Dodgers reliever David Aardsma has allowed his opt-out date to pass without exercising his clause, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports on Twitter. The 33-year-old has not thrown in the bigs since 2013, but was lights out at Triple-A last year and has continued that success into the current season. He looks like useful relief depth for Los Angeles.
Let’s round up the day’s news with a few more links:
- Giants executive VP of baseball operations Brian Sabean has been taking in the Mets’ weekend series, ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin reports. Rubin cautions that it is not clear precisely why Sabean is on hand, though obviously San Francisco looks like a theoretical match for Daniel Murphy — who is slotting in at third base at present while New York awaits the return of David Wright. Of course, his young would-be replacement at second, Dilson Herrera, has looked somewhat overmatched in his first two games back in the bigs, with four strikeouts and an infield hit to show from eight plate appearances.
- The White Sox are still feeling out how they will use rookie lefty Carlos Rodon, as Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com reports. Chicago is burning through Rodon’s service time while giving him relatively little action as the team tries to balance the need to introduce him to the bigs, keep him stretched out, and conserve his innings.
- Agent Scott Boras says he believes that the MLB rules should be loosened to allow the free trading of all draft picks, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic writes. “Trade picks, trade players — there should be a whole universe of options,” opined Boras. “I’m a believer that you want as many chips on the table so the intellect can operate and a master plan can be created from a variety of different avenues of trade, draft, scouting and development, free agency, all the structures.” Of course, as one executive notes to Piecoro, opening that avenue of trade activity could potentially transfer leverage to premium players who have a desire to influence their ultimate destination.
- Boras also rejected the idea of allowing teams expanded access to medical information, stating forcefully: “That’s not going to work.” Citing concern with players’ rights not to have their medical information spread broadly to every team, Boras previewed some of the difficulties in addressing what promises to be a tricky issue on which to build a consensus between the players and the league.
I’d like to see trades of all draft picks allowed and also looser spending limits, especially in rounds below the 1st few. The MLBPA should compromise on the medical histories if the MLB improves MILB players current standing. If I were the MLBPA director I’d hire Boras to negotiate the next CBA. He gets owners to sign ridiculous deals every year. I’ve seen the current revenue split and the MLBPA isn’t maximizing it’s share of $ or benefits. MLB owners haven’t experienced revenues this large before and they’ve lowered the share paid to players. They have every incentive to see the wheels keep moving.
If Boras was the negotiator, no agreement would ever be reached. One on one with select owners he has done wonders. Put him in front of the group, I doubt he would have the same success. Too many teams have been outside his realm of influence.
I’m not a fan of his personality but Boras is a great agent because he works angles and does his homework. His presentations are notorious for being backed by stacks of data and stats. He recognizes the value his players hold and squeezes the most from teams. Something MLBPA failed at last CBA.
I agree, but all of that work is done one on one, with the team owner. I have read that he doesn’t have the same relationship with every team, especially since he tends to only represent elite players ( I’ve never heard of him representing a utility infielder or a long reliever). He develops his relationships with the “financially elite” teams. I would think that the “non-elite” teams would tend to have problems with his tactics. Actually, since most of the players are also “non-elite”, they, too, may have problems with him, because he usually only does what is best for his clients, and therefore, his earnings.
The MLBPA is by far the strongest union of all professional sports.
too powerful
That used to be the case certainly, now I wouldn’t say it’s so obvious. The MLB now receives a lower revenue share than the other 3 sports. They lost in the negotiations of the last CBA in hindsight.
Don’t really care for the trading of draft picks. Feels like it’s entirely based around baseball’s marketing department feeling like it needs to copy how other sports do their drafts.
Why? I think it’s a fine idea, the Padres and Nationals essentially did this with Trea Turner. I think in some ways trading a pick will negate the issue of trading a player stuck in limbo (though Commissioner Manfred rectified this problem recently). I don’t think of this as copying other sports, mainly making baseball better.
the WC system is more of a copycat, but it worked out well for baseball too.
