Jan. 1: NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jim Salisbury takes a fresh look at Realmuto’s market, running through several speculative matches for him in free agency. While the Phils have yet to make an offer, Salisbury writes that given Realmuto’s “fondness” for Philadelphia, it’s likely he’d circle back and give them a chance to match or top any offers received elsewhere.
Dec. 29: The market for J.T. Realmuto has moved at a glacial pace. The lone major development came in the form of a four-year deal between Realmuto’s top alternative, James McCann, and one of his top suitors, the Mets. Beyond the Mets, Realmuto has been linked to the Blue Jays, Nationals and Angels — to varying extents.
The incumbent Phillies, of course, remain a fit. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted last night that Realmuto remains “the priority” for the Phils under new president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and GM Sam Fuld. However, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark reports this morning that while the Phillies have had plenty of conversations with Realmuto’s camp, a formal offer has never been put forth. That differs from reporting by Heyman and others who’ve suggested that the Phillies have a standing offer on the table.
It’s certainly possible there are some semantics at play. The Phils can make their comfort level known and indicate their breaking point without presenting an actual offer. Similarly, Realmuto’s agents at CAA can set general expectations without giving a firm number they need the Phillies (or another club) to meet. That said, it still registers as something of a surprise that, after nearly a year of conversations dating back to Spring Training, the Phils have apparently yet to give Realmuto the opportunity to put pen to paper.
While the trade market for star-caliber pitchers has been ramping up and we’re simultaneously seeing high-profile international players reach the end of their posting windows, the market for top-level MLB free agents seems no closer to a crescendo than it was this time last month. Some form of resolution in the Yankees’ pursuit of DJ LeMahieu or the Mets’ pursuit of George Springer could have a cascade effect that lends clarity to Realmuto’s market, but there’s no indication that such a sequence will happen anytime soon.
He hasn’t signed with the Blue Jays yet???? I mean, everyone else has, haven’t they????
Did you read the article? Kim is the only top free agent off the board. Still plenty of quality free agents and trade candidates out there.
You might want to check over your head…
WHOOOSE!!!!!!
McCann is a decent top free agent.
…or he’s a backup catcher.
Has Springer?
@Dan Hunter
Have the Mets acquired Starling Marte yet?
Do you want to get rid of him?? I’d gladly take him. I feel bad he is wasting his team on that team.
I’m commenting on the fact that @Dan Hunter pretty much guaranteed that the Pirates were trading Marte to the Mets. It was pretty much a done deal according to him.
Since then, Marte has been traded to Arizona and Miami.
You both should start a prediction and news show or publication. It should be great. I’d be a fan of it.
Stevie Cohen is coming up a little short $$$
Hmmmm…
Marte isn’t on the Pirates
Please read the post again. Hint: the line after the first paragraph.
Padres probably need another C, I am sure they are “interested”
I hear yah lol. Still think JT cud be a Yankee soon, Sanchez is trade bait.
The Yankees aren’t giving a big contract to anyone other than DJ this offseason and Gary’s trade value is at an all time low. Both of those scenarios are highly unlikely
Phillies will re sign him … Stop
Doubt it
Phillies and the Mets are going to go back and forth and take the rivalry to a new level as they battle for the top spot that just misses the playoffs
There is like 2-3 teams max in the NL better than the Mets. And that’s before the Mets have made more moves.
Feel free to step into reality any time
I’m pretty sure the door to reality slammed shut on that guy a long time ago.
“There is like 2-3 teams max in the NL East better than the Mets. And that’s before the Mets have made more moves.”
*I know you were using the mobile app that doesn’t allow you to edit, so I did you a solid. Fistbump. No problem.
Can I assume you mean on paper? The Mets have been called good for a few years with all their signings and have yet to show it. Tbf, the Mets have a tendency to sign players only for the player to crap out while there. Plus, their rotation can’t stay healthy.
