The Royals announced on Monday that they have reached a two-year contract with All-Star center fielder Lorenzo Cain that will buy out his final two seasons of arbitration eligibility for a $17.5MM guarantee. Cain, a client of All Bases Covered Sports Management, will is set to earn $6.5MM for the coming season and $11MM in 2017, per reports.
Cain had projected to earn $6.1MM. On Friday, he filed at $7.85MM with the team countering at $5MM, per Jon Heyman (via Twitter). The resulting $6.42MM midpoint would represent nearly a $4MM raise over Cain’s 2.725MM salary last year.
As Yahoo’s Jeff Passan noted on Twitter, the potential for another significant arbitration raise — perhaps by referencing free agent comparables after another big season — might explain why Kansas City was willing to lock in at such a high rate. Certainly, we’ve seen this deal format before; the Nationals, for instance, bought out the last two years of both Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann prior to the 2014 season.
Cain put up a stellar campaign last year, his age-29 season, to follow up on and exceed a solid 2014 effort. Put together, he’s racked up a .304/.351/.447 slash line with 21 home runs and 56 stolen bases over 1,106 plate appearances dating back to 2014, and his outstanding production in 2015 led to a third-place finish in the American League MVP voting. With top-quality defense and overall baserunning contributions factored in, it’s hard not to label Cain one of the game’s most productive position players.
Of course, as Passan notes in another tweet, Kansas City wasn’t willing to reach the kind of long-term deal that would have kept Cain around beyond 2017. Given his relatively advanced age, and the signing of Alex Gordon, the six-year pact that Cain reportedly sought probably entailed too much risk. It’s hardly preordained that Cain will be gone after the conclusion of this contract, but — much as in the cases of Desmond and Zimmermann — there’s a sense that the most realistic window for a deal has already closed.
Passan first reported a deal was close (via Twitter) and Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported that there was an agreement in place (Twitter links).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Royals have a 2 to 3 year window to pull a TV deal just like Pirates or they will go right back to were they came from… The bottom. Ask the Reds, Brewers, and Twins.
The Twins being at the bottom over the last few years has very little to do with their current television contract. They have been at the bottom because their starting pitching has been horrendous the last few seasons
The Twins being completely unable to develop major leaguers out of the farm system for several years had little to do with the TV contract, or money at all.
Good to hear. The Royals are proving people wrong that they wont spend money on top players. Gordon was a good example of that theory being wrong. Lets hope Cain gets an extension once free agency hits if the Royals are still contenders; he has deserved it.
Why would the Royals guarantee him arbitration money and then sing him again once he hits free agency? If they were going to look to really keep him past 2017 then they would have probably done it in this deal by getting his arb years cheaper a bit
Because he is at peak now, not later
I think it shows a lot of loyalty by Gordon and Cain, that’s why they won they are a tight team. Both could get more money elsewhere.
Something about two consecutive pennants and a World Series probably instills a bit of a desire to stay somewhere rather than chase a few extra dollars here or there.
Sure wish Dayton could find a way to extend him to 4 yrs so it delays his free agency. If not now I am not sure they will be able to afford him once he hits free agency
True, but Cain is one of the true great guys in baseball, and is likely to be loyal to the royals and due to their recent success, why leave for a few million if you’re Cain? KC is clearly his home and the fans love him probably more than Gordon Moose or Hos he’s truly become their franchise superstar
Pujols and Cano are just 2 recent stars that prove your opinion of leaving for a few less million.
Pujols and Cano left for way more millions. StL and NY respectively offered WAY less.
A “few less million”? It’s going to be a lot more than a few.
i’m amazed at those fans who are so cavalier about “a few million dollars” like it’s no big deal! LOL….we’re talking about their futures and a couple million dollars could mean a BIG difference years from now. This is a business. Players have a short window to cash in. Cain has given the Royals some great play for very little money. He’s just now rounding into one of the best all around OF’s in the game. if he stays healthy, he deserves the contract that guys like Upton and others are getting.
This is a great deal for the Royals, Cain is an important impact player, he isn’t that young so a long term deal wasn’t to their advantage.
Probably the last contract Cain signs with KC. I am happy they are spending money this offseason though.
He was here for these two years anyway. Cost certainty. He gets protection in case his legs go out, or hip, or anything else. He was a late bloomer. Wont get a mega contract in two years, but will probably get more than a small or mid market will want to pay. Good player for sure but not a guy you cant win without