Diamondbacks reliever Junior Guerra is changing representation, per Robert Murray (Twitter link). He’ll now be represented by MVP Sports Group.
Guerra, 35, signed a one-year contract with Arizona last offseason worth a guaranteed $2.65MM. That deal comes with a $3.5MM club option for 2021. It’ll be an interesting decision for GM Mike Hazen and the rest of the D-Backs front office. The veteran righty worked to a strong 3.04 ERA in 23.2 innings this season, but that was driven by an unsustainably low opponents’ BABIP (.250) and HR/FB rate (7.1%). Guerra’s 21:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio hints at potential regression. If Arizona decides to exercise the option, they’ll control him through 2022 via arbitration.
The change has been updated in our Agency Database. If you see any notable errors or omissions within the database, please let us know via e-mail: mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
No way that option gets exercised. Every team will be looking to cut costs, so this offseason will be full of declined options and non-tenders, even with quality players like Guerra.
Idk. Maybe, maybe not on his option. I lean toward agreeing with you. I see a lot of teams cutting cost this offseason, especially one likes this. But it wouldn’t surprise me to see them exercise this option at all
I’d say no way it doesn’t. There is concern for regression but that’s the case for any reliever. 3.5 million isnt a huge sum on what’s essentially another one year deal with a club option. If he regresses you overpaid a little but if he performs well again you have another year of control. Going by age he’s still ascending and that’s totally worth a three million dollar investment. The worst case scenario isn’t that bad here.
Aside from Bradley and Crichton, who do the D-Backs have that is a better relief pitcher?
$3.5M for a quality reliever isn’t bad. Just because they wasted a ton of money on Mad-Bum doesn’t mean they should just throw away decent pieces at moderate prices.
Bradley is not even there anymore.
I really believe if the Brewers had made him a full time reliever as soon as they got him, he could be a top bullpen arm. His stuff never really played as a starter but as soon as 2019 came and he was a reliever, he looked so much better.
I think you have to exercise it
Relievers are a position based in volatility. Here you have a guy who has been a valuable major league pitcher in four out of the past five seasons. $3.5 million a year is nothing. Obviously this year wasn’t the best for the D-backs, but this is a great option either way. If he’s good and you’re good, you have a nice middle reliever. If he’s good and you’re not, trade him because it’s not a major price tag. Even if you find a better option over the offseason and no longer see the need for him, he was good enough to get some value back last year.
Meanwhile, if he’s bad, at most, he’s making up 4% of your payroll You could do a lot worse for stable major league innings.
D-backs have a lot of “average” arms like Guerra. He did okay in Arizona but nothing out of the extraordinary and imo it would be wiser to spend the money on some good high leverage arms and a reliable closer. Don’t see Crichton as one. Knowing Hazen I wonder, though, if he shows up with just another Holland or Boxberger.
Hiflew – completely agree! If a mlb team has middle relief arms that are anywhere close, a AAA guy being brought up makes $560,000 (almost $3,000,000 less). Money always matters especially this year. Economically speaking, if you spend it on one player it is not available for someone else who may be better or a better fit.
Last year the Red Sox let Sandy Leon go ($2,500,000) and sign Plawecki $900,000 who was better batting around .340 with nearly an rbi per game.
Money does matter and even $560,000 is more than many CEOs make per year!
I know what he meant, but you kind of just have to shake your head when you read “$3.5 million a year is nothing” that is probably being said by someone making nowhere near that salary. Before the educators start trying to teach me about economics, I understand the concept of why baseball players make that much money. It’s still a ridiculous statement for someone outside that circle that would probably barely make that much money in their entire working lifetime to say.
We are talking MLB baseball here not teachers salaries. A one year investment of 3 million isn’t much in baseball terms that’s just a fact. It’s not a crazy statement it’s just the way it is
He’s a middle reliever, any way you try to justify it! Should have that guy in the system @ close to minimum.
You got to look at his perspective as a Phillies fan and the struggles their bullpen has had in recent years. Plus, that’s a team with deep pockets. He’d gladly take a stable arm in that bullpen for 3.5 mil, even if it’s a middle reliever. Honestly, I don’t blame him thinking this. In fact, if the Phillies want some stability, they hope he gets cut and that the Phillies can go get him at way less
Did the the option change because of the prorated games pitched? I feel like it should have changed.
He was paid a prorated portion for this year it doesn’t affect a team option for the following year. If he had a player option that guaranteed the following year based on appearances it would have been prorated in 2020 but this is just a team option. They can view 2020 however they’d like and make whatever determination they feel is best
He will be his senior advisor
Not worth that much with a FIP of 4.52. His luck won’t hold out big regression coming