Tonight marks the deadline for MLB clubs to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. As such, there’ll be a slew of pre-tender agreements announced today — particularly for arbitration-eligible players who might have otherwise been non-tender candidates. As we saw yesterday (and frequently in previous seasons), players agreeing to terms before the tender deadline will often sign for less than they’re projected, as the alternative in some cases may simply be to be cut loose into a crowded free-agent market.
We’ll track today’s pre-tender agreements here, with all referenced projections coming courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz…
- Giants infielder Joe Panik settled at a $3.8MM price tag, per Heyman (via Twitter). That’ll represent a savings as against the $4.2MM projected salary. Many had wondered whether the new San Francisco front office would move on from Panik, who has one more year of arb eligibility remaining. Meanwhile, Heyman tweets that reliever Sam Dyson has agreed to a $5MM pact. That also comes in $400K below his projection.
- The Padres settled with righty Bryan Mitchell for $900K, Heyman tweets. Mitchell had been a non-tender candidate at a projected $1.2MM sum.
- Newly acquired first baseman C.J. Cron has agreed to a $4.8MM contract, the Twins announced. He projected to a $5.2MM salary; this becomes the latest of many indications of the unstable market position of defensively limited slugger types.
- The Indians have settled with righty Danny Salazar for $4.5MM, Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets. He was projected at $5MM, with some wondering whether the Cleveland organization might non-tender him. The talented hurler missed the entire 2018 season. Meanwhile, righty Nick Goody is slated to earn $675K, Heyman tweets.
- Southpaw Jonny Venters avoided arb with the Braves, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets. It’s a $2.25MM deal, sitting well over the $1.5MM projection, though certainly his unusual career path could have led to some additional arguments for a stronger raise.
- The Cardinals announced an agreement with lefty Chasen Shreve. Terms aren’t yet known. The 28-year-old had projected to take home $1.2MM for the 2019 campaign, but will settle at $900K per Heyman (via Twitter).
- Pirates righty Michael Feliz has avoided arbitration with the club, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic was among those to report on Twitter. Feliz projected at a $900K salary and will get $850K, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweets. It’s a split agreement that promises $375K in the minors, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter).
- Infielder Tyler Saladino has agreed to a $887,500 salary with the Brewers, Jon Heyman of Fancred tweets. That comes in below the $1MM he projected to earn.
- The Athletics settled at $2.15MM with Liam Hendriks, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter), all of which is guaranteed. That’s just where he projected ($2.1MM) on the heels of a fascinating 2018 season. Hendriks was dropped from the MLB roster in the middle of the season but returned late in the year in dominant fashion as the A’s “opener.”
- Lefty Sammy Solis agreed to terms with the Nationals to avoid arbitration, the club announced. He profiled as a potential non-tender candidate, so it seems likely the organization pushed to get something done before the deadline. Solis, who has an intriguing power arsenal but struggled through a homer-prone 2018, projected at $900K. He’ll earn $850K, per Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post (Twitter link).
- The Athletics announced that they’ve agreed to a one-year deal with righty Ryan Dull in advance of tonight’s deadline. He’ll get $860K, Fancred’s Jon Heyman tweets, which checks in pretty closely with his $900K projection. Dull, 29, posted a 4.26 ERA with 21 strikeouts and seven walks in 25 1/3 innings of relief in 2018.
- Heyman also tweets that the Padres and Greg Garcia, whom they claimed off waivers earlier this offseason, settled on a one-year deal worth $910K that aligns with his $900K projection. Garcia hit .221/.309/.304 in 208 plate appearances with St. Louis last season and is a career .248/.356/.339 hitter in 860 plate appearances.
Earlier Agreements
- The Brewers and Hernan Perez avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $2.5MM, as first reported by Heyman. He’ll check in a bit shy of his $2.7MM projection but remain on hand as a versatile utility option in Milwaukee.
- Left-hander Tony Cingrani and the Dodgers avoided arb with a one-year deal worth $2.65MM. That checks in just south of the lefty’s $2.7MM projection. Cingrani turned in a brilliant 36-to-6 K/BB ratio in 22 1/3 innings but was also tagged for a considerably less palatable 4.76 earned run average.
