Several notable players could see their 2016 statuses change depending on whether or not they unlock vesting options in their current contracts. As we enter the All-Star break, let’s check in on the progress each of these players are making towards those getting those options to vest. All stats are current heading into today’s action…
- Chase Utley: The veteran second baseman has a $15MM vesting option for 2016 that becomes guaranteed if he makes 500 plate appearances. (If he doesn’t, it becomes a team option worth between $5MM-$11MM depending on how much time Utley spends on the DL, with a $2MM buyout.) Utley, of course, is on the DL right now recovering from an ankle injury and will be out until late July or early August. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has openly stated that Cesar Hernandez has earned the everyday second base job, leaving Utley’s playing time in question for the remainder of the season. Utley is suffering through by far the worst season of his 13-year career with only a .179/.257/.275 slash line and four homers through his 249 plate appearances. If Utley isn’t back until early August, he’d be hard-pressed to reach 500 PA even in the increasingly unlikely event that he plays every day.
- Jonathan Papelbon: This Phillie’s march towards his vesting option is going much more smoothly. His $13MM option for 2016 vests if he either finishes 55 games this year, or finishes 100 games combined between the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Papelbon finished 52 games last year and has 29 finishes this season, so collecting those last 19 finishes over roughly two and a half months shouldn’t be difficult for the closer if he stays healthy. There’s a chance Papelbon could ask for his option to be guaranteed to facilitate a trade, yet he sounds so eager to get out of Philadelphia and pitch for a contender that he may not bother and instead bet on himself to finish those 19 games.
- David Ortiz: Big Papi has 340 plate appearances, making him a virtual lock to reach the 425 PA he’ll need (plus passing an offseason physical) for his 2016 option to vest. Ortiz will earn at least $11MM in 2016, plus more depending on how many PA past the 425-mark he ends up recording this season.
- Joaquin Benoit: With only seven games finished, Benoit has no shot at the 55 games finished he’s need to turn the Padres’ $8MM club option into a guarantee for 2016.
- Marlon Byrd: If Byrd has 600 PA this season, or at least 550 PA this season and 1100 PA total between 2014-15, the $8MM club option on his 2016 services will become guaranteed. A DL stint limited Byrd to 262 PA thus far, so it’ll be difficult for Byrd to reach the 550 PA mark unless he stays healthy and the Reds play him virtually every day.
- Santiago Casilla: The Giants righty signed a three-year, $15MM deal in the 2012-13 offseason that contained a vesting option. MLBTR has learned that Casilla’s 2016 option will vest at $6.5MM with 55 games finished during the 2015 season. Casilla’s option could have vested at $7.5MM with 100 games finished between the 2014-15 seasons, including 55 in 2015. The option could also have vested at $8.5MM with 150 games finished from 2013-15, including 55 finished in 2015.
- Nori Aoki: The outfielder was one of the league leaders in plate appearances when he fractured his right fibula, so he already has 291 of the 550 PA he needs to turn the Giants’ $5.5MM option for 2016 into a mutual option. If Aoki returns around July 24 (as Bruce Bochy estimates) and resumes his everyday spot atop San Francisco’s lineup, he stands a good chance of reaching the vesting point.
- Jonny Gomes: If Gomes receives 325 PA, his $3MM option for 2016 will become guaranteed. He’s just over halfway there with 166 plate appearances, so this one may come right down to the wire.
We already know that Cliff Lee won’t achieve the innings totals required for his 2016 option to vest, as the Phillies southpaw hasn’t pitched all season and is attempting to recover from a torn left flexor tendon without undergoing surgery. Brandon League also hasn’t pitched this season and has been released by the Dodgers, so he won’t reach the games-finished total required to allow his 2016 player option to vest.
Boston would be foolish to let Papi get those plate appearances…Just DH…Hanley….and play Holt in LF……
Sometimes its more about just respecting players and letting them get their options to vest. Papi does a ton for the Sox’ marketing sales and hes the type of guy who can draw a crowd, believe it or not.
1. CF Betts
2. 2B Ped
3. Hanley 1B
4. Sandoval 3B
5. Ortiz DH
6. Bogaerts SS
7. Holt LF
8. Swihart C
9. Castillo RF
Not exactly the worst thing in the world.
If they did that they’d face a substantial blacklash from the player’s union and their own players.
For some reason, the Sox will continue to cater to Ortiz. They need to take a Belichick approach to the roster. Which is: start to slip, you’re gone. “Here’s a few parting gifts, thanks for playing.”
The sad feeling in a Phillies fan’s stomach when 4 of these were signed by the Phillies and all 4 of them are 34 years or older.
Better than player options.
Completely forgot about the Benoit “Games Finished clause” in his contract. One has to wonder if perhaps the Padres didn’t want that to vest and that helped push the deal forward. Anyone would rather pay Kimbrel 11MM to close games than Benoit 8MM.
You don’t acquire BJ Upton just to get rid of Benoit. I think the Kimbrel deal was more about forming a Royals-like back-end of the bullpen.
The Kimbrel deal was about that and getting rid of Quentin and Maybin. And no one wants to “get rid” of Benoit, since he’s quite good.
I agree. I wasn’t saying that was the sole reason they went through with the deal. But I think they were able to look at this trade and say that they will be paying Kimbrel and Upton’s salary for next season minus Maybin, Quentin, and to a lesser extent Benoit’s 8MM salary. Even for his talent, 8MM is an above market price for a closer not named Kimbrel. Chapman and Holland will be the exception to that.
I think it is pretty safe to say that the Giants will pick up Aoki’s option, barring any career ending injury, heaven forbid, vesting or not vesting. He has greatly helped in replacing the lost offense we had over the offseason, and jump starting our leadoff position. Can’t wait until we have EVERYONE back in the lineup, have not had many games this season with everyone, if any, can’t remember when Pence was briefly back, if Aoki was still around or not (but believe so).
If he hits 550 he’ll opt out of the deal himself.
I can’t see the Sox keeping both Ramirez and Ortiz next year. Ramirez is a disaster in LF. I’d release Ortiz in the off season, move Ramirez to DH and have an outfield of Castillo, JBJ and Betts.