MLBPA Drops Push For Universal Two-Year Arbitration, Expands Pre-Arb Bonus Pool In Latest CBA Offer
4:47 pm: MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes observes (on Twitter) that the union’s proposed Super Two expansion — had it been in effect this winter — would have gotten around 79 more players to their first year of arbitration. However, Dierkes notes that MLB seemingly remains unwilling to alter the existing Super Two setup in any form.
1:18 pm: Today’s collective bargaining meeting between representatives from the league and the MLB Players Association lasted only 15 minutes, though deputy commissioner Dan Halem and MLBPA chief negotiator Bruce Meyer continued speaking in a side meeting for about 20 minutes afterward (according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich).
The session appeared to center around two new proposals put forward by the union, as per several reporters (including ESPN’s Jeff Passan and The Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes). The MLBPA had been looking to move the qualifying threshold for arbitration eligibility to two-plus years of service time rather than the current threshold of three-plus years plus all Super Two-eligible players. Now, the union has now dropped that demand and replaced it with a large increase in the number of players who would be eligible for Super Two status. In the previous CBA, the top 22 percent of players who had between two and three years of service time became Super Two-eligible, and thus eligible for a fourth year of salary arbitration — today’s proposal saw the MLBPA ask that 80 percent of players now qualify as Super Twos.
In addition, the union also actually increased the amount of the bonus pool it wants devoted to pre-arbitration players. Whereas the MLBPA began with a $105MM figure and lowered it to $100MM in subsequent talks with the owners, the union has now bumped that asking price up to $115MM. This number reflects the larger number of players that the MLBPA wants to be eligible for extra money in this bonus pool, with the union wanting the top 150 players as averaged by fWAR and bWAR. In the owners’ previous offer, the top 30 pre-arb players would be eligible for a $15MM bonus pool.
Whether these changes by the MLBPA constitute a significant move in MLB’s direction will, of course, lie in the eye of the beholder. Simply moving from all two+ players being arbitration eligible to 80% of them could move a large amount of money toward MLB, and likely is viewed by the players as a significant concession.
Given how the league has been adamantly against any changes to arbitration eligibility, the MLBPA’s request for such a big increase in Super Two eligibility is likely to be flatly denied. Where this might lead, however, is some increase in the Super Two threshold whatsoever. Even if the 80% number is viewed by MLB as an extreme ask, if the owners counter with a smaller increase, the two sides might eventually find some level of acceptable common ground between 22% and 80%.
Getting the league to budge even slightly off their position of not altering the arbitration eligibility would count as some level of a win for the union, as it would help achieve their goal of getting more money to players at an earlier point in their careers. It would also set impacted players up for more money through the arbitration process as a whole, given the larger number of players getting a fourth arb year and then subsequent raises in their other three arb years.
The increase in the bonus pool figure is tied to both the Super Two ask and that broader “get more money to more younger players” goal. Because that $115MM would now be spread over 150 players instead of $100MM over 30 players, more pre-arbitration players would get some extra cash. However, as observed by Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, this overall proposal from the union actually counts as a concession to the owners, since it would somewhat lower the bar for future arbitration cases in general.
The MLBPA did not alter their previous demands for increases to the luxury tax (to $245MM for the initial threshold) and to the minimum salary (to $775K), according to The Score’s Travis Sawchik. Beyond the 80% Super Two demand and the $115MM bonus pool, it doesn’t appear as if the union made any other changes from its previous offers — and as for today’s new proposal, the league “was not excited,” Janes tweets. It isn’t known when the two sides will next meet in regards to the bigger-picture economic issues or when MLB might counter the players’ current offer, though Janes reports that the league and MLBPA are slated to meet tomorrow to talk about non-economic issues.
Blue Jays “Very Interested” In Tyler Mahle Prior To Lockout
4:29 pm: The Jays also had interest in Gray and Castillo before the lockout, tweets Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. That’s hardly a surprise, given that all three Cincinnati arms figure to draw plenty of attention from rival clubs whenever the transactions freeze ends.
12:51 pm: The Blue Jays had Tyler Mahle on their radar as a trade target before the lockout, as TSN’s Scott Mitchell hears from a source that the Jays “were very interested” in the Reds right-hander. The exact timing of the Jays’ interest isn’t specified, or whether or not the club may have moved on from big-ticket pitching acquisitions after signing Kevin Gausman.