- The Red Sox announced that they’ve agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the 2019 season with right-hander Tyler Thornburg. They’ve also tendered contracts to the remainder of their arbitration-eligible players, though the terms of those deals will be negotiated in the coming weeks. Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets that Thornburg will earn $1.75MM i 2019 and can earn another $400K via incentives. I’m told that includes $100K for reaching each of 45, 50, 55 and 60 appearances. Thornburg, 30, was roughed up to the tune of a 5.63 ERA in 24 innings for the Sox this season — his first action for Boston since being acquired prior to the 2017 season. His Boston tenure has been utterly derailed by thoracic outlet syndrome and the ensuing surgery. Thornburg was excellent for the 2016 Brewers, and Boston parted with Travis Shaw in order to acquire him, so the Sox will surely hope that a regular offseason of rest and further removing himself from TOS surgery will get the righty back on track. This will be Thornburg’s final season of club control. He’d been projected to earn $2.3MM.
… hallelujah. What would the Sox do without Thornburg? Crisis averted.
I could not stop banging my head against a wall when I saw the details of this trade. Monumental failure. I thought dombrowski should have been fired when he made that deal. Even with a WS win, I STILL don’t trust him long term if he’s capable of being so stupid.
If Thornburg produced for Boston like he did the Brewers, you would have been singing his praises.
The Brewers version of Thornburg is exactly what the Red Sox needed in the bull pen last year and didn’t have.
Nope, it was a bad deal from the moment pen went to paper. That is an insane overpay, what they gave up. Part of what has to go into how you value a pitcher is the inherent injury risk – I don’t care that he’s sucked for two years, point is pitchers get hurt often and that’s why you don’t give up huge packages for them (and when you do – it rarely goes well).
I’m judging the process, not the result, although the result sure does help prove my point even further.
It was clearly a ridiculous overpay in my view but perhaps for different reasoning. Shaw showed promise but was never thought of highly by Boston. Thornburg meanwhile was being sold high with just one great year. I thought at the time one for one without the minor leaguers was reasonable.
Literally every GM is “capable of being so stupid”, it’s part of the gig. You don’t come out with positive results for 100% of your moves, asking otherwise is moronic.
Yeah, That deal for Sale has been terrible for them. Oh, I’m sorry. That example doesnt prove your point.
Being so stupid? He just won a World Series Lomb brain!
If you could read my mind, love…
Pair a 2016 Thorny with a hopeful duplicate of 2018 Brasier and add 2 of /Britton/Robertson/Miller/Ottavino to the mix then this bullpen can go from 0 to at least an 8.. man my mouth is watering just thinking about it
With what money?
Saves a lot of embarrassment for DD; and let’s face it, it’s not like there aren’t any positions in the bullpen available. It makes sense to tender him.
Yeah, DD has a chance to come out smelling like a rose on this. If TT can dominate in the 6-8 innings, this is an outstanding deal.
Only drawback is the recovery rate on TOS surgeries. Not many have come back very well.
Was really hoping he would be non-tendered. What a waste of The Mayor of Ding Dong City
Sox gave up more than Shaw for Thornberg. Multiple minor leaguers that might not end up being much, but they did weaken their system and used the players in another trade. Hopefully Thornberg becomes useful 19.
Like this deal. He has the chance to recover at least some of the sunk cost of the last two years. And if he returns to his previous effectiveness, that’s a heck of a value/bargain for BOS.
Now let’s go find a lefty please.
What? They can not come out on top of from this trade. It is way too late
It’s never too late but the way Shaw continues to hit bombs in this 2018 variety of HR Derby, the best DD can salvage now on this standalone trade is face saving.
I forgot he was on the team
I wonder what Boston is going to do payroll wise once the dust settles and their competition gets better (yanks, philly, Houston, Atlanta, brewers, LA just to name a few) by signing tip FA’s? Boston has lots of financial obligations for players as old as Manny they are still paying deferred $ to. Great article on here showing Boston’s $ commitments and projections for their young stars about to start getting big $ in arbitration.