I kinda want to go down the list of those teams rn…
Braves
Dodgers
Padres
And even then, I still think the Mets could throw their hat into the ring as being just about as good as a team like the Braves after they make their moves. Your homerism isn’t outlandish anymore Metsfan22.
The NL is the Dodgers and Pads..
The Braves are up there
wide gap…
Everyone else.
It makes no sense and shouldn’t happen but am confident cardinals will win more games then the Mets
The Mets are currently a mediocre team.. thats not much of a stretch.
Put down the bottle before commenting
I’m going to be real completely unbiased the Phillies are 1 good starter sonny gray, Luis Castillo from have one of the best rotations in baseball. and their offense is *pretty good* if they sign back Realmuto bullpens are a year to year thing I think they can be up their with the braves WHO they have a winning record against the last 2 seasons.
The Mets have a better lineup and will surely fix their back end of their rotation.
Even the Mets have a more realistic path to contention than the Phils..
They need to replace losing major assets just to get back mediocrity.
@Rangers29, it kind of is until they actually land someone. McCann is a solid pickup, but he doesn’t leapfrog them from being as bad as the Rockies to being in a tie with the Braves. If they get Bauer/Springer, they’ll jump over a few teams, but still not up to the Braves. If they get both, then yes, probably on par with the Braves, but still behind the Dodgers and Padres by a significant margin.
Yes surely! Because instead of signing the star Realmuto, the big spending mutts signed….wait for it…James McCann, backup catcher. They are truly winning the off season!
I thought Santa was supposed to deliver those moves already…
The Mets have a better lineup and will surely fix their back end of their rotation.
——————————————————
The NYMs have an awesome lineup, assuming that scoring runs doesn’t count.
I’ll have what she’s having.
There’s one thing to judging teams that are assembled. But at this point, everyone is just assuming the Mets make moves, and calling them great for it
Look 75 miles down the coast to see spending money in the offseason doesn’t mean the team magically is a great team
Just because Padres made some moves and adding a overseas 2B, doesn’t give them clarity to have closed the gap on the Dodgers. Padres look good on paper, but that means nothing come opening day. I think there will be 4 others clubs as good or better than Padres in the NL. Cardinals may not be as attractive on paper, but there is a reason they are always one of the top teams every year. Dodgers are by themselves in the NL and no one is going to touch them just yet. Maybe 1 to 3 years later, a team will surpass the Dodgers. But to put Padres in the same category as the Dodgers, is a bit premature when we haven’t seen that team on the field. Padres are just a paper card at this point.
On a side note, I think TJ Realmuto heads to Washington as that being the major shocker and headline of this free agency/off-season. This is my underdog team to land one of the top Free Agents. My other option for Realmuto would be St Louis, but I doubt the Cards open their pocket books with Molina potentially returning. I think Realmuto would give Cards a boost in the lineup after losing Osuna.
You certainly add to these comments sections.. Ill give you that.
2-3 teams in the NL “East” better than the Mets.
The Mets rotation is too thin, we’ll need to add another starter or two before other teams take us seriously. Landing Springer would also be a difference maker. But as currently constructed the Mets are a .500 team. Making those additions could elevate us to Atlanta’s level. Hasn’t happened yet though. Fingers crossed.
Atlanta is the class of the NL East. My Metsies aren’t even close. Yet.
Only Mets fans would say something like that. They don’t even get 1st in their division, and probably don’t place 2nd their either. Plus, the Dodgers and Padres both are better, the Braves are better, and in my opinion, even the Cardinals and Giants are better. I recommend you stop lying to yourself so when they aren’t even a wild card spot you don’t take as much of a hit
twardog, Disagree on the Giants, agree on everything else. Also, despite losing Darvish and down years from a lot of players last year, I expect the Cubs to be better than the Mets, too, unless the Mets land Springer and/or Bauer.
@MetsFan22
I’ll fix your typos.
