The Mets and first baseman Pete Alonso have not engaged in extension talks this offseason, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. Healey adds that it’s as of yet unclear if the club intends to broach the subject of a long-term deal with Alonso this winter.
Reports last month indicated that Alonso hopes to surpass recent long-term deals signed by the likes of Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman, and the 29-year-old changed representation to the Boras Corporation earlier this offseason. For his part, Scott Boras told reporters (including Healey) at the Winter Meetings that he’s spoken to president of baseball operations David Stearns and that he and Alonso are “all ears” regarding potential negotiations. Healey goes on to suggest that Alonso could be on track to follow in the footsteps of teammate Brandon Nimmo. Much like Alonso, Nimmo switched representation to Boras in the final offseason before he hit the open market. Any contract discussions with the Mets that offseason didn’t result in an extension, leaving Nimmo to hit free agency that winter. Upon hitting the open market, he re-upped with the Mets on an eight-year, $162MM contract.
Of course, it’s worth noting that Nimmo went through that process at a time when the Mets were a staunchly win-now team that ultimately won 101 games during his 2022 walk season. While the club has made clear that they plan for Alonso to be part of the Opening Day roster next season and that they hope to compete in 2024, the club’s focus appears to be on building for the future and it would hardly be a shock if Alonso were to find himself traded midseason if the Mets were to fall out of the race once again in 2024. Whether as a trade candidate or an extension candidate, Alonso is an attractive target as one of the game’s premiere power hitters. His 192 home runs lead the majors since he made his debut back in 2019, while only Aaron Judge, Olson, Kyle Schwarber, and Shohei Ohtani have crushed more dingers over the past three seasons than Alonso’s 123.
More from around the National League…
- While the Dodgers made waves earlier today by agreeing to a record-setting $700MM deal with Ohtani, Jon Heyman of the New York Post indicates that landing the winter’s biggest fish won’t stop the club from pursuing other marquee free agents. Heyman indicates that even after factoring in Ohtani’s massive deal, the Dodgers still have both the desire and the necessary payroll capacity to sign NPB star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto, 25, is moving stateside on the heels of three consecutive sub-2.00 ERA campaigns in Japan. A report earlier this week suggested that the Dodgers were among seven teams considered to be finalists for the right-hander’s services, and Heyman even suggests that LA could be ahead except the Mets and Yankees in their pursuit of Yamamoto. The young righty is an obvious fit for a Dodgers roster with an otherworldly lineup but little certainty in the rotation. Sophomore right-hander Bobby Miller is joined by Walker Buehler as the only starters locked into the club’s Opening Day rotation as things stand, though even Buehler will be pitching for the first time since early 2022 after undergoing the second Tommy John surgery of his career.
- The Brewers are continuing to finalize their coaching staff under new manager Pat Murphy, who was promoted from his role as bench coach following the departure of longtime manager Craig Counsell earlier this offseason. To that end, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports that the club is moving assistant director of player development Charlie Greene from the front office to the big league coaching staff, where he’ll take over as Milwaukee’s bullpen coach. Greene will take over for Jim Henderson, who in turn is becoming the club’s assistant pitching coach.
Yea Buddy!!!
It would be a little weird seeing Alonso in a different team’s jersey.
It would be devastating. He’s been the only bright spot these last 4 years.
i dunno degrom was pretty bright 3 years ago .. lindor has been pretty bright too the last few years. McNeil’s batting title was nice too and i would think would be pretty shiny. or how about Diaz?
You’re right. I overreacted.
Lindor has been great as well. Somewhat rocky first season but he’s been worth 11.5 WAR over the last two years.
I know. I was high and posted without thinking. I stand by Alonso being the most important part though. Hopefully Chavez with get him back to an acceptable BA.
@OldFerby I wouldn’t cop to being on any illicit substances, man. This place can be teeming with federal agents and all it would take is one phone call and before you know it BAM BAM BAM on your front door and FBI Agent Quigley is taking you down to HQ for interrogation.
Mets are paying the Astros and Rangers more than Ohtani is making next year.
@ignorantsonofab Lol that may be true but do remember plenty of states are legal now.
Unless of course writing under the influence is a crime lol
The rich get more rich, baseball is getting so sad for the real fans of small markets. It’s not fair.
We need a two-tiered system, like English soccer.
