Padres general manager A.J. Preller said today that he plans to sit down with first baseman Wil Myers’ agent this week to begin exploring a contract extension, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (via Twitter).
Myers, a CAA Sports client, managed to stay healthy for a full season for the first time in 2016 and delivered a breakout campaign with the Padres. In 676 plate appearances, the soon-to-be 26-year-old batted .259/.336/.461 with 28 homers and a surprising 28 stolen bases while also contributing plus defense at a new position. Both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating pegged Myers’ defense at eight runs above average despite the fact that he had fairly limited exposure to first base, having spent the bulk of his pro career catching and in the outfield.
Eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter, Myers is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz to earn $4.7MM next year, so the urgency for him to take an extension isn’t necessarily as present as it would be for a player that was still years from arbitration. The former top prospect’s first significant Major League payday is all but assured, though certainly there’s still reason for him to express interest in a long-term deal to offer more immediate financial security. And from a practical standpoint, Myers broke into the league at a young enough age that he could theoretically sign a five-year deal, buying out two free-agent seasons, and still hit the open market before his age-31 campaign.
Looking at the situation through the Padres’ lens, it’s easy to see how Myers can fit into the long-term picture. As MLBTR’s Jason Martinez noted in his Offseason Outlook on the Padres, San Diego doesn’t even have one guaranteed contract on the books for the upcoming season, so if the Padres and Myers’ agent can agree on a price point, there are no financial roadblocks elsewhere on the roster to impede a long-term commitment to Myers.
Just made my day
A 5 year $90mil contract with a mutual option for a 6th? I’m sure he will get more if he has another great year in 2017.
If five years 90 million is on the table he should take it…..
If i’m the Padres, I want to see another year before giving him any kind of real money, send him through first year arbitration and take it from there
Agree
In no way is he a 16 to 18,000,000 Dollar player by anyone’s standards
Perhaps not right now, but if he continues to produce and live up to his enormous potential it would be worth it. I too think they should give it another year, but either way it’s a gamble on both the player and the team.
I don’t mean to imply that I think he’s not a good player, but that’s what arbitration is for, he’s not an 18 million Dollar player now, I would table it till next year, as always just my opinion
In now way is that statement remotely close to accurate by anyone’s informed standards.
He is in his first year of arbitration. From the history of arbitration awards, we pretty much know the formulas that the arb. boards use, so we already know about what he will get in 2017-2019 if he stays healthy and has good years. If he goes 30/30 the next 3 seasons he will make $22-24 million for those 3 years. He will probably be looking at $20 million per year in free agency, but the Padres (or any team) will be looking for a discount in order to give him guaranteed money. If it’s just for 3 years, then $20 million is reasonable. With his history of injuries, he certainly will be looking at a deal under $32 million for 4 years or under $50 million for 5 years. The question is will the Padres offer him an extension if it doesnt include buying out at least one of his free agency years.
5/90 would probably be the starting point. No way he does that. I would guess more years and triple digits. Something like Longoria’s extension
I agree with both of you. His injury that had plagued him since high school is gone, but it could be too enticing for him to pass on considering he’d be a free agent just two years after he normally would.
But yes having a gold glove emerging 1B that is a 25/25 player is worth a good amount. However we have to remember that Goldschmidt only got 5/32 in 2013 and he is a better overall hitter.
Goldschmidt’s contract included two pre-arbitration years. It has absolutely no comparison to offer for Myers, who is already entering arbitration.
oops my bad. I just typed in Paul Goldschimdt contract and that’s what first came up. Should’ve looked further into it. My apologies.
Goldschmidt was eligible for arbitration for the 2015 season, so they only bought out 1 year of arbitration.
5/90 should be the ceiling…no way they are gonna throw $90 mil at him…He literally has played 1 full season. 5/65 maybe, but not 5/90
Idk. I think he’d have to jump on 5/90. He’s got 3 years of arbitration payments, which should get him roughly $24 million or so, which would leave him at 2/$66 million for the free agent years, and allow him to hit the market again at a relatively young age. That seems pretty good in my opinion, even if lacking in overall guarantee
If the Padres put 5/90 on the table he would leap at it and have that signed in moments. It’s probably $40 million higher than he is worth or the Padres will offer.
I still think he’s made of glass and I’d be cautious of a elongated contract .
“There are no financial roadblocks elsewhere on the roster” but there are plenty off the roster to Shields, Upton, Gyorko….
Olivera
1st year of arbitration eligibility, so the Padres are looking to buy out next 4-5 years. Considering the typical raises in arbitration for a great young player, he is looking at earning $22-24 million from 2017-2019. The Padres are going to want a discount from that in AAV for the first 3 seasons for giving him guaranteed money, so maybe a 4 year $28 million deal or a 5 year $42-45 million deal. Either way Myers reaches FA at 30-31 and if he has stayed healthy and played well gets his big payday, if not the Padres take it on the chin like they did with Gyorko.
Off roster? Padres have 80 mil owed to
players not on roster. Padres will not go big $ nor should they
Only reason they took on chin is because they traded Jedd who went on to hit over 30 homers.