Cincinnati GM Nick Krall began the offseason with a quick trade of catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers, and followed that deal up with his now somewhat infamous statement that the Reds “must align our payroll to our resources and continue focusing on scouting and developing young talent from within our system.” Wade Miley (who had a $10MM club option for 2022) was then placed on waivers and claimed by the Cubs, thus sparking even more speculation about just how much payroll the Reds were looking to shed.
As such, players like Mahle, Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and many other veteran Reds players were immediately seen as trade candidates, even though Cincinnati didn’t make any other overt cost-cutting transactions before the lockout hit. As MLBTR’s Anthony Franco speculated last month, it could be that between the Barnhart/Miley moves and Nick Castellanos‘ likely free agent departure, the Reds might have already gotten their finances in order. On top of that, the Reds were reportedly open to discussing Gray in trade talks but not either Mahle or Castillo.
This isn’t to say that the Reds wouldn’t at least listen if Toronto or another team came calling with a big offer, and if the Reds still had designs on contending in 2022, the Blue Jays could offer some combination of both young talent and big league-ready pieces. Cincinnati would likely only accept such a significant trade package for Mahle given that he is both controlled through the 2023 season and coming off the strongest of his five years in the majors.
The 27-year-old righty has been both durable (227 2/3 innings) and effective since the start of the 2020 season, posting a 3.72 ERA and a 28.3% strikeout rate, though Mahle’s 8.9% walk rate was below the league average. Mahle did have strong fastball spin rates in both seasons, and 2021 saw Mahle post far and away the best hard-hit ball rate of his career.
Mahle seems overqualified for a fourth or fifth starter role, yet that might be where he lines up in a Toronto rotation that also consists of Gausman, Jose Berrios, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Alek Manoah. Ross Stripling is penciled in as the fifth starter for the moment, though as Mitchell notes, Stripling “profiles better as a swingman and spot starter” than as a regular rotation member. Top prospect Nate Pearson is likely going to be on an innings limit after two injury-plagued seasons, so while a Pearson/Stripling combo isn’t bad on paper, the Jays might prefer to shift both pitchers into depth roles and cement their rotation by adding some sort of veteran starter, perhaps even one as accomplished as Mahle.
While it remains to be seen if Cincinnati will ultimately deal any of its three starters, the fact that all three may be available to some degree gives the Reds some leverage in talks. In that sense, the Jays aren’t only bidding against other teams interested in Mahle, but also against what other teams (like the Dodgers or Angels) might offer the Reds for Castillo and/or Gray. Given how aggressive Toronto GM Ross Atkins has been in searching out pitching options over the last few years, it is probably safe to assume that the Jays have also checked in on obtaining Castillo or Gray, though only the Blue Jays front office knows which Cincinnati starter is their chief target.
Eric Kay Convicted Of Drug Distribution Resulting In Death Of Tyler Skaggs
A Fort Worth jury has convicted former Angels communications director Eric Kay on charges of distributing fentanyl resulting in the death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs. Kay was also convicted on a charge of conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances (via T.J. Quinn of ESPN and Sam Blum of the Athletic).
Skaggs passed away on July 1, 2019 after a drug overdose. The jury determined beyond a reasonable doubt that Kay was responsible for supplying Skaggs with the drugs that led to his death, as well as that the distribution occurred in Texas (where the Angels were playing a road series against the Rangers).
Throughout the trial, five more former Angels players (C.J. Cron, Matt Harvey, Mike Morin, Cam Bedrosian and Blake Parker) testified they’d received opiates from Kay during their time in Anaheim. Harvey admitted he’d also supplied Percocet pills to Skaggs — for which he’s reportedly facing possible suspension by MLB — but the jury found that Kay had given Skaggs the drugs that resulted in his death.
Kay will return to court for sentencing on June 28. He faces a minimum of twenty years in prison.
Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
At some point, the MLB lockout will end and teams will be scrambling to address their arbitration eligible players. We’ve updated this post, removing players no longer on 40-man rosters. We’ve also moved traded players to the correct teams and added official service time as well as notes for pre-tender agreements.
Matt Swartz has created a model to project salaries for arbitration eligible players, which we’ve been publishing at MLB Trade Rumors for 11 years.
In the baseball industry, teams and agents determine arbitration salaries by identifying comparable players. To project the entire arbitration class in this way would take a massive amount of time and effort. So, Matt has developed an algorithm to project arbitration salaries that looks at the player’s playing time, position, role, and performance statistics while accounting for inflation. The performance of comparable players matters, but our system is not directly selecting comps for each individual player.
As a disclaimer, I should note that our projections are not to be used as a scorecard for the agent and team on an individual player level. A player doing better or worse than our projection isn’t indicative of anything. Our arbitration projections are created as a tool for our readers to get a general idea of a team’s payroll situation.