That would be a good idea too, I was thinking contraction though, the owners don’t want to pay, the cost of business is too high for some cities that have previously had teams. Oakland, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh whether it’s their location or bad ownership just won’t ever compete financially. Miami and Tampa at least have a good baseball operations process. You’d never know Tampa is cheap, Miami loads up every few years to stay competitive. I’d also look a Cincinnati and Colorado as contraction candidates.
Except he’s not in the same league as Olson or Freeman, especially defensively
Agreed, but for some reason no one expects the offer to be a perfectly sane 5/120m.
Like Shohei, Yamamoto is said to want to play in post season games. Unlike Shohei, he also wants to play alongside another Japanese veteran, presumably so he can gain insights into life in MLB. The Jays have Yusei and recent playoff appearances but I like the Dodgers chances if they are willing to go 250 million.
Red sox have yoshida and a long history with japanese players
Cubs have Seiya, and Darvish still praises them.
Mets have Senga. If they added Yamamoto and a legit DH (Soler and Martinez are available), they could have an outside shot at a WC spot. Would probably also need couple of BP arms, though. I don’t expect it, but a few good moves and it’s possible.
Seattle has Ichiro who still stops by T-Mobile to throw batting practice or ride his unicycle around a few times every season.
Yamamoto didn’t say he wanted to play alongside another Japanese player, he said he didn’t mind playing alongside another Japanese player. Huge difference.
$250 million??? Its gonna take $350 million thanks to Ohtani’s contract as every star free agent will benefit thanks to Dodgers stupidity.
Ohtani is an economy unto himself, and will bring tens and tens of millions of dollars in sponsorships/revenue-stream increases. And, the deferrals will mean the Dodgers can remain competitive for the length of his playing career.
But sure, it was stupidity.
Hahaha.
One of these stories is not like the other
If the Dodgers get Yamamoto and Ohtani, I think Giants fans will give up watching for a few years.
Nope.
The victories will be so much sweeter to watch. It’s a ball game, not a popularity contest.
If necessary, just give Ohtani the Binds treatment and walk him.
*Bonds
you could walk him but you would be potentially putting him on for Betts or Freeman which were number 2 and 3 for the NL MVP last season with Ohtani being the number 1 for the AL . that top 3 will be crazy dangerous.
Bonds had no one else hitting around him so thats why it worked for them.
Jeff Kent was somebody
You had Aurillia, Bonds, Kent and Snow.
If mookie is batting behind Ohtani, he is leading off. I don’t think the Dodgers lead off with Ohtani. Mookie is still their lead off guy maybe Freeman 2nd Ohtani 3rd
Mookie will lead off, Freeman 2nd, with Ohtani 3rd or 4th. That means walking him will not have Betts or Freeman driving him in.
@Roll Elite pitching can still neutralize those three batters. And Freeman / Betts not getting any younger.
Ohtani should lead off. He gets on base as much if not more than Betts in last few years. Gives you the L-R-L you want for later in game opposing managerial decisions.
Muncy and smith will do that
There’s not a single player in baseball that’s getting younger
“not getting any younger” is designated for older folks because young bounces back quickly, old not so much…..
Oh my holy hell. You people are the whole problem! Wake up! Until you all realize a billionaire is screwing you. and you’re complicit then nothing will change. The bootlicking is honestly pathetic
It’s extraordinary, really. The only things that give everyday people the power to fight against big money is labor, s*****ism, and c******ive action—and they’ve been taught to hate all three. And so they do.
@Chipsss Remember the team who wins the off-season rarely wins anything else of consequence. Let them have this trophy and their Mickey Mouse 2020 “trophy” and we’ll see how long it takes to get the real one that counts.
Jack – they’ve been brainwashed and only spout what they’ve been programmed to. If those people would actually educate themselves and use critical thinking skills they’d see the importance of those three things.
They haven’t actually been taught anything mate, They have cultural biases that rule their thoughts. The other stuff has been brainwashed into them so they can throw mindless talking points into an argument. It doesn’t go any deeper than that.
The irony in your post is rich.
lol you and little Jack need to go to a cnn political site and spew your nonsense. This is a Baseball site for folks who want to discuss baseball let’s hear your opinions on this otherwise go back to your moms basements and preach to another group of losers who struggle in the real world
For all of you trying to make it seem like the least important World Series. It seems like that’s all you talk about making it one of the most important World Series. It’s definitely not equal to the other World Series but it’s just as important.
You are a Mickey Mouse! If your team won in 2020, you would not be saying it. Fool!
I’m thinking there’s a blind rage cross post going on here lol
If that’s the case why would anybody watch? If they’re going to be unbeatable then you think your team will fare better?