All the talk is about Yankees spending. Boston I feel stole from Peter to pay Paul the last few years depleating their farm and will be forced to hand out contracts to Betts, Bradley jr, Bogarts and deal with Sale and JD able to be free agents next year. JD with another big season is opting out. Will Boston restructure to keep him? Can they afford him? The Sox are imo going to turn into the Yankees of the 80’s and 90’s…. spend spend spend on FA since you have no farm and you have no young pitchers that are top prospects.
If ownership decides they can’t roll out $250 mil payrolls every year with LT penalties increasing their long term future is not good. There is a reason they never won back to back WS titles since 2004. No farm for injury replacements. Look at the Yankees pre 2017. 2012-2016. Horrible team but they won lots of games due to the Minor league shuttle they use. The Yankees use their 40 man roster well. If the yanks spent the $50 mil or so more that he Sox did this year and Judge didn’t get hit by pitch and Sanchez was a .240 hitter at least they would have won 108+ games. That extra $50 mil could have bought better pitching. The Redsox has a great season but, I don’t think it’s special when you spend 1/4 of billion $ on payroll. Even their mistakes are non tendered and they pay them tens of millions. They made bad internationally signings I can’t believe the $ they spent when you start from Matsuzaka to Moncada and the 30 yo minor leaguer Rusty Castillo who was paid 40-60 mil (I can’t recall).
I see trouble for them and the Cubs and Houston soon. But Houston has a good farm.
And not using Tyler’s $ to get a established relief arm when even if u sign Kimbrel to a $80 mil contract your bullpen stinks is surprising. And Once Kimbrel leaves which I would think if they had a good relationship they would have signed him already, they are toast unless they take on more payroll.
I’m critical due to my dislike of the franchise core values. Their manager acted like a child and many many Sox fans are nasty and go after the Yankees when they are the Yankees- New England version. And the cheating that all New England teams do (Pats anyone?). Boston can have this year but get ready for lean times like 1990’s teams that NY slapped around.
I been seeing a lot of Hal Steinbrenner talking and he seems more passionate then I ever seen him discussing spending just as they reset the tax. What is the Redsox plan to keep a WS team in field for another 5 years? 10 years? Thornburg? Good luck!!!
Doesn’t really matter. Sox just won the WS. After next season they will tear some of it down and get below the luxury tax level again. Then they can reboot. I would think almost all of Sale, Bogaerts, JDM & Porcello are gone next year. Maybe they keep one of those guys. After next year their commitments to awful contracts go way down, too. They will be fine. Did I mention they just won the World Series?
Your diarrhea of the keyboard is pointless. Its so myoptic, devoid of logic, packed with chapped hind-end, its not funny. Thanks for wasting everyones time.
Get over it. They won. You didnt. Stop trying to reason your way into a WS win? Need some ointment for the burn?
He’s just bitter that the Yankees essentially punted on 2018. They just kept watching as high-end starters were moved over the last several years: Sale, Verlander, Cole, Quintana, Archer(and others) that could have really helped. Now the Yankees have to make up for lost time and outspend everyone again. You’d better hope they pick the right guys!
Quintana and Archer are both very overrated and both teams gave up way more talent to bring them in then what they got back. Not getting Cole or Verlander was very cheap though.
Punted? They (Yankees) chose to stay under the luxury tax this year, not exactly a punt.
I wish you would take DD ball sack out of your mouth before you speak.
Fair assessment. Not saying they needed to give up more for Archer or Quintana, but any/all of those guys would have helped.
They chose to save a few bucks. I’m sure that thrills you as a fan. They punted and you know it.
If they had made the Verlander trade(or Sale) they might be back-to-back Champs right now.
But I know you’d rather see the Steinbrenner boys pocket some cash anyway.
So much nonsense.. Downvoted.
Whatever the payroll, they fielded an almost entire lineup of homegrown players that was the core of the team. They’ll have a great shot this year. Let Kimbrel go. Bag on the bullpen all you want, they got it done in 2018. Sox will take a step back in 2020 bc they cant sign everyone and shouldnt. They stay competitive around a core of Betrs, Benintendi, Devers, Vazquez and maybe Bradley and/or Bogaerts. They will be fine if they keep thrir own guys. They wont need major contributions from the farm until 2020, who knows what will develop by then. I hope Hal does go crazy spending model again.
