The Astros are currently discussing extensions with starters Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (subscription required), though a deal with either seems unlikely. Rosenthal notes that the Astros may not be keen on paying market price for a multi-year extension with Verlander when that deal would begin in his age-37 season. Cole, meanwhile, is a Scott Boras client and thus likelier to test the free-agent market. Boras’ most recent extension for a starting pitcher was Nationals righty Stephen Strasburg, who (like Cole) was in his walk year when he signed a $175MM guarantee on a seven-year deal beginning in his age-28 season. Cole is in his age-28 season right now, so he’d be a year older than Strasburg at the time of a theoretical extension, but he’s also been more durable, reaching 200 innings in three of the past four seasons. Rosenthal makes a slightly less-aggressive comp than that, pointing out that Cole will reach free agency at the same age as Patrick Corbin and with better career stats. Corbin agreed to a six-year deal worth $140MM with the Nats this winter.
Since it’s officially “Extension Season” — as MLBTR’s Extension Tracker shows, there have been a virtually unprecedented 16 extension agreements during Spring Training — here’s more extension chatter from around the game…
- Rob Bradford of WEEI spoke to J.D. Martinez about the opt-out clause in his contract with the Red Sox at the end of the season. Martinez, who can opt out of the remaining three years and $62.5MM on his current deal, said there haven’t been any discussions about an extension or a restructuring of the contract to this point. Unlike last summer, however, he at least left open a slight window for in-season talks in his most recent interview with Bradford. Martinez has an opt-out after the third year of his contract as well, at which point there’d be two years and $38.75MM remaining on the deal.
- Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi was drafted five spot behind Alex Bregman and reached the Majors barely a week after the Astros’ third baseman, but Benintendi tells Bradford that his those similarities didn’t make him take particular note of Bregman’s $100MM extension. Rather, the 24-year-old Benintendi says it’s “fun to watch all these guys sign some deals” in a nod to the bevy of extensions throughout MLB. Benintendi and his reps have not discussed an extension with the Sox this winter, though he tells Bradford that he would “definitely” listen if the Sox initiated talks.
- MLB Network’s Jon Heyman spoke to Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski about the team’s current slate of extension candidates (all links to Twitter). While it’s common for players to place Opening Day deadlines on extension talks, Dombrowski somewhat unusually took a similar stance. “We’re focused on winning this year,” he said. “…Unless something unexpected happens, we’re not going to do anything once the season starts.” Heyman notes that Xander Bogaerts, specifically, has stated an aversion to in-season negotiating. Regarding Martinez, Dombrowski merely stated that the Sox are “hopeful” he won’t opt out of his contract.
- The Tigers “haven’t engaged in any kind of [extension] conversations” with Nicholas Castellanos this spring, GM Al Avila told MLB.com’s Jason Beck yesterday. There’s been no formal offer or even any formal discussions on the matter with Castellanos’ agent, according to Avila, though he said the possibility of a deal is “obviously… in our minds.” Castellanos has expressed a desire to remain in Detroit on a long-term deal, though the rebuilding Tigers will undoubtedly view him as a possible trade asset this summer as well. If the two sides can eventually find a common ground in terms of price, however, Avila said he wouldn’t rule out an in-season extension. “He hasn’t said anything to the contrary,” Avila said of Castellanos being willing to negotiate beyond Opening Day. “I think he would be open to it.”
Yankeepatriot
Cole will hit the market for sure
joshua.barron1
Dombrowski do something already! This team is about to fall apart lol
pt57
He should test the market. If he doesn’t get paid, there’s collusion.
coldgoldenfalstaff
if Cole signs an extension, he’ll get paid, but there’s something to be said how the Astros brass use video/analytics to maximize pitch mix effectiveness that he didn’t get in Pittsburgh and may not get in other places if hitting the free market.
IMO the real question is will Crane go into the Luxury Tax range to do so.
TJECK109
Uhh something could be said about being the #4 starter in Houston compared to being the ace in Pittsburgh
jbigz12
You’re crazy if you think cole was the #4 starter. Pittsburgh didn’t get anywhere near the best out of him or Morton. The Astros did. Period.
TJECK109
Cole is a big baby. Didn’t want to play in Pittsburgh and couldn’t handle the pressure of being a #1. Choke
stratcrowder
Try following along with a quick click on MLB.com/team depth charts.