All this talk over a salary cap and what it’s going to do. What it’s going to do is prevent teams from buying their championship. I know it doesn’t guarantee one, but it improves their odds greatly.
Too many teams can’t complete in the bidding and never have a chance for those big name, upper echelon players.
The Mets tried to buy their championship and it didn’t work. Getting Ohtani doesn’t guarantee the Dodgers anything, but it does guarantee a bigger check for the teams receiving revenue-sharing.
How does a reduction from the very top, given to the very bottom, affect the end goal of broader competition?
Theoretical buckets: 350, 300,250,200,150,100,50.
350m-300m teams are taxed and most goes to the 40m teams.
Would be 400m+ teams, instead stay at 225m-350m. And taxed.
30-50m teams are granted. And increased to 60-90m.
It seems so insignificant imo related to the proposed goal.
I’m not exactly sure but if there isn’t any penalty for deferred money, how is anybody going to benefit from luxtax when it’s as if no money is exchanging hands (save for $2M accepted salary by ohtani)???
No it won’t do that at all. ALL teams “buy” their championships. If you don’t think so, look at NFL/NBA/NHL which all buy their championships and continue to establish dynasties, despite salary caps. They also have outrageous salaries.
The only thing it does is make fans feel better that teams can’t spend freely, but it achieves no greater equity.
Yeah, but fans take solice that its not NY with the dynasties in those other sports. If the playing field is leveled, do you really think Cashman would be at the top?
The playing field is leveled; he’s not at the top. So, the idea here is that “fairness” or “equity” is any system put in place which prevents NY from winning, regardless of how competitive the sport actually is. That’s the very definition of jealousy.
I don’t think there’s a fix to it. One team to rule it all sounds awesome doesn’t it? Haha
As a Dodger fan I didn’t want the Dodgers to sign Ohtani if it meant a bidding war like this. Too much $ allocated to one player and only made sense if you could guarantee that longer term he will be a SP for most of that contract. No guarantees there due to injuries.
On the field as great as Ohtani is I’m not so sure that this makes the Dodgers significantly better in 2024 as it will also limit their ability to get other needed players and obviously Ohtani won’t pitch next season. Need at least two to three very impactful SPs, and probably another OF bat.
That said I look forward to watching that top of the lineup. Bottom line from a fan enjoyment perspective, WS or not, it’s going to be a fun 2024 season for Dodger fans.
But…it’s not going to limit the Dodgers’ ability to do anything.
But it’s exhausting trying to explain why, so whatever.
Oh, and stop carrying the owners’ water–including the LADs’. It’s a really bad look….
I think the Giants are going to overpay to try and prevent the Dodgers from getting anywhere near Yamamoto. That kid is going to get paid.
I think it will be Steve Cohen who pays the highest exorbitant price for Yamamoto. Him and Stearns just flew out to Japan to meet his family last week. He seems personally invested and determined to land him.
I hope Yamamoto does get $300 plus million before throwing a pitch. That will really set Harper off.
Yamamoto is probably going to follow Fujinami to wherever he goes.
Alonzo not worth as much as Freeman or Olsen! Too weak batting average & S/O rate! Also not a plus defender like the others! Too much greed, more from agents like Boras, but players just about as much! They want to make what ?? makes or make more $$ than ?? makes?? Then play better than ??, & maybe one day you will get more! BTW, Homerun Derby HRs don’t count in MLB Stats!
If the players make less, then the owners make more. Are you pro-owner or pro-player?
What a stupid comment. Thinking that one player doesn’t deserve as much as another player because they’ve been worse doesn’t make you pro-owner. The idea that you have to be pro owner or pro-player is simple, low iq thinking. How about pro-team? I’d like to see my team use the resources it has in the most efficent method, so they can acquire the most talent. I know none of the 14 year olds on this site seem to realize, but teams DO have budgets and in most cases, they have nothing to do with the owners net worth.
It was a response to the player greed comment, but you can be a d-bag if you want to.
1-I have no idea why the commoners would choose one set of the 1%ers over another.
2-Real BB fans generally root for the highest possible value, not the highest possible salary.
If you have your windows replaced, do you look for the highest price, or the best value?
As a commoner, I choose to side with the people who actually play on the field and whose professional half-lives are relatively short. I admit it’s more emotional than rational, but emotions are part of being a fan.
