When Marlins manager Don Mattingly signed his freshly-inked two-year contract extension, he may have taken a significant pay cut to keep his position in the Miami dugout, writes Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While the precise financials of the contract have not been released to the public, Rosenthal’s sources have indicated that Mattingly will make roughly $2MM annually to stay in Miami—a considerable downgrade the $2.8MM figure that he’s earned this season. While the Marlins are notorious for their conservative spending, Rosenthal argues that Mattingly’s salary reflects an industry-wide trend that has driven managers’ salaries down. A veteran like Mattingly may have found it hard to match his previous salary had he elected to go job-hunting elsewhere in the Majors, where teams increasingly favor younger—and therefore more affordable—analytically-driven managers. That’s not to discount Mattingly’s work with the rebuilding Marlins, who have praised his ability to work with young players; however, it’s notable just how much the landscape of baseball has changed that a lifer like Mattingly is no longer a sought-after skipper.
- Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who has been battling through a bone spur in his elbow, was again bothered by the elbow today, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. With his Braves having already clinched the NL East, he’ll play it safe and take the next few days off before rejoining the club on Friday for the series against the Mets. The hope is that four days of rest and treatment will have Freeman ready to go for the rest of year—it’s worth noting that, after the game, manager Brian Snitker said that Freeman would be in the lineup if the playoffs were starting tomorrow.
- With the offseason approaching, there will be no shortage of questions surrounding Diamondbacks infielder Jake Lamb, writes Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Lamb has struggled through a second consecutive disappointing year after an All-Star campaign in 2017. He’ll be eligible for arbitration this winter, and the organization may opt to non-tender Lamb in favor of more affordable, less risky investments. Injuries to his shoulder and quad have robbed Lamb of regular at-bats, making it difficult to regain the swing that produced 30 home runs just two years ago. Unfortunately for Lamb, those injuries have opened doors for others in the organization, and he may now find himself squeezed out of the D-Backs’ plans.
Freeman can rest. Idc if he gets one AB against the Mets honestly. I’d rather him rest and not risk injury, and he’s enough of a Vet where time off ain’t gonna hurt anything.
Plus, playing our young guys and bench a lot against that Mets pitching staff will be much needed quality playing time right before the playoffs.
Agreed. The Braves aren’t going to catch the Dodgers, and the Cardinals aren’t going to catch the Braves; so there’s no reason not to rest him as much as possible. If getting him ABs to stay in rhythm are that important, let him PH in the Mets series a few times.
I’m a little confused as to what a bone spur is. I heard it is extraordinarily common and I heard Snitker say it was “moving around in there” inside Freeman’s elbow. I also know that a bone spur supposedly ended former Braves closer Chris Reitsma’s career even though Reitsma got surgery to remove it. What is it exactly? It sounds like a piece of chipped/worn off bone floating around near his elbow. If that is what it is and it has been there for 5 years why doesn’t he just have a sole surgery of removing it as if it were a foreign object as soon as the Braves post season ends. It seems like it would be a very simple surgery with little down time. Why hasn’t he has it removed years ago if it has been bothering him for 5 years and if it is extremely common and shows few symptoms, how did one end Chris Reitsma’s career?
In all of my years following sports and reading injury reports, I’ve never bothered to investigate this. Now I’m curious, too. I imagine, like any other injury, there’s a gradient scale when it comes to this. To the google!
Wonder if Mattingly guaranteed ownership a WS this time if they signed him to an extension? He’s big on that empty promise you know.
Mattingly is just Jeter’s 2 million dollar a year puppet. Marlins are trying to win anything just fleecing the fans and getting that money.
Good…good…let the hate flow through you.
@Mjm117 I loled. Good response.
The Marlins have a decent protocol for WS crowns. Build cheap for as long as needed, sign expensive vets, win a championship, then fire sale.
If Fernandez didn’t have the tragic accident, then the Marlins would have did it again.
After being employed by MLB teams as a player, coach or manager from 1982-95 and 2004-2019, Mattingly has never once been to a World Series. So why would anyone employ him as an on field leader? He doesn’t even know what that the top feels life.
Yep. Jim Leyritz and Scott Spiezio are better options clearly with their experience.
We need Freddie for the playoff run, let him get healthy. I think Hamilton gets nod over Ender even if he comes back healthy.
@Mjm117 I loled. Good response.
Lamb will be an expensive gamble for most teams, some one will give him a shot. I wish him luck, the Dbacks have enough young affordable talent to fill the void.
If Chris Owings was able to land a 3M$ contract, then so can Lamb.