Kenley Jansen enjoyed ten straight years of playoff baseball before signing a two-year, $32MM free agent contract with the Red Sox during the 2022-23 offseason, and barring a late surge from Boston in the last two weeks of play, Jansen is now on pace for back-to-back without any postseason action. As he heads into free agency this winter, it therefore isn’t surprising that Jansen is “always gonna look for winning. Contending,” the closer told MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. “That’s going to be my priority…I want to be in a situation where we can contend for a title. That’s it.” This doesn’t necessarily mean Jansen wouldn’t consider a return to the Sox, as Jansen praised the team’s young talent and said he “had a blast wearing this uniform, playing for these fans.”
Even as he approaches his 37th birthday, Jansen has no plans to retire, suggesting that he’d like to pitch “at least until I’m 40-42.” There isn’t much on-field evidence that Jansen is running out of steam, as he remains an effective late-game weapon with a 3.48 ERA in 51 2/3 innings and 26 saves in 30 chances for Boston in 2024. Jansen figures to get a lot of attention in free agency this winter, and Cotillo suggests that the Yankees could look at Jansen as a potential replacement for Clay Holmes. The Red Sox and Giants were the only teams publicly linked to Jansen’s market in his prior stint as a free agent, but Cotillo writes that New York “made a serious run at Jansen before he” joined the Red Sox.
More from around the AL East….
- Sticking with the Yankees, DJ LeMahieu discussed his hip impingement with The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty, saying that he received a cortisone shot on Thursday to hopefully aid the healing process. LeMahieu hasn’t played since September 3 but he believes he’ll be able to return to New York’s lineup before the season is over. While players generally have a more optimistic view of their injuries, this does represent a more positive outlook than manager Aaron Boone’s more non-committal answer earlier this week, when the skipper said “I wouldn’t necessarily rule it [a LeMahieu return] out, but I wouldn’t count on it, either.” In between this injury and the foot issue that cost him the first two months of action, LeMahieu has struggled to a .204/.269/.259 slash line over 228 plate appearances this season. Even if he is healthy enough to play, LeMahieu’s lack of production might well cost him a spot on New York’s playoff roster.
- Jacob Webb’s activation from the Orioles’ injured list could happen during the team’s current series with the Tigers, manager Brandon Hyde told MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko and other reporters. Before a bout of elbow inflammation sent him to the 15-day IL on August 4, Webb was one of Baltimore’s more solid relievers, delivering a 3.08 ERA over 49 2/3 innings and 53 appearances out of the Orioles bullpen. Of the many players on the Orioles’ IL, Webb seems closest to returning, though Danny Coulombe is continuing a minor league rehab assignment and might not be far off. Jordan Westburg has resumed baseball activities and is hitting in a batting cage as he works his way back from a fractured hand.
- Ryan Mountcastle is still in the early stages of a hitting progression, but Hyde wasn’t sure if the Orioles first baseman will be back before the regular season is over. Mountcastle’s IL stint due to a sprained left wrist began on August 23, and he has hit .265/.305/.425 with 13 home runs in 485 PA. As Kubatko writes, the loss of Mountcastle’s steady production has been more glaring since first base replacement Ryan O’Hearn has been caught in an ugly slump.
whyhayzee
What the heck is Cole’s problem? He’s hitting half the team and the other half is hitting him. Good riddance.
Joe says...
I know you are usually just trolling but to give a serious answer I think he still has some lingering effect from the injury and isn’t completely healthy.
whyhayzee
I know he’s not full ability yet, but he was all over the place today. It’s kind of scary when you see all the injuries this year on hit batsmen.
Joe says...
He hasn’t looked good most of his starts this year. I thought it was rust at first but I think it’s more than that now.
whyhayzee
The IBB of Devers was weird. Maybe he just didn’t want to hit him again? Who knows.
Fever Pitch Guy
Hayzee – I thought perhaps he wanted to keep the no-hitter going.