I root for equity…No fan was happier than me when the NBA players negotiated 48% of all revenue must be allocated to player payroll. Owners stuff their pockets all the time, they buy a team for X amount of dollars then 15 years later sell it at 10x the value or more. Like the Tampa Bay Rays are currently valued at 1.25 billion dollars. Why is payroll just 6 or 7% of that number? The Dodgers are valued before the Ohtani signing at 5.2 billion. A little more than 4x Tampa which consequently is actually the difference in payrolls too. In conclusion the Dodgers will easily be able to handle Ohtani’s contract. They can go to half a billion in payroll and not blink. That is what the owners are getting at minimum.
I’m a Mets fan and agree. Alonso is power and nothing more. His whiny antics in the dugout and immaturity have worn thin. Send him to the Cubs I say and grab PCA.
There’s also the issue of the team’s age. Lindor, Nimmo, Senga, Marte, Diaz, McNeil… all 30 and over in 2024 and that’s the team’s core by historic performance (Alvarez may join them, but 4 months of .198 hitting to end 2023 hardly makes it a sure thing in 2024).
The Mets have Marte for 2 more years, McNeil for 3 more, Senga for 4, Diaz for 5 (sort of), Nimmo and Lindor for 7 years (I may be missing an out clause in one case)… add Alonso for 6 years beginning in 2025 and you keep the team on the FA treadmill for a guy with a 132 OPS+ since 2020, just 3.5 bWAR per 650 PA, and a line of .248/.337/.511/.848 — nice, sure, but with a somewhat below average glove he’s hardly a centerpiece, and guys with his skills age fast.
The Mets have a #7 farm. Can they really not cobble together a 2 WAR 1Bman from someone making the minimum and spend the money somewhere far better? And if they can, why pay Alonso something like 6/180m for the 1.5 WAR premium vs the 3.5 WAR per 650 PA performance he’s been delivering, a 1.5 WAR premium that has a strong chance of declining by roughly 0.5 WAR per year beginning with the season he signs the contract?
It’s Cohen’s money, but if he pays Alonso it’s money that won’t be spent on better options. They just won 75 games with an aging, post-prime core. It makes very little sense to add another expensive 30 year old to an old team that did so poorly.
Best take here.
Cohen & Co. should definitely move on from Alonso and Boras.
And he is not Olson and certainly not Freeman.
@Jack Would you then recommend that the Mets trade Alonso imminently, or hang on to him until the trade deadline in the summer? With him, the return may not vary much between those two options, but waiting until the deadline you could always accrue an unexpected fleecing from a desperate GM who thinks he’s one power bat away.
Yeah, waiting until the trade deadline is the best case scenario for the Mets to get max return. Unless somehow Alonzo stops hitting this year.
Going into next season Alonso has an almost identical BA, OPS+, and SO rate to what Olson had before he signed his extension with the Braves.
.251 with .870 OPS and 136 OPS+, 22.4% SO rate. 17.3 WAR
.252 with .850 OPS and 134 OPS+. 23..4% SO rate. 18.3 WAR
Alonso is one year older. Alonso has 50 more HR and has driven in 125 more runs than Olson had when he signed his deal.
No matter what we want to think in the age of advanced metrics, HR and RBI do get players more money all else being equal and everything else was remarkably similar between those two.
Yamo is going to the Yankees. Steinbrenner seems on a mission this winter to stop hearing how his Dad was better at everything.
The bidding is going to be insane for this kid. Giants are going to drive the price up big time like I’m sure they did the Dodgers on Ohtani.
Cohen has entered the conversation…
Let’s not get too excited about a sub-2 ERA. His kwERA in the past 3 seasons is around 2.70. That’s what he controls as a pitcher.
He’s just a wee little man as well, he might get stepped on.
Personal attacks on players you don’t know are super classy
Yes I apologize that was a stupid and unnecessary comment.
Personally if dodgers want to blow their money and get penalized by taxes they’re free to do so.
I think penalties should be harsher for teams that blow past tax lines but teams should also be penalized for not spending enough to put product on the field. Any team under 100 mill-120 mill payroll should be penalized too. Not rewarded with better draft position.
I remember when a commissioner said the words “In the best interest of baseball”.
If you’re really talking a fix, then mandate small market teams that receive CBT money MUST spend it all on PLAYER salaries. This creating at least the beginning of a floor. If the CBT system is to work you also need to create a punitive system for teams tanking. Otherwise, do away with the whole thing and let small market teams build into bigger markets by growing their fan base. Sorry that more people live in the big market cities… that’s why they’re big market. Grow your city if you want a better market and quit whining. Small markets already get huge payouts from CBT and pocket them.