The Super Two cutoff is 2.116 in Major League service time. The service time figures below are official. We’ll make adjustments to any projection below the league minimum salary, once a new minimum is established. Also, please note that contracts signed prior to the non-tender deadline aren’t generally considered to be normal arbitration comparables.
If you find MLBTR’s arbitration projections useful, please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Angels (3)
- Max Stassi (5.049) – $2.7MM
- Mike Mayers (4.020) – $2.2MM
- Tyler Wade (3.088) – $700K
Astros (6)
- Rafael Montero (5.138) – $3.1MM
- Aledmys Diaz (5.100) – $4.0MM
- Phil Maton (4.047) – $1.4MM
- Ryne Stanek (4.038) – $2.1MM
- Josh James (3.005) – $700K
- Framber Valdez (2.163) – $3.2MM
Athletics (10)
- Sean Manaea (5.157) – $10.2MM
- Chris Bassitt (5.130) – $8.8MM
- Chad Pinder (5.047) – $2.8MM. Signed for $2.725MM prior to NT deadline
- Matt Chapman (4.109) – $9.5MM
- Matt Olson (4.103) – $12.0MM
- Tony Kemp (4.098) – $2.2MM. Signed for $2.25MM prior to NT deadline
- Frankie Montas (4.015) – $5.2MM
- Lou Trivino (3.163) – $2.9MM
- Deolis Guerra (3.071) – $900K. Signed for $815K prior to NT deadline
- Ramon Laureano (3.014) – $2.8MM
Blue Jays (10)
- Ross Stripling (5.115) – $4.4MM
- Teoscar Hernandez (4.097) – $10.0MM
- Adam Cimber (3.156) – $1.5MM
- Trevor Richards (3.084) – $1.1MM
- Ryan Borucki (3.066) – $800K
- Danny Jansen (3.050) – $1.5MM
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2.157) – $7.9MM
- Tim Mayza (2.156) – $1.2MM
- Trent Thornton (2.150) – $900K
- Cavan Biggio (2.129) – $1.7MM
Braves (10)
- Adam Duvall (5.151) – $9.1MM
- Dansby Swanson (5.047) – $10.1MM
- Luke Jackson (5.019) – $3.8MM
- Guillermo Heredia (4.112) – $1.6MM. Signed for $1MM prior to NT deadline
- A.J. Minter (3.154) – $2.1MM
- Max Fried (3.148) – $7.1MM
- Mike Soroka (3.146) – $2.8MM
- Sean Newcomb (3.123) – $900K
- Tyler Matzek (3.019) – $1.5MM
- Austin Riley (2.138) – $4.3MM
Brewers (12)
- Jace Peterson (5.142) – $1.3MM. Signed for $1.825MM prior to NT deadline
- Omar Narvaez (5.089) – $4.1MM
- Hunter Renfroe (4.165) – $7.6MM
- Brent Suter (4.161) – $2.3MM
- Josh Hader (4.115) – $10.0MM
- Brandon Woodruff (3.161) – $7.1MM
- Willy Adames (3.105) – $4.0MM
- Corbin Burnes (3.049) – $4.0MM
- Eric Lauer (3.033) – $2.7MM
- Jandel Gustave (3.027) – $800K. Signed for $675K prior to NT deadline
- Adrian Houser (3.010) – $2.3MM
- Rowdy Tellez (3.004) – $1.9MM. Signed for $1.94MM prior to NT deadline
- Luis Urias (2.120) – $2.4MM
Cardinals (7)
- Alex Reyes (4.056) – $3.3MM
- Harrison Bader (4.030) – $3.7MM
- Jack Flaherty (4.006) – $5.1MM
- Jordan Hicks (4.000) – $1.0MM
- Giovanny Gallegos (3.085) – $2.8MM
- Dakota Hudson (3.066) – $1.7MM
- Tyler O’Neill (3.059) – $3.5MM
Cubs (3)
- Willson Contreras (5.108) – $8.7MM
- Ian Happ (4.036) – $6.5MM
- Harold Ramirez (2.124) – $1.6MM
Diamondbacks (7)
- Luke Weaver (4.112) – $2.7MM
- Noe Ramirez (4.083) – $1.8MM. Signed for $1.25MM prior to NT deadline
- Caleb Smith (4.078) – $2.1MM. Signed for $2MM prior to NT deadline
- Carson Kelly (3.161) – $3.0MM
- Christian Walker (3.124) – $2.7MM
- Jordan Luplow (3.112) – $1.5MM
- J.B. Wendelken (3.028) – $900K. Signed for $835K prior to NT deadline
Dodgers (4)
- Trea Turner (5.135) – $19.8MM
- Cody Bellinger (4.160) – $16.1MM. Signed for $17MM prior to NT deadline
- Julio Urias (4.117) – $8.8MM
- Caleb Ferguson (3.093) – $700K
Giants (7)
- Dominic Leone (5.168) – $1.5MM
- Curt Casali (5.151) – $2.0MM
- Darin Ruf (4.138) – $2.6MM
