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NL_East_Rivalry
It’s not hurting good baseball players getting jobs, it’s hurting their guarantee for more years. They could have had job security back in November, but they didn’t read the market right. It’d be nice to see something done to solve this, but the players are going to be asking for a lot this coming CBA and it just feels like they won’t get it.
CTBrowns
I still think there are decent odds of a lockout in 2017, because this looks more and more like a war that’s going to be fought amongst owners than vs. players. It’s a rich market/less rich market issue and increasingly obnoxious presence of ‘redistribution’ mechanism like the QO, draft pool limits, international spending limits, etc.
eilexx
There is zero chance of a lockout or strike by MLB. There’s simply too much money in the game for everyone to risk that. The game is more popular and more successful than ever. They’ll work something out. The qualifying offers are here to stay…probably will become a 2 year guarantee as opposed to one, but mostly will remain the same. Or the players can be given free agency with no ties to the draft, and MLB will get a salary cap—which will never, and should never happen.
harry hood
Unless there is some edict that says the players can’t be locked out, there can’t be “zero chance” of it happening.
rickcwik
The best thing that could happen to baseball is a salary. It likely won’t happen, I agree with you there. But it should happen, and thats where we disagree.
rickcwik
I agree there likely won’t be a salary cap. I disagree with you and believe there should be a salary cap.
eilexx
Why should there be a salary cap? Will having one prevent the large market teams, i.e., the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and Red Sox from winning every world series? Will it help teams like the Cardinals, Royals and Rays become more competitive? The economics in baseball today—every team is dripping in money—allow everyone to compete, and those who don’t is due to poor management. Arguable the two least financial solvent teams in baseball, the Rays and Athletics, are victims of their one bad business. Both teams want (need?) new stadiums, yet don’t want to foot the bill for them. The A’s want to move into Giants territory AND have the taxpayers foot the bill. The A’s ownership could simply reach into their pockets to pay for the building of a new stadium IN Oakland, but they want to be able to charge $25 for a beer in San Jose.
Oh, wait…I think I found the reason for a salary cap. If baseball has one then they’ll lower ticket prices, the costs of cable TV will go down and WE—the fans—will feel the effects. Nah, that’s silly.
eilexx
I didn’t state is as fact, I stated it as my (strong) opinion. In my opinion there is zero chance there is a lockout or a strike in MLB.
metsoptimist
The Cubs and Dodgers win every World Series? The Cardinals and Royals aren’t competitive?
june1972
Brilliant satire – the sarcasm completely sold the underlying point and it flew right past you somehow
CTBrowns
50/50 lockout in 2017. This going to turn into a fight amongst owners, rich vs. richer, over redistribution mechanisms (draft pools, QO, luxury tax etc). Sport probably needs to contract by 2-4 teams. Could be the healthiest development.
southi
How is contraction even starting to address the issues mentioned? Do you really think that the players association would want to lose that many jobs? Do you think that the way sports teams net worths have sky rocketed that any of them would vote for contraction?
eilexx
contraction? Why? 10 years ago maybe, when some teams were struggling (or struggling for an MLB team), but now the game is healthy and thriving financially. They’re more likely to expand—1 team per league would be great, if only to do away with incessant daily interleague play)—than contract.
christian18cutshaw
Wrong Josh Fields in link
christian18cutshaw
Wrong Josh Fields in the link.
AstrosWS20
Clippard would be a huge add for the Astros.
Slim_Hurley
I truly do not feel sorry for the players/agents who complain about the qualifying offer hindering their appeal to potential teams. They knew the ramifications of denying it when it was originally offered. All it takes is for a few mid-tier players (Gallardo, Fowler, etc.) to accept these qualifying offers for teams to stop offering them. Nobody before this offseason (Weiters) had ever accepted an offer before, so teams were comfortable assuming the recipients would decline. It’s simple Economics. Players/agents need to learn how to play by the rules instead of when things don’t go there way, just complain about them until they’re changed.
jb19
Bingo. Add Rasmus to the QO accepting players. Is a guy who hit .240 with 24 homeruns and plus defense worth $15.8 million over one year? I think that’s on the high side of what his AAV would be if he signed a 3 or 4 year deal. The projections had him at a 3 year $33 million contract. Why not take $15.8 this year from a team you like playing with? Seems like an easy decision that Fowler, Kendrick and Gallardo should have taken. Only Fowler should get a contract over 3 years in my opinion.
docmilo5
How these agents can think it’s a good idea to pass up nearly $16M for average MLB players just because the are FA I will never understand. Kendrick got $4M more for an extra year of service. He should have taken the QO and he likely would have go more next year without the QO tag. That complaining agent should be fired by the guys he represents.
stl_cards16 2
Why would you assume Kendrick wouldn’t be offered the QO next year?
