Mike Moustakas “badly” wanted to re-sign with the Brewers, who granted his wish last month when they brought him back for a $10MM guarantee, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes (subscription required). It was the second consecutive drawn-out stay on the open market for the 30-year-old Moustakas, a career-long third baseman who will move to second base in 2019. It’s a surprising transition on the surface, but not for either the Brewers or Moustakas. Thanks to the presence of third baseman Travis Shaw, who shifted to second upon Moustakas’ arrival at last July’s trade deadline, the Brewers negotiated with the latter with the intention of trying him at second, per Rosenthal. Moustakas, for his part, informed agent Scott Boras early in the offseason he’d like to prepare for a change to second in order to make himself more attractive on the open market, Rosenthal explains. In the end, the increased versatility didn’t lead to a long-term deal for Moustakas, who reeled in his second straight single-year guarantee.
Here’s more from the NL Central:
- Retirement is hardly imminent for 36-year-old Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who tells Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he’d like to play at least one more season with the team after his current contract runs out. Molina’s signed through 2020, which will be his 16th season and a year in which he’ll pass Bob Gibson to become the second-longest tenured player in the Cardinals’ storied history. However, while Molina wants to make it to at least Year 17, the potential Hall of Famer has no interest in overstaying his welcome in the majors. “I don’t want to retire when I hit .190 and I can’t throw anybody out at second,” said Molina, who batted .261 and caught 31 percent of would-be base stealers in 2018. When Molina finally does close out his playing career, don’t expect him to become the latest ex-catcher to become a big league manager, as he tells Hummel he’s uninterested in going down that road.
- Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty, 23, was among the best young starters in baseball last season, when he recorded a 3.34 ERA/3.86 FIP with 10.85 K/9 and 3.52 BB/9 across 151 innings. As a pre-arbitration player, though, Flaherty won’t earn a salary commensurate with his 2018 production. The Cardinals renewed Flaherty for just over the $555K minimum – $562,100 – after they were unable to reach an agreement with him, Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch reports. The club first offered Flaherty $572,100, but he wasn’t willing to accept that sum, per Goold, who writes that the team determines a pre-arb player’s worth with “essentially a weighted Wins Above Replacement that takes into account service time.” Flaherty racked up 2.6 WAR in 2018, while reliever Jordan Hicks – who also wasn’t able to agree to a 2019 salary with the Cardinals – totaled 0.3. Hicks, like Flaherty, will earn less this year than the team initially offered him, though it’s unclear exactly how much he’ll make, per Goold. While neither player harbors ill feelings against the Cardinals, Flaherty contends that “the system as a whole is not great.” It’s hard to argue with him, especially given that reigning AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell is also in line for a near-minimum salary this season.
- Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco is making notable progress as he recovers from September shoulder surgery and could return by May, according to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Polanco’s able to hit without restrictions, and he has progressed to throwing from 120 feet on back-to-back days. The injury to Polanco forced the Pirates to find fallback options in free agency over the winter, when they signed Lonnie Chisenhall to a $2.75MM deal and added Melky Cabrera on a minor league pact.
Miss Moose in KC, but happy he’s back in Milwaukee with LoCain
Milwaukee could very well be the best organization in baseball to play for, evidenced by all these players choosing milwaukee, with how they treat their players, culture and family first philosophy. Nice to see in an era of treating people like cattle, service manipulation and domestic abusers in the league.
It’s gotta be hard to dislike Craig Counsell. He really creates a good environment in that clubhouse.
The hire at the time was curious. As a fan of the Crew I thought he was the sacrificial lamb when they were going through the rebuild before moving him upstairs and bringing in a more seasoned manager. Sterns not jumping ship on him once again shows his intelligence. The whole organization seems to be steering the ship in the same right direction. Owner on down.
What exactly is it about the Brewers that makes them “family first”?
The Brew “crew”
Over the years the Brewers owner have done a lot of things for players families that have had health or other issues from Casey Mcgehee, Jean Segura, Travis Shaw or even the fans of theirs along with the community. Now I know other teams have too but in the midwest and smaller teams do have tendency to be more down to earth. On another note I do believe the league needs to up the minimum salary higher in order to help the money to be spread around
That’s just the organizational philosophy. Anything they can do for their players to help when real life occurs they do. I remember them letting Keon Broxton stay in WI and play for the A ball team when his wife was about to have a kid, even though he was needed. Travis Shaw and his daughter 2 years ago…the list just goes on and on and on with examples.
They’ve created an organization players want to play for.
I remember Ryan Braun using steroids and getting away with it at first under Bud Selig. I also remember Braun crying antisemitism and costing a guy his job. I also remember Bud stealing the Pilots, and forcing the Astros to to the AL to get what he wanted.
I remember that Braun’s stupid extension was signed under a different GM. I also remember that the Pilots went bankrupt under a different owner. And also, I remember that the Astros chose to switch leagues.
All answers good except the Astros. Terms of the agreement for Crain to buy the club was he had to move to the AL. It was not his “option.”
Until Braun is cut and Corrupt Selig’s statue is toppled-that’s a stadium I have no interest in visiting.
MLB, the courts, and Selig sure knew it was stealing the team-they settled fast and awarded Seattle the Mariners. MLB knew it was bad enough to significantly speed up the expansion process in order to make it go away. Selig is a weasel of the highest order.