Robertowannabe
He will get paid unless he suffers a significant arm injury this year. It probably will take a while, just like Machado and Harper, because he and Boras will be setting a huge ask to start and it will take all of the off season and into spring training before he will be signed. Younger guys that have talent and are not injured always get paid. The ones not getting paid are guys that are getting older and their production is tailing off and have been dinged up and they are insisting on guaranteed long terms with big money.
billysbballz
Please stfu with collusion nonsense already. It’s fake news all around thus way to Sunday.
ChiSoxCity
Nothing FAKE NEWS about teams limiting premium contracts to players who deserve them.
snakesalive1
Aaron Judge will receive a blockbuster extension that will blow everybody away.
stratcrowder
I believe that too.
bradthebluefish
Dombrowski has done close to nothing this winter and it pisses me off. Not content watching the Red Sox lose its bullpen and not extend its star players.
leefieux
“Welcome to my world” (said every Pirate fan out there)
Ketch
Colten Brewer not enough for you?
mlb1225
Lol, this comment is really funny after the Sale extension.
stratcrowder
Right?
ChiSoxCity
The only thing worse than a spoiled, whiney yankees fan is a spoiled, whiney carmine fan. Boston sportsfans should be the last one complaining about anything right now.
Rocket32
What do you want Dombrowski to do, other then resign Kimbrel? Red Sox are fine. They just won a WS and remain a title contender for this year. They obviously weren’t going to be adding any huge contracts to their payroll this offseason other then potential extensions for their own key players. Sounds like you want big flashy moves just for the hell of it. ‘Losing their bullpen’ is inaccurate, they lost one guy. Kimbrel is not an entire bullpen.
bravesfan
Psh. Pay verlander. Market value can’t be that high can it? At his age, extend him for like 2 – 3 years. Shouldn’t need to be insane money.
pt57
How many good, durable starters are there right now, much less available starters?
The deal will be short, but would a 2-year $60 million really be that out of line?
Robertowannabe
Not out of line but would he accept only 2 years? That is the real question. He may think he should get 4-5 years guaranteed and many teams will not want to go that long nor spend that much. Will be an interest watch to see how this turns out for him.
refereemn77
I think a fair deal would be 3/60. A bit less than he’s making now owing to his age. He did put up over 6 rWAR last season, so maybe that deal gets closer to 3/75?
bucketbrew35
Castellanos kind of irks me. He is a defensive butcher and a complainer. If I were Detroit I’d be wary of extending him. He’s flip flopped quite a lot between “trade me or extend me” for what seems to be three or so years now.
His best hope is if the NL adopts the DH honestly. He strikes me as someone who is starting to realize how limited his market will be after being somewhat of a pest for the last few years.
Tigernut2000
He has been bounced around by the team for years. He has taken the role of one of the team leaders, and at a young age.
I don’t recall him complaining, other than this spring stating if he’s going to get traded, please do so before the season starts. Just can’t understand why a guy would want some stability for his family?
As far as the “butcher” comment, his defensive numbers last season were better than at least one NL superstar. And Nick has not really been allowed to play any position long enough to get good at it. His size makes him look less graceful in the field, but he is improving. Besides, the NL has a few DH’s stashed out there, they are usually disguised as left fielders.
RicoD
Imagine your boss said 1-2 years ago “Hey Bucket we’re planning to transfer you to another office halfway across the country, we just don’t know when and where yet” and then leave you like that for almost 2 years. You keep telling your boss, i want to stay here in this office but they still want to transfer you. Eventually, you are going to say, stop hanging this over my head and do it already.
Tigernut2000
AA: If we cannot trade Nick and his salary at the deadline, I don’t know what we’re going to do.
Most I’ve read disagree, but I say he accepts a QO if offered. Then Al’s stuck with him. Not long ago, he was going to be one of the team’s building blocks. DD said he was “untouchable” and he has had some decent results at the plate. Now, if you make over $5 mill, you’re gonna’ be moved. Aggravating when it would only take a couple of key pieces to make this team competitive in the central division.
RunDMC
No one would benefit quicker from the DH expanding to the NL more than Castellanos. If they are serious about it, ATL would be an almost perfect fit – with an outrageous toolsy future OF of Acuña, Pache and Waters.
RicoD
I’m a big fan of markakis and what he has done in his career, but I agree that NC to Atlanta could fill in Kakes shoes in RF or DH when the time comes. That lineup would be fun to watch and he would have help from Ender in CF.
bobtillman
Why should DD do anything? He’s got almost an entire roster of players either playing for a big Free Agency payout, or those looking to set arbitration records, or those looking to excel for “opt-out” reasons. You can’t find another roster in MLB where’s there’s so much motivation to achieve.
