Angels Release Hunter Strickland
The Angels announced that right-hander Hunter Strickland and utilityman Chris Taylor have been released. Taylor was known to be on the way out after he opted out of his minor league deal with the team yesterday, and Strickland may well be in the same situation as another veteran player in camp as a non-roster invite.
Strickland was making a good case for himself by posting a 1.80 ERA over five innings in Cactus League ball this spring, but it apparently wasn’t enough for the 37-year-old to land a spot in the Los Angeles bullpen. This release marks the end of what is technically Strickland’s fourth different stint with the Angels, and this familiarity could perhaps hint at another contract in the near future.
Because Strickland’s first opt-out date fell this weekend and the Angels had to make a decision, this release could be a way of navigating that deadline and getting the righty back in the organization on another minors deal soon. It would depend on how comfortable Strickland feels with the Angels, if he perhaps has gotten assurances he’ll be called up to the majors in short order, or if he can perhaps find another opportunity elsewhere.
Over 95 1/3 innings with the 2024-25 Angels, Strickland has posted a 3.30 ERA, though his 18.4% strikeout rate and 8.8% walk rate are nothing special. These secondary metrics and Strickland’s age perhaps limited him to non-guaranteed offers this winter, and it didn’t help that he missed a big chunk of the 2025 campaign with a shoulder injury. He has looked healthy this spring, and his solid numbers in camp may draw some attention from another team if he indeed doesn’t end up back in Anaheim.
Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz, Jordan Romano, and Brent Suter will all be part of the Angels’ bullpen, as the team loaded up on other veteran relievers on one-year contracts. The rest of the relief corps is a little uncertain, as much hinges on the health of rotation candidates Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah. Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson will be on the 26-man roster in some capacity, either in the pen or as starters if either of Rodriguez or Manoah begin the season on the 15-day injured list. Walbert Urena is also on the radar for a starting or relief role, adding to the Halos’ decisions heading into Opening Day.
Angels Release Chris Taylor
TODAY: The Angels officially announced Taylor’s release.
MARCH 20: Veteran infielder/outfielder Chris Taylor was in camp with the Angels on a minor league deal. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Taylor has opted out of his deal and has been informed that he will not make the club. He’ll be a free agent whenever he is officially released. He was one of several veterans who could opt out of minor league deals this week.
Taylor, 35, spent many years with the Dodgers as the league’s top super utility guy. From 2017 to 2023, he hit .256/.336/.444 while stealing 76 bases and playing every position outside of first base and the battery. But he hit just .202/.298/.300 in 2024 and was worse in 2025, getting released. He ended up with the Angels but finished the season with a combined .186/.256/.301 line.
He returned to the Angels this offseason but had to settle for a minor league deal. He had a good showing in camp, putting up a .231/.388/.410 line in 49 plate appearances, but it appears the Angels are putting more stock in his larger sample of regular season work over the past two years.
The Halos have had an open battle for their second base job this spring and the decisions appear to be coming into focus. Christian Moore was optioned a few days ago. Vaughn Grissom has a left hand injury and may start the season on the injured list.
With Taylor now out, that seemingly leaves Adam Frazier to get the job. He has hit .310/.429/.414 this spring and his left-handed bat would help to balance a lineup that otherwise skews to the right. Oswald Peraza has had a nice spring and seemingly earned a job on the bench. Switch-hitter Jeimer Candelario could also get a roster spot if Grissom does indeed hit the IL.
If Frazier and Candelario both make the team, they would need spots on the 40-man roster. One spot can easily be opened by placing Anthony Rendon on the 60-day IL, since he’s not expected to play this year. Robert Stephenson could be another 60-day IL candidate since he may have damage in the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
Taylor will head to the open market and to see what opportunities await him. He won’t be helped by his performance in 2024 and 2025 but his defensive versatility could help him fit with many clubs and his bat looked a bit better in camp just now, for whatever that’s worth.
Photo courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images
Tigers Release Austin Slater
The Tigers have released outfielder Austin Slater, according to several Tigers beat writers (including the Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold). Slater was in camp on a minor league contract, and as an Article XX(B) free agent, the first of his three opt-out clauses fell this weekend. As per Petzold, Slater exercised his opt-out, and the Tigers chose to part ways with the outfielder rather than add him to the 40-man roster.
