9:18pm: The proposal made by Masterson to the Indians is believed to fall in the range of $40MM to $60MM over three to four years, reports Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer. Masterson is waiting to hear back from the Indians at present. The parties will plan to cut off negotiations on March 31st, but are willing to push into the season if talks are fruitful.
Needless to say, a deal in that range would represent a significant savings over the Bailey extension. Masterson is one year older than Bailey, but arguably has the better track record with four full campaigns under his belt.
6:21pm: Though he is looking ahead to a promising free agent market, Indians starter Justin Masterson is willing to consider a lesser deal (at least in terms of years) to stay in Cleveland, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. He could be willing to stay at the negotiating table even if the team would only guarantee three years, suggests Heyman.
Notably, Cleveland is reportedly interested in an extension of only three or four years. According to Heyman, the club has indicated to Masterson that it is not going to come near the six-year, $105MM guarantee given Homer Bailey by the Reds. (Of course, that deal includes Bailey's last arbitration year, making it really more of a five-year, $95MM extension.)
Agent Randy Rowley recently provided the Indians with a figure that he and his client would be comfortable with. Though the number is not known, the team reportedly feels somewhat optimistic about the possibility of reaching agreement. Indeed, Rowley told Heyman that his side is "trying to be sensitive to something that makes sense," though they "can't be … a sellout." The soon-to-be-29-year-old Masterson has strong reasons for preferring to play in Cleveland, says his agent, and is comfortable with the idea of having a chance at free agency in his early thirties. Nevertheless, Rowley cautions, "the burden's on them" (i.e., the Indians) with free agency only "nine months away."
Also of note is the fact that, according to Heyman, the Indians have made clear to Masterson that his market value will likely take some hit due to the impact of a prospective qualifying offer. Rowley said he did not fear that possibility. "If you're one or two at your position among free agents, or even three," he said, "it won't have that much impact. I would wager a bet every team will need pitching." Of course, even if the potential value of a lost draft pick does not represent a huge portion of Masterson's expected open-market value at present, he carries the risk that its relative importance (and relative deterrent effect) will increase if he suffers injury or performance decline.
Why would he want to be say 31 or 32 instead of 30 as a free agent. That doesn’t make sense.
Really not a big difference. Kyle Lohse a similar pitcher got 3/33mil at 34. At 31 or 32 he would still be looking at a 5year deal max just like at age 30. He isn’t an elite player so a year or two isn’t that big of a deal, he won’t command 7+years.
Guaranteed money now as opposed to hypothetical dollars later. Transfers the risk from the pitcher to the club. If he does well over the life of the deal, he can still land another 3-5 year deal at age 32 at future market prices.
1 year or max out your big contract.
What Masterson’s agent didn’t tell him is that he could actually choose to accept the qualifying offer and receive an enormous sum of money for a pillow contract (~$15MM)
Jiminez just got 48 million for 4 years. That beats 15 million for 1 yr any day
Coming off of a strong season, he only got 4 years $48 million.
As the article said, the QO would only impact his market if he has a down year (like 2012), or suffers an injury. In which case a pillow contract for $15MM would be perfect for him.
If he has a down year or an injury, Indians are not likely to make a qualifying offer.
As a pitcher, you should go for as many years as you can get.
There is no need for scare tactics from the Indians brass and think Masterson realizes it.. he is far and away better than either Sanana, or Jimenez. No Obvious inconsistency and/or terrible seasons with a decent season thrown in.
Not saying he would be able to easily get what Anibal Sanchez did, but that would be a goal in FA and he should get more than 3y guaranteed in any extension.
Something that could scare them off is hes only started 30 games twice, only pitched 200 innings twice, had control issues last year and only 2 notably good seasons. I wouldn’t give him anymore then a QO, but hey, I’m not a GM.
2009, 2010, 2012 don’t count?
Masterson is better, and younger, but he isn’t without any knicks.
Add in that the Tribe can get a hometown discount of 3-4y and an AAV of around 15m and they should be jumping all over this. Sure they could offer him a QO and take the pick, but this team needs a front end SP and Masterson is currently the only guy they have. To keep him for that price is a good bargain, even for a mid level market team for what he has produced and his track record, age, etc..
Imagine there are teams more than willing to give him more than that as a FA. Maybe more than Shields would get as a 33YO FA after the 2014 season.
Masterson is solid but I would not say he is far and away better than Santana and Jimenez.
Bro, he had a terrible season just two years ago.
Justin Masterson is Jamaican
Born in Jamaica. His father worked at a seminary. He grew up in Ohio/Indiana.
There’s always that one guy who has to ruin a good story with factual statements
He will be 30 when he starts his next deal. He shouldn’t consider shorter deal. This is his time to get paid. 3 years he is already in large decline phase for a pitcher, and no one should be paying big money for that.
A likewise dilemma for Cherrington with Jon Lester, who just turned 30.
I don’t see why everyone is saying what he should do. Lincecum didn’t take a long term deal because he didn’t want the pressure. I’m sure Masterson (or at least his agent) is fully aware that he can get more than 3 years but doesn’t want to. Greed doesn’t have to be the underlying reason for everything
With Shields, Lester and Scherzer possibly on the market next year Masterson may have some competition. He should consider a 4 year extension with an optout after 2 yrs. The QO should be history by the time he can optout
I would think a team wouldnt be able to offer a QO if a player has an opt out clause no?
No they still can. I do believe anybody who files for free agency and has been on the team since opening day is eligible for a QO. Rafael Soriano, for example, got a QO after opting out of the last year of his deal.
I believe pft2 is referring to the demise of the QO in the upcoming next round of CBA talks.
Most likely scenario: Masterson offers Indians unbelievable hometown discount. Indians counter that offer by $10 mill less.
hahahaha! so true
Signing Masterson would show the fans, and his teammates, that FO is sold on this team being competitive for years to come. And I’ve stated before, to much grumbling, that I don’t believe the money part is that important to Justin. Remember, a lot goes into these kind of decisions. Financial security is a big thing. The fact that Justin and Meryl just added twins to the family has got to be on their minds.
If he really proposed a 3-year, 40 MM extension that hasn’t yet been signed, the Indians aren’t doing baseball correct. I would say 4/60 is even a massive bargain in this market. Granderson just signed away his age 33-36 seasons and decline phase for that sum. Plus, when you factor in that locked in ~10 MM 2014 salary, it’s more like 5/70, a phenomenal deal for a borderline TOR starter.
The Indians are crazy if they don’t jump all over this offer for Masterson. Homer Bailey signed for an AAV of $17.5MM per on a 6 year deal with a huge 7th year option. Anything around $17.5MM per for Masterson for either a 3 or 4 year deal is an unbelievable bargain. Three years at $52MM total or even 4 years at $65 to $70MM total is a steal for the Indians. Simply put Masterson is a better pitcher and worth more than Bailey so I say again if the Indians let this opportunity pass they are crazy.
The only part I would disagree with is Masterson being the better pitcher, I don’t think we have seen the best out of Bailey yet and I think the Reds paid Bailey based off his upward projection. Masterson may have a slightly better track record but less upside. Either way you are right about this being a bargain for the Indians. Not sure why they haven’t signed and celebrated yet!
Pitchers who are too eager to leave money on the table worry me. Makes you wonder if they don’t feel 100%. Teams tend to know their own pitchers pretty well and if they note a pitcher is spending more time in the training room and needs longer to warm up alarm bells go off.