JoeBrady
whyhayzee2 hours ago
The IBB of Devers was weird.
==========================
I don’t remember anyone ever issuing an IBB that early in the game. With no one on base? Someone gave SRO tickets, so I missed the play. I assumed it was another HBP. I never considered they’d give him an IBB.
tff17
I’d be a little surprised if his elbow weren’t still bothering him.
Fever Pitch Guy
Tff – He gave up only 7 earned runs combined over his prior 7 starts.
If his elbow hurt, it started just today.
I agree with the announcers, he’s mentally soft and Devers was in his head. Devers basically won this game all by himself, with an assist from Bello.
tff17
ML pitchers are rarely fully healthy. They pitch with pain until they can no longer do so effectively. Pitching well does not mean a pitcher is pain-free.
I’m still expecting Cole to require TJ surgery within a couple years. But that doesn’t significantly differentiate him from other hard-throwing pitchers his age. Very common for pitchers in their late 20s and early 30s.
JoeBrady
He was unhittable thru 3.
gbs42
“(Cole) is mentally soft”
The guy who’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball the last decade or so and won the Cy Young last set? Yeah, sure…
its_happening
Fever I think the Yankees made that call, and Cole wasn’t going to fight it at that point in the game. He should have, and if that’s where you find him mentally soft then I’d agree.
Fever Pitch Guy
Casas – I have to admit, Anthony can’t replace O’Neill fast enough.
BTW – Nice HR by Casas, hope he has turned it around now.
Fever Pitch Guy
tff – I agree they pitch with pain sometimes, but only if they know it won’t make the injury worse, or they do but they simply don’t care because they want a new contract (Gio) before the injury ruptures.
Perfect example is John Lackey.
In 2007 he had a league-leading 3.01 ERA.
In 2008 his ERA ballooned to 3.75
In 2009 his ERA went a little higher to 3.83
In 2010 his ERA went up even more to 4.40
Then in 2011 his ERA exploded to 6.41 and I was the only one here who figured he was injured, everyone else here lambasted him for sucking and insisted his career was over at Age 32.
Sure enough, after that season he admitted he was pitching hurt and he had surgery.
It is very, very rare for a pitcher to pitch his best when he’s in pain.
You could be right about Cole though, he probably will need TJ surgery eventually. Obviously his contract is on his mind right now, and that could have also factored in his decision to not pitch to Devers.
Fever Pitch Guy
gbs – Hopefully by now you’ve heard all the players, coaches, front offices, analysts etc talk about how weak Cole was for intentionally walking Devers.
Good pitchers win Cy Youngs sometimes.
Great pitchers never back down from a challenge, not just because of how it lo0ks but also because when you do that you empower the hitter and give him a psychological advantage.
gbs42
FPG,
Bad idea to issue the IBB? Sure. But one poor decision in a single plate appearance isn’t nearly enough to label someone “mentally soft.”
Fever Pitch Guy
gbs – I can agree it may not be a fair label to put on a pitcher based on two plate appearances (don’t forget Cole intentionally hit Devers in his first PA), but this IBB got a whole lot of attention for a reason. Giving up is something you just don’t see early in a game with the bases empty.
And Cole was never a big game pitcher to begin with, as his postseason performance has shown.
gbs42
“And Cole was never a big game pitcher to begin with, as his postseason performance has shown.”
Cole is 10-6 (.625 winning percentage) with a 2.93 ERA in 17 postseason starts. Over 104.1 IP, he has 134 Ks, 73 hits and 26 BB allowed (a 0.949 WHIP).
He’s given up 1.6 HR/9 compared to his regular-season mark of 1.0, but he’s still kept runs off the board at an impressive rate against the better offense that pitchers tend to face in the playoffs.
That’s a pretty strong postseason resume.