You could’ve saved yourself some time and just wrote, ‘I have sour grapes’.
Upvote
downvoting because, dude, how important do you think you are? im not spending time reading that wall of (very most likely garbage) text. these comment threads are largely anonymous, stop caring so much. if you cant keep it within like, 8 lines, its too damn long.
Hindsight is 20/20, but I hated this trade the moment it happened. Granted we had Devers waiting in the wings to be brought up, but if you look at Shaw’s numbers over the last two seasons, who would you have rather had?
Only for the last 2 seasons, dont give up on Devers yet. I didnt love it but they only saw Shaw as a bench player to backup the corners. Thornburg had been really good unfortunately he has been injured.
Agree on Shaw who to his credit came out of nowhere. Great story. Problem as I wrote elsewhere were the added pieces that shouldn’t have been included and could have been used in other trades if not help on Boston.
Who?
Can we not bring Michael Feliz back for 2019?
Very few if any of these guys should have been tendered. They were pretty much all disappointments.
I’m happy the A’s gave Hendriks a contract. He is a nice pitcher to have for the back end of the bullpen.
What?
Another great move by Mozeliak. Signing Shreve. Bruised peach from bottom branch.
A lefty reliever that cost less than 1M…not exactly a hamstring move, calm down.
Don’t tell me to calm down, because I’m not even wound up. It’s a waste of a roster spot. Now go back to grazing like the sheeple you are
Dave must be part of the self-proclaimed BFIB-Boys. They’re a rough bunch who won’t be happy regardless of what Mo and company does to the roster. They also scrutinize even the most minute of roster moves, such as this and the minor league reliever contract from earlier this week. They just don’t know how silly their posts read. It must be a sad existence.
It would seem like LH relievers with over 11K/9 and only cost 900K would be a worthwhile investment, but obviously you’re the BFIB, so I’ll defer to your apparent expertise!
Spot on. Dave, calm down.
I wonder if clubs and players mention the projections from this site?
I love how they call it a real savings when it’s being measured against an unknown (projection, estimate, etc.).
You do know that the projections are data-driven and not just pulled out of you=know=where.
Hey, genius, you do know that ALL projections and estimates are based on some sort of data, don’t you? That doesn’t change the fact that it’s still an “estimate,” does it? It’s still just an educated guess. And the operative word is “guess.”
Danny Salazar, still getting paid for doing nothing.
Nice to see Atlanta reward Venters. They must also be convinced that he is capable of churning out at least a repeat performance and have a positive impact in the clubhouse.
if anyone deserves it, it is him.
Yes, Yes and Yes…..
Using the word ‘dominant’ to describe a small sample size (largely influenced by luck) is specious, at best. Liam Hendriks was helped out by a superficial BABIP in the second half in 2018…all 14 innings of it. There has to be a minor league pitcher at the league minimum in the A’s organization that is better than Liam Hendriks. This is a $2 Million honorarium.
The only REAL surprise to me is Panik, but I think the Giants are banking on a return from injury…. and appreciating the defense and overall level of play….and 4M just isn’t what it used to be….
Not really surprised by Panik. What were the alternatives? Pay more for some FA for 2B when Panik might bounce back? I suspect the last 2 years were injury influenced, but whatever, the Giants know better than any of us whether he’s healthy or worth gambling on for a comeback.
I’m actually surprised a bit myself. It was a toss-up all the way – he’s a solid player with potential and there’s no doubt one of the best defensive players at the position. But his injuries and numbers just frustrate me.
I like the kid. I just don’t think he’s worth $4 million.
OMG!! What do we have to do to get rid of Sammy Solis!!!! His ERA the last two seasons are 5.88 and 6.41, and he gets paid??? WTF does he have to do to get released? 10.0??? Pathetic Nats.
Sounds like you’ve got your very own Bryan Mitchell. I feel your pain.
Not only did the genius Preller not DFA (or non-tender) Bryan Mitchell, he doubled down by giving him a contract to avoid arbitration.
Yup, Preller’s ego thinks this guy is the next Max Scherzer. But I probably shouldn’t second guess the “rock star.” After all, he’s got such a fantastic track record finding ML pitching.
Cretin