Here’s the latest out of the National League:
- A repeat of last year’s late-season extensions seems unlikely for the Giants, tweets Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. The club is not talking about new deals with any of its pending free agents, says Schulman. That would include, of course, third baseman Pablo Sandoval. In a recent poll, MLBTR readers indicated a collective expectation that Sandoval will find a new home next year.
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson explained that his recent comments on the club’s younger players have been somewhat misinterpreted as forecasts of the team’s spending plans, as Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports. Saying that his statements were intended to focus on the team’s younger players, particularly given his audience (related to one of the team’s affiliates), Alderson emphasized that it would be unfair to “assume that we’ve made decisions about what we’re going to or not going to do at those positions.” Though Martino notes that the organization still needs to prove it actually has the ability and willingness to bump up its spending, Alderson maintains that he has no complaints and believes in the club’s process. “It’s important to keep in mind a couple things,” he said. “One is, I actually believe we will have some payroll flexibility that goes beyond what some people are thinking. But at the same time, I don’t think we expect to go out and spend money just to get to a threshold. We have to see what’s there, both in terms of the free agent market and over time the trade market. We have to evaluate what we have.”
- Veteran Phillies righty A.J. Burnett has bumped the value of his 2015 player option to $12.75MM with tonight’s start, his 32nd, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki notes on Twitter. While it remains to be seen whether he decides to return, Burnett’s injury-free but less productive 2014 campaign makes it unlikely that he would deliver much in return via trade. (Of course, his 20-team no-trade clause also presents a significant barrier.)
come onnnnn jays get sandoval and move lawrie to second. Would solve a lot of problems if we are able to also retain Melky. Not as worried about pitching with stroman, hutch, sanchez, norris all 24 or under/ cheap.
Not gonna happen. Sandoval is staying in SF.
Between Sandoval and giving Melky a QO that would be a decent amount of money added to the books for next season.
If Sandoval is holding to 5 years, $100M, and the Giants give him the QO, gaining a draft pick, he most probably will end up looking for a one year deal in Jan/Feb and resign with the Giants for the QO or a little lower. I don’t think any team is so desperate to pay him that much over the going rate for 3B, and his high price tag is going to push him nearly into spring training before signing with someone, probably the Giants.
I’d have to strongly disagree that he’ll get backed into a one-year deal. Sandoval is too young and has too good a track record (at the plate and in the field) for the Kendrys Morales fate. He certainly may not get nine figures, especially with a QO hanging over him, but he should have a strong market with plenty of large-market teams potentially interested.
I agree with Jeff Todd on this one. He won’t fall into QO purgatory. I feel someone will pay him maybe like 5 years 85MM will an option for a 6th year. The Red Sox could go after him but I hope they don’t. The Yankees could if they cut bait with A-Rod. And maybe a mystery team or 2.
You’re talking about a career .296/.347/.468 ( hitter who is only 28 years old as well… there are plenty of teams who have money who will shell out the cash for a really good third baseman… I hope the Giants shell out the cash for him or find some means to bring him back, but should he leave, I just hope he doesn’t go to LA.
After reading Martino´s article, I can´t argue with anything Sandy Alderson says. He´s cautious, and wants to spend money wisely, and there shouldn´t be spending just for the sake of spending. But if they can acquire a player in trade like Yoenis Cespedes or Jose Bautista, I really hope that the money isn´t an issue. As for trading Colon, I think that 2 of him/Niese/Gee could be gone, but that´s also an issue of an abundance of good pitching. As for Murphy, I´d let him play out 2015, giving Herrera or Reynolds more time to develop, but I wouldn´t extend him. Second generation contracts for one-dimensional players aren´t a good idea, especially when you have viable replacements. The problems with the Mets stem from the owners, not so much from Alderson or Collins (as much as we might scratch our heads at some of his moves, most managers have their own brain cramps).
Cespedes isn’t going anywhere until the trade deadline at the least. Everything you hear out of Boston is that they want to contend in 2015. And trading Cespedes will not help that cause. The only team I can see trading for Cespedes is the Marlins and that would include an extension for Cespedes and cash going the Marlins way with Stanton coming back to Boston. But I don’t think that will happen. I feel it is more of a pipe dream at this moment. That is the ONLY way that Cespedes will get traded. If you look at what the Red Sox did with most of their trades this season they got Major League talent back so they could contend next year.
Alderson just needs to stop feeding stuff to the media – because in NY, they take it and run with it – and usually raise fan’s expectations of what the Mets, Yankees, or any NY franchise is going to do. Also, if you want an impact position player through trade, I am sorry to say that the names Colon, Gee, and Niese are not the first ones that are going to come out of opposing GM’s mouths.
Burnett wasn’t injury free. He’s been pitching with a hernia all year
If the Mets want to prove they are willing to spend, they can go out and lock down Zack Wheeler to a contract this winter.
But is that smart? They have him under team control at whatever cost they want for 2015. Pitchers are notoriously fickle and injury-prone. I think the Mets wouldn’t be stupid to hold off on extension talks for the time being – even a player’s first arbitration year is typically (relatively) cheap.
Why on earth would they do that? He’s not even arbitration eligible for three more seasons and isn’t a free agent for 6. Couple that with the fact that he’s only pitched 47 starts and hasn’t exactly set the world on fire. I really like how he’s pitched for the last few months but signing him long term is one of the absolute last things that they should be thinking about.