Arbitration Breakdown: Max Scherzer
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-max-scherzer.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … The current record raise for an arbitration eligible starting pitcher with five years of service time is now seven years old.
Arbitration Breakdown: Cishek, Jansen, Holland, Frieri
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-cishek-jansen-holland-and-frieri.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … The league is full of young closers nowadays, and they all seem to be entering their first year of arbitration at the same time.
Arbitration Breakdown: Giancarlo Stanton
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-giancarlo-stanton.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … Giancarlo Stanton has the types of skills that arbitration often rewards most, which is good news as he heads into his first year of eligibility.
Arbitration Breakdown: David Price
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-david-price.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … After earning $10.1125MM this past season, David Price already seems to be pretty close to uncharted territory for his third year of arbitration eligibility.
Mets Notes: Aceves, Collins, Alderson, Peralta
2013/11/mets-notes-alderson-peralta-boras.htmlThe manager expects his team to also look at adding some starting pitching and adopt "the Red Sox model" of signing multiple mid-tier free agents No one will take the Mets seriously until they spend money and sign a free agent, writes David Lennon of Newsday. … Is Ike Davis on his way out of New York? Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that a deal involving Davis appears likely while Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported yesterday that the Orioles, Astros, Rays, Rockies, and Brewers are all interested.
Arbitration Breakdown: Jim Johnson
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-jim-johnson.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … Despite a slow start due to an awful May, Jim Johnson put together another big year as the Orioles' closer.
Arbitration Breakdown: Bailey and Masterson
2013/11/arbitration-breakdown-bailey-and-masterson.htmlI will rely partly on my arbitration model developed exclusively for MLB Trade Rumors, but will also break out some interesting comparables and determine where the model might be wrong. … Both Justin Masterson (pictured) and Homer Bailey enter their third year of arbitration with relatively similar credentials this year, and both are projected to get very similar raises around $4MM.
Mets Notes: Free Agency, Shortstops, Braun
2013/11/mets-notes-free-agency-shortstops-braun.htmlThere's been a lot of talk about the Mets following the "Red Sox model" of signing multiple mid-tier free agents to shorter-term deals without sacrificing draft picks this season, but Matt Meyers of ESPNNewYork.com writes that this model won't work for the Mets. … New York doesn't have a positional core like Boston had in Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz, nor can the team match Boston's $150MM payroll.
Latest On Max Scherzer
2013/12/max-scherzer-unlikely-to-be-extended-or-traded.htmlIn the wake of last month's Prince Fielder trade, GM Dave Dombrowski suggested the savings might make an extension for Scherzer more "possible," but stopped short of calling a new deal "probable." Scherzer is slated to earn about $13.6MM in arbitration for 2014, according to Matt Swartz's projection model. … 11:14am: Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports offers a different take (on Twitter), as sources have indicated to him that Scherzer is "definitely in play." While nothing is imminent, says Passan, teams are aware that Scherzer can be had.
Quick Hits: Rays, Kimbrel, Weeks, Kalish, Madson
2013/12/quick-hits-rays-young-weeks-kalish-madson.htmlKimbrel is about to get much more expensive now that he's eligible for arbitration, to the point that Kimbrel's incredible statistics "broke" the arbitration projection model used by MLBTR's Matt Swartz. … If Loney signs elsewhere, Topkin expects the Rays to acquire a first baseman in a trade rather than in free agency.
Red Sox Notes: Lester, Drew, Tanaka
2013/12/red-sox-notes-lester-drew-tanaka.htmlLester will be 31 on Opening Day 2015, so MacPherson uses the age 31-34 years of Cole Hamels' contract as…… While Lester re-established his value in the postseason and the Sox have been willing to lock up homegrown players, MacPherson also wonders if the club is confident enough in its young pitching depth to let Lester go rather than pay him a big salary through that would be his decline years.
