Email a copy of 'Previewing Upcoming Club Option Decisions: National League' to a friend
Loading ...
By Anthony Franco | at
Email a copy of 'Previewing Upcoming Club Option Decisions: National League' to a friend
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
hide arrows scroll to top
DarkSide830
This will be a huge offseason for the Phillies. Need to make a decision to Segura and Eflin, add another SP regardless, and work on extentions for Nola and Wheeler. Very curious to see what comes to pass.
Brixton
Theres no reason to talk about a Wheeler extension yet
Captain Dunsel
No to both Segura and Eflin. Move Stott back to second and sign Turner. Bullpen actually looking good. Thor may be worth resigning if he progresses after TJ surgery.
Should Have Acquired Dylan Cease
I would love to bring back Morton if both the Braves and himself decide on a much cheaper contract. The guy is one of the most likeable, team-first guys in the sport. If he wants to still pitch, I’m sure they can work out a contract. With that being said, the Braves should make it the priority to acquire a top of the order guy – whether its deGrom, Verlander, Bieber, or a trade for Ohtani. I’m most hesitant with the latter given that if he is injured, it hurts the Braves on both ends of the game.
Louholtz22
Verlander accepted his option and staying in Houston. Do the Braves have the money DeGrom will want? Doubtful. It’s also extremely risky with his health issues. Going to have to empty the farm for Ohtani. Bieber isn’t a F/A.
redsfan20191
Verlander hasn’t made a decision on his player option yet.
Sadface
Verlander likely ops out and,immediately agrees to a 2 year deal at like 35 million a year. I don’t think he wants to leave Houston.
acmeants
I want Swanson back to keep that infield together.
Should Have Acquired Dylan Cease
Likewise, but if Grissom keeps playing well, the Braves will probably have to part with him. Of course, they may always consider LF, but that is stretch given he is an infielder first. Personally, I’d resign Swanson and trade Albies, but that will not be done.
Jean Matrac
I don’t think the Braves will want to match what another team is willing to sign Swanson for. I’ll bet he’s in a different uni in 2023.
redsfan20191
Hey Anthony you guys should do some more of these types of articles in the next month or so maybe some previewing Potential Non-Tender Candidates, Trade Candidates. Also maybe articles exploring player and mutual options.
Anthony Franco
We’re prioritizing more of this kind of stuff and expect we’ll eventually do posts on most of what you suggested here. Almost all mutual options get bought out by somebody, but I’m planning to take a look at the player options/opt-outs within the next couple weeks.
redsfan20191
Thanks! I appreciate all the work the MLBTR staff does in putting these articles together!
You Can Put It In The Books
Time for Morton to hang ’em up!
CNichols
Why wouldn’t Longoria just wait to see if he will be bought out before retiring?
If they buy him out he’s $5M richer and if he doesn’t like any of the other offers at that point he can retire then
Louholtz22
Longoria might and should feel guilty for stealing all that money. Can’t see any contender wanting him next year. I’m sure he doesn’t want to play for a bad team.
CNichols
He’s not stealing any money, he bargained for that $5M as a buyout when he signed this contract. He earned that money with his performance and it was promised to him.
That’s like saying when a player is pre-arb and performing well that the team is stealing money from them and should feel guilty because they don’t have to pay the player millions.
Jean Matrac
SF is a very wealthy team and don’t normally lowball any of their long time players. I can’t remember when they last took a player to arbitration, but I’d bet it’s been close to 2 decades. I think they’ll regard the buyout as earned, and gladly give Longo his $5M even if they think he’s going to retire anyway.
Pete'sView
Regardless, SF is not bringing Longo back. He’s on the shelf too often. Their whole infield needs a youth injection. Estrada will be the only returning guy, unless they re-sign Flores.
Datashark
They will resign Flores.
Peter S.
I think you forgot Justin Turner
Anthony Franco
Turner’s is technically a vesting option (albeit one that won’t vest). Covered him on the Tuesday post that’s linked in the intro nevertheless.
truthlemonade
I am a Padres fan and I wonder if Wil Myers will be able to find an MLB contract this offseason.
He might be happy that Bob Melvin has given him a few starts at 1b and even CF since returning from injury.
Myers as a backup at all 3 OF spots, DH, and 1b is more appealing than just RF. If he is willing to play for a low salary just to prove himself, he might get a deal. Less than one more season vests his 10 year pension, I think a lot of players are motivated to lock down 10 years in the bigs, more out of pride than for the pension.
CNichols
He’ll get a major league deal somewhere. If you look at his stats while he’s been a Padre, his slash line of .252/.328/.448 is decent. That’s a problem when you’re making $20M+ a year though. He’s not as bad as people think, it’s really more his contract that’s terrible.
I think he’ll perform well on a small deal with less pressure on a rebuilding club. Just my take, but I also think SD moving him all over the place didn’t do him any favors. He was great at 1B in 2016 before they moved him off it for Hosmer. Stability might help him get back on track
Big whiffa
Cincinnati be a great place for Myers to rebound his career. He’s had some big seasons and came into the league w a ton of hype. He could be a castellanos type player for reds
Pete'sView
I doubt he’ll be a “Castellanos-type player,” but someone will pick him up. The early hype really didn’t help him. He’s serviceable, not much more.
mrkinsm
If you look at what is going to be available via FA as far as outfielders go, and keep in mind the reduction in offense league-wide this season Myers shouldn’t have any problem finding a guaranteed contract this winter. He’ll only be 32 and had a good offensive season just 12 months ago. I think many will be surprised by just how much he makes too on a one year pillow deal.