“There is like 3-4 max in the NL EAST better than the Mets…”
If it wasn’t for calloway making idiot moves 2 years ago, the Mets, not the Nats, would have made the playoffs. He cost the Amazins at least 8-10 games.
While I think it’s good to be optimistic. We still have a ways to go before we are a playoff caliber team. If we sign Springer, another solid starting pitcher and another arm for the pen. We could be right there. But those are all big if’s.
2 or 3 teams better than the mets in their division.
2-3 teams in nl east that are better
What happened to all this money Mr. Cohen was going to spend on FAs to win in his newfound “hobby” because he doesn’t care about the money?!
And JTR better hope he can find someone to negotiate with, because at his last reported self-valuation of nearly 200 million, he is pretty limited…. to, like…. nobody, except Cohen, who has billions to waste
It’s all predictable the pitching staff around degrom will fall apart if they don’t get Bauer , or Castillo! Multiple hitters they are counting on will slump ! That said mets will be good enough to give their fans hope only to take it away in epic fashion ,
@Noel1982 I will say slight correction, the Phillies will be replaced by the Marlins in 2021. Phillies will sit at the bottom of the division as they look to cut spending. Nats, Mets and Marlins will battle for 2nd place.
The Mets and marlins won’t be “battling” for anything. I could assure you that.
Oh man. If I have your word for it, it must be true. You nailed the 2020 predictions.
They’ll be battling for 3rd and 4th place in the division.
Oh wow a 60 game season where I made the prediction before sundergard got hurt and stroman opted out. Makes sense to use it.
The Braves will lock 2nd place up by the end of the year. Don’t worry it should be good enough for a WC game.
Metsfan22… how old are you? I’m curious
Low 20’s
@MetsFan22
He asked your age, not your IQ.
I like that prediction! Braves clinching at least second place before Jan 1st.
Metsfan finally coming to his senses.
@Marlins
Love it! The kid is honestly just as bad as Xabial used to be at this point. It’s ridiculous
Says the guy who is looking at a stats and still comes up to the conclusion that Harold Ramirez is better than Nimmo! Lol good day bro!
Metsfan22, how do you feel about having some kind of rivalry going with MarlinsFan, who follows a rebuilding team and has not yet finished that rebuild? Seems kind of sad to me. Do you like picking fights with people who are recovering from being sick or something?
The Mets don’t have a rivalry with the marlins so I don’t know why you talk about a rebuilding team like that matters. He consistently says stupid things like Ramirez is better than Nimmo. And he brings up my prediction was wrong like I didn’t make it before our 2nd and 3rd best pitcher were out for the year.
@SalaryCapMyth
Actually, not only he is the guy that tries to battle the guy that he perceives as having the weakness, he also loses to the guy that he perceives has the weakness….ahem…the Mets finished in last while that rebuilding team made the playoffs and won a playoff round while still in the midst of that rebuild.
@MetsFan22
Yeah, I guess my thoughts must be stupid thinking that Ramirez is better than someone that you think is better than, not only every Marlins hitter, but also Marcel Ozuna and other multiple Braves hitters.
Let me see this math.
Marcel Ozuna > Harold Ramirez (I think we both agree with this)
According to you: Brandon Nimmo > Marcel Ozuna
Therefore: Nimmo ? Ramirez (who is doing the math here?)
@MetsFan22 Just to clarify, I’m talking about predictions made after Syndergaard and Stroman were out. Of which you guaranteed the Mets would still finish “way” ahead of the Marlins.
Yeah I did. But I never said we would win the division after that happened. Which he says I did. I said we would win before it happened. Also it was 60 games bro. Was I technically wrong??? Yes. But 7/10 times I would be right. Marlins god lucky.
If Nimmo plays LF I’m sure he would be better than Ozuna is so bad at defense. So yes Nimmo is better player. As for Harold he isn’t even close to those two players… Ozuna isn’t the hitter he was last year. Something you don’t seem to understand….
Ozuna isn’t the hitter he was last year, but all Mets players baseline ability is that of their best seasons.
