smart. No one ever calls the players smart and the teams heartless.