- Jarlin Garcia (4.114) – $1.8MM. Signed for $1.725MM prior to NT deadline
- John Brebbia (4.078) – $1.0MM. Signed for $837.5K prior to NT deadline
- Austin Slater (3.147) – $2.0MM. Signed for $1.85MM prior to NT deadline
- Mike Yastrzemski (2.128) – $3.1MM
Guardians (7)
- Austin Hedges (5.166) – $3.8MM
- Amed Rosario (4.062) – $5.0MM
- Franmil Reyes (3.115) – $4.4MM
- Shane Bieber (3.097) – $4.8MM
- Bradley Zimmer (3.077) – $1.5MM
- Cal Quantrill (2.132) – $2.8MM
- Josh Naylor (2.127) – $1.2MM
Mariners (10)
- Adam Frazier (5.075) – $7.2MM
- Mitch Haniger (5.048) – $8.5MM
- Drew Steckenrider (4.094) – $2.1MM
- Tom Murphy (4.092) – $1.7MM
- J.P. Crawford (3.163) – $5.0MM
- Diego Castillo (3.118) – $2.6MM
- Paul Sewald (3.072) – $1.8MM
- Casey Sadler (3.035) – $1.3MM. Signed for $1.025MM prior to NT deadline
- Dylan Moore (3.000) – $1.6MM
- Luis Torrens (2.118) – $1.6MM
Marlins (10)
- Jesus Aguilar (5.082) – $7.4MM
- Richard Bleier (5.074) – $2.5MM
- Joey Wendle (4.088) – $4.0MM
- Garrett Cooper (4.053) – $3.0MM
- Dylan Floro (4.053) – $2.4MM
- Brian Anderson (4.031) – $4.5MM
- Jacob Stallings (3.149) – $2.6MM
- Elieser Hernandez (3.118) – $1.4MM
- Pablo Lopez (3.093) – $2.5MM
- Jon Berti (2.168) – $1.2MM
Mets (13)
- Edwin Diaz (5.121) – $10.4MM
- Seth Lugo (5.082) – $3.7MM
- Miguel Castro (5.079) – $2.6MM
- Brandon Nimmo (5.042) – $6.0MM
- Trevor Williams (5.027) – $3.8MM
- Dominic Smith (3.146) – $4.0MM
- J.D. Davis (3.137) – $2.7MM
- Tomas Nido (3.089) – $900K
- Jeff McNeil (3.069) – $2.8MM
- Joey Lucchesi (3.067) – $1.6MM
- Drew Smith (3.034) – $900K
- Pete Alonso (3.000) – $7.3MM
- Luis Guillorme (2.167) – $700K
Nationals (8)
- Josh Bell (5.053) – $10.0MM
- Joe Ross (5.018) – $3.0MM
- Juan Soto (3.134) – $16.2MM
- Erick Fedde (3.099) – $1.9MM
- Victor Robles (3.033) – $1.7MM
- Austin Voth (2.127) – $1.0MM
- Tanner Rainey (2.127) – $800K
- Andrew Stevenson (2.127) – $900K. Signed for $850K prior to NT deadline
Orioles (6)
- Trey Mancini (5.015) – $7.9MM
- Anthony Santander (3.162) – $3.7MM. Signed for $3.15MM prior to NT deadline
- Jorge Lopez (3.102) – $1.5MM. Signed for $1.5MM prior to NT deadline
- Paul Fry (3.075) – $1.1MM. Signed for $850K prior to NT deadline
- Tanner Scott (3.059) – $1.0MM
- John Means (3.007) – $3.1MM
Padres (8)
- Joe Musgrove (5.063) – $8.9MM
- Dinelson Lamet (4.130) – $4.6MM
- Emilio Pagan (4.091) – $2.3MM. Signed for $2.3MM prior to NT deadline
- Jorge Alfaro (4.083) – $2.7MM
- Victor Caratini (4.051) – $2.1MM
- Tim Hill (3.112) – $1.4MM. Signed for $1.325MM prior to NT deadline
- Austin Adams (3.015) – $1.0MM. Signed for $925K prior to NT deadline
- Chris Paddack (3.000) – $2.1MM
Phillies (4)
- Zach Eflin (5.018) – $6.0MM
- Jose Alvarado (4.088) – $1.9MM
- Rhys Hoskins (4.053) – $7.6MM
- Seranthony Dominguez (3.131) – $800K. Signed for $725K prior to NT deadline
Pirates (4)
- Ben Gamel (5.029) – $2.9MM. Signed for $1.8MM prior to NT deadline
- Chris Stratton (4.100) – $2.2MM
- Kevin Newman (3.046) – $2.2MM
- Bryan Reynolds (2.163) – $4.5MM
Rangers (4)
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa (4.000) – $4.9MM
- Willie Calhoun (3.033) – $1.6MM
- Brett Martin (2.151) – $1.1MM
- Taylor Hearn (2.140) – $1.1MM
Rays (14)
- Matt Wisler (5.042) – $1.8MM
- Manuel Margot (5.012) – $5.0MM
- Tyler Glasnow (4.158) – $5.8MM
- Ji-Man Choi (4.076) – $3.5MM. Signed prior to NT deadline for $3.2MM
- Ryan Yarbrough (3.147) – $4.4MM
- Yonny Chirinos (3.137) – $1.2MM
- Yandy Diaz (3.122) – $2.7MM
- Austin Meadows (3.074) – $4.3MM