It’s so obvious. You simply need to put on your homer glasses and convince yourself that all the players on the Mets are equal or greater than every other player on Earth.
Do you think teams would Ozuna over conforto smith and Nimmo?!!
Yes, yes, I do except maybe Conforto he’s a stud.
Well front offices don’t agree with you.
Brandon Nimmo career OPS = .838
2020 OPS = .888
Harold Ramirez career OPS = .722
2020 OPS = .473 (lmfao)
Sorry @MarlinsFanBase but it’s not even close. A bad player is not better than a good player, regardless of what fantasy world you choose to live in.
Taking salaries and years of control out of the picture (because that doesn’t relate to ability and it’s who is better right now). Yes, if teams redrafted all players and got them all for the exact same contract, teams would take Ozuna over Nimmo. I didn’t bring up Conforto or Smith, but definitely Ozuna over Smith with Conforto close but below Ozuna on draft boards.
I agree. Although Conforto is a notch or two above Smith to be perfectly honest.
100% percent Far Beyond. My last statement was confusing, but it was essentially ozuna-Conforto-Smith. With Ozuna and Conforto being close and Smith a ways back.
lol no.. teams wouldn’t take Ozuna over Nimmo. Defense matters.
Smith will out hit Ozuna next year…
Whatever you say man.
It’s like if the Generation K hype took human form and started posting on websites
“Smith will out hit Ozuna next year..”
“Teams wouldn’t take Ozuna over Nimmo”
@Marlinsfanbase write it down!
Heyman gets a lot of things wrong including his hideous hair piece.
Touche’
No, toupee
Sarcasm. Some get it, some don’t. Entertaining, either way.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
I will be shocked at this point if Phillies keep him. They have known the price for a while. Never a report they were close
@13Morgs13 Not that I think the Phils will keep him, but they’re also not going to bid against themselves. So they’re not going to throw $100 mil offers out without anyone else bidding. So it’s a waiting game. So far, the Phillies gamble has actually paid off. Realmuto’s price likely came down a bit, but I still think some team will happily go over the 100 mil mark.
Padres are gonna sign him and then flip Caratini.
Haha, that would be awesome.
How much you think the Padres get for a back up catcher?
It’s either been confirmed or at least suggested that Caratini is Darvish’s preferred catcher so if Darvish is working out, I have my doubts he gets moved.
No, Caratini is Darvish’s personal catcher. He’s not going to get them anything good anyway so they’re not about to trade him and risk pissing Darvish off. Although I am surprised that they haven’t been linked to JTR considering how hard Preller went after him in trade 2 years ago.
I’m not shocked guys haven’t signed yet.
Teams may be trying to convince the QO guys to take smaller deals in the hopes of preserving draft capital.
Idk the exact trigger point but doesn’t a team lose draft picks after guys sign for a certain amount?
After a 5 round draft in 2020 and 10-20 in 2021 -was that ever decided?- I’m sure teams are reluctant to give up draft capital as easily.
If a player has a QO attached to him, the team that then signs him relinquishes their first round draft pick to the team that lost him to free agency (unless the signing team has a top 10 pick which is then protected and they thus relinquish their second round pick to the team). It does not matter the value or length of the contract. If a player has been extended a qualifying offer, he is tied to draft pick compensation.
Doing a little Google research this is what I found from an article from 2019. Did they change it?
A team that received revenue sharing the previous season will forfeit its third-highest selection. Signing a second qualified player would result in the loss of that team’s fourth-highest selection. Signing a third would result in the loss of its fifth-highest selection. On the other hand, a team that did not receive revenue sharing and also did not pay any luxury tax penalties would lose its second-highest selection as well as $500K of the league’s allotted international bonus pool money. Signing additional qualified free agents would result in forfeiting the third-highest selection and another $500K of international allotments. A team that paid luxury tax penalties must forfeit both it’s second- and fifth-highest selections in the 2019 draft and forfeit $1 million in international funds. Signing a second would result in the loss of that team’s third- and sixth-highest picks, plus another $1MM in international funds.