Teams have more expenses than player salaries. Discounting the A’s, and at one time, Pittsburgh, how do you know thats not already happening? Your solution to market size is “Grow your city”? What video game are you playing? Reality is that there are more small markets than big markets. Without the small markets, half the country stops watching.
Without small markets, half the country stops watching teams in small markets. I’m sorry, if your market can’t support a competitive team in your city then don’t have a baseball team. Kansas City for example as a city can field a team that wins multiple Superbowls, but can’t support an annually competitive baseball team? Tampa can have a pro football and hockey team, but can’t field a financially supported baseball team? It’s not the markets it’s the owners crying poor. It’s not baseball’s fault that some owners can’t find proper investment or a monetarily successful business model. Why should big market teams underwrite a basic welfare program for smaller market teams? Did I miss the meeting where it was decided every team should be created equal?
No they will just watch the bigger market teams and go to minor league games. The quality of baseball will also get better with contraction. Half the league needs to go away, they will never compete. The A’s moving to Vegas will not help it at all, the problem with the A’s is bad ownership. Contraction would be very good for the quality of baseball seen the talent is diluted as it is currently.
Agree. Teams that finish in the bottom already get higher draft picks. When they lose marquee players to Free Agency they issue QOs and get compensation draft picks. If you want to build on youth and talent development you can. Orioles did it now look at them this past year. Don’t hate on big markets because your owner’s are either inept or cheap. Or your city isn’t ready for the Majors. Nashville is vying for a MLB team. They can barely handle their NFL stadium and their traffic concerns are at an all time high. They have successfully moved in the Titans and Predators, but is there enough room for MLB? Better find an owner willing to spend. TV markets here aren’t flush, it’s a music and radio town. Gonna have to get creative.
The last thing MLB needs is domestic expansion. If it’s going to expand, Mexico City or San Juan, PR should be the thoughts. I want baseball to go the other way. First ones I’d chop are Oakland, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh. They might get lucky with a group of kids but they will never spend like a big league team. I’m reminded of a scene in Moneyball where David Justice was asking why are they paying for sodas from a vending machine. Miami and Tampa are different, they have low payrolls but they remain competitive through good baseball operations.
It’s damn INSULTING!
Yamamoto to the Giants. Be fun to watch him and Ohtani battle in the NL West for the next decade.
That would be awesome. The Giants need to sign him and Bellinger.
Yamamoto is signing with Toronto
I hear he’s on a plane heading there
I was hoping Yamamoto might sign with the Tigers. He could have been that signature move that Harris and Greenberg need to establish they will take a calculated risk to make the team competitive in the long term. But not for $300 million if that is what it would take.
Hopefully they look to Imanaga, or a reclamation project for Fetter to play with like Flaherty or Mahle instead. Lots of good young pitchers on their way up to fill spots (Madden, Jobe) in the near future.
Ohtani’s contract was mind blowing… basically $350 million for the DH and the same for the injured #1 pitcher. Crazy.
Glad someone else is paying those prices not the Tigers. There is better value to be had.
Teams that win the winter, usually are the most disappointed during the season, just ask the Mets and Padres. Braves and Dodgers will still be the favorites next season. Dodgers always hit on mega players, three MVPs now.
If Kershaw signs again, that’ll be four
「翔平と俺が世界を征服する」……山本
If the Mets already know that they aren’t going to extend Alonso, trade him now not mid season, so we can get something good for him. I’d say to the Cubs for Steele, PCA and Ben Brown for Alonso and Quintana. Then the Mets can sign Hoskins to play 1b and help with power. If the Mets can sign Yamamoto and Montgomery they would have a very good rotation Yama, Mont, Senga, Steele and Brown/Vasil, sign Soler to DH.
Steele is probably worth 4x what Alonso is worth.
Alonso and Quintana for Steele and….what?????
Do you watch baseball a lot?
Is there a single player on the Giants that would start for the Dodgers?
No, and that’s why they need to start signing people or trading for some bats
Again baseball is out of control!!!! No salary cap????? No player on this planet is worth 700 million! It’s going to be so funny when the Dodgers fail to win a title again in a 162 game schedule!!!
The Dodgers will regret this in 2-3 years when he doesn’t pitch as good after TJ surgery or since they’re relying on him to bat and pitch after the 2024 season that he unfortunately gets hurt and they’ll be out of a pitcher and batter
Hmmmm….nah.