- Andrew Kittredge (3.070) – $1.6MM
- Jalen Beeks (3.070) – $600K
- Francisco Mejia (3.062) – $1.5MM
- Jeffrey Springs (3.055) – $1.0MM
- Brett Phillips (3.013) – $1.2MM
- Nick Anderson (3.000) – $900K
Red Sox (7)
- Kevin Plawecki (5.167) – $2.0MM. Signed for $2.25MM after NT deadline
- Ryan Brasier (4.109) – $1.4MM. Signed for $1.4MM prior to NT deadline
- Rafael Devers (4.070) – $11.1MM
- Nick Pivetta (3.166) – $3.2MM
- Alex Verdugo (3.078) – $3.2MM
- Christian Arroyo (3.036) – $1.1MM
- Josh Taylor (2.121) – $1.1MM
Reds (10)
- Tyler Naquin (5.033) – $3.6MM
- Luis Cessa (4.131) – $1.6MM
- Luis Castillo (4.101) – $7.6MM
- Amir Garrett (4.099) – $2.2MM
- Jesse Winker (4.080) – $6.8MM
- Tyler Mahle (4.018) – $5.6MM
- Kyle Farmer (3.129) – $2.2MM
- Jeff Hoffman (3.105) – $1.1MM
- Lucas Sims (3.014) – $1.2MM
- Nick Senzel (2.150) – $1.1MM
Rockies (9)
- Daniel Bard (5.103) – $4.8MM. Signed for $4.4MM prior to NT deadline
- Carlos Estevez (5.022) – $3.2MM
- Kyle Freeland (4.144) – $7.0MM
- Robert Stephenson (4.049) – $1.1MM
- Raimel Tapia (4.020) – $3.9MM
- Ryan McMahon (4.006) – $5.5MM
- Garrett Hampson (3.030) – $1.8MM
- Tyler Kinley (3.014) – $1.0MM. Signed for $1.025MM prior to NT deadline
- Peter Lambert (2.116) – $600K
Royals (7)
- Andrew Benintendi (5.062) – $9.3MM
- Adalberto Mondesi (4.088) – $3.2MM
- Brad Keller (4.000) – $5.2MM
- Cam Gallagher (3.106) – $900K
- Scott Barlow (3.030) – $2.4MM
- Ryan O’Hearn (3.002) – $1.4MM
- Nicky Lopez (2.139) – $2.0MM
Tigers (8)
- Michael Fulmer (5.157) – $5.1MM
- Joe Jimenez (4.061) – $1.8MM
- Jeimer Candelario (4.038) – $5.9MM
- Jose Cisnero (4.020) – $1.9MM
- Victor Reyes (3.075) – $1.3MM
- Spencer Turnbull (3.020) – $1.8MM
- Dustin Garneau (3.015) – $1.6MM
- Harold Castro (2.141) – $1.5MM
Twins (6)
- Taylor Rogers (5.145) – $6.7MM
- Tyler Duffey (5.074) – $3.7MM. Signed for $3.8MM prior to NT deadline
- Mitch Garver (4.045) – $3.1MM
- Caleb Thielbar (3.131) – $1.2MM. Signed for $1.3MM prior to NT deadline
- Jharel Cotton (3.052) – $1.2MM. Signed for $700K prior to NT deadline
- Luis Arraez (2.121) – $2.0MM
White Sox (3)
- Lucas Giolito (4.080) – $7.9MM
- Adam Engel (4.058) – $2.2MM
- Reynaldo Lopez (4.004) – $2.8MM
Yankees (16)
- Jameson Taillon (5.110) – $4.7MM
- Joey Gallo (5.103) – $10.2MM
- Gary Sanchez (5.086) – $7.9MM
- Aaron Judge (5.051) – $17.1MM
- Chad Green (5.050) – $4.1MM
- Wandy Peralta (4.168) – $1.7MM
- Jordan Montgomery (4.153) – $4.8MM
- Gio Urshela (4.127) – $6.2MM. Signed for $6.55MM prior to NT deadline
- Luke Voit (3.169) – $5.4MM
- Gleyber Torres (3.162) – $5.9MM
- Miguel Andujar (3.117) – $1.7MM
- Clay Holmes (3.031) – $1.0MM
- Jonathan Loaisiga (3.022) – $1.7MM
- Domingo German (3.017) – $2.1MM. Signed for $1.75MM prior to NT deadline
- Lucas Luetge (3.015) – $1.1MM. Signed for $905K prior to NT deadline
- Kyle Higashioka (3.005) – $1.2MM
The arbitration projections were originally published 10-11-21. Additional information was added 2-17-22.
Phillies Notes: Stott, Mattingly, Player Development, Bench
Bryson Stott is expected to make his MLB debut in 2022, with the Phillies hoping that the top prospect can provide some immediate help to a lineup that both has plenty of holes, and is in need of a youth infusion. Stott has spent most of his two pro seasons at shortstop, but “if I have to move over [to another position], it is what it is,” Stott told NBC Sports’ Jim Salisbury and other reporters. “I just want to do anything I can do to get to Philadelphia and help that city and that team win. So whatever it may be, if it’s short or anywhere else, it’s obviously not up to me.”