Realmuto to the Blue Jays
Springer to the Mets
DJLM to the Yankees
Why would he want to play in Philadelphia ? I’d be headed to San DIego. They seem to be going in the right direction and have great weather. The Phillies have too many holes on their roster and a questionable commitment at this point.
Maybe he likes the City? Philadelphia isn’t bad, I lived there for about a year. It was even fun as a braves fan going to CBP. The rivalry up there is real. Personally I’ve enjoyed Chattanooga and Nashville more but it’s not a bad city.
Not a bad city but horrible fans lmao. When Harper was on Nats they yelled he had a vagina…
We are “passionate”. And Harper was a vagina, we just built him up.
Harper is still a vagina. That signing is gonna bite the Phillies in the ass for many years
SD also has a burgeoning payroll. Not sure they want to spend quite that much on a catcher, even the best one in baseball.
As for why he’d want to play in Philly, $$$$ talks. Even if the offers are the same, Philly has lower taxes and is cheaper to live in, so the offers aren’t really the same. It’s kind of strange how his market seems to have dried up. Best guy at a premium position by a significant margin and still not very many suitors, even though a lot of teams desperately need an upgrade.
I think the Phillies are the frontrunner to sign Realmuto until the Blue Jays or Yankees miss out on a desired target (Springer and Lemahieu respectively). Then one of those teams will pivot to JT and the Phillies will be left with Knapp as their starting catcher.
Agree Hayes. Anyone who doesn’t think the Phillies are a top candidate to sign Realmuto really hasn’t been paying attention. Mets signing McCann removed the biggest challenge. I would say chances are Phillies 50% / Rest of Field 50%
ehhh with regard to the Yanks, if they miss out on DJLM I don’t see them automatically pivoting to JTR as a plan B; I think they roll with Sanchez for another year and add low-cost pitching. I do think a serious consideration here (particularly for the Yankees) is the fact that they undoubtedly will sign one of the following studs next year: Lindor, Baez, Correa, Seager, JRam, or Arenado (I think he will opt out in order to get out of Colorado). They’ve already got Cole and Stanton on massive deals, but they’ve got room for another 150-200 million dollar deal, and I don’t think they use it this offseason on JTR when there are so many incredible difference-makers to choose from next winter.
JT’s $25/yr asking price could be used to fill a lot of holes…
Exactly. That kind of money would probably be enough to land Tanaka and Hendriks, or you could spread it around 3 or 4 lower-range guys and get real depth or invest in bounce-back candidates.
1st big name off board will be realmuto to yanks
Yankees will definitely not sign a big FA before Lemahieu. If they miss out on DJ, then I can certainly see them getting JT.
I’m still amazed Yanks aren’t in the rumors for Realmuto. IMO, that’s a much more glaring need, instead of re-signing DJ..which is still a pretty big need.
What pick will the Phillies get if JT signs elsewhere?
No one should sign Realmuto at 25m/yr unless it’s a two year deal or less.
He’s getting 4 years. That was established with Mets signing other guy. Also larger markets have to pay more for big names as the cost of living in NYC or Chicago is much higher than Kansas City or Tampa and teams will have to compensate for that.
I’m w ya though. I don’t think he’s getting 25. Phili may be offering closer to 20 while JT is waiting for yanks to come in and drive price up.
Yanks ain’t coming in to make any offers. They re-tendered Gary, and higgy did decent in more extended playing time. Higgy will be coles personal catcher unless the Yankees decide to screw that up, which wouldn’t surprise me. they’ve drafted like 4 catchers with their 1st/2nd picks in the last 2-3 drafts . So why draft heavy in a position like catcher, who there’s only a handful of good catchers worth spending money on before that contract becomes a burden? Are all the catchers they drafted gonna work out or even make it to the bigs? Probably not but I doubt theyll be traded since cashman all of a sudden has a fetish to hold onto his prospects, but ya I highly doubt the yanks come make an offer to JT
He’s a year younger than McCann and a better player. 5 years is the minimum for JTR.
what’s everyone having for lunch today? 🙂
My favorite strange combination. A Reuben Sandwich and a side of grilled shrimp. (Don’t judge!)
do what makes you happy! no judging here.