Olney On Selig, MLBPA, Key Contract Situations
2014/01/olney-on-selig-mlbpa-front-offices-contract-situations.htmlFinally, says Olney, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel is set to reach new heights in arbitration salary -- indeed, his unique statline has already busted MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz's arbitration model -- that could force Atlanta to consider a trade. … In Buster Olney's New Year's Day column (Insider link), the ESPN senior writer covered his ten top MLB storylines for the coming year.
Arbitration Roundup, Part II: Notable Deals And Cases
2014/01/arbitration-roundup-part-ii-notable-deals-notable-cases.html(As always, you will want to reference the projections from the arbitration model of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.) Let's take a quick look back, and then a quick look forward: Notable Deals The most interesting signings of the day included: Starter Max Scherzer of the Tigers landed far and away the biggest one-year jump of a 5+ service year hurler. … With the day's arbitration activities complete, the filterable MLBTR Arbitration Tracker now has a full set of information for your perusal.
Rays Sign Grant Balfour
2014/01/rays-to-sign-grant-balfour.htmlHe has been a model of consistency over that time frame as well, as his ERA has not strayed above the 2.59 mark. … 27: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets some more specifics on the breakdown of Balfour's contract.
Freddie Freeman And The Changing Extension Market
2014/02/freddie-freeman-and-the-changing-extension-market.htmlFreddie Freeman's eight-year, $135MM extension, signed as he entered his first of three years of arbitration eligibility, certainly appears to present a new model for extensions. … As I noted yesterday in writing up the signing (along with MLBTR's Steve Adams), the deal wants for ready comparables.
MLBTR Originals
2014/02/mlbtr-originals-1-2.html"Having said that, we are excited and very encouraged with Joel's progress." Jeff Todd explored how Freddie Freeman's eight-year, $135MM deal may be the new contract extension model for players on the cusp of being arbitration eligible. … Mike Dillon of Reynolds Sports Management, who represents right-handed reliever Joel Hanrahan, told MLBTR reports his client would hold a workout for clubs this past week were inaccurate.
Braves, Kimbrel Could Be Nearing Extension
2014/02/braves-kimbrel-could-be-nearing-extension.htmlIn fact, Kimbrel's numbers to date have been so impressive that they actually proved to be an exception to Swartz's carefully crafted model. … The Braves and Craig Kimbrel could be on the verge of avoiding arbitration by agreeing to an extension, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com (on Twitter).
Braves, Craig Kimbrel Agree To Extension
2014/02/braves-craig-kimbrel-agree-to-extension.htmlIn fact, Kimbrel's numbers to date have been so impressive that they actually proved to be an exception to Swartz's carefully crafted model. … 9:39am: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) has the full breakdown of Kimbrel's deal.
How Much Would Kimbrel Have Earned In Arbitration?
2014/02/how-much-would-kimbrel-have-earned-in-arbitration.htmlBack in October, MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz explained that Braves closer Craig Kimbrel has been so good in his first three seasons, he broke our arbitration projection model. … We eventually decided to create a special rule because of Kimbrel, which limits a player's raise to $1MM beyond the previous record for his player type.
Free Agent Notes: Byrdak, Johan, Blue Jays, Martis
2014/02/free-agent-notes-byrdak-johan-blue-jays-martis.htmlHe posted an image of a handwritten flyer on his Twitter account earlier today, advertising himself to GMs as a "high mileage but very serviceable," "late model LHR" that "comes with warranty" (via ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin). … As MLBTR's Tim Dierkes reported today (Twitter links), some of the four remaining draft-compensation free agents may prefer to wait until after the draft to sign than agree to a sub-market deal.
Offseason In Review: San Francisco Giants
2014/03/offseason-in-review-san-francisco-giants.htmlNevertheless, the 15-year MLB veteran has been a model of consistent excellence, having logged just two seasons in which he allowed more than four earned runs per nine innings. … Major League Signings Tim Hudson, RHP: Two years, $23MM.