Bosin Rag
Is Jansen a hall of famer? Pending a decent run to that age-40/42 season I think he ought to be.
letitbelowenstein
I still can’t embrace a closer being in the HOF. They play 1/18th of a game every 3 days on average. I would probably make Mariano and Trevor (possibly Wagner) exceptions to the rule. But the fact that guys like Lee Smith are in is absurd.
whyhayzee
I think you may have a point. I wonder what the overall average of blown saves is over time throughout baseball. Even if it’s 25%, which seems high, you are putting someone in a pretty likely successful situation. That said, there is an effect on a team when their closer is really good and an equal effect on a team when the closer is bad.
troy
Not even Wilhelm and Gossage?
whyhayzee
Hoyt Wilhelm is an absolute Hall of Famer.
Texas Outlaw
@Letitbe Mo, Hoyt, Trevor, Goosage and Eck are the only closers who deserve in the Hall. They inspired fear in the opposition.
its_happening
Fingers
Claydagoat
The HOF still can’t embrace caring what you think.
Fever Pitch Guy
Let – Don’t go by Cora’s usage of Kenley!
Clase is on pace for over 72 innings/games, he pitches in nearly half of all his team’s games.
johnsilver
Modern times version of closers see why. Guys mentioned who go 1 inning and not dominant, except for like 8-10y run as 1IP guys early on.
Take older guys, The Gossage, Lee Smith, Fingers types who would go 2-3 innings real often, not to mention top 100 innings plus year after year? Those deserved HOF.
Jansen? Kimbrell, no. Same with guys like Wagner for instance who got in.
Fever Pitch Guy
john – Totally agree with you on current closers vs back in the day!
But here’s what some people don’t understand, the HOF is purely based on how each player performed in his era, how he compared to guys who played the same position at the same time as him.
So in other words, the HOF inducts those who were among the best at their position at the time they played. That’s why DH’s like David Ortiz and Edgar Martinez are in the HOF even though all they did was swing a bat 4-5 times a game.
troy
No doubt. Let’s say there’s three players from each position each decade worthy of the Hall—which is historically about the average. Kimbrel is obviously going in, so then there’s Jensen and at least one other.
Fever Pitch Guy
Rag – He’s a lock.
Lee Smith has only 32 more saves and his career ERA is 3.03 while Kenley’s is 2.58 so it’s a no-brainer.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Smith’s ERA+ was 132. Kenley is 154.
Fever Pitch Guy
YBC – I’m not a huge fan of ERA+ but I have to ask, why is an ERA+ above 100 better than average and an ERA+ below 100 worse than average?
Makes zero sense that a metric which piggybacks ERA goes in the opposite direction of ERA. Perhaps they should have named it something different that doesn’t include “ERA” in the name? As we all know, higher numbers don’t always equate to better ;O)
tff17
Take the reciprocal and you get ERA-… Basically the same thing.
Fever Pitch Guy
Tff – So if the Sox go 8-4 and the Twins go 4-9 then Sox will jump ahead of them because of the tie-breaker!!
BTW today Joe Castig announced he’s done after this season, he’s had it with the team. Same thing with Eck a couple years ago, it’s no longer enjoyable calling Sox games. Sad, I will miss Castig.
whyhayzee
Why the heck is Tim Hill in the game? He’s already at his career high in innings, Dr. Boonedoggle.
Acoss1331
Just shut down DJ for the rest of the year since everyone knows Cashman won’t DFA him. He definitely doesn’t need to be on the playoff roster he brings absolutely nothing of value to the team, offensively and defensively.
larkraxm
It does not make sense to DFA DJ. He has too long left on his contract to not see if he has anything left in the tank next spring. If he has another down year, then he might be a DFA candidate in the last year of his deal. Shutting him down and letting him get healthy and have a full off season program is the play.
LordD99
You did not choose wisely, Kenley.
MLB-1971
Lord – He probably picked the biggest pay check, so for him personally, you can NOT say he ‘did not choose wisely’! Most people commenting on this site assume players always take the biggest offer. Many of the players do.
all in the suit that you wear
Jansen said he had a blast playing in Boston, so it looks like he chose wisely.
