The agent for Tigers outfielder Nicholas Castellanos said in January his client would prefer a trade, but the slugger met with the media Sunday and told reporters, including Chris McCosky of the Detroit News, he’d be willing to discuss a long-term contract with the club. The rebuilding Tigers made a legitimate effort to move Castellanos in the offseason, yet they were unable to find a taker because general manager Al Avila suggested there was no real market for the 26-year-old. Although Castellanos has been an above-average offensive producer in three straight seasons, especially during a career-best 2018, he has been a liability at third base and in the outfield. Those defensive limitations have likely kept teams from fervently pursuing him via trade. They could also lead to a disappointing market for Castellanos should he become a free agent next winter, particularly if the Tigers retain him through the season and issue him a qualifying offer thereafter. Castellanos expressed some nervousness about the state of free agency Sunday, pointing to the still-unemployed statuses of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and Braves corner outfielder Nick Markakis’ inability to secure a high-paying multiyear deal as causes for concern, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com writes.
More from the AL…
- Just as Castellanos was popular in offseason trade rumors, so was Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman. The right-hander said Sunday he wants to stay in Toronto for the long haul, but the team hasn’t offered him an extension, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet tweets. Stroman expressed unhappiness about the Blue Jays’ lack of offers, and he also criticized them for not signing more veterans during the offseason, John Lott of The Athletic reports. The Jays only added three free agents (Freddy Galvis, Matt Shoemaker and David Phelps) on major league contracts during the winter, but it was an unsurprising approach from a retooling team that probably won’t push for a playoff spot in 2019. Combining the Jays’ current status as non-contenders with the 27-year-old Stroman’s waning team control (two seasons left) and his unhappiness with their front office, he could frequent trade rumors again during the summer.
- Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun entered last year, his first full season with the organization, as Baseball America’s 36th-ranked prospect. Despite the hype, Calhoun fell flat at the Triple-A level and in the majors, leading GM Jon Daniels and then-manager Jeff Banister to tell him he needed to change his work ethic and lifestyle in the offseason, per Levi Weaver of The Athletic (subscription required). The meeting “humbled” Calhoun, who’s treating last season as a wake-up call and has since lost 24 pounds (the Rangers requested he drop 20). Calhoun admitted to Weaver he was “stubborn coming up with the Dodgers,” who traded him to the Rangers for Yu Darvish in 2017, as well as during his first year and a half in the Texas organization. Now in better physical and mental states, Calhoun is attempting to win a season-opening spot with the Rangers, but as Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram notes, he’ll have to beat out veteran pickup Hunter Pence.
- Royals left-hander Eric Skoglund discussed his 80-game suspension with Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com and other reporters Saturday, claiming he’s unsure how he tested positive for Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators S-22 (Ostarine) and LGD-4033 (Ligandrol). “I didn’t change anything in my offseason that I did in any other. The only thing I did was eat cleaner,” said Skoglund, who added that “something got in my body without me knowing” and insisted he’s not one to “cheat the game.” Skoglund did not appeal the ban, though, as he figured it wasn’t a fight he could win.
Machado and Harper both could have signed by now, they’ve both had offers. It’s not the teams’ fault, blame the agents and the players.
really getting sick of this narrative.
Both sides deserve blame
Please explain how w/ Harper and Machado, it’s the teams fault? They’ve been made offers. Now, I’m sure they don’t want to tuck their tail and take less, so they’re holding out – but it’s not the teams fault.
I agree…I do blame the media for overhype but more on the player . sure, ownership wants to reduce player salary but that’s only to be realistic on the players true overall value.
If Harper truly had a 10yr 100 mill offer from the Nats and he spit on it then shame on him.
overall, ownership will always win because its their choice on whom they want on their team for what price. its up to the players to take it or be jobless.
10 year 100 mil is a slap in the face to Harper. No doubt he’s turned down some solid offers, but that is not one of them
I think he meant 10yr 300 million which is what was offered
If the player had an offer and spurned the team it’s on the player, and no one else.
Amen to that!!
In my mind the media also gets some blame. They put the idea into these players heads they’re worth $400M over 12 years, just ridiculous.
With the majority of stadiums half empty or worse and people cutting the cable cord I don’t blame owners for being cautious.
The argument about how revenue is at a all time high doesn’t take into consideration that most likely the cost of running a franchise is also at an all time high.
To the players, get out there and take the millions your offered and play ball. Stop telling owners and GMs how to run their franchise. In other words be grateful you can make millions for playing this great game.
