With over two-thirds of the 2019 season in the books, let’s check in to see how seven players are progressing towards possible vesting options in their contracts. For those unfamiliar with the term, a vesting option is an agreed-upon threshold within a player’s contract (usually based on health and/or playing time) that, if achieved, allows the player to alter the terms of the contract for the next season, and perhaps beyond in some cases.
Some vesting options aren’t reported, so it could be that more players beyond this septet could also be playing towards gaining more guaranteed money or contractual freedom for the 2020 season. For now, let’s examine just these seven names…
Yonder Alonso, Rockies: Under the terms of the two-year, $16MM deal Alonso signed with the Indians in the 2017-18 offseason, his $9MM club option (with a $1MM buyout) for 2020 becomes guaranteed if the first baseman first passes a physical, and then hit plate-appearance benchmarks. Unfortunately for Alonso, he has only 287 PA this season, so he’s on pace to fall well short of reaching either 550 PA in 2019 or 1100 total PA in 2018-19 — either of which would’ve caused his option to vest.
Andrew Cashner, Red Sox: Having struggled through six starts since coming to Boston in a trade from the Orioles, the Sox have a legitimate performance-related reason for moving Cashner out of their rotation. There would also be a financial motive involved, as Cashner’s $10MM club option for 2020 would become guaranteed if he amasses 340 total innings in 2018-19. After today’s abbreviated outing against the Angels, Cashner now has 279 2/3 IP over the last two seasons, putting him within distant range of causing his option to vest if he keeps receiving starts. (Incidentally, the option could also vest into a player option if Cashner hits the 360-inning threshold.)
Sean Doolittle, Nationals: The closer finished his league-high 47th game of the season today, giving him 82 games finished since the start of the 2018 season. Should Doolittle reach 100 games finished, the Nationals’ $6.5MM club option ($500K buyout) on Doolittle for 2020 would vest into a mutual option, giving him the opportunity to opt out of his contract and enter into free agency. This is definitely one to watch down the stretch, since with the Nats in a postseason race and the rest of their bullpen struggling, D.C. won’t hesitate to use their closer for every save situation possible. Manager Davey Martinez has used Doolittle in a traditional late-game role, so shifting him into high-leverage situations outside of the ninth inning to cut down on his games-finished numbers would be a risky (and controversial) tactic, to say the least.
Chris Iannetta, Rockies: With 110 starts at catcher since the beginning of the 2018 season, Iannetta won’t reach the 220 catching starts he needed to convert the Rockies’ $4.25MM club option on his services for 2020 into a guarantee.
Wade LeBlanc, Mariners: The unique extension signed by LeBlanc in July 2018 carried three $5MM club option years for 2020-22 that can all vest into guarantees. That 2020 option turns into guaranteed money if LeBlanc throws 160 innings in 2019 and doesn’t have a left arm injury at season’s end. A month-long IL stint due to an oblique strain earlier this season almost certainly ended LeBlanc’s chance at the 160-inning plateau, as he has only 98 IP thus far. While he’s still eating a good share of innings as a “bulk pitcher” behind an opener in most outings, it seems likely that LeBlanc won’t reach his vesting threshold.
Brandon Morrow, Cubs: Morrow’s two-year, $21MM deal carried a 2020 vesting option worth $12MM, or a $3MM buyout. It wasn’t actually known what the terms were of this option, though since injuries have kept Morrow from pitching since July 15, 2018, it’s safe to assume the option won’t vest, and Morrow will be a free agent this winter.
Oliver Perez, Indians: The veteran southpaw appeared in his 49th game of the season today, so barring injury, he’s a lock to hit the 55 appearances required to guarantee his $2.75MM club option for 2020. He also seems like a pretty safe bet to lock in even more money, as that option will be guaranteed at $3MM if Perez pitches in 60 games. The Tribe likely won’t at all mind having Perez back for another season, as the reliever continues to dominate left-handed batters.
Oliver Perez, onwer of one of baseball’s strangest careers
Indeed
Man did he throw darts when he first came up with the Pirates.
And he threw nerfs with the Mets…
Ollie came up as a Padre and was packaged up for Brian Giles
Not sure I see Cashner getting another 60 innings the way he’s pitching even if he remains in the rotation the rest of the way. He lasted just 1 2/3 in his last start and hasn’t really even gotten to the 5th that often. With just 6 or 7 starts left for the season I honestly just don’t see it happening. Which from a financial standpoint is good — but from a competitiveness standpoint from when the Sox acquired him — it continues to be a nightmare.
The Redsox would never intentionally hold innings bk if he was pitching well, he isn’t. He doesn’t deserve it. His one great start was against the Evil Empire. Not one other start.
The Sox should give him a few more starts to eat innings. It’s not like they have anything to lose.
Does anyone move off and stay on relievers better than the Indians? They must have the best projections staff in the business.
They don’t do too bad grooming starters either.
Sucks about Morrow be we all saw him spending majority of the time on the IL and contract being a bust except Theo. Glad it was only a 2 year deal
the guy could have had a hell of a career if he stayed healthy, as a pen guy or otherwise.
Alonso was released then singed with the Rockies so i don’t think his option could vest anyways.
He “singed”?
If Morrow doesn’t stay with the Cubs, I wouldn’t mind him coming to the Dodgers as a risk/reward player.
I think every team in baseball wouldn’t mind signing him to a 1 year make good deal. When healthy he has shown elite stuff. To bad he keeps breaking down.
If money is the same its safe to say the Dodgers would be his top choice because of the success he had there
Knowing how unpredictable some players can be and the entire game of baseball for that matter. I wouldn’t be surprised at all that Morrow lands a 1 year deal somewhere, regains his health and is quite successful. But the Cubs will give Morrow the 3 million buyout and say so long and good luck. Just can’t pay him 12 million.
Sorry Andrew Cashner, but it’s time for a move to the bullpen. Better luck next year on the Marlins, Orioles, or Royals.
Outright release IMO, give the starts to someone who needs the reps…Hernandez?
Next year the LOOGY might be a thing of the past unless they want to walk 3 batters or fake injuries since pitchers have to pitch to 3 batters or is that not set in stone yet. This may effect Oliver’s market a little i would think.
I wil be honest i havent seen him pitch really since he left the mets but im just thinking in general.
He’s been good against right and left handed batters with the Tribe. Those funky windups of his help a lot, and he can bury pitches down and in on the righties.
I think he stole that idea from el Tiante who started mixing in different windups when injuries slowed him down. That deception sure seems to be working for him.
The cubs should just buyout Bust Morrow now. His signing was worse than milton Bradley
Your comment shows just how little you know about baseball. Of course you will never match up to my supreme level of baseball knowledge, but you would be doing the world a favor by keening your opinions to yourself.
*keeping your opinions to yourself.
I have to make sure I am getting my point across properly.