2020 salary terms may finally be sorted out. But what about what’s owed to players beyond that point? The near-term economic picture remains questionable at best. That’ll make teams all the more cautious with guaranteed future salaries.
Every organization has some amount of future cash committed to players, all of it done before the coronavirus pandemic swept the globe. There are several different ways to look at salaries; for instance, for purposes of calculating the luxury tax, the average annual value is the touchstone, with up-front bonuses spread over the life of the deal. For this exercise, we’ll focus on actual cash outlays that still have yet to be paid.
We’ll run through every team, with a big assist from the Cot’s Baseball Contracts database. Prior entries can be found here. Next up is the Rockies:
*Nolan Arenado may opt out after 2021
*Includes Charlie Blackmon 2022 & 2023 player options
*Includes buyouts on club options over German Marquez, Ian Desmond, Daniel Murphy, Jake McGee, and Bryan Shaw
*Includes buyout on mutual option in Wade Davis contract
(click to expand/view detail list)
I’m confused about Wade Davis’s mutual option. If it’s bought out wouldn’t he be a free agent this year?
The buyout you see is money that will be paid, but he won’t be on the roster in 2021.
First and foremost…….. Rockies are a crappy team and they need to trade their 3rd baseman quick. He is waisted playing their. The Cardinals need this guy. He is a beast and will be a power house on the Cards.
With Tommy Edman (though he can play other positions), plus Nolan Gorman in the system (among others), committing to a contract like Arenado’s might not be a great idea for St. Louis. They would seem more likely to invest in an outfielder if they were to invest anywhere in the short-term.
I don’t know, The cards line up are one big bat away from being dominant. I think it’s well worth spending the money on this guy. Just think how he would look in a Cardinals uniform
I’m pretty sure he’s going back home to LA if he ops out.
Arenado is likely to command well north of $250 and maybe even around $300 million in his next contract. That kind of long-term free agent deal is something the Dodgers have been adverse to thus far. They didn’t bite this offseason when Rendon, Donaldson, and Moustakas were all available at lesser commitments that will have two less years by the time Arenado is a free agent.
Can’t see him with the Dodgers.
Not happening with Cardinals. Won’t happen at all during this short season. Are you saying his waist is getting too big?
Quite a bit of salary comes off the books next year, but it’s hard to envision them spending in the offseason given the current economic uncertainties and their horrible history with free agent arms in recent years.
But this team seems too stubborn to start a rebuild despite having a number of interesting players awaiting a realistic opportunity in the upper-minors.
Really curious how vesting/mutual options will work and Im sure Col is too
Shaw Davis McGee need to all be cleared after this year, even if that means a straight DFA this year to not hit these benchmarks
Only Murphy has a mutual option, which will be declined. The buyout can increase if he receives any of a number or awards, but that’s highly unlikely.
There’s a team option on McGee, but that will likely be declined as well. There’s nothing preventing teams from declining their end of any options.
It’s my understanding that incentive-based contracts will be adjusted accordingly as we’ll see with service time.
Yea Mcgee is free and clear –
Shaw and Davis could potentially kick in options to my understanding. and im wondering if it will be just a simple 60/162 ratio
Murphy could potentially be kept for 6 mill more as a Dh or be bought out for 6 mill in 2021 – Im guessing his (potential) 60 games this year will be a tryout for that
Well, I believe it’s the buyout that’s potentially affected with Shaw’s deal, rather than the team option. Davis’s buyout won’t turn into a player option, because he was removed from the closing role. It’s a safe bet to assume he won’t get that status back.
Murphy should be gone as well. They’re trying to break in Rodgers at 2B, they still have Hampson as the utility infielder, and McMahon could easily slide over to 1B. Brian Mundell and Josh Fuentes are other options.
They should be rebuilding and giving the younger players a harder look.
Arrenado was NEVER going to opt out and he’s definitely not going to do so now.
I believe you’re correct that he won’t opt out.
He wouldn’t get his current AAV on the open market. Teams know the risks of trading or signing hitters from Coors. Not likely he is dealt or opts out.
Would be nice if we could just relegate the Rockies and give another city a chance to have a team. Maybe a city that has a normal amount of atmosphere and isn’t on the edge of space. Was a fun experiment but moon-baseball is stupid and we all know it.