What about you Pinkerton?
Haven’t decided! Might have some chicken salad on a wrap
I’m only jealous because I’m allergic to shellfish. Shrimp sounds great.
For me, chicken fingers, curly fries, and a soda.
Just crushed a couple fistfuls of White Castle. Haven’t been there in ages.
Haggas, Canadian Bacon and a chilled mug of homemade Mead
Homemade Mead? @Jaysfansince1977 you are having an absolutely legendary lunch! Are you sure you are not a Viking?
Nope just a Scotsman
“I don’t want to work, I just want to drink out this mug all day!”
Toots’ leftover sunday gravy! Mmm
Phillies are just waiting out his market which I think has been their plan for at least a year now. The FO is probably telling his agent, “Hey, if you can’t find someone to take JT to the dance, give us a call. I’m sure we can work something out.”
Unless he can pitch innings, hes not going to be an Angel.
Your comment makes no sense: the Angels only sign hitters, that’s their problem. They will definitely be in the mix for him, on the basis that he makes pitchers better, and they refuse to spend money on pitchers the way they do with hitters.
If you take a look at what the free agency market looks like, you may change your mind. While Bauer probably should be their top target, as well as picking up some solid relievers and a Brad Hand or Hendricks, starting pitching has lost a lot of the depth it had to QO’s. So now with Stroman and Gausman off the board, Tanakah or maaaaaaaybe Saguna are the best options after Bauer.
So if the Angels miss on Bauer, would you REALLY prefer Tanakah over JTR? Because JTR will make the Angels rotation better. He really is the next most logical target of they miss on Bauer.
The Mets are out and the Nationals probably aren’t really in so it basically leaves the Phillies and the Blue Jays. Perhaps a “mystery team” or two jumps in if Realmuto becomes willing to sign a one or two year deal
Why would he want a one or two year deal? Pillow contracts like that are for players coming off down seasons. That is not JTR.
It’s the Phillies…this isn’t surprising at all.
Springer to the Mets. Bauer to the Angels. DJLM to the Yanks. JTR to the Jays. I bet the Jays have to offer him a 5th year to bring him North. $100 mill/5 years is my guess.
@Jal179 – all those picks, but JTR is probably going back to the Phillies and always was. He only went into FA on the off chance someone would offer him $200+M, doesn’t look like anyone will. I got him in Phily at 5/150-175 for the best catcher in mlb in his prime.
I agree he’s likely returning to Philly, but not with a $30 to $35M AAV. To high. More likely in the $20 to $25M AAV.
Y’all sound pretty accurate. Just Jays don’t get JTR
There is no chance JTR gets a 35 million AAV.
I know it’s the going joke about the Jays being in on every FA, but I’m nearly 100% certain they land one of the big FAs.
In terms contract costs, I think it goes:
1. Springer 130/5 to the Mets
2. Bauer 75/2– higher aav shorter term to the Angels
3. DJLM 100/4 to to the Yanks
4. JTR 100/5 to the Jays— I think the 5th year separates the Jays from the Phils
And by far my favorite FA is Brantley who will get 54-60 over 3 years which will age well. Such a consistent hitter. Love that guy.
Yeah, right. Bauer to the Angels! He will pitch every 4 days. Ohtani will pitch every six, and the rest of the rotation will be getting TJ surgery because of the uneven usage. Sounds like s plan, a familiar plan.
Phillies should offer him 4/$100M with a 5th year vesting option. In return for a non-guaranteed 5th year, Phillies can offer him opt outs after the 2nd & 3rd seasons have ended and offer him a trade kicker too.