Not to argue but the Brewers were asked to go to the National league. It made sense due to their national league roots. They were also promised at the time that if they made the move it would be permanent. The move had to be made to accommodate the initial inter league play. I further remember the Astros liked the idea of moving due to the natural rivalry with the Rangers. Also the Pilots comment is a joke. They had no money. Opening day was at risk. Delighted had nothing to do with that. Just saying
Sorry I hate auto correct, meant to say “Selig”
I 100% agree with Flaherty that the system is not good. It likely the biggest reason why Kyler is going to the NFL vs. the bigs.
The owners have had a sweet deal for a long time. Either they keep players at well below market value to and through their arbitration years, or they offer below market value long term deals where they buy out arb years at a higher dollar, but generally get a couple additional cost controlled years after arb would be done. Honestly, if you’re a two sport star and have a chance to play any other major North American sport, why you wouldn’t choose it over baseball I don’t know.
And yet, the NFL is probably even worse.
It’s hard to feel sorry for them. The system rewards those who do well, they just have to wait.
Why should they have to wait? The system isn’t about rewarding those who wait, its about paying pennies on the dollar for as many years as possible.
Because that’s how jobs work. No matter how good you are at your job, you aren’t going to be making max money in your first few years. If Snell is good enough to deserve the big money and is not a flash in the pan, then he will get his money. If he isn’t, then that’ll work itself out too.
Yes, but the jobs people like you and I have last 40 or even 50 years. Baseball careers are really short.
He is going to the NFL because the guaranteed money is larger in the NFL on the front end. Not because of the prearbitration salaries in MLB.
Two sentences and completely contradicted yourself that’s quite impressive
Tony LaRussa said Yadier Molina was the smartest player in baseball. He’s also a natural leader. He’d make a great Manager.
Which the article says he doesn’t want to do. RIF.
Umm just because the article says he doesn’t want to be a manager, that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make a great one.
I would like to see Molina become a pitching coach with the Cardinals after he retires! He has been the best Catcher that I have seen play in my time anyway
The pre arb system definitely works against good players. It needs to be addressed with a MLB wide performance based system
Agreed!
Players that do unexpectedly well on pre-arb contracts should be rewarded with a nice boost in salary for the coming year.
In turn, players on long-term fixed contracts should give back to the team by accepting a lower salary then agreed upon for the coming year……..
Something like going to a 3rd party to negotiate. If an agreement cannot be met – contract is voided and player is a free agent.
You don’t quite understand the concept of the term “contract.” It’s a binding legal document, agreed to by each side.
I wish the Cards would extend Flaherty and Hicks long term.
No point in giving long term money until they’re arb eligible, especially given pitchers’ penchant for injury.
No MLB player should ever complain about how much money they are making. Ever.
It’s all relative. Neither should the owners, who make much, much more.
But the big difference is that owners put up a lot of initial capital in order to make that much money. Players work hard to get where they are, but they don’t have the same type of investment. They are greatly rewarded for basically zero initial investment.
When was the last time we heard an owner complain about their salary?
That’s silly. If the pie is bigger (and keeps growing) then players have every right to complain. Not sure why, as a fan, it’s better for owners to have the extra marginal dollars.
Keeps the league afloat. Few owners are in it as a hobby. If franchises drop in value, or teams are losing money, the League will not be sustainable. Then no one has a job.
I would argue that it’s a massive cash cow for owners; so much of their expenses are funded by taxpayers. Baseball teams make money hand over fist, and that’s entirely because of the players. Nobody ever paid a dime to watch an owner sit in his luxury box.
Because fans realize that the extra money for players is not coming from owners, it is coming from them in the form of higher prices. Owners are not going to be giving up their money.
Wasn’t it a “dream” to be a player/manager just last year for Molina?
espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24115082/yadier-molina-st-…
So much #FakeNewz.
JJB, it might be because it’s ESPN…
That’s not fake news. Maybe Molina has thought on it and has decided he doesn’t want to do it. I mean a man can change his mind.
I would be concerned that Molina wants one more year and that somehow blocks Knizner. I know nothing is certain but we’ve jettisoned one top catching prospect due to Molina being here. Wouldn’t want to lose another if indeed he’s still playing at a respectable level.
Relievers should make $1,000,000 after 2 years, position players after one year. It doesn’t kill in arbitration too bad and year three for non-super two could be two million. This would make veterans on ten million dollar deals more enticing and raise the bottom levels. Most of the young studs will sign extensions early leaving, mainly middle tier free agents. They should implement the pitch clock but split the time evenly. More high schoolers from here (US) should sign with Korea, Tawain, and Japan for slightly less than most will make after three years of college (usually no scholarships) signing in the draft. It will raise the competition in Asia while allowing most to free agency by 24-25, giving them a year or two contract, with them hoping to be lights out by the end of it for a huge payday.
What I don’t get is why the cards would offer him 572k, but when an agreement couldn’t be made they gave him less than their offer. That seems spiteful on their part. They should have at least honored their initial offer. Hicks and Flaherty are two players who I don’t want ownership to piss off. Barring a career ending injury both guys will command way more than that when it’s time for a new deal. The cards are not strapped for cash. So, it would have been great to give them both a nice bump to maybe 700k to earn some good will for when extension talks come in a couple years. Hell, we offer unproven international prospects more than that in bonuses to sign them. There is no reason our proven players shouldn’t be rewarded. The Rays were even bigger schmucks though. Then again not like the Rays would ever resign Snell anyway. They will trade him before they have to actually pay him. The Rays only pay up for overrated .270 “sluggers” like Longoria. Their pitchers get shipped off every time.
Surely, if Dexter doesn’t start hitting consistently, I can’t believe John Mozeliak would still mandate Fowler to start in RF Opening Day. Same for Brett Cecil. Surely, he won’t ever be on the roster.