Trading draft picks in the NFL and in the NBA, where most top draft picks have immediate impact to the “starting lineups”, makes sense. Trading top draft picks in a sport where top draft picks can take years to develop, if they develop at all, before making the “starting lineups”, makes no sense. I’ve seen NFL teams lose their future because their former GM got trade happy and left the team with no first round picks. In spite of the slower impact, MLB teams farm systems are hurt when the major league clubs lose 1st round picks by signing FAs. What would happen when Minnesota trades for the NYY’s 1st round pick and then NY signs a FA who was given a Qualifying Offer? Does Minnesota lose their acquired pick? Does NY only lose their 2nd round pick, making the penalty less for them? Does NY lose their 1st round the following year, delaying the penalty? Too many complications.
I’m kinda on the fence about trading picks. On the one hand, it is interesting, and makes the draft an event somewhat. But, considering the source of the idea, I’m thinking that it will be used more often than not by player x to try and force his team to a bigger market right from day 1.
I’m not sure how much of an event the baseball draft should be. Even prospects who are considered being close to ready are usually at least a year or two away from just making the major leagues, let alone making a significant contribution.
Yeah, I was kinda thinking about that myself after I typed it. lol I guess I can’t really describe what I meant. Every other draft, you pick a guy, and bam, he’s either a starter or a big part of your backups. MLB is a bit different on that.
I don’t understand where there’s even room for discussion in regards to making medical records available. In a business where what you’re buying is the talent of a human being, it seems to me like the buyer has every right to know if that “product” is damaged or not before purchase.
Of course there is room for discussion. Medical information is and should be among the most private data we have.
1. If you’re considered a Top 10 guy, why does the team with the 30th pick need your medicals? And if by some crazy circumstance you actually slide to 30, why isn’t it enough to give them your medicals then?
2. The more parties with access to privileged information, the more likely that information is to be leaked. We see this time and again. Not only is that a horrible thing on its face, it is downright illegal.
In return for giving up a piece of their privacy, what do the players get? Rejected, knocked down a few picks and then and a lower signing bonus if there is anything in them that the team can use as leverage (regardless of whether or not it is ultimately serious)? Would you make a deal that has virtually no chance to help you and a decent chance to hurt you, where you get nothing in return?
Honestly, I’m torn on whether or not medicals should be made available to all teams despite all of this. It could be used as concession to get something from the owners somewhere else and it’s certainly more fair to the teams. But the idea that there isn’t room for discussion is just not true.
Yeah, probably poorly worded on my part; there are precious few items where there’s no room for discussion. Aren’t medicals available to teams in other sports? It just seems with the amount of money being thrown around that the buying team has a right to make sure (to the best of their ability; freak accidents will always happen) that they’re getting a healthy player to add to the system. If full medicals aren’t available, at least the teams ought to have the right to have a physical done (at the team’s expense) if they have serious interest in a draft candidate. You make a good point about potential mis-use of the medical info… Perhaps refusal to let a team see the medicals is a red flag that everyone involved knows something won’t pass muster?
No real easy answer, I guess. Maybe something odd like, if a player refuses to allow teams to see his medical records, he’s not eligible to be drafted in the first round but can be after that? Start to cut into the potential money these guys could make and I bet many will consent to having their records seen…
And, by the way, thank you for your civil answer and discussion!
I love when writers refer to players, like Herrera, looking “overmatched” after 8 ABs. I would think “nervous” or “starting slowly” would be more accurate. Luckily, they weren’t judged in the early days of their writing careers. I’m sure all of their first few articles were Pulitzer material.
Herrera has looked comfortable in the field, which was part of the reason they brought him up (I suspect).
From an offensive standpoint, his first two games were against Max Scherzer and Gio Gonzalez (on a night when he was VERY sharp).
When I was a kid, I used to look forward to reading the Sunday funnies. Now I have Scott Boras’ opinions to fill that void.
“That’s funny right there. I don’t care who you are, that’s funny”
How would a pick trade give additional leverage to premium players?