SoCalBrave
because a team can’t give a player a QO two years in a row.
eilexx
Says who? Any team can give any free agent a qualifying offer provided he played the entirety of the previous season with that club. A team can give a player a qualifying offer ten seasons in a row if it so chooses and the player continues to sign 1 year contracts.
jb19
Kendrick signed a 2 yr $22 million deal, I believe after the contact ends, I believe the Dodgers can make a QO. Next year, Kendrick will have one more year on his contract, so he can’t get a QO.
southi
I have absolutely no pity for those free agents that turned down qualifying offers. We saw a few who accepted QOs this off season for the first time and I think that it is likely that next year more will accept QOs (if they are similar to these types). I also think that teams will more closely evaluate who they extend a QO to because of the real possibility of a player accepting the QO.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
I would absolutely give Cliff Lee a contract like that 6 to 8 million or even more, however none of it would be guaranteed. It would be the league minimum (okay maybe that is guaranteed) plus incentives to reach certain milestones or a minor league plus incentives. However, if he did not want to do either then he is out of his mind.
eilexx
Really? You wouldn’t give Lee a guarantee if that’s it took to get him? Okay, maybe not if you’re the Pirates or Rays, teams that that kind of mistake can cripple you financially, but if you’re the Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers…hell, even the Royals, why not? Lee is not a middle-ground pitcher; he’s either a guy who’s going to be healthy and pitch well or he won’t pitch. But if he does pitch he’s dynamite in October. Would the Royals be willing to risk $8M guaranteed to have a healthy Cliff Lee on the mound in October to defend their title? Seems like a calculated risk to me that is worthwhile.
AvidAstrosFan
Tyler Clippard would be a good pick up for the Astros. I think that would be a big win for their bullpen.
hurley55 2
How in the world are the Red Sox all of a sudden favorites in the east? I would take the Blue Jays and Yankees over them easy. Two guys (Price and Kimbrel) don’t just gain 15 games in the standings on Toronto.
mookiessnarl
Well sure everything being equal. But it’s not equal. Hanley, Pablo, porcello and Kelly may all play significantly better than last season. They also got Smith for the pen so in reality there are 3 guys. But improvements aren’t just made by the players you acquire. They can also come from bouncebacks and experience. I don’t see them in first necessarily, but there isn’t a direct 1 to 1 correlation between off season acquisitions and win total.
Brandon
I feel good about Houston’s bullpen, as is. Adding Clippard on top of it could be… nasty.
dfinmozarks
I wonder why ESPSN writer Shoenfield thinks Dexter Fowler is a good fit in the Cards outfield? He did have 17 HR and 46 RBI’s for the Cubs last year in 150 games but if they pro rate Randal Grichuk season for the time he spent on the DL he would have had 25 HR and 75 RBI’s in 155 games. He played in 103 games with 17 HR’s and 48 RBI’s. More impressive was his 510 slugging % and his 830 OPS. ,,,and he had a load of extra base hits.
Ditto Stephen Piscotty. As a rookie, he only played in 60 games and had 7 HR and 40 RBI’s and hit 305 with some real clutch hits and a bunch of extra base hits (4 triples and 20 doubles). Pro rate him out to a full season and he should also be into the 20’s in HR’s and 85 RBI’s level. If Matt Holliday is healthy this year he should do about 26 HR’s and close to 100 RBI’s and bat close to or over .300. Our reserve OF is Tommy Pham who has good pop too but only played in 48 games last year with 5 HR and 20 RBI’s. He had a few weeks when he was really hot but then cooled off.
I don’t think the Cards need Fowler or have a place for him. Last year was his best offensively in a smaller Wrigley Field and all 3 of our regular OF should do better than that. His offense from last year would probably would translate to about 13 or 14 in a larger Busch Stadium.. Rather than Fowler the Cards need a good hitter like Cargo of the Rockies. If we could get him and his potential to hit close to 35 HR’s they would have to make a spot for him..
Indyjuster
“The draft pick is hurting good baseball players getting jobs,” Ummmm No. The player turning down $15.6 million is hurting themselves get jobs you nimrod.