Here are a few items from around the Majors as we head into Sunday…
- The first priority for the new Dodgers owner should be to sign Clayton Kershaw to a long-term extension, says ESPN's Buster Olney in a video blog. Kershaw's recent two-year contract only covers his first two arbitration years, putting him on track for free agency (at age 26) after the 2014 season. "The entire landscape of baseball would be all over Kershaw as a free agent," says Olney, who believes the Dodgers should offer Kershaw something akin to a five-year, $100-120MM deal to lock him up.
- Arte Moreno expects the Angels to be "a highly competitive team" and discussed several other topics about the upcoming season with MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez.
- As part of a piece about the risks of signing Yoenis Cespedes, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald explores how other heavily-hyped Cuban stars have been the victim of high expectations in the Major Leagues.
- Rays outfielder Matt Joyce has changed agents and is now represented by the ACES firm, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Joyce, a possible extension candidate, will be arbitration-eligible for the first time next winter and is under team control through 2015.
- Asdrubal Cabrera's arbitration-avoiding deal with the Indians prompted Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer to examine the possibility of signing Cabrera to a multiyear deal. Last month, MLBTR's Tim Dierkes looked at what a Cabrera extension could cost the Tribe.
- From that same piece, Hoynes says that the Indians' lack of guaranteed contracts past 2012 is probably not a sign that the Dolan family is "streamlining the franchise" as a prelude to a possible sale of the club.
- Four of top seven prospects in the Athletics' system came via the Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez trades, writes MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
I think Kershaw would look good in Yankees blue then again every teams fanbase is saying the same thing about their teams color lol what a pitcher
He is a tall glass of water.
I actually like the top 20 for mayo, alcantara is a little bit of a stretch, and milone is a little low on the list, but other than that, good list overall
I say 2013 for the Dodgers to get that first place finish again they have a great pitcher and hitter combo to build around.
wait till maybe ’15.
“who believes the Dodgers should offer Kershaw something akin to a five-year, $100-120MM deal to lock him up”
I’m thinking more of an 8 year deal…but I could actually see him accepting a four year deal and then another 6 year deal after that at the age of 30….
4/100 after 2013. Then, 6/120 after 2017. So, essentially, he Could get a 10/220 contract if it pans out. Not saying it’s going to happen, but he very well could accept something like this given his age and talent.
Yes, something like the deal Jared Weaver took is a possibility for Kershaw, especially considering his age. He can get two big bites of the free agency apple if he plays it right and his arm doesn’t fall off before he hits 30. Throwing all those overhand curveballs, I wouldn’t bank on his durability. That pitch is really tough on the shoulder, even more so than pitch count.
“but I could actually see him accepting a four year deal and then another 6 year deal after that at the age of 30.”
What about the 2 years in between? Kershaw will be 24 next month.
8 years @ $180-220 million
He already signed a two year extenstion……
I bet Kershaw takes the year-to-year approach and becomes a free agent in three years…I’m thinking 8 years-200 million if he keeps up the pace. I’m pretty buzzed, but does anyone else agree?
Dodgers need to carefully examine Kershaw’s medical records.
Please sell the Indians. Dolan is a terrible owner. I fear we’ll never compete as long as he’s around.
Think Dan Gilbert’s interested?
Dennis Gilbert might be…
Kershaw doesn’t hit free agency. Locked up Kemp, new owners. LA knows what they have. Everyone knows what comes next.
Kershaw is to big a risk. Look at Santana, Lackey,and other big ticket starters. Teams need to develop young pitchers and lock them up at resonable dollars early in their careers, or let them walk when they hit free agency.
you say that a.j. burnett is “one of the better starters in baseball” and then say clayton kershaw is “too big a risk” to sign to an extension
i don’t even have a joke for a situation like this. if you were a friend of mine i’d probably call for an ambulance right now
You prove my point, AJ was signed to a bad contract from the Yanks point of view (not mine). Once these pitchers reach free agency they demand to get paid for years they know they wont be producing. In todays FA market, you need to sign a pitcher to 6-8 plus years for 3-5 good years, its just not good economics. This whole system is going to come crashing down once teams decide to pay for what they recieve.
if burnett is one of the better starters in baseball as you claim, then his contract is not bad
also if burnett is one of the better starters in baseball as you claim, then clayton kershaw is the greatest pitcher that has ever lived
nonsense
I agree, most long term contracts with starting pitchers are bad baseball economics, but with a handful of teams driving the arms race (pun intended), we will only see more contracts signing pitchers to years beyond when they are likely to be productive. I don’t see this system coming crashing down any time soon, unless and until revenues are shared more evenly across the teams. Since this is baseball, it will probably never happen, and the wealthy teams will continue to offer extravagant contracts to premium pitchers. The final years of the contract may likely be a total burn, but they sign them anyway since if they don’t their competitors will.
Burnett never was and never will be a “elite” pitcher. Just because the Yankees paid him like he was one doesn’t make him one.
The Kemp deal was a backload. He’d have gotten a bigger raise this year in arbitration. Presumably this will not be the driving force under new ownership so any Kershaw extension is likely to be more straight forward.