10:47pm: There are no indications that the A’s and Reddick are anywhere near an extension, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Reddick is likely aiming for a deal worth upward of $15MM per annum for four-plus years, while the A’s are in the three-year, $30MM ballpark, according to Slusser.
12:24pm: The Athletics will re-open negotiations with Josh Reddick about a contract extension prior to the August 1 trade deadline, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter links). If the two sides can’t reach an agreement to keep Reddick in Oakland beyond the 2016 season, it increases the chances that Reddick will be dealt. That said, Rosenthal notes that the A’s “are comfortable” in keeping Reddick for the rest of the season and issuing him a qualifying offer, which would net the club a first-round draft pick as compensation if Reddick signed elsewhere in free agency.
Reddick and the A’s engaged in some talks during Spring Training, with Rosenthal reporting that negotiations stalled over contract length — the club wanted a three-year extension while the right fielder was looking for four years. Reddick said he told his agents (Sam and Seth Levinson of ACES) that he didn’t want to personally involve himself in discussions unless a deal was close, which would seem to indicate that talks didn’t get too close to the goal line before the season began.
Of course, Reddick’s biggest concern at the moment is getting healthy, as he has been out of action since mid-May due to a fractured left thumb. He is currently on a minor league rehab assignment that could rejoin the A’s as soon as Monday. Before the injury, Reddick was enjoying a big season (.322/.394/.466 with five homers in 165 PA) that was boosting his stock as both a midseason trade chip and as a major offseason signing.
Prior to the season, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes speculated that Reddick could land a five-year deal in the $100MM range in free agency, both due to his talents and due to an overall lack of hitting depth on the open market next winter. That asking price could dip a bit due to Reddick’s DL stint, though he still has plenty of season left to establish his health.
If he keeps producing, he’ll certainly top a three-year deal, so the A’s may have trouble offering a fair extension that would entice Reddick to stay. The Athletics have rarely moved to extend veterans near free agency in the Billy Beane era, and barring a major about-face in payroll management, it would seem unlikely that the A’s would be a player for Reddick if he were to hit free agency. Since the A’s seem confident they’ll receive at least a first-rounder back for Reddick in QO compensation, other teams will have to top that return if they’re interested in landing Reddick before the deadline.
Wouldn’t be a bad fit for LAA as an off-season FA (though they shouldn’t overspend). They have both Weaver and Wilson’s money coming off the books and, with their lowly farm system, will need to add talent through trade or free agency.
Seems like he fits the Oakland mold though. Wouldn’t be surprised to see an extension there.
I would love him as a halo. But I agree, I think beane will give up the money needed to lock him up
He wants 4/60 and Beane won’t go more than 3/30, doesn’t look like it.
Why on earth would he offer him the same deal as he gave the human trashcan that is Billy Butler is beyond me. That’s an insult, plain and simple. I think Beane trades him at the deadline or keeps him and offers a QO.
If he gets a QO shouldn’t damage the prospects of LAA signing him as their 1st pick should be protected.
If he goes to FA it’s a weak market and he is sure to get 5yrs/75MM from someone so I don’t see how he re-signs w Oakland
Way too light Alex Gordon got 4 years 72 million as a team friendly deal. Alex Gordon probably could have got 100 million, Even if you consider Alex Gordon a much better player a non team friendly contract is going to start at 4 years 72 million for Red
The Cubs will take Reddick and Doolittle.
They think Reddck months away from free agency is worth the same as Billy Butler? Talk about coming to the table and basically spitting in Reddck’s face a guy who is already rightfully upset for you trading the entire team away that was competitive because you are cheap.
I knew when the talks didn’t get off the ground in the offseason, it looked bleak that the A’s would be able to keep Reddick at all. We tossed $30M to useless Butler who sits more than he plays yet we won’t show any commitment to Reddick whose stayed with us for some years now chipping away at his pay increases. Give him at least a 4-year deal and keep some kind of nucleus to build around if you’re to be a true contender. If the A’s front office smartened up, they could have Reddick, keep Valencia, Vogt, etc and you’ll have Gray, Hill, and keep the bullpen more or less intact with Axford (although he can be shaky at times), Doolittle (same), Madson and hopefully Overton is steady, we’d have 3 starters a good pen and get a decent backup for Vogt. You’ll have players like Semien, Sogard if we choose to dump Lowrie and Burns/Reddick in the OF. Get a replacement for Coco and drop dead weight you’ll have money to move around and keep at least half our current roster while adding the pieces we need going into next year and the year after.
oh – and we can’t forget Dull whose been nothing but spectacular this year in the pen. Keep him!
Oh what happened to the days of a player wanting to stay with 1 team, now its almost as if all players are rentals. Just because a player signs a long term deal, doesnt mean he should get comfortable. Players like Pablo Sandoval prove why money is more important than loyalty..