Armaments216
I think the Reds may have a team option on Mike Minor. Assuming it conveyed from the Royals.
Anthony Franco
Minor’s is a mutual option now. It started as a team option in his deal with the Royals but would conditionally convert to a mutual option in the event Kansas City traded him anywhere. It’ll be a pretty easy call for the Reds to decline their end regardless.
mrkinsm
Minor’s option is a mutual option, but they do have a team option on Justin Wilson.
Anthony Franco
Sure do, great catch on your part. Updated the post, thanks for the heads up!
BlueSkies_LA
Muncy has looked far more like his old self over the last few weeks, so his option decision isn’t really about a .180 hitter. The Dodgers will have several more weeks to determine if this is a blip, but I think it’s safe bet that it isn’t. He really seems to be shaking off the injury, finally.
Alberto is also an easier call than it made to seem here. He’s filled the role the Dodgers hired him to fill defensively, and he’s practically turned into the team mascot.
jonbluvin
He seems to be hitting the ball harder which is one of his earlier issues. It may be due to a recent change in his stance or maybe his injury has healed more. He’s having a great August. Small sample size of course.
BlueSkies_LA
That was a pretty wicked injury he sustained last year. I think he’s just getting over it physically, as well as the mental burden of that terrible first half. Now he’s dealing with hand bruise. Hope it isn’t another setback.
tstats
Alberto is the new Hernandez
BlueSkies_LA
Ha, kinda. But Alberto is a better dancer.
Datashark
Muncy is out, Dodgers will move to Busch he has better pop than Muncy
Shrutefarm
Are you sure about that? Muncy’s got some serious pop.
Datashark
Dodgers are NOT going to keep Muncy, they have to still resign Turner and they have Busch looking ready for next seaon
Cam
I don’t know if Justin Turner coming back is a lock, or even a priority. At this point he probably needs to be shifted to 1B/DH for his own health.
Shrutefarm
I agree. Turner is probably better suited for part time player. The Dodgers need to begin the transition of replacing him anyway. Father Time is undefeated. Don’t forget, they’ve got Rios to think about in this equation too. Where does he fit in?
Cam
Agreed. If they’re going to give Rios a real go, next season has to be it. Before Freeman was signed, I could see the Dodgers transitioning JT to 1B, but…Freeman is an everyday guy now, there’s no real value in a minor platoon there. JT can’t be relied on as an everyday 3B, so really..if he’s coming back, he’s surely only coming back as a 1B/3B/DH part-timer, and with that, at a part-timers salary.
Miguel Vargas could be the real wildcard here. If he gets a shot, that’s even less space for JT.
Shrutefarm
Good point about Vargas. He has very good bat-to-ball skills. I can definitely see him taking the bull by the horn next Spring. I’m excited to see him again in September.
BlueSkies_LA
I believe they’ll find a way to bring JT back, mainly as a bench bat and DH, but I don’t see any signs that he can’t still play a position when needed.
Datashark
when I said TURNER, I was referring to TREA.
Dodgers have Rios and/or Vargas to take 3B, but JT has been doing some DH lately – I don’t see him back with LA
BlueSkies_LA
As a bench bat, DH, and occasional position player, any team could do a whole lot worse than Justin Turner.
dodgerfan83
Dodgers have too many young bats to sign JT to a bench role. 13 offense spots Betts, Freeman, taylor, Lux Bellinger, Smith, Barnes, Rios, Thompson leaves us with 4 spots to resign Trea, bring up outman, Busch and Vargas. That’s precluding any other offensive signings. I don’t think JT is hitting better than any of those bench spots.
BlueSkies_LA
And precluding any offseason trades opening up spots, which we can safely assume will happen. On JT coming back, I’d take the over. For sure the decision will come down to more than just hitting. And as much as I’d like to see T. Turner signed, we have to know it’s less than a lock. They’re also not going to bring up the rookies to ride the bench.
Pete'sView
And I doubt LA brings Bellinger back.
BlueSkies_LA
They’re going to non-tender him? Oh, sure.
TheOpener
Zero chance, I repeat Zero chance that Longoria leaves that money on the table. Anything for publicity/attention.
Jean Matrac
I agree, he’s not leaving that money on the table, but what’s publicity/attention have to do with it? Wait…I know…absolutely nothing.
Longo signed a guaranteed contract, and taking the buyout is the lesser sum of what it could be. But a contract is contract, he was guaranteed that money when he signed it, and not only is Longo not leaving that money on the table, neither would you, or I, or anyone else.
TheOpener
Pretending that he might retire and leave the money on the table is the publicity/attention grab. Such a transparent lie.
Pete'sView
Either way, he’s gone. It’s only a shame he stated to produce for the Giants after years of being terrible, now along with so many injuries.
Jean Matrac
Since he’s approaching the end of a very long deal, Longo was asked about his future. Given his struggle with injuries over the last two seasons, him admitting that he’s considering retirement was an honest answer, the farthest thing from a lie.
His considering retirement now could not be more normal in his current situation. If he had pretended to want to continue playing to ensure getting the buyout, that is what would have been untruthful and devious.
This is just a baseless slur.
bravesfan
Curious what happens if the Braves exercise the option and he still ends up retiring. I’m sure enough conversations would be had so that you hope that wouldn’t happen, but does he forfeit that money or are the Braves still on the hook
put it in the books
Vogelbach is an easy one to exercise
Bill M
He could probably use a little exercise