Why would he want opt-outs? His market isn’t going to get better. It’s going to get worse.
Every player wants opt outs in their contracts just in case they catch lightning in a bottle or their position is in high demand during certain offseasons. Teams don’t like them much as it gives uncertainty to a player’s tenure with the team but it’s a good compromise when the team and player aren’t fully aligned on AAV or length of contract.
Well yeah, he’d rather have an opt-out than no opt-out, all other things equal. But all other things are not equal. In exchange for the opt-out, he’d receive less years/$. And the opt-out only matters if the player actually uses it. If he doesn’t, it’s as if it never existed to begin with. So if JT gets an opt out and doesn’t end up using it, the team just got a discount without giving him anything in return. And all 30 GM’s already know what JT is. If they aren’t going to pay him what he’s worth now, they aren’t ever going to.
@ DM I think that’s the exact deal he gets. An even 100mil, 4 years with a 5th option. I really don’t think he has many suitors, with big market teams seeming to want to allocate their funds to other areas of need (like the Yanks with DJLM, Angels with anyone with an arm for the starting rotation, etc..). I think he goes back to the Phils.
McCann backup for JTR on the Mets
I still think the Mets might be in. If they don’t sign Springer, they might tandem up with JTR and McCann. They still need another catcher upgrade.
you’re joking, right? Mets signed a former-backup catcher to a 40 million dollar deal, ergo, he is now their starting catcher. It would be absolute lunacy to pay a backup 40 million dollars. It is clear that they jumped on McCann and (probably) overpaid a bit (but I still think it was a good move by the Mets), so that they can make another big signing (Springer or Bauer).
His agent hasn’t floated a 6-year $150m offer from a “mystery team” yet?
4/94 with a 30 million year 5 option or a 6 million buyout …gets JT the catcher top AAV he wants and doesn’t lock the Phils in too long , since they have catching prospects not ready yet …
So basically, his agent is finding out their aren’t many true suitors at the price he wants. Teams are just not in a bidding war for 6 plus years for a 29 year old catcher. Therefore, the Phillies might be a good choice. Again.
If Realmuto was a fleet footed OF or a power hitting 3B, he might get that long term deal at $25 million per year. But no one is gonna invest that kind of money for a number of years for a catcher.
Catchers break down faster than other positions, plus even the sturdiest among them don’t play more than 130 games a year. Bummer for JT that there won’t be a DH in the NL this year. With the DH, an NL team might justify a few extra million or an additional year or two on a contract knowing they can get his bat in the line up more often with the DH.
Thus, I think JT returns to the Phillies if it comes down to them, the Jays or the Yankees. Taxes in NY are crazy high, and Canadian taxes are pretty steep, too.
I have been thinking 100/5 will be the Jays offer but the more I think about it, I don’t think I’d go more than 80 or 90 million over 4 years. It’s a very valid argument about catchers breaking down more quickly and the reduced number of games played. I haven’t looked at JTR’s games played over the past 5 seasons but I’d imagine whoever signs him won’t push him past 130 games started. An AL team could sprinkle in a few starts at 1B and DH.
I’m very curious what the Phillies ceiling offer will be for JTR.
Brian McCann, an inferior player who is just under a full year older than JTR, got 4 years guaranteed. 5 years is the floor for JTR.
COVID changes everything. I don’t disagree a 5 year term is fair but the current market isn’t exactly on fire.
Nice try. James McCann got signed through his age 34 season AFTER Covid happened. Not before. So will JT.
They gave Wheeler 5 years at 118 million, through the same offer out to J.T. !
How about a 4 year deal with a chance to opt out after his second year. 4 years around 95-100 mill. He’s not gonna get the 200 mill with the way the pandemic messed up the revenue and money.
If the Phillies want to go 4-5 years, I can see that happening because, the DH will be in the NL in that time frame if not this year..In fact, not sure what the MLB is thinking not making any statements on the issue..It really changes the dynamic on how teams make decisions..