Free agent reliever Darren O’Day is asking teams for four years with a guarantee in the range of $28MM to $36MM, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. That’s hardly a surprising request, as the veteran righty probably represents the best free agent pen piece on the open market.
MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes ranked O’Day 33rd on his list of the top fifty free agents. While he predicted that O’Day would command an average annual value in the range suggested by today’s report, Dierkes also said that he expects only a three-year guaranteed term. Last year, two relievers achieved four-year deals, but both (Andrew Miller and David Robertson) were significantly younger than O’Day. Miller’s guarantee came in at $36MM, while Robertson got $46MM in his contract.
It remains an open question whether the 33-year-old can secure that added season. O’Day appears to have a wide market, but at least two prospective landing spots — the Red Sox and Tigers — may no longer be willing to pay top dollar for a reliever after adding options via trade. And there are other major relief arms still on the trading block, not to mention other quality free agents (such as Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard) to contend with.
Can Tigers sign him and actually have him make more as a set up man than K-Rod as a closer?
If so, do it. K-Rod is big time undervalued at $5.5M.
Too long and too much. Wonder if Clippard/Soria come cheaper
Clippard may match him due to excellent durability.
Lot of people thought the Scott Downs deal would turn out bad when he was the premier setup guy in the game and it turned out pretty swell. Just don’t know, nor does anyone else.
Some deep pocketed team with a pen need will do it. I’m thinking Detroit also. Why not? Team him up with Albuquerque. and it changes the complexion of late inning games there, along with Alex Wilson if he holds up this season.
Ehh.. AlAl should be kept away from the late innings. Too inconsistent. Never know if he’ll be lights out or walk everyone.
Late innings should be left to Blaine Hardy, Alex Wilson, and Krod currently. Hopefully someone else will be put in there too
Listen to yourselfpleeeeaaase go get Darren O’Day or someone else to help your bullpen, Detroit!
since you are giving a choice, I’ll go with the “someone else.”
I agree that Al Al should not be relied upon, but if you look at how Ausmus used his pen last year, Wilson and Hardy were not his late game pieces, unless they were behind. Kroll was used when they were ahead. For this reason, they need to sign Tony Sipp!
I’ll bet Madson is much less!
Four years might be a bit much for a reliever, but three and an option seems very reachable.
Free agent reliever Darren O’Day is asking teams for four years with a guarantee in the range of $28MM to $36MM
He doesn’t ask for much does he?
If the O’s had only re-signed Miller.
As for O’Day, I am not sold on him, but I am always the disagreeable one so what do I know?
He’s been solid, but I don’t think I’d give 4 years to any reliever over 30. 3 and an option is max.
I don’t see it happening, but if the Yankees are really willing to trade Miller, I think they should sign O’Day first to replace him.
Give it to him DD. It would take a lot of pressure off of signing one of the big 3 (Price, Greinke, Cueto) by turning the bullpen into a strength — then the team could go after J-Zim, Shark, Chen, etc for a lot less money.
After all, O’Day is all about deception and movement, two things that age doesn’t have a huge factor in. I don’t think 4 years is too much with his track record of excellence and consistency (i.e. Koji Uehara).
When he loses the velocity difference between his pitches, that’s when he will get hit, regardless of what that velocity is. Part of O’Day’s effectiveness is because of his unique delivery and movement. Pairing him with a similar type of pitcher (uehara) is the last thing I would do. Viva la difference. Could you imagine him setting up Chapman!
6 yrs and $120 MM would be fair
Trout will then get an additional 1 year, $2 Billion extension to his contract
I’d say that’s a LITTLE high!!!
Lifetime contract with a 50% stake in the team, plus free concessions during innings 1-7.
Just a bit outside!
Whoever signs him should meet him in the middle at 4 year 32Mill and pay him over a 6-8 year period. That would be 8 million per year. Year #1. 6M – Year #2. 6M – Year #3. 6M – Year #4. 6M – Year #5. 4M – Year #6. 2M – Year #7. 2M… Similar to the Max Scherzer deal only frontloaded.
SMH….No!
Ok then just pay him 8 million a year for four year.. Hes going to get that. He has tons of offers
I’d be comfortable giving O’day 4/24 or 3/21 or 2/18. I’m just not that big a fan of signing a reliever until age 37.
I would give O’day 4 years and $32M in a heartbeat. Maybe even $36M if necessary.
Of course, that’s not your money that you’re giving in a heartbeat.
I suggest that Dombrowski/BoSox should give him 3 yrs. at $27MM and a team option for a fourth year at an additional $9MM (total $36MM), with a $2MM buyout, and the option vests for O’Day if he makes more than 150 appearances in the 3 seasons of the regular contract, with at least 50 of the appearances occurring in each such season.
I’m willing to bet on someone giving him the 4th year guaranteed which will probably determine where O’Day signs.
Doubtful, but even then, are they a competitor or just a landing spot? I think O’Day picks a competitor with an option, over a landing spot that offers a 4th year. And I don’t think a team that is a competitor will offer him a full 4 years at 33 yrs. old.
According to Mike Puma of the NY Post, this ‘most likely’ counts the Mets out.
https://twitter.com/NYPost_Mets/status/667052309965328384
I don’t know. His style of pitching may provide more longevity, but up until last season, a four year contract for a reliever was almost unheard of. He’s 33 years old. 3 years with a team option maybe? Or possibly 3 years 27 million or 4 years 30 million? If you can get him to take a lower AAV for 4 years the risk is mitigated somewhat. Fantastic season from O’Day regardless. He should get whatever he can because it’s his only opportunity to really cash in.
Red Sox kind of reset the bar on what bullpen arms are worth. O’Days age makes a 4 year deal unlikely. I think he has a good chance at 3/24 with with a team option for a 4th at 6 million. Teams also have the option at giving Mr Oh a shot, he is the Final Boss after all, at least in Japan
I would like to see the Tigers show interest in the Final Boss, but I know that’s not their style.