Some rumblings from around the AL East…
- The Blue Jays are preparing a pay increase of more than 50 percent for every player on Toronto’s eight minor league affiliates, Emily Waldon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report (subscription required). “It puts us right now up at the top of the scale in the industry,” VP of baseball operations Ben Cherington said. “My hope is it doesn’t stay that way. My hope is other teams eventually do the same….We just feel like it’s consistent with our values of trying to be a player-centered organization and give them every resource possible to be at their best.” The decision comes at a time when Major League Baseball has come under increasing scrutiny for the low salaries paid to minor leaguers, the large majority of whom didn’t receive signing bonuses nor will eventually go on to receive big contracts in the Show. The Athletic’s John Lott provides an estimated breakdown the Jays’ raise structure in another piece.
- It isn’t yet clear if Dustin Pedroia will be on the Opening Day roster, or if the longtime Red Sox second baseman could get more Spring Training prep time, MLB.com’s Ian Browne writes. Pedroia missed all but three games last season due to knee problems, first recovering from October 2017 surgery and then another knee procedure last July. With this in mind, the veteran has been brought along slowly this spring, appearing in four games and accumulating only seven plate appearances. Pedroia did play five innings in the field on Saturday, however.
- Between an eye towards his young Orioles roster, plus players who might come available as waiver pickups or minor league free agents, GM Mike Elias told reporters (including Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com) that “we want to really delay final roster decisions as much as possible because we’re still gleaning information and we’re cognizant of the fact that all of that stuff is going to happen over the next seven days.” Elias has a particular interest in adding more pitching, though is generally just looking for whatever talent can be found at any position. After eight more cuts today, the Orioles are down to 39 players in their Major League camp.
Sad, Dustin Pedroia like this. Hope he rebounds from that.
Prediction: Pedroia plays, contributes, but Yanks win East.
im a sox fan. personally I think he’s done but we’ll see.
His play style messed up his knees sadly
I think Peddy won’t make the all star break. We all should mention HOW he got his injury in the first place. Machado was doing one of his dirty slides right into Peddy’s knee. That act has shortened his career, n for him I feel so badly for. Machado inflicted him n has never owned up to his act hurting him. I feel for Peddy first n the fans second. The sad thing too was Machado never was made to pay for ruining someone’s baseball life. Getting hit by Kelly isn’t retribution.
This isn’t remotely true. A takeout slide didn’t remove the cartilage from Pedroia’s knee, A takeout slide didn’t force Pedroia to have arthroscopic surgery 6 months later. Pedroia had already had knee surgery before the “takeout” slide (which, if you watch it, is really benign, and even Pedroia said it wasn’t dirty.)
David, the slide was late and subsequent Machado behavior shows his lack of respect for others. While Pedroia did have a prior surgery, it’s clear his knee today is far worse than it was then. Only medical experts can opine on how much the Machado play contributed to his subsequent surgeries and present status. He certainly hasn’t been the same since.
Yes it can when you hit with the spikes. Peddy was playing fine till that day n never played again. Davidcone, I assume you’re an Orthpod?
Clearly, you should be commenting on NCAAW softball. About baseball, you just demonstrated an overall lack of knowledge.
How many years of med school?
Lenny: MLB changed the slide rule after the Mets-Dodgers playoff game along with the neighborhood play. The two together are meant to rightfully force the defender to touch the base while giving the fielder slide protection. By sliding so late with his spikes up, Pedroi was as exposed as Lance Renzel.
The reason that the slide was bad was due to the lack of the neighborhood play. In the past the neighborhood play allowed the fielder to mostly get out of the way. Now you have to stay on the base longer and anyone who overslides the bag should be out. The good aggressive slide from before is now an illegal slide due to the removal of the neighborhood play.
Pedroia himself has said it wasn’t a dirty play; the narrative around Machado is such now that anything he does that is aggressive is “dirty”. (And wait, I thought he didn’t hustle? And then he is too aggressive? Which is it?). Chase Utley would start sliding three feet past second routinely, but nobody is calling him “dirty” so much these days. He was “playing the game the right way,” right? As far as this nonsense about “med school” or other cheap appeals to authority, I won’t bite. I’ll just look at the history of Pedroia’s knee troubles and the timeline of them and it’s quite clear his knees weren’t right long before a rough play at second base.
Sad they still let you post on here.
Prediction, they will continue to not ban you and you will continue to complain about the mods.
If you’re going to call someone out don’t do it for what is a benign post. He said nothing insulting and stated an opinion that is not unreasonable.
Please read my post X, I’m glad you feel like that about a Peddy, cuz he’s been through so much.
On behalf of Mr. Pedroia’s agent, I request you cease the use of the moniker “Peddy” to refer to Mr. Pedroia, due to the current political environment. It is too “sandpapery” and awkward. Thank you.
We need the Muddy Chicken back
Yanks win east. Yanks lose in the division series!
Theeeree Yankees win rhhheeeer Yankees wi!
Good on ya Toronto management!
Others SHOULD follow, Profits in MLB as high as they are teams should reward players in their system, for the health of the system.
I hear ya. Hit me after the fact that this is just a ‘new’ avenue to attract players. Heckuva way to differentiate. Very interested to see how it plays out (too bad we will have to wait ten years to even start to look back at this impact)
I don’t think it’s a big deal. It won’t affect the top 5% of players since they have larger contracts. It appears like a usual bump in salaries to keep up with inflation and the Jays are just patting themselves on the back.
Giving a free Tesla to each ballplayer would be something to talk about.
The pay raise seems to be intended to benefit the 95% who are not top players. The long-term intention, presumably, to make the jays a destination team.