It is possible Slater could soon re-sign with Detroit, if this release was something of a handshake agreement just to get past the first Article XX(B) deadline. Or, it might be that the Tigers are willing to let Slater go since they’re satisfied with their right-handed hitting depth options. While a Detroit lineup heavy in left-handed bats could get another lefty swinger if top prospect Kevin McGonigle makes the team, the Tigers have Matt Vierling, Jahmai Jones, and Javier Baez set for platoon or bench duty as right-handed hitters.
Slater is entering his age-33 season, and now looking for a job in what would be his tenth MLB season. The majority of that time was spent with San Francisco, but Slater has since bounced around since the Giants dealt him to the Reds in July 2024. Slater has seen time in the bigs with the Giants, Reds, Orioles, White Sox, and Yankees over the last two seasons, with only a .212/.299/.314 slash line to show for 372 plate appearances. Injuries also impacted his 2025 season, as Slater spent time on the injured list with both a meniscus tear in his right knee and a left hamstring strain.
The chances of a potential reunion with Slater and the Tigers may hinge on how much interest Slater can find on the open market. Depending on other roster cuts or perhaps an injury or two, Slater might be able to find another job (and a clearer path to big league playing time) on another team. If nothing materializes after he tests the market, Slater could be open to returning to Detroit’s farm system.
Yankees To Select Randal Grichuk’s Contract
The Yankees will be selecting outfielder Randal Grichuk‘s contract, as manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including the New York Post’s Greg Joyce) that Grichuk has made the Opening Day roster. New York has a full 40-man roster, so another transaction will be required to add Grichuk before the team’s first game on Wednesday.
In making the team, Grichuk locks in a $2.5MM salary for the 2026 season, as per the terms of the minor league deal he signed last month. Grichuk is an Article XX(B) free agent, meaning that his contract included three standard opt-out dates that he could trigger if not added to the 40-man roster. The first of those opt-outs was set for this weekend, so the Yankees have now sidestepped the issue by adding the outfielder to the 26-man roster.
Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham, and Cody Bellinger are set as New York’s starting outfield, and utilityman Amed Rosario and Grichuk now line up as the backup outfield options. (Giancarlo Stanton will probably get some time in the outfield this season, but he will be mostly be utilized as a designated hitter.) Bronx fans may not be pleased at seeing Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones relegated to Triple-A to begin the season, though the Yankees want those prized youngsters playing every day, whereas Grichuk is more suited to the sporadic nature of a big league backup job.
The right-handed hitting Grichuk figures to get most or all of his playing time when a southpaw is on the mound. Grichuk’s numbers against right-handers have tailed off over the years but he remained very dangerous against lefties, apart from a lackluster .227/.273/.430 slash line in 183 PA against left-handers last season when Grichuk was playing with the Diamondbacks and Royals.
Grichuk didn’t erase many doubts this spring by posting only a .313 OPS across 16 plate appearances in Grapefruit League games, but the Yankees are looking past that small sample size (and even the 2025 season) to the 34-year-old’s overall track record. While best suited for a corner outfield role, Grichuk can hold his own as a center fielder, making him a decent choice as a fourth outfielder and a candidate to spell the left-handed hitting Grisham when a lefty is on the mound.
Grichuk will be the only new face in a Yankees position-player mix that is basically unchanged from 2025. Rosario and Paul Goldschmidt were re-signed and will join Grichuk in backup roles, plus Bellinger was re-signed to a five-year, $162.5MM contract and Grisham stayed put by accepting the qualifying offer. Anthony Volpe will begin the season on the injured list, moving Jose Caballero into regular shortstop duty and increasing Rosario’s importance as the backup infielder.
Braves To Include Didier Fuentes On Opening Day Roster
Right-hander Didier Fuentes has won himself a spot on the Braves’ Opening Day roster, ESPN’s Jeff Passan writes. The 20-year-old Fuentes made his big league debut last season with four starts and 13 innings for Atlanta, and he’ll now return to the Show in what Passan says will be a relief role.
Fuentes’ bullpen assignment provides some more clarity to the Braves’ rotation picture. Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Strider, and Grant Holmes have the top four positions, and Bryce Elder and Jose Suarez now appear to be the last two candidates for the fifth starter role. Fuentes is headed to the bullpen, top prospect JR Ritchie was assigned to the minor league camp yesterday, and minor league signing Martin Perez will remain in the organization but isn’t being included on the Opening Day roster.
With Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz all felled by injuries, rotation depth has been one of the primary storylines of Atlanta’s spring. This opened the door for multiple pitchers to try and win a job, and while Fuentes isn’t being ticketed for rotation duty, he certainly caught the Braves’ attention with an incredible Grapefruit League performance. Over three appearances and nine spotless innings, Fuentes didn’t allow even one walk or a hit, while striking out 17 batters — one HBP was the only thing keeping Fuentes from an unofficial perfect game during his spring work.
It is certainly possible Fuentes could receive a proper starting assignment, depending on how exactly the Braves choose to line up their rotation through a busy opening to the season. Atlanta doesn’t receive its first off-day until April 9, so it is very likely that both Elder and Suarez (or Fuentes) could get starts if the Braves deploy a six-man rotation in the early going. Even if Fuentes may not start, his ability to eat multiple innings out of the pen should prove useful as the Braves navigate this stretch of 13 straight games.
Fuentes has started 48 of his 52 career games in the minors, and his 2025 season saw the righty pitch at three different minor league levels as well as his four-start cup of coffee with the Braves. It may have been too much too soon for Fuentes since he was torched for an 13.85 ERA in his first exposure to MLB hitters, but the Braves had to dig into their depth chart after a swath of injuries wiped out their rotation last summer.
Fuentes has shown a knack for recording strikeouts and limiting walks in the minors, and some bad batted-ball luck might be why his 3.73 ERA over 202 2/3 minor league innings doesn’t exactly stand out. Still, there’s some obvious potential here even at Fuentes’ young age, and his huge spring numbers indicate that Fuentes might thrive as a reliever. While the Braves’ hand with Fuentes may have been forced by injuries last year, the team hasn’t been shy about quickly promoting prospects they feel can provide immediate help.
Braves Sign Dominic Smith, Kyle Farmer To Split Contracts
The Braves announced that Dominic Smith and Kyle Farmer have been signed to Major League split contracts for the 2026 season. The two veterans were already in camp on minor league deals, but as Article XX(B) free agents, Smith and Farmer had the ability to opt out of their contracts five days before Opening Day if they weren’t added to the Braves’ 40-man roster.
These new deals mean that Smith and Farmer will be breaking camp with the club. The Braves have two open spots on their 40-man roster, so they can easily accommodate officially selecting Smith and Farmer closer to the team’s first game. Both players are out of minor league options and the Braves would have to designate either for assignment and then sweat out any waiver claims before sending either to the minors, plus Smith and Farmer have enough MLB service time to just reject a minor league assignment anyway.
It seemed like the two veterans were both somewhat long shots to make Atlanta’s roster, yet some opportunity was created when Jurickson Profar was issued a season-long PED suspension, and Ha-Seong Kim suffered a torn finger tendon that will keep him out until at least the start of May. The door may now be open for Smith to earn some at-bats as a left-handed hitting option for the DH spot, even if his usual first base spot is obviously filled by Matt Olson on an everyday basis. Smith has played in just one Major League game as an outfielder over the last four seasons, but he could get some occasional backup work if Ronald Acuna Jr. or Mike Yastrzemski needs a rest day.
For Farmer, Mauricio Dubon taking over the shortstop role in Kim’s absence means the Braves are short some versatile infield depth. Jorge Mateo and Brett Wisely are also competing for bench jobs and Eli White is expected to be the primary backup outfielder, and both Wisely and White are also out of minor league options.
Martin Perez is another minor league signing in Atlanta’s camp, and MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Perez has been told he isn’t making the team. However, the veteran southpaw will forego his first Article XX(B) opt-out clause and remain in the organization as a Triple-A depth farm.
Phillies To Select Justin Crawford’s Contract
The Phillies have told outfield prospect Justin Crawford that he’ll be breaking camp with the team, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. The widely-expected move means that Crawford will need to have his contract officially selected to Philadelphia’s 40-man roster before Opening Day, but that isn’t an issue since the Phils currently have only 38 spots filled.
There was some speculation that Crawford would receive his first call to the majors last summer, though the Phillies instead chose to keep him in Triple-A for the entirety of his age-21 season. Crawford (who turned 22 in January) hit .334/.411/.452 with seven homers and 46 steals (out of 57 attempts) over 506 plate appearances with Lehigh Valley, which represented Crawford’s first taste of Triple-A action.
It was an impressive performance that only cemented Crawford’s status as a key plank of the Phillies’ future. The offseason saw Max Kepler and Nick Castellanos subtracted from the Phils’ outfield picture, Harrison Bader left to sign with the Giants, and another unexpected development emerged earlier this week when Johan Rojas was issued an 80-game PED suspension. Philadelphia signed Adolis Garcia to take over in the right field, and with Brandon Marsh returning to take the bulk of the left field at-bats, Crawford will line up as the Phillies’ regular choice in center field.