Ya, it doesn’t bode well for 2020. Who cares? Despite all this fondness for “tanking” and “playing for the future” , only losers worry about tomorow when action is needed today.
What will happen at the end of the year? They have the money, the boldness, and the desire to win to “re-imagine” the roster. And they will.
joshua.barron1
Way too optimistic here. This stuff can infect a locker room – am I going to get paid? Should I sit out extra time to make sure I’m fully healed since my future might not be here? Where will me and my family be living next year?
You can’t buy a team in free agency, you have to have a foundation established in the draft, international players, or savy trades. It’s not wrong to suggest the the team could perform better this year without some of that uncertainty
bobtillman
While I agree that the playing for individual goals can “infect” a locker room, I’d make 2 points:
1. Cora’s shown the ability to blend those goals into a team concept, much as Francona showed before him. That’s really a manager’s main job, not trying to guess what relief pitcher to use.
2. It’s just easier to build a team atmosphere when you’re on ESPN every Sunday night, and you’ve got a chance to gain national exposure in October. Winning builds team unity, not the other way around.
Financials rewards aren’t the ONLY motivator for players; these guys are athletes, and athletes want to win. But it’s a larger piece of the pie than is generally regarded.
rocky7
Those losers you refer to happen to run the business end of the Red Sox and will worry about how/when they re-image the roster and how they monetarily compensate for the opt-outs, arb payments, and new contracts that this roster will demand.
Nobody is taking a home discount theses days….and with the lux tax already having the Red Sox at the top of the list, then the tax on an extremely high payroll will force the team to raise tickets, hot dogs, beer, jerseys etc. to generate more revenue.
Let’s see whether they have the money, and the desire as you say.
mike156
It wouldn’t shock me if the Red Sox wouldn’t mind all that much if Martinez opted out, as terrific a hitter as he is. That’s a lot of young talent they are going to want to extend, and even the Red Sox don’t have infinite pockets–or a desire to stay above the CBT thresholds.
rocky7
Don’t you absolutely think JD is going to opt out with the contracts being awarded these days….I do….how good is Harpers defense…maybe average at best but how worse is JD’s? Unless the Red Sox tear up his current deal, extend him at bigger per year money….I don’t thing there is any way he doesn’t test free agency again.
His Opt Out would cost him $60 Million + and you have to believe he thinks he can at least earn that if not better on a new deal either with the Sox or with other clubs that think they’re one bonafide hitter away from challenging in the playoffs.
stymeedone
Most teams consider JDM a DH, rather than an OF. That limits him to the AL teams. Only the WhiteSox are likely to afford him in the Central.. Seattle in the West? Possibly Houston, but they currently have in house options who are cheaper. Angels have Pujols. Texas is rebuilding. In the East, Toronto and Baltimore are rebuilding. NYY have Stanton. TB is not kicking out that kind of money. As things stand.I see him staying in Boston.
rocky7
It’s going to be very interesting to see exactly how wide John Henry is willing to open his wallet for all of his players looking to make BIG money which also means most probably BIG tax payments to the league.
Wonder what the complexion of this team is going to look like in 1-2 years.
dinsdale
Agree with mike156. As a long term strategy, Sox are likely thinking they need to lock up Mookie, Xander, Benitendi and a pitcher. JD, though very good, will be older and therefore expendable, and DH’s are always the easiest to replace.
SG
One solution is to get “ALL” the MLB games on your TV and then you can see the teams and the players you like rather than be stuck only watching your local team and being frustrated by their action or in action..
Z-A 2
Being that DH is his likely spot elsewhere, if DET offers a QO he should accept. Then he will hit FA a year later without draft pick compensation attached.
bobtillman
The Red Sox are a license to print money, and the Luxury Tax and Revenue Sharing formulas may very well undergo drastic changes with the next CBA. The Yankees are currently “in heat” to buy the 80% of YES they don’t already own, because they’ve seen what Henry & Company have done with NESN (only because you can “hide” revenue from a Regional Sports Network if you own it). The Sox clam they get 80M a year from NESN; what a joke. They get at least four times that amount (see recent TV deals signed by teams in FAR less advantageous markets).
I’m not saying they’ll spend it all wisely; DD will probably goof in the same proportion other teams do. But we know (a) they WILL spend it and (b) they’ll live out Henry’s basic operational principal: BE BOLD.
econ101
Not sure about Verlander, but an extension with Cole will be nothing less than top dollar! That’s based on my knowledge of him.