JPADA- Very well stated. Agree 100%
Harper offered 300 for 10 and Machado 175 for 8.
“It’s inexcusable nobody wants these two players. They deserve to get paid!”
– Baseball nerds & media.
You can’t blame the media for Harper being so arrogant that he thinks 400 million is being short changed. Imagine a world where grown men are paid tens of millions of dollars a year to run around hitting a little ball with a big stick and still complain they’re underpaid!
Well it’s the media telling him he’s worth that before the FA process even begins. Can’t count the number of times I heard that last season while games were being played. The media acts like Harper is a baseball god and he seems to believe it.
In fairness I did say they deserve some blame. never said they deserve all the blame.
Same thing’s going to happen with Trout. How many times have your hear or read that Trout could get $500M? Trout is a great player no doubt but he’s not getting anywhere near $500M, no chance in hell.
I think GMs have finally realized that it takes a team to win and when one guy makes up to a 1/4 of your payroll budget it doesn’t leave much for the rest of the team. There’s a balance that must be struck.
JPDA – it’s not just the media, it’s his agent.
Look for all we know, Harper has an offer on the table for 10/330, or 12/360, or perhaps as as been SPECULATED, something far lower like 8/240?
We don’t know. But whatever it is, the waiting to sign is coming from the player/agent, not from the teams who have at least discussed ranges with which they are comfortable.
But the point is, the players are the ones who have to say “yes”. Phillies prez Andy McaPhail said as much in a recent interview. this from Phillies Nation:
philliesnation.com/2019/02/phillies-president-andy…
“Asked whether the messaging to fans that the Phillies are supposedly trying to become big winners might not be accepted well by fans considering the marquee players remain unsigned and available, MacPhail stated that “we’re just half of the equation“, implying that the Phillies are ready and willing to sign one of them, but the players need to also be willing.”
MacPhail also said this:
““I don’t think that we should make the assumption…that a lack of a signature on a contract on February 15th necessarily means that’s lack of interest or lack of a market. And all we have to do is go back and look at last year…from February 15 to Opening Day (2018)…Major League Baseball clubs committed over a half-billion dollars to contracts…35 players were signed…so just because the market is moving slowly doesn’t mean that there isn’t interest. I have to think that it is a strategy employed by some who think that is in their best interest.””
If Harchado are unsigned, it’s because they are holding out for more money. That’s fine, they have a right to do so. But if the teams are holding firm in their offers they have the same right. We’ll see how it shakes out.
Personally, the idea that Harper is a $400 MM player is crazy, despite any pre-offseason projections. He’s played for 7 seasons, and has had more seasons with an rWAR UNDER 4.0 than with an rWAR above 4.0. He’s not been very consistent at all, and he’s had trouble staying on the field, only averaging 132 games per season. He seems to want to be paid based on one great season.
If I’m an owner, I would have serious reservations about meeting his “ask”, or the MLBTR projection of 14/420.
You just don’t know which Bryce Harper you’re going to get.
Please show me where i said it’s “just” the media, can you?
Pretty sure I said “the media also gets some blame”, the key word there is some.
Of course there are other factors but I really don’t see a lot of fault on the GM’s or owners side. They’re making offers.
It comes down to the question of who’s making these players believe they’re worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Not to mention who’s trying to get the fan base to believe the owners are just a bunch of greedy old white men that are just low-balling players.
Looks to me like there’s plenty of greed to go around and the media does no favors when they pick sides.
Blame Dan Jennings for everyone thinking they are worth a 35+ AAV
If it’s ridiculous that grown men are paid tens of millions of dollars a year to run around hitting a little ball with a big stick and complaining that they’re underpaid, imagine how sad it is that there are those that go in front of little screens and spend their life reading watching that silly game and reading about how much money those grown men make. You know what they say about glass houses and stones
JPADA: Good post. But I’d argue that the while cost of running the franchise has increased, the rate of revenue growth is higher.
Look, everybody lies. But I remember when Steinbrenner “pere” claimed it cost 75M to run the Yankees (in a rent-free stadium, no less), while Billy Beane scoffed and said “I want to be his switchboard operator; obviously she makes 2M a year!”). It should be noted that Billy was famous for counting the paperclips.