C Yards Jeff
I wouldn’t characterize Mouncastle’s production as “steady”. However his propensity to chase sliders seems pretty “steady”.
King Floch
He’s not a star but he has been an above average hitter in every season of his career so far.
C Yards Jeff
Agree to disagree on this one Floch. He can put up some stats but since Mt. Walltimore was built, he seems to be more streaky and tends to struggle in clutch situations.
King Floch
He’s always been streaky, even before the LF wall was moved back but the sum total of his work is that of a firmly above average hitter.
We would be lucky to get him back this year, and the sooner the better.
C Yards Jeff
Not clutch. Trade him. See what you can get for him.
King Floch
I’m fine with shopping him in the offseason and going with Kjerstad or Mayo at 1B next year, but we need offense right now and he can definitely provide that.
C Yards Jeff
Hope your right KFloch and hope I’m wrong.
cooperhill
Mountcastle needs toughen up lessons from Cal!
RedFraggle
O’s injury issues have been pretty significant this year… Bautista still missing from last season. Means, Wells, Bradish, Rodriguez all missing from the starting rotation. Urias, Mountcastle, Westburg all missing from the starting lineup. Coulombe and Webb also gone from the relievers.
C Yards Jeff
Under 500 since late June. No sign of a bounce back. Are they in danger of getting edged out of post season play?
YankeesBleacherCreature
Nope. They’ve got a 4.5 game lead on the WC.
Magnoiabuck
I think Mounty is done for the year and as an O in the future.
We need the bats to come alive for the playoffs and this bad streak of baseball will be forgotten.
eddiemurraysafro
DJ was such a good signing when the Yankees got him but boy he’s been hurt most of the contract.
@bogie2X
eddiemurraysafro
Ellsbury, Hicks, Stanton, LeMahieu, I wonder how long Judge will last…
( at least Ellsbury had his best years with the Red Sox and won the 2013 World Series, which cannot but please )
tff17
Judge stands out on that list. Most hitters don’t do much from the age of 32 on, but if anybody is likely to be an exception to that rule it would be Judge.
@bogie2X
tff17
The question is how much longer Judge can play on the field – a year, two, three…
I think when Stanton’s contract expires in 2028, Judge will be the designated hitter full time.
Just forgot, Ellsbury won 2 World Series with the Red Sox (2007, 2013)
@bogie2X
tff17
I don’t envy the Yankees the position they’re in right now.
The last World Series win dates back to 2009 and every year the pressure from the fans gets stronger, if they don’t win this season their veterans will be another year older and what do we have for 2025
Judge (CF/RF) 33 Age, FA – 2032, $40 m AAV
Cole (SP) 34 Age FA – 2029 $36 m AAV ( has refusal
after 2024 )
Rodon (SP) 32 Age FA – 2029 $27 m AAV
Stanton (DH) 35 Age FA – 2028/2029 (club option 2029)
$22 m AAV
LeMahieu (UTL) 36 Age FA – 2027 $15 m AAV
Stroman (SP) 34 Age FA – 2027 $18.5 m AAV (vesting opt
2026)
Cortes (SP) 30 Age FA – 2026 3rd Arb $8 m AAV
Trevino (C) 32 Age FA – 2026 3rd Arb $4 m AAV
Chisholm (3B) 27 Age FA – 2027 2nd Arb $4 m AAV
Schmidt (SP) 29 Age FA – 2027 2nd Arb $4 m AAV
Weaver (RP) 31 Age FA – 2026 $2 m AAV (club opt
2025)
Hicks $10 m AAV 2025
__________________________________________
190.5 m allocated to players for 2025 unless Cole opts out after 2024 (doubt)…
Soto (RF) FA, Torres (2B) FA, Verdugo (LF) FA, Holmes (CL) FA, Kahnle (RP) FA, Rizzo club opt $17 m AAV 2025
I think that Grisham (OF) 3 Arb – $7/8 m and Berti (2B) 4 Arb $5 m –
will be non-tenders…
Yankees Needs in 2025:
2B, LF, CL, RHP, LHP, 4th OF
If they go for Soto, this is a 50 m AAB minimum, which will be with 190.5 million allocated for the players mentioned above + 15 million for pre-arbitration – 255.5 million and in this case they still need a closer, a second baseman, a left reliever, a right reliever, 4th outfielder, first baseman.
