ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark takes a long look at the question of how the Mets ought to be handling righty Matt Harvey within the context of the broader state of knowledge on pitching injuries. It is an interesting read, though the bottom-line takeaway remains that even the experts still feel unable to provide clear guidance on how to handle post-Tommy John pitchers.
A few more quick notes relating to the NL East:
- It’s time for the Nationals to consider whether to make a real run at attempting to extend Bryce Harper, writes Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. As he notes, Harper is currently looking to polish off a historic season — his OPS+ of over 200 is something that a number of inner-circle Hall-of-Famers never reached, let alone at age 22 — which obviously gives him plenty of leverage. True, Harper is already under contract for a reasonable price tag next year — after reaching a two-year, $7.5MM, grievance-avoiding deal that has worked out well for Washington — and he can be controlled for two more seasons beyond. But signing a player like Harper, who is represented by Scott Boras, is probably less about market comps than it is creative business valuation and the imaginations of both sides. Giancarlo Stanton’s record $325MM guarantee would probably need to be smashed to get something done, Boswell suggests, and I’m inclined to agree.
- Marlins lefty Raudel Lazo has overcome long odds to reach the big leagues this year, as Christina De Nicoloa of FOXSports Florida writes. Not only did he have to defect from his native Cuba and climb the ranks as a fairly unheralded signee, but he overcame consecutive Tommy John surgeries along the way. The 26-year-old has a small frame and lacks a high-velocity fastball, but he has consistently posted good strikeout-to-walk numbers in the minors.
Why sign Harper at such a historically high peak? Why not wait for him to find his level and maybe save $10 million a year? Extend him after 2017; if he won’t sign, trade his last year of control for a boatload of prospects.
Boras won’t let Harper sign an extension so close to free agency, unless Harper really wants to play for the Nats. Now is probably the only time to get something done with Boras as his agent.
I’m not sure why it would have to top Giancarlo. Given Harper’s age, a 10 year deal wouldn’t be his last, but it would drop him into free agency at an awkward age of 32 where he probably couldn’t swing a mega deal again. For that reason it seems like he might do 7/$230MM (starting next year) and then hit free agency again at 29.
If he continues to perform at a level anywhere near his current level through the next 10 years. He will get another large contract.
That’s a big “if”
It’s Harper and it may just be important to him to break the record. All he has to do is add an out clause at age 29 or 30 and he can have the biggest contract in baseball history and then maybe opt out and do it again. He has nothing to lose and Boras will surely approve of something with a huge pay day and very little risk.
Harper is such a prima donna, we all know he won’t be with the Nationals his whole career. He’ll be in New York or Los Angeles. Book it.