Pure FO labor cost have gone down, not up, technology rearing its head; you don’t need a switchboard operator anymore. And pro scouts (who scout the minors) have been rendered passe by Milb-TV and cell phones. Many forward-thinking organizations (Astros, Cards) have decreased that department, some entirely. And amateur scouts no longer have to go to Duluth to see a prospect; they’re all at the showcases now.
But your other point is extremely relevant. I doubt anyone thinks that the revenue growth of the past 10 years is going to continue, and the owners are reacting pro-actively. Even a franchise like Tampa has tripled in value over the past 10 years; that train has obviously left the station.
Franchises going up in value is a paper figure. it’s hypothetical value, not cash. No one heard the former Marlins owner blaming collusion on his market when the team sold for less than the media predicted. He took the highest offer. I guess that adjusted what the REAL value of his franchise was. Media headlines are so sensationalized, today. Believe them at your own peril.
FACT: If you want insight into a sports future, look at the average age of its fans. Baseball is losing its fan base. Ownership is reacting.
Some departments, like scouting, have been slashed. But others have grown. Analytics, for example. Also, new titles have been established. 10 years ago, had anyone said POBO, they would be looked at quizzically. There are larger ML coaching staffs now, with assistant hitting coaches, on field coordinators, assistant managers (not to be confused with bench coaches) and others. Medical staffs have grown from some dude hanging out in the dugout to multiple dudes and dudettes hanging out in the dugout. Many, if not all, ballparks consist of having a large medical facility for immediate diagnosis.
So while switchboard operators and organists have all but disappeared, others have been brought into areas of need.
That may be the case but I’ve yet to see any proof either way. Mostly going off my observation that the cost of doing anything rarely ever goes down.
” No one heard the former Marlins owner blaming collusion on his market when the team sold for less than the media predicted. ”
BOOM!
MLB revenue grew 500M between 2015 and 2018, per Forbes and Maury Brown. If you distribute that grown across the 30 teams (and yes, I realize there are differences) that’s an average growth of 166M, or 44M a year.
To be Billy Beane here, which of those coaches/stat analysts/ medical folks are making 44M a year. Can I have that job?
Considering the travel expenses of scouting (always the greatest cost of scouting), I doubt that the newer costs of operation even equals what it formerly cost.
I wouldn’t be the first (Brown, Forbes, Andrew Zimmerman) to suggest that the growth of FOs everywhere is more due to overflowing profits and tax avoidance. You’ve got 200K hanging around; is it better to give it to Uncle Sam, or reward some ex-player to hang around and get the coffee? Or to give it to that nephew of yours that never leaves you alone.
Bottom line: every team received at least 45M from the sale of MLBAM to Disney this year (NOT related to regular revenue growth). Which team did you hear say. “Hey, that’s great; now we can increase payroll!”.
I’m not all of that is true. Attendance dropped; terrible weather last year. TV ratings down: we don’t yet have the technology to “count” streaming sources. Those streaming sources are where the young get their entertainment The average MLB fan is older; so is the average NFL fan and NBA fan; we’re just ageing as a base population. Indeed, the real issue might be that, given the ageing population and MLB’s almost natural appeal to the older folk, that interest should be going UP.
And it’s not. It’s a real issue that, again, is being pro-actively treated. Hence the fewer long-term player-friendly deals.
As for the Marlins, Loria’s such a mess that it’s hard to identify him as an example of much of anything. He only got the Marlins because Selig was convinced John Henry was the only one who could save a similar mess in Boston.
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Exactly. Employees have no right to tell their bosses how to run the business
Getting straight news from the media, what is this 1974?
Boras and Lozano are playing chicken, neither wants their client to sign anything below a record deal
Your absolutely correct.
The “I don’t know how that got in my system” excuse is so lame. Try that BS at a probation or parole office or a job interview.
Yet he didn’t appeal suspension did he…
My guess is the testing is getting more precise and differentiates one time digestion and taking something for an advantage. Other athletes including other sports I recall have appealed and won. I just can’t remember specifics. As for the players, I liked Severino signing. At his game, he’s top of the rotation great and if all goes well, the Yankees got a bargain. That said, As he’s future is set for life and if the Yankees in deed got a bargain, he’ll hold the cards the next time.
Skogland was told by the league office that the substance can be found in fast food. I believe the kid.
Willie Calhoun’s AAA numbers weren’t THAT bad, but he did lose the pop from the previous year. More doubles, but less hr’s. Similar avg and obp
Of course if every FA signed in the first week you would probably be bored again by now.
