4:04pm: Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Indians' most recent offer to Masterson is believed to have been in the three- or four-year range. While that's significant lower than Bailey's six-year deal, also keep in mind that with Masterson's 2014 salary already agreed upon, each of those proposed years is a free agent year, while Bailey's deal sold off five free agent seasons.
3:41pm: Justin Masterson and the Indians agreed to a one-year, $9.7625MM contract last week to avoid an arbitration hearing at the eleventh hour. Extension talks have continued since that time, and while nothing is imminent, per MLB.com's Jordan Bastian, Masterson told reporters that he doesn't think this will be his final year in Cleveland (All Twitter links): "I figure that somehow, some way, I'll end up still being here for a few more years," said Masterson. Bastian adds that the two sides spoke earlier this week and plan to do so again over the weekend and in the early portion of next week. MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo writes that the two sides recently exchanged parameters.
Masterson has said in the past that he's willing to continue extension talks into the season, but GM Chris Antonetti is said to prefer a resolution by the end of Spring Training. Masterson compares somewhat favorably to Reds right-hander Homer Bailey (particularly in terms of age and service time), who signed a six-year, $105MM extension last week, though Bailey had the advantage of coming off his two best seasons. Masterson enjoyed his two strongest campaigns in 2011 and 2013 campaign but struggled in 2012.
Cleveland has already extended Michael Brantley this offseason and is said to have approached Jason Kipnis about a long-term deal as well.
The Indian’s should be very weary of giving Masterson 100+ Million after a year in which he posted career low BABIP and a career high LOB% and K/9. If his 2014 is anything like his 2012 he’ll be in line for a 4/50 contract not a 6/100 contact.
If you think the Indians are going to offer a $100 contract you must not follow the Indians.
People would have said the same thing about the Reds prior to the Bailey deal or the Braves prior to their extension frenzy.
Except the Reds paid Votto $251 mill and the Braves paid Upton $75 mill.
How can you compare to Bailey. Masterson is pitching in the AL which is twice as hard. If he was in the NL teams would be lining up to give him 100 million since his stats there would look awesome. Put HOmer Bailey in AL and he would be lucky to get 4×10=40.
You know they have stats that compensate for league now, for example WAR, also you have to give Bailey credit for pitching at Great American, the number 2 HR park in the MLB.
Haha, thats an interesting point, but over the last few years the NL Central has been much better than the AL Central. NL Central had 3 teams in the playoffs last year and at least 2 for 3 of the last 4 years. I don’t think you could say the same thing for the AL Central, most of them have been doormats.
How is that even close to relevant? Any pitcher coming to the NL on avarage sees his ERA drop 0.6. Same goes for any pitcher going from the NL to the AL they can ad the same 0.6. Masterson is miles better but won’t get half of what Bailey got.
Miles better? Would you care to back that up somehow? If you don’t think the teams you play are relevant I don’t know what to tell you. If you use WAR which adjusts for league and the park you pitch in. Fan graphs pegs Masterson at 9.6 WAR the last 3 years and 3.4 last year and Bailey at 7.5 over the same 3 years and 3.7 last year. Baseball reference has 7.8 and 3.4 and Bailey at 6.1and 3.2 so I fail to see how your miles better comment holds water. Bailey is one year younger and has progressed the last 3 years while Masterson was a tad inconsistent. Masterson may not be worth 100 mm going forward but he should command something close to that unless he takes a discount. Remember Bailey only got 5 and 90 on top of his arbitration salary so 5 and 80-90 seems very reasonable.
The underrated factor in a Masterson extension is the amount of respect that Masterson has for Francona. I don’t think that alone will keep Masty in Cleveland, but I think it’ll make it easier for Masterson to sacrifice some years to get a deal done.
Excellent news from Justin Masterson to Indians fans!