Are you an economist?
No athlete is worth the money Ohtani got
The stupidity on this site is shocking with fools pumping socialism. Why don’t you imbeciles take a look at the total failure of socialist countries?
Overpaying rarely wins you titles. Dodgers have won what one title in 35 years
A Mickey Mouse title too in a pandemic shortened season
If you knew how petty that sounded, you probably wouldn’t have said it
Merry Christmas jabroni 🙂
Time for a salary cap.
I think it’s time for another blunt on this wonderful Sunday afternoon 🙂
I think a team with a million people living an hour away from their ballpark cannot generate the money that a team with 10 million or even 5 million people living an hour away from their ballpark. Maybe we should split the teams up having a major league and a Super major league .
If I’m Yamamoto I go to an AL team like the Yanks, he will have a better chance of being in the playoffs every year. Unless he goes to the Braves or Dodgers!
well Freemans contract started in his age 32 season and takes him through his age 38 season and while he is a more talented player than Pete. His contract is starting at the end of his prime playing years. At the time that Olsen signed his team friendly contract he was a 18.3 career WAR player throughout his six years playing with the A’s. Pete is currently a 17.8 and should be have a 20 career war through his first full 6 years. Keeping in mind (and throwing away) that Olsen had a really good covid shortened 2020 and Pete struggled. Pete as been a far better WAR producer through his team controlled years. Pete has 192 home runs and 498 RBIs to the 192 473 that Olsens had at the time of his extension. Because Olsen took such a step forward with the Braves after signing the deal it will be very hard to compare his deal to the deal that Pete will land. I was really hoping that the Mets would offer Pete the deal that the Braves gave Riley 2 seasons ago when they had some leverage but that time has passed. I still hope that Cohen can work an extension out with Alonso but he is going to have to pony up and pay him for it. I believe it is very likely that Alonso will end up following Nimmos footsteps into free agency and back to the Mets on a lucrative contract.
@Metsfan113 “His contract is starting at the end of his prime playing years.”
—Except his play through 2021 had shown that to not be the case. Durable, still putting up prime age seasons, no breakdown of his peripherals…
Freddie could be expected to age better than Alonso, even though FF was two years older than Pete will be in 2025. Much, much higher peak, for one thing. Also, Pete’s 2019 has sailed over the horizon of every projection system in existence. It was his fluke year. His lucky year. He’s currently a 3.5 WAR 1Bman in apparent decline, who by 2025 should probably be DH’ing. That wasn’t Freeman as of 2021, at all—or Freeman today, for that matter.
Zaidi has publicly stated Yamamoto is the best pitcher & he’s actively pursuing Yamamoto.
Yamamoto has stated he would like to play on a team with other Japanese players
Those 2 statement are a kiss of death for the Giants & Zaidi. With Dodgers signing Ohtani what better option for Yamamoto than to join the Dodgers.
What will Zaidi do to get Yamamoto to sign with Giants instead of any other team.
I’d love to see the Twins swing a trade for Alonso to be our starting first baseman:) Not sure what the Mets are looking for though
“wants to pass contracts signed by first baseman Olson, Freeman, and Goldschmidt.” I hope he gets it because he seems like a decent guy but good luck, you are not either of those three.
Heard that the Dodgers as expected in their bidding for Othani, ended of putting in one bid on Friday for 575,000, then on Saturday morning they put in another bid for the 700-million-dollar bid. So, it was only the Dodgers who place bids at 575, then 700 for Othani, the only other bid was 500 mil by Toronto. If that was correct the Dodgers could have had Othani for 575 mil and then instead bid against themselves for 125, mil more than they had too.
If so, that may be where Team Shohei came in the with the 700/deferral option vs 575 or whatever without deferrals. Still a better fit for LAD to keep CBT headroom if so.
Besides pitching, Dodgers could use another RHH bopper. The Teoscar talk starting to make sense. Would have been awesome if JD Martinez could field a lick, but that ship has sunk. Chris Taylor is more valuable as a super utility; Jonny Leduca is too far off. Maybe Miguel Vargas finds something in ST?
My question is why change the bullpen lead coach to make him the assistant. Why change him to the bullpen assistant coach the bullpen is one of the strengths of this team if anything that needs to be changed it’s the hitting coach or coaches they have already ruined Hiura trying to make him a hr hitter instead of a man who could approach being a 300 hitting player he no longer is even in the majors.Now he is striking out so much he isn’t even a good bench player.