This will be a potentially old team with 300 million in year 2025 to compete for the division.
And I don’t see any help from the Yankees farm in 2025 other than Dominguez, that’s how bad the Yankees farm is.
I think they’re in an even worse situation than the Red Sox were after 2019.
This whole situation described above leads to bloated payrolls and a lean farm from which you cannot get help.
Therefore, Red Sox fans should be glad where the club is at the moment and every time they shout why they didn’t acquire a player with an inflated contract, I suggest you read this post and think…
tff17
Judge doesn’t have much defensive value left, so a move to DH doesn’t change much. When you can hit like he does, you don’t need to contribute anything on defense to be a great player.
@bogie2X
tff17
I agree with you.
But what, I meant is that if Judge can’t play in the field in a year or two, DH spot locked up by Stanton for least another 3 years.
tff17
They could simply release Stanton. He has hit just .212/.289/.452 over the last three years combine, with negative baserunning value and negative defensive value. A total of +1.1 WAR, perhaps, but compare that to Refsnyder’s last three years of hitting .278/.368/.428 with neutral baserunning and less negative defense for +2.6 WAR?
If the money were equal, you would have to take Refsnyder ahead of Stanton. At some point the big contract is no longer sufficient reason to keep Stanton around.
@bogie2X
tff17
If the money were equal, you would have to take Refsnyder ahead of Stanton. At some point the big contract is no longer sufficient reason to keep Stanton around.
________________________________________
This won’t happen.
Stanton is hitting home runs and has 3 years to reach the 500 career home run plateau and enter the Hall of Fame.
Of course, if he doesn’t fall off a cliff like Miguel Cabrera, then it would make sense to cut the bait.
tff17
I struggle to see Stanton as a HOF player. I doubt he will reach 500 HR, but even if he were to do so he would be well short of the usual standards.
jerseyjohn
I appreciate DJL’s professionalism but… He looks cooked. I want him nowhere near the playoff roster or Boone will actually start him. I think he gets about 60 games next year to produce or he’ll be cut and the team will eat the remaining partial season and 2026 year of his deal. He hit the wall harder and faster than anticipated but at least it’s not the Rendon deal.
yanks2323
I would interpret Boone’s non answer as DJ cannot help the team if he is healthy! He’s a detriment to them right now.
JoeBrady
An IBB in the 4th inning, with no one on base, is one of the strangest calls I have ever seen. I wonder if that led to Cole’s meltdown.
all in the suit that you wear
Joe: Not sure if you know, but Cole made the call for the IBB himself. He put up 4 fingers and waived toward first base.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Cole mentioned in his post-game that Devers owns him and they’ve talked about it prior to the start. Still an interesting move since Cole is a known competitor unless he wasn’t confident in his stuff which was evident in the game.
JoeBrady
The pitcher is always the one who puts up the fingers. This was discussed between him and Boone. Regardless, I’ve never seen that done before.
MLB-1971
All in – agreed, Cole had given up 8 HRs to Devers in something like 39 at bats. Cora’s comment was something like ‘fans pay to see players compete, and that is what the game is all about’. It was not the type of move an MLB pitcher makes especially when you are the Yankee ‘ace’ with a $324 million contract.