Castellanos is worried because of Kakes? Kakes said himself that he turned away the chance at more money for comfort and family. He has gotten his pay day and he is at a point in his career where he is playing meaningful ballgames for his hometown team. Sure, he signed for under market rate, but that was his choice. If he fielded better than Matt Kemp he would have been the one replacing Kakes.
Kakes made it clear why he chose to stay, I think the question is why the Braves weren’t more eager to retain him. Whether they offered 1m or 10m he was probably planning to accept whatever Atlanta offered him.
@RicoD, my guess is they figured there were better options available. When those options weren’t feasible then they came back to Markakis.
Absolutely correct. I’d just imagine they would want to bring Kakes back, a high performing veteran who the fans love and who WANTs to be there. The fact with his numbers that he has to negotiate up to 4m for this year is surprising to me. Def worked out for the braves.
Obviously they wanted to bring Kakes back, but they preferred to get a presumed upgrade. There were few on the market that could have been that (Pollock, Brantley, McCutchen) – and all of them got deals ATL wasn’t interested in – for good reason, imho. Bring back a 2018 AS, gold-glove winning COF that hits southpaws well and everyone in the clubhouse loves for $6MM ($4MM in 2019, $2MM buyout) or a 3-4 deal with one of those guys with serious injury questions? Remember, some of our top position prospects (Pache, Waters, Riley?) could be Kakes’ replacement.
Considering the results, ATL played it perfectly: their player is happy to return and they paid under market value.
Marcus Stroman learned a lot from Jose Bautista – unfortunate. Play the game and shut your mouth.
Except Jose Bautista backed up his loud mouth by being a great player in Toronto. Stroman needs a few good years to show he’s a decent pitcher.
Is there an echo in this room?
In defense of Bautista, he was a nobody and a failure up until the age of 29. Then success and superstardom took away his humility. Whereas Stroman thinks he’s better than he really is and doesn’t know humility or accountability. He likes being famous so he has THAT going for him.
I’m taking anything from Bautista’s talent, but one would think his delayed arrival to success would fire up his humility, not propel his ego. Jose Bautista was a big fan of Jose Bautista – completely off-putting.
Exactly why would the jays back a dump truck full of cash to stromans house when his numbers have fallen off a cliff the last two years.. yet he still thinks he’s worth Nola or severino money. Guys gonna be Ricky Romero 2.0
Stroman always claims he pitches “with a chip on my shoulder.” Why? Because he’s so small? Pedro (also small) didn’t pitch with a chip on his shoulder, maybe bc he was so damn good. The little man syndrome is so unbecoming.
Stroman makes that claim because he thinks he’s the only MLB’er pitching with tampons, sources say.
Stroman doesn’t belong in the rotation. Occasionally he is a two turns of the batting order pitcher, rarely a three turns starter.
Put him at the back of the bullpen, trade Giles and Stroman will likely excel.
He belongs in this year’s rotation. Let’s hope he steps up so the team can deal him. I hate his act. He should change his name to Stromee.
Markakis has made over 110 miliion during his 14 year career. He’s not exactly headed for the poor house, Nick.
I’d like to see NC stay in Detroit. He’s a good hitter. Gives interesting interviews. Accessible to us fans. Clubhouse leader. Just saw him on MLB top 100. Sign him to 5 more years and Tigers might/should be contenders by then.
I agree. Extend Castellanos. Give him a decent wage and include a bunch of incentives. Also include an opt out. He’s worth it. Besides, it’s nice to keep a homegrown talent long term.
Only if its for less than $20mm per, and he will consider DH if his fielding doesnt improve. He’s not worth more than Hosmer.
“Castellanos expressed some nervousness about the state of free agency Sunday, pointing to the still-unemployed statuses of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado and Braves corner outfielder Nick Markakis‘ inability to secure a high-paying multiyear deal as causes for concern”
Bryce and Manny both apparently received offers around, to well over, 200 million. Markakis has made more than 100 million over his career.
In what world are people pulling in earnings in the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS the victim? Leaders of countries don’t make even 1 million a year. Yet there is a problem when players are only pulling in HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS over the span of about 10 years of their lives?
Mark Attanaslo, the owner of the Brewers is believed to be the 20th most wealthy club owner. His worth is roughly 700 million – an amount he has spent his life building through good business decisions. Harper is asking for half what the 20th richest owner is worth for merely 10 years worth of playing. That is insane!