Stott has also seen action at second and third base during his time in the minors, giving the Phillies some flexibility in determining both his eventual everyday role and what they might pursue roster-wise once the lockout is over. Second baseman Jean Segura is entering the last year of his contract and third baseman Alec Bohm is looking to bounce back from a rough 2021, and might not stick at third base over the long term anyway. It is also possible Stott might simply remain at shortstop, given how president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said back in October that incumbent Didi Gregorius wasn’t a guaranteed to even return in 2022, let alone remain the starting shortstop. The Phillies will benefit from some extra time to monitor Stott during ongoing minor league minicamps and minor league spring camp next month, as Stott isn’t locked out since he isn’t yet on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster.
More from the City of Brotherly Love….
- A breakout performance from Stott would be a nice win for a Phillies organization has had well-documented issues in drafting and developing players who eventually contribute at the big league level. Newly-hired player development director Preston Mattingly has a lot of work ahead in turning things around, though Mattingly told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki and other reporters that “our system’s a lot deeper than people give it credit….I’ve had the pleasure of seeing a bunch of other teams’ top guys, and I think the guys in our system stack up with those guys. They don’t get the recognition that others do.” In the first months of his tenure, Mattingly has prioritized improving communication within the organization and throughout the different levels of the minor leagues, focusing on making sure that “everybody has the same message when it goes from staff to players…getting everybody with a consistent message going in the same direction” and also that the players themselves are well-informed about the team’s plans. As Mattingly put it, “it’s all a team effort, right? The players, the staff — it’s a two-way street. We got to work together; it’s their career, we’re trying to help them in any way possible.”
- Bench depth and pinch-hitting are both areas of need for the Phillies to address after the lockout, as The Athletic’s Matt Gelb notes that the team got very little pop from their pinch-hitters in 2021. The likely introduction of the universal DH will create the need for more position-player help, as Gelb indicates that the Phillies are going to rotate their everyday starters through the DH position rather than have a regular designated hitter.
Quick Hits: Free Agents, Goodrum, Zombro
We have continued to see minor league signings even with the lockout still limiting most offseason business, though The Athletic’s Eno Sarris and Brittany Ghiroli note that the total number of minors contracts signed this winter is naturally much lower than usual compared to past offseasons. While the lockout extends to MLBPA members, players on MLB contracts, and players on 40-man rosters, some players within these parameters are stuck in a strange middle ground, like Sam McWilliams. Since the righty signed a Major League contract with the Mets last winter but hasn’t actually appeared in a big league game in his pro career, he is both locked out and not an official union member.
