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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'John Hart On The Evolution Of Extensions' to a friend
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Braves Fan 2
Wild speculation here… but do you think that Liberty Media is trying to ink all of these guaranteed payrolls, along with a new ballpark, in order to make an easier sell of the team? Sort of like how people flip houses at a huge profit. The Braves are getting a new kitchen and bathroom modernization as it were… (just ignore that awful TV deal) Thoughts?
J.d. Layton
I hope so. Come back ted! Or come and get it mark cuban!
Justin Howell
I really really hope they sell the team… preferably to an owner who gives a damn about more than simply a tax write-off.
Kitty Cat Puppy Paws
I 100% don’t think Liberty has anything to do whatsoever with the moves of ATL’s front office. This is purely just Wren and company thinking/planning ahead. The ballpark likewise had more to do with Cobb County being willing to fork over that much cash for a stadium. Liberty had nothing to do with that, either.
pft2
They are committing salary for the future without really improving the team for the present. Might just be PR, or part of a long term strategy to defer spending on free agents until they have a better handle on prospects in the pipeline.
It could also be as you say a way to lock up talent to enhance the value of the franchise before selling. However, those long term commitment for players who are not really elite players could also be perceived as a liability
Kitty Cat Puppy Paws
Very few position players on the farm. It’d cost them an arm and a leg to replace these guys in free agency. They’re better off just keeping the guys they have, not having to worry about position players, and continuing what they’re really good at: developing young pitchers. The PR helps, but its really just their best course of action given where the market is going.
pft2
“But I never saw anybody crash and burn.””
Nick Markakis has come close. Adrian Gonzalez was technically an extension as was Vernon Wells. Buster Posey kind of dropped off a bit after his extension, and Joe Mauer never came close to his 2009 season that led to his extension. Both are still good though
Jeff Todd
I think he was referring primarily to players that he had signed, and to their commitment and work ethic rather than production.
kungfucampby
Why do we keep calling Heyward’s arb years being purchased an extension?
Jeff Todd
I understand your point, and have mentioned before (I think in writing up the Simmons deal) that his deal is different than the others since it doesn’t extend control. I think everyone grasps the point by now, which is why I didn’t mention it again.
But as terminology goes, we track any deal that adds guaranteed years as an extension. It’s fair to argue that shouldn’t be the case, but deals like this do guarantee previously non-guaranteed years and are in that sense accurately labeled as extensions. Even if they don’t extend the team’s control rights, they bind the team for another year and give the player a guaranteed year that could otherwise have been cut off if arbitration was not tendered.
Lennie Briscoe
Oh John Hart, don’t be so modest. Stand up and take a bow. We all know you’re the driving force behind getting Wren on board with this extension strategy more than it was Wren actually figuring it out on his own.