The Buxton, Correa, and Bryant caliber players could say I am not signing the contract if you don’t trade my rights. Forcing teams to consider passing over them or trying to overslot them even more to get the player to sign. I doubt it would work out like that since the slotting system and the ability for them to go back in the draft kind of balance each other out.
A lot of players look overmatched against Scherzer, and although Gio isn’t necessarily an elite pitcher, he pitched a great game yesterday. You can’t hold that against Herrera. Give the rookie a break.
Not only was Sabean there for Murph but probably Niese and Colon and he’ll be there for Gee tonight. One of those guys along with Murph could bring in something. With Matz pitching very well this season and Syndergaard throwing back to back gems they could be closer to the bigs then most would think. This would mean two spots would need to be opened up. Colon will probably stay, needing his veteran presence in the rotation. I know Niese or Gee isn’t a great return but packaged with Murph and maybe 1B Dom Smith, their 11th overall pick two years ago they could get a nice return.
You can also bet Sabean was there looking at Colon, Niese, and now Gee tonight. I know they’re not much in trade value, but their good 4-5’s. I would imagine Colon not being traded, needing his veteran presence in the rotation. But package Niese or Gee with Murph and maybe 1B Dom Smith, 11th overall pick two years ago, and they can get a nice return.
I wonder if Brandon Crawford would be available. At first glance, his numbers aren’t appealing, but he does well against NL East teams. Another guy I’d want is Hunter Strickland. Love his upside and would be the bridge to Familia that we need. Niese seems to be a fit in SF, so packaging him with Murphy is something I’d go for.
I don’t know if Crawford would be because they have nobody to fill in for him. They have a guy who plays SS in their farm but many scouts say he can’t be a SS and is more of a 2B. Strickland is a nice idea, though.
Crawford is pretty much untouchable right now for the Giants. The team doesn’t have a SS right now that can hit as well as him nor play defense as well. A package of Niese and Murphy might get some good stuff, though Murphy is set to be a FA after this year. Also Sabean might not want to play ball if the Mets start going into players he doesn’t want to part with. The Beltran-Wheeler deal still kinda stings.
I’m mixed on the idea of trading Murphy. On the one hand, he’s a bad fielder, got to a slow start, and is going to be a FA. On the other, he’s the most consistent hitter the Mets have had in recent years (and yes, I’m including Wright…who can disappear for a month at a time)
Well the point is that Herrera is supposed to be just as good of a hitter, if not better and has a better glove. Meaning Murphy is able to be moved.
Murphy is a career .287 hitter. I doubt that Herrera is going to have any more power, although he may have slightly more speed. While there is a chance that Herrera could be better offensively, it’s going to be a marginal difference. On the other hand, if he can’t handle MLB pitching, it will be a major loss in production if you let Murphy walk
Same here. It’s probably also worth noting that the team seems to love him, too. I don’t know how much team chemistry is worth (I tend to not place much emphasis on it), but getting rid of Murphy would be a pretty big blow.
If the Mets keep playing well, I’m not averse to keeping him and letting him walk for nothing at the end of the year, especially because I don’t think they’d receive much in a trade, anyway.
So how about a secondary draft market? If a team drafts a player and then gets the medicals, they should be able to buy their way out of the pick, and opt for one of two choices, to draft another team’s rejected pick (in a pool of rejected players), or to take a compensatory pick in the next draft. The player can decide whether to release the medicals to the second team, or be removed from the secondary draft pool. The cash from the buyout of the first rejecting team can then be applied to the signing bonus of any second team that selects the player. The medicals don’t go floating all around the league and teams are treated equitably.
Doubt there would be a “pool” of rejected players. The vast majority sign.
I wish Aardsma had opted out. He would have looked good in the Tigers pen.
It appears to me that Boras is trying to say: ‘Do whatever you can do to move players, and picks.. yknow stuff that makes me more money, but heaven forbid you share medical info, that could cost me money’