It isn’t known exactly how many players are in McWilliams’ status, which is part of the confusion shared over which players are exactly “covered” by the lockout regulations. As a result, some offseason throwing showcases have had to stagger workout times (since MLB scouts aren’t permitted to even observe locked-out players) or even prevent some “covered” players from attending these showcases. McWilliams and others might therefore have even more of an uphill battle in landing a contract during what is expected to be an absolute frenzy of transactions once the lockout is finally over. [UPDATE: Ghiroli tweets that the MLBPA has adjusted its qualification standard for stipends to include McWilliams and other players in his situation]
More from around baseball…
- Niko Goodrum is one of the many free agents still waiting to land his next contract, though the utilityman told The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky that he had plenty of interest prior to the lockout. The Tigers outrighted Goodrum off their 40-man roster in mid-November and he chose to test the open market, saying “we had been in contact with 10 teams….Seven of them were looking to offer big-league deals.” Goodrum’s multi-positional versatility would certainly make him a good fit on many rosters, even if his bat has fallen off over the last two seasons. In 504 plate appearances in 2020-21, Goodrum hit only .203/.282/.350 — a significant dropoff from the .247/.319/.427 slash line he posted with Detroit over 964 PA in 2018-19. Goodrum has no hard feelings towards the Tigers for parting ways, and is now just looking forward to his next big league opportunity.
- Tyler Zombro is planning to attend the Rays‘ minor league camp, and tells The Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin that “within the next month to two months, I certainly will be 100 percent” recovered from a skull fracture. In a horrific incident during a Triple-A game last June, Zombro was hit in the head with a line drive, suffering both the fracture and a seizure on the mound. After emergency surgery and a long recovery process, however, Zombro was given medical clearance by MLB last month and got back onto a mound for the first time since the injury.
CBA Negotiations Set To Resume Thursday
Major League Baseball and the Player’s Association have scheduled a negotiation session for 1:00pm ET on Thursday in New York, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. For those keeping score at home, Nightengale adds that tomorrow’s meeting will be the sixth session between both parties to discuss the sport’s next CBA since MLB instituted baseball’s lockout 78 days ago.
As disheartening as the frequency of these negotiating sessions has been, it could be an encouraging sign that tomorrow’s session will take place just five days after the two sides last convened. Last Saturday’s meeting revealed some minor concessions but didn’t yield much cause for optimism, as it lasted less than an hour and left both sides some mix of “unimpressed” and “underwhelmed”.
One reason for last weekend’s uneventful session was a continued disparity between how each party would like to alter the Competitive Tax Threshold. MLB proposed the luxury tax threshold increase to $222MM by 2026, with disincentives that would likely stop teams from crossing that threshold. The Player’s Association meanwhile would like to see team spending incentivized, not punished, and have been seeking a new tax threshold ending at $273MM in 2026.
As large as that $51MM gap between each side’s tax threshold proposal may appear, it pales in comparison to the $85MM gap between exchanged bonus pool figures. A bonus pool funded by central revenues to reward high-performing, pre-arbitration players has been one concept already agreed to by both parties, though how much these players should be rewarded is clearly a divisive subject. The Player’s Association lowered their bonus pool number by $5MM to $100MM to be divided amongst pre-arb performers, while MLB raised their proposal from $10MM to $15MM.
Further discussed topics included a raise to the league minimum, limiting the amount of times players can be optioned in a single season, and changes in the signing process of drafted and international amateurs. Fortunately, there seems to be mutual amenability to adjusting all three of these topics in the next collective bargaining agreement. However, as we’ve seen with previously suggested CBA changes like implementing a universal DH, even when both sides generally agree on a subject it’s no slam dunk they’ll see eye to eye to the point of implementation.
As is often the case with negotiations it may only take one new concession to start a chain reaction of agreements that, in this case, will ultimately lead to a new CBA. For either side to concede much of anything, they’ll need to meet at the bargaining table. Tomorrow’s sit-down then is certainly a welcome sight for the droves of fans who are skeptical a new CBA can be reached in time for the season to begin when originally scheduled on March 31.