Pundits are mixed on whether or not Crawford will be able to stick in center field, or if he’ll eventually need to move to left field (like his dad, former four-time All-Star Carl Crawford). As a hitter, Crawford’s ability to consistently put the ball in the air may be his biggest challenge against Major League pitching, as he has posted high grounder rates throughout his minor league career. On the positive side, Crawford has at least reduced his grounder rates every year, and his 70-grade speed allows him to beat out several of those grounders.
The 17th overall pick of the 2022 draft, Crawford has drawn regular attention on top-100 prospect lists. Heading into 2026, the Athletic’s Keith Law has Crawford highest on his list in the 48th spot, while MLB Pipeline (53rd), ESPN (69th), and Baseball America (75th) continue to include the outfielder in their rankings.
This top-100 prospect status and Crawford’s inclusion on the Opening Day roster means that he can qualify for the Prospect Promotion Incentive. If Crawford logs a full year of MLB service time and either wins the 2026 Rookie of the Year Award or finishes within the top three in NL MVP voting in his pre-arbitration seasons, Philadelphia would earn a bonus draft pick down the road.
Between Crawford and Andrew Painter, the Phillies have two PPI-eligible players as part their Opening Day roster. The two highly-touted prospects face some extra pressure in joining a Phils team expecting to contend for a World Series this year, plus there’s the bigger-picture importance of how having two everyday contributors (or even breakout stars) on inexpensive pre-arb contracts can help the big-spending Phillies somewhat balance their payroll.
Red Sox To Use Marcelo Mayer As Starting Second Baseman, Kristian Campbell Optioned To Triple-A
In an unsurprising move, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters (including Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe) that Marcelo Mayer will make the Opening Day roster and act as Boston’s regular second baseman. It isn’t quite an everyday role, as Cora said the left-handed hitting Mayer will be protected against some southpaw pitchers. Veteran infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa or utilityman Andruw Monasterio are both right-handed batters and should be part of this platoon at the keystone.
Mayer didn’t exactly force the issue by hitting only .214/.389/.321 over 36 plate appearances in Grapefruit League action, but it always seemed like the former top prospect was being lined up for some type of regular role in the Red Sox infield as either the second or third baseman. After the Sox didn’t land such targets as Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette this winter, Caleb Durbin was acquired from the Brewers and will handle third-base duties, leaving second as Mayer’s landing spot.
Selected fourth overall in the 2021 draft, Mayer was a fixture within the top-15 of MLB Pipeline and Baseball America’s top-100 lists in each of the last four years. He made his big league debut last season and hit .228/.272/.402 over 136 plate appearances before suffering a wrist sprain that eventually required surgery. Mayer mostly played third base last year since his call-up coincided with an IL stint for Bregman, though he did make eight appearances at second base and two cameos at shortstop.
Mayer was initially drafted as a shortstop, and that could eventually still end up as his position in the majors once Trevor Story‘s contract is up following the 2027 season. For now, the plan is just to get Mayer acclimated to playing in the bigs and for the 23-year-old to establish himself as at least a solid regular. The Sox don’t need for Mayer to be a star just yet, as it’s a good step in his development for Mayer to just stay on the field altogether after a few injury-marred years.
In other roster news, the Red Sox have optioned Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo reports. This decision was also no surprise given the crowded state of Boston’s roster, and playing everyday in Worcester makes more sense for Campbell than playing sparingly in a part-time role with the Sox.
A year ago at this time, Campbell was preparing to make his MLB debut, as the Red Sox chose to include the breakout prospect on their Opening Day roster. A fourth-round pick for Boston in the 2023 draft, Campbell tore up minor league pitching in his first two pro seasons, and was hitting so well that he’d earned a promotion to Triple-A before the 2024 season was over. Within a week of his first game in the Show, the Red Sox cemented Campbell’s spot as a cornerstone by signing him to an eight-year, $60MM extension.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly when Campbell hit .313/.420/.515 over his first 119 PA in the majors, but what looked like an epic rookie season quickly came to a halt, as he hit only .157/.241/.220 over his next 141 PA. Campbell’s defense was also a big concern, as he posted -16 Defensive Runs Saved and -8 Outs Above Average across only 471 2/3 innings at second base.
The Red Sox chose to option Campbell to Worcester last June 20, and he didn’t