The nonsensical whining and constant ‘poor me’ propaganda from the players is really getting to the point it’s making it hard to even care for the game. Boo f’ing hoo, you’re only on pace to make around to upwards of 100 million (or 7% of the 20th most wealthy owners wealth) over your non-HOF worthy career! Try being a 30something, 10 year minor league vet. Or better yet, get a normal job like the vast majority of the counrty – then maybe you can be taken seriously when whining and crying that you just don’t make enough
“(or 7% of the 20th most wealthy owners wealth)”
Mistake in that. Not 7%, even worse than that! Should say 1/7th the amount, or roughly 14%.
The first quote you wrote is the opinion of the writer. The quote is “How would the NBA be doing if LeBron James and Steph Curry were on the free-agent market as basketball players were reporting. It would be very bad.” It’s an assessment on how much tension there is. As expected, the writers many times do not help the situation
If Stroman wanted to be paid like the 5.53 era pitcher he was last year instead of the “ace” he thinks he is, I’m sure they may be able to work something out…… Bad mouthing your front office in the media is not the way to approach extension discussions either…. I’m sure they hope he pitches well to start the year, so that his attitude can become someone else’s problem at the deadline.
My thoughts exactly. Just like every narcissist he plays the victim without taking responsibility for his poor performance. As a fan, it’s not “entitled” to expect a better attitude from a player who apparently aspires to be a team leader (see Roy Halladay). Any loyalty Stroman professes for Toronto is BS, a desperate ploy for fan support. I can’t wait for him to be shipped out at the trade deadline — if he’s not on the DL that is.
Tigers should NOT make a QO to a player nobody would voluntarily pay lavishly. He’d be irrational not to grab it. An extension at a far lower annual rate is the only scenario where he stays
Stroman knows he’s going to be fine even if he pitches every bit as bad as last season. That is why he’s willing to voice his displeasure with front office. If he succeeds he’ll be traded (what he wants). If he doesn’t, he’ll still get millions next year in arbitration.
More reason why the players have little to complain about.
Blue Jays fans can pray he has a great season up to the All-Star break. Then pray his front office unloads him to the highest bidder so we can eliminate whiners and add winners to the ballclub. Stroman may like the bright lights shining down on him but he cannot stand the rain falling down on him when the going gets tough. Can’t win with guys like that.
Stroman’s personality [and skillset] belongs in the bullpen. He can barely focus enough to keep his slider from floating up there two or three times every 3-4 innings. Every second start he gives up the big inning and once he starts to lose it, he sometimes gest it back after a few runs.
Stroman has elite pitching stuff, but not elite focus and concentration. He loses it way to often to be a consistent and reliable starter, nevermind an “ace”.
In other news, apparently Galvis will be named starting SS for the Jays. As I said all along Jimmer, may as well have kept Tulo if Gurriel wasn’t the future SS. Absolutely disgraceful how the front office has handled that situation. As wrong as Stroman is to speak about anything, I guess his small heart is in the right place when criticizing management.
I can’t see the Jays continuing on without a change somewhere in the upper level mgmt. The constant mismanangement like Tulo, Sanchez’ finger issues, the stiffs they run out there expecting to pitch well, the Donaldson trade, the absence of a real tear down, even Vlad Jr at 240lbs instead of the 200Lbs as the guide lists…….something or someone has to give….
Ten year contracts are not happening in this environment. As long as young players are const-controlled for so long at the beginning of their careers, and as long as Albert Pujols is the living counterexample for not paying for past performance, deals that long are not particularly viable or attractive.
Castellanos…7 yr 60mil with incentives up to 80mil…you heard it first from Dr. Disco Dave
Look up “no offers” next winter and you’re going to see a picture of Castellanos. The man should be nervous. The ground has shifted under his feet, poor thing.
@jorge78 that may just be the case…I hope not…you’re right though…he should be nervous…
The issue with Castellanos is that he is not being considered as a full-time DH. There have been plenty of bat-only players over the years who have thrived in the role of DH. NC will never be able to field any position at a passable rate at the MLB level. It is a fact. He provides negative value every time he steps on the field defensively. This is a problem for the Tigers, who have a full-time DH for years to come with Cabrera and his albatross contract. Unless Cabrera suffered a career-ending injury, there is no valid reason the Tigers should even remotely consider extending or re-signing Castellanos. He must be traded this season before the deadline, and the team acquiring him needs to be thinking they’re getting a DH.
I think Castellanos will tighten up his D