Will this pay increase affect small market teams negatively?
They raised it $5000 a month. Eight teams 25 players a team equals $100,000 more a month
Oops $500 but still $100,000
Didn’t read the story, do wonder if it applies to Toronto’s DSL teams where the Jays were at one time at least, one of the few that fielded a pair of teams and those teams are allowed 35 man rosters, just like A- short season leagues here in the states such as the GCL, Appalachian and NY-Penn league that am pretty sure the Jays have at least 1 team in among those 3 and maybe 2.
It’s all teams the Jays have affiliations. To include their Dominican summer league.
Cubs will probably be next to increase MiLB salaries as they need to find another way to spend some revenue (apparently going to go over full Lux Tax). They are flush with cash and have been spending on renovations so that might be next
it’s great to see the blue jays take this step, but it’s a shame they are the only one.
Of course it will, unless they regulate it. And it will create an even wider gap. If you were an international FA, wouldn’t you choose to sign with a team that can afford to pay you more?
Hopefully Pedroia goes out on his own terms. He’s the the Everyman of baseball. Probably wouldn’t be able to play another sport, unless he could kick or ride a horse.
Nice PR move Blue Jays.
If you are the only team doing this by June you will have a greater chance to lock up your 2019 draft class to contracts. But Ben Cherington’s heartfelt comments didn’t get lost on me; I’m glad he’s more concerned about what the other 29 teams decide with their system. I’d worry more about how to form a dominant, powerhouse organization other 29 teams watch in envy.
As a Jays fan I do not care if 29 teams follow your lead. Do you, and worry about your own success. Or lack thereof at this present time.
The Rays are increasing their minor leaguers payroll also. Of course, players will now be expected to wash the walls in the locker room, chase all foul balls into the stands to retrieve them, vacuum the rugs in the office, and rotate the tires of all Rays execs.
How many draft picks go unsigned every year? Not very many. I don’t think this is going to have a particularly big impact on that at all. I’m glad they get a quality of life improvement and all but I don’t think many high quality draftees are going to be screaming to get their names called by Toronto any time soon. Maybe this sways the pendulum for an 18 year old lottery ticket who chooses the jays over college. Maybe. But for the large signing bonus guys this does very little.
Blue Jays had plenty of players go unsigned during the Anthopoulos era. Too many.
As you stated, “Maybe this sways the pendulum for an 18 year old lottery ticket who chooses the jays over college. Maybe.”
You proved my point of the team having a “greater” chance. Ultimately we said the same thing.
Great to hear. Now hopefully other teams follow suit and increase their pay as well. It’s pretty hard to believe teams have been able to get away with this for so long.
Not sure many other teams will follow. Sure some will but can you imagine some of these owners considering an idea like this? Not surprised it is the Canadian team taking this first step.
All of those balls he dove for due to his lack of height over the years ruined pedroia’s knees. He had a great career though
That and machado’s spikes…
Machado hurt him that’s why he’s had the trouble, then scar tissue with his surgery, he’s been through a lot.
He had already had knee surgery before the Machado play, which even Pedroia didn’t think was a dirty play
it surprised me to see O’s option Hayes out, who profiles as a Benetendi-type contributor, albeit with more power and less defense. The kind of guy you put in the lineup every day and just appreciate the contribution. Hayes’ reaction showed a high degree of professionalism, which is refreshing these days.
Going to be a VERY solid player….no superstar, but there’s a couple of All Star games in there…..
He batted like Chris Davis in the minors last year and hasn’t taken an AB in AAA. I’m excited but he needs to do more than hit in ST
for me to burn additional service time at this point. Let him tear the cover off the ball in AAA and then give him the call
He had some injuries last year that probably affected performance.
I’ve seen him in AA, and am a fan, tho I think the defense might be over-rated. But the service time issue is a real one.
good job on toronto paying vlad jr and bo bichette 29K this season. you guys are heroes.
Props to Toronto’s front office, this is a step in the right direction
Go Canada
He’s the fake 1-5
What to go Rays!
Good on The Jays, but this raise will only give them a living wage, and only during the 5 months of the minor league season. The other 7 months, they are on their own unless they got a reasonable signing bonus,
“Would you like fries with that?”…..
Do the Jays pay their players in Canadian money? If so, isn’t the exchange rate 1 Canadian dollar = 75 cents US?
No I believe it’s all American
Ballplayers have always complained about the Canadian experience, including the tax burden, customs restrictions, etc.
I believe one player even complained about having to speak “Canadian” once he crossed the border. Canadians look down on the American language.
What language is Canadian?
You are seemingly referring to the Montreal experience rather than the Toronto experience. Many of the Québécois speak French and not English.
Only one of the Jay’s eight affiliate teams is in Canada. There would no need to speak “Canadian”. The fact that the parent team is in Canada would be irrelevant.
The one Canadian affiliate is in Vancouver (short season A). Its one of the most beautiful cities in the world and the greater Vancouver population is $2.4 million. It would beat the heck out of playing in many small US cities/towns.
And us Canadians don’t look down on Americans or their language. We do look down on people who don’t know what they are talking about.
*Looking down*
Ask a simple innocuous question and some people always look to take it in the worst possible way. Did you major in being offended at school or did it come naturally?
Salaries are all paid in US dollars.
Thank you.
I can read the headlines now:
“Professional Baseball Players Demand A Living Wage”
Goes to show us that for Pedroia longterm big money contracts for players in their 30’s often don’t pay and they are like a albatross around the teams neck. I can hardly wait for Harper to start seriously breaking down in year 4 or 5 of his deal.