Cole intentionally hit Devers in the first at bat, and he intentionally walked in the the second. lol, Boone should just arrange his pitching rotation so that big money Cole never has to face the Red Sox again. lol
Nosferatu Zodd
It’s been frustrating being an Orioles fan as they have basically been treading water last 2 months. Still getting back pieces over the next few weeks will help. Last years pennent winner both barely got in. So getting right at the right time is all that matters.
AL34
I went to game yesterday but this team is done. No way they make the playoffs. The Red Sox need hitting and a second baseman and a first baseman who can deliver the league average with homeruns. The hitting is terrible with O’Neill and Devers the only guys who can hit homeruns. They need starting pitching, better relievers and have a 5th rate GM and an owner in Cheap Mode. Unless there are major upgrades this team will be the same next year. They are hoping the rookies who are at major league minimum are going to carry this team to the playoffs. This is Boston not Tampa. We are a major market baseball city. I guess it is “Full Throttle” 2 this offseason. We have had two GMs who are in over their heads. I am not confident at all but three years in a row of mediocrity is not good for fans or ticket sales.
@bogie2X
AL34
I don’t think Red Sox management, after signing Price and Sale, will be handing out 5+ year contracts to 30 year old pitchers.
Most likely this offseason, a starting pitcher will be in the deal and perhaps a Buehler-type rebuild protector.
SP 2025 Red Sox
1. Houck
2. Trade
3. Bello
4. Crawford
5. Giolito
6. Criswell
SP depth:
Fitts, Priester, Dobbins, Wikelman, I.Coffey
RP:
First line: Hendriks, Slaten, LHP ( maybe Scott), Whitlock, possible return of Martin or Closer
Second line: Guerrero, Penrod, Kelly, Weissert, Booser
Third line: Winckowski
I think the priority will be to extend Hawk, so we won’t see Burns or Fried, I would like the Red Sox to go for Sasaki, but I have big doubts…
AL34
Not excited at all for this offseason! Years ago it was exciting with Dombroski as a GM and even Theo. Not impressed with ownership the last several years and with Bloom or Breslow. I just don’t see them doing much this offseason. They will jerk O’Neill around where he signs somewhere else. Our pitchers do not go deep into games which kills the bullpen over the season. Whitlock is hurt all the time and needs to be moved back to the bullpen. Jensen will probably leave then they have to get a closer I guess. The team needs too much and I just do not think Breslow is the guy to fix this mess. Three years in a row they have swooned in the second half. I predicted that they would only win 75 games this year so I was wrong about that.
JoeBrady
I would like the Red Sox to go for Sasaki,
==========================
That would be the HR, but is he coming out?
Bruin1012
Al you do realize that Casas has 39 homer in 793 plate appearances and that’s including the really slow start he had last year. That’s 30 hr plus per year out of your first baseman. He just needs to stay healthy he has as much or more power than anyone on the team.
Fever Pitch Guy
Bruin – I totally agree! With him it’s either mental or physical, both of which can be corrected next year. I’m not worried about his hitting at all.
AL34
Jensen wants to play for a contender. However unless the Red Sox do a lot of maneuvering in the offseason, this team is not a contender. We’re a 500 team with an owner who is not hungry anymore and a GM in over his head. I don’t see them being major “shakers and movers” in the offseason. They will continue to pick up players on the cheap with a possible high upside. They will probably jerk O’Neill around on a contract and he will go elsewhere.
@bogie2X
AL34
I don’t see them being major “shakers and movers” in the offseason. They will continue to pick up players on the cheap with a possible high upside. They will probably jerk O’Neill around on a contract and he will go elsewhere.
________________________________________
It’s unlikely the Red Sox will be “shakers and movers” in the 2024-2025 offseason; they don’t need to, but Breslow could make smart moves that would improve this team by adding two SPs – a No. 2 trade and a No. 3 FA – and a pair of solid relievers right-handed . /left-handed, qualify the offer – O’Neill, second catcher – more than 60 million will come out of books after 2024 and this money should be enough to meet the needs in 2025
tff17
Those are some significant moves, especially in contrast to what the front office has done the last few winters.