NL Notes: Giants, Chipper, Freeman, Cactus League
With the implementation of a universal DH growing in likelihood, NBC Sports’ Alex Pavlovic took a look at how Gabe Kapler’s Giants might handle the new position after the lockout. Pavlovic extrapolates from the team’s usage of the DH position in interleague play and in 2020 that the team would prefer to use the DH spot as a chance to bolster the lineup’s offense, not to give a quasi-off day to a regular position player. Accordingly, the resurgent Darin Ruf could see his playing time increase as his defensive limitations have limited him from being a true mainstay in Kapler’s starting lineup card.
With plenty of payroll maneuverability and a few Kris Bryant and Buster Posey-sized holes in the lineup, however, the possibility remains that the Giants splurge on a big bat to take the lion’s share of DH reps. Pavlovic speculates that free agents Kyle Schwarber or Joc Pederson could slot into the new position, owing to their typically strong numbers with the platoon advantage and ties to the team’s top executives. Should the team pass on either left-handed hitter, as well as come up short on their Seiya Suzuki pursuit or a Bryant reunion, a right-handed power bat could be signed to claim the DH spot. Nelson Cruz and Nick Castellanos remain open-market options for a team looking to keep its strong offensive performance in 2021 going, with the benefit of the DH position negating the need for either to suit up in the spacious Oracle Park outfield.
Some more baseball news from around the league…
- Braves Hall of Fame third baseman and friend of the site Chipper Jones appeared on the Dukes & Bell podcast to offer some input on fellow Brave Freddie Freeman‘s prolonged stay on the free agent market. Jones posits that Freeman is “probably a little frustrated [an extension wasn’t reached] in Spring Training last year” and acknowledges (correctly) that non-Atlanta teams are courting the first baseman as well. Of note to Atlanta fans however is Chipper’s comment that he and Freeman have often talked about the latter’s place in Atlanta history, and how his potentially-retired number would slide between Atlanta icons Dale Murphy and Bobby Cox.
- Count Arizona city managers as another group taking issue with baseball’s delayed start to spring training. Bill Shakin of the Los Angeles Times documents how the MLB lockout has negatively impacted the host cities of baseball’s Cactus League, who are already reeling from limited tourism revenue the past few years due to the pandemic. Sites like Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers’ $300MM spring training ballpark in Glendale, are leased out to MLB teams for $1 a year with the express understanding that teams will drive tourism in the area. Due to clauses in the lease agreements signed by teams however, a certain number of home games are required to be played during spring training without the incurrence of legal penalty. The language of these clauses meant that the pandemic and other “acts of God” spared teams from any legal recourse being taken by host cities in recent years, but teams falling short of that game threshold due to the avoidable, league-induced lockout may not provide the same protection. It seems unlikely for the Dodgers and a handful of other teams to be kicked out of their Cactus League homes, but a lawsuit from Arizona cities looking to recoup lost hospitality industry funds may soon be the next legal storyline for baseball fans to follow.
Report: Matt Harvey Facing Possible Suspension Related To Drug Distribution
Free agent right-hander Matt Harvey testified yesterday during the ongoing trial of former Angels communications director Eric Kay, who is accused of distributing the drugs that led to the tragic 2019 death of Tyler Skaggs. On the stand, Harvey — who was granted immunity from criminal prosecution — admitted to providing Skaggs with Percocet pills shortly before Skaggs’ death.
An MLB official tells T.J. Quinn of ESPN that Harvey could face a suspension between 60 and 90 days for distributing controlled substances. MLB said in a statement that it will “conduct a comprehensive review of the potential violations of our drug program” after the conclusion of the trial. Kay’s defense team rested its case this afternoon. Closing arguments are scheduled to take place tomorrow morning, and it’s expected that jury deliberations will begin not long after.
The matter is further complicated by the ongoing MLB lockout. Quinn writes that the league cannot pursue discipline until after a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. The Joint Drug Agreement between the league and MLB Players Association has been suspended by the lockout, also resulting in a pause on drug testing (both for drugs of abuse and performance-enhancing substances) for MLBPA members.
Four other former members of the Angels also testified about opioid usage during Kay’s trial. C.J. Cron (now with the Rockies), Cam Bedrosian (on a minor league deal with the Phillies) and free agent Mike Morin testified yesterday, while free agent reliever Blake Parker took the stand this afternoon. All four players admitted to using drugs given to them by Kay, but only Harvey said he’d ever distributed drugs to anyone else. Quinn writes that the cases of Cron, Bedrosian, Morin and Parker are likely to be referred to a treatment board for the creation of a treatment program. Unless those players have previously been disciplined for drugs of abuse — referrals to the treatment board are not typically made public — they would not face the possibility of suspension.
MLBTR Chat Transcript
Click here to view the transcript of today’s chat with MLBTR’s Anthony Franco.