Teams covet options and are reluctant to provide them to players when it's not absolutely necessary, so there are about ten times as many club options as player options coming up after the season. Here's a look at the four upcoming player options and whether they're likely to be exercised:
- Marco Scutaro, Red Sox – If the Red Sox don't exercise Scutaro's $6MM option, he can remain in Boston for $3MM instead of taking a $1.5MM buyout. Top shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias is now at Triple-A and could position himself to take over the regular shortstop job in 2012. Scutaro, who turns 36 before the offseason, may be choosing between free agency with a $1.5MM buyout or a backup job with a $3MM salary.
- Ryan Dempster, Cubs - With a typical season (200-plus innings, sub-4.00 ERA, 8.0 K/9, 48% ground ball rate) Dempster would be one of the top pitchers available in a weak free agent class. He'll be 34 after the season, but that's how old Ted Lilly was when he signed his current three-year deal.
- Rafael Soriano, Yankees – Soriano can opt out and collect $1.5MM or exercise his $11MM player option and stay in the Bronx for another year (or two). Agent Scott Boras did well to bypass GM Brian Cashman and find his client a player-friendly deal last offseason and it's hard to imagine a better opportunity arising for Soriano, even if he reproduces his tremendous 2010 numbers. Soriano's leverage will be reduced with so many quality relievers hitting free agency at once.
- C.C. Sabathia, Yankees – Sabathia will be the top free agent starter if he opts out and, with respect to Dempster, Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson, it's not that close. Sabathia can exercise a four-year, $92MM option if he gets hurt, has an off-year or decides free agency is too much of a hassle, but the early expectation is that he'll opt out. It's a win-win decision for the big left-hander.
The concept of saying “no” to $92 million is mind-blowing.
Let him go if he doesnt like his 92 million…. wahhhh wahhhh.
You could probably sigh Buehrle, Dempster and Wilson with that money.
I don’t blame him, it was agreed to in the contract. What were the Yankees thinking?
This has the makings of a senario where all the blame is placed on the player by the NY fans and media. The truth is the Yankees put themselves in this position. Of course, a very plausible outcome is they just give him what he wants. Here is a fun “what if”:he opts out during a world series game that he starts. He could one up A-Rod.
hahaa I don’t think he can exercise the opt out until the Yankees season is done, playoffs included. That would be hilarious though lol
who is going to pay him more than 92 over 4? Especially with the way the santana contract panned out, with guys like liriano, carmona, hernandex and all the young blood, there is no way he will opt out while the yankees are still on the hook for 23 mil a year
Who will pay him more then $92 mil over 4? Umm The Yankees.
CC will opt out. And the Yankees will get him back for 4 or 5 years around $25 mil a season. The Yanks rotation is already pretty sad. Now take CC out of it and they have a lot of #3 or 4 starters at best.
But lets say he’d like to go somewhere with a SS that can make a play or two. What other teams could use an ace? A couple of teams lost out on Lee last year. Could the Rangers use CC to head the staff if Wilson leaves? Could the Nationals use an Ace with Stras coming back next season? Hell could the Phillies use a pretty good #5?
CC is a pretty good #5 hahahahaahahahahaha. CC would never sign with the Nationals so stop that. And A rotation with AJ, Hughes when the speed comes back and Nova is way better than average. PS how about the yanks signing CJ Wilson to a pretty little deal.
Nova should never be included in a way better than average rotation since he is barely average as a pitcher.
considering that we have Banuelos moving through the minors, as well as the other 2 killer Bs we might have some pitching. That being said a reply can be how do you know if they are ready by next season, and what if they need another year of seasoning? well that’s a question that we’ll have by years end, and the same is true about this. Maybe he is signed to an extension in exchange for his not voiding the deal…etc. this is all pure speculation. That being said The phillies don’t have the finances to have him on their rotation seeing that the Cliff Lee signing has them scrapping for money available for the trading deadline, and other pressing issues in the offseason that would need to be adressed than having an ace at #5
The Phillies comment was a joke.
But just for thought can you name the last time the Yankees allowed their best pitcher to leave? Yankees will have CC next year. It’ll just cost them a little bit.
I also don’t read too much into prospects until they prove something. I remember Joba had his own set of Rules when he started a few years ago and he hasn’t really been much more then a RP.
well yeah, and no as I said also there’s a chance they stall in the minors, but the issue with Joba was injury history. That’s also why I hope we trade Brackman with his value at its highest. Banuelos doesn’t have that issue. He still can be a bust, but chances are he’s effective at the least
I am 1 person looking forward to Hankie bidding against himself when the price for Sabathia goes over 30M and 5+ years after the season. Stay tuned for ARod and Jeter scenarios..Only funnier.
If he does opt out (and we all hope & pray he will). Those good ole’ Texas boys Mr. JD & Mr. Ryan best have their phones (& wallets) in hand. You really wanna stick to Ca$hMAN & Co. 4 years/100 mil. with a 5th year team option.
Which cashman would easily match, make the 5th year guaranteed and offer a 6th year player option. Ranger fans are clueless. You want to play the money game with the Yankees?
Worked well for Cliff Lee. We all know had JD opted for that extra year, Lee would throwing off the mound in Arlington, no argument. Don’t forget, its also about Location for some guys as well, & as glamorous as N.Y.C. may be, the urge may be too tempting for C.C.’s blood, being a So. Cal native, not to mention thats where his offseason home is. Location & winnable division. Will certainly be worth watching unfold as the summer goes on.
boy you are smoking some strong weed down there in Texas. Get this through your head. Lee was never coming back to Texas or New York. He used both teams.
If CC leaves, he has to pull his kids out of school, sell this huge house he just brought and besides his wife and kids love it in NY. As the old saying goes, If Mama ain’t happy, nobody is happy. And AJ when asked, said “Have you seen his house ?”
Besides, get your facts straight. CC NO LONGER live in Calfornia in the off season. He moved to New Jersey, build this huge house and lives there no all year long and is very very involved with the local community. And he recently said he loves New York, playing for the Yankees and HIS teammates.
IF he opts out , it is get Cashman to give him more years .
another Yankee hater heard from. You must be a Ranger fan.
Actually Seattle fan, I just figure since I know my teams out already, I find myself jumping on the bandwagon in Arlington with all the plethora of talent all throughout the system.
Sabathia probably wouldn’t opt out for only an extra 8 mil plus option, it would be probably 5 years 110mil min.