If they spend that $60M effectively, they can get the job done. If they cut payroll again, begrudgingly giving Breslow $20M or $30M to work with, then he won’t be able to fill all the needs.
AL34
Those are a lot of moves. Two starting pitchers, relief help. This team cannot punch their way out of a paper bag either. I don’t see Breslow getting the budget to fix this mess from Henry. Plus I don’t think he is a great GM either. Three years of mediocrity and probably going into a 4th year.
@bogie2X
AL34
More of a mess from Bloom, just look at my post on how he mismanaged the budget in 2022 and 2023
The Red Sox could get one starting pitcher in a trade.
For example, they could improve SP position by adding Crawford to Abreu.in 2025.
@bogie2X
tff17
Begrudgingly giving Breslow $20M or $30M to work with, then he won’t be able to fill all the needs.
_____________________________________________
Payroll spent by Bloom on free agents and internal candidates 2021-2023;
2021;
Richards (SP) – $10 m AAV
Ottavino (RP) – $7,22 m AAV
Kike (CF/2B) – $7 m AAV
Perez (SP) – $5 m AAV
Schwarber (LF/1B) – $3,55 m AAV
Renfroe (RF) – $3,1 m AAV
M.Gonzalez (UTL) – $3 m AAV
Andriese (RP) – $1,85 m AAV
Santana (UTL) – $1,75 m AAV
Sawamura (RP) – $1,5 m AAV
Robles (RP), Brice (RP), Davis (RP), J.Iglesias(2B/SS), T.Shaw (1B) – $1,15 m AAV ( more than $45 million )
2022;
Story (SS) – $23,33 m AAV
Bradley (CF) – $12 m AAV
Paxton (SP) – $10 m AAV
Barnes (RP) – $9,37 m AAV
Wacha (SP) – $7 m AAV
R.Hill (SP) – $5 m AAV
Strahm (LHRP) – $3 m AAV
Diekman (LHRP) – $2,25 m AAV
Robles (RP) – $2,25 m AAV
C.Hamilton (C), McGee (P), Reed (RP), Norwood (P), Refsnyder (OF), Danish (RP), T.Shaw (1B), McGuire (C), Hosmer (1B), Familia (RP) – $4,7 m AAV ( $78,9 million )
2023;
Yoshida (LF/DH) – $18 m AAV
K.Jansen (CL) – $16 m AAV
Turner (DH/1B) – $10,85 m AAV
Kluber (SP) – $10 m AAV
Kike (UTL) – $8,9 m AAV
Duvall (OF) – $7 m AAV
Martin (RP) – $6,75 m AAV
Barnes (RP) – $4,87 m AAV
Whitlock (P) – $4,69 m AAV
Paxton (SP) – $4 m AAV
Mondesi (SS) – $3 m AAV
J.Rodriguez (RP) – $2 m AAV
Tapia (OF) – $2m AAV
L.Urias (INF) – $1,5 m AAV
Refsnyder (OF) – $1,2 m AAV
Chang (SS), Reyes (INF), Hosmer (1B), Gillaspie (P), N.Song (P), Jacques (RP), Garza (RP), W.Mills (RP) – $4,15 m AAV ( $104, 91 m AAV )
Bloom spent on free agents, extensions of internal candidates;
2021 – $45,12 m
2022 – $78,9 m
2023 – $104,91 m
As we can see from this data, in the first year after the luxury tax reset in 2020, Bloom spent over 45 million and onwards
The payroll for free agents and internal candidates rose to 104.91 million in 2023.
Obviously, Breslow was limited financially this offseason thanks to Bloom – the contracts of Storey, Yoshi, Jansen, Martin tied his hands and he could count on more finances.
I think he will receive more financial help in the 2024/2025 offseason, after 60 million comes out of the 2024 books.
Note that free agent payroll under Bloom from 2021 to 2023 is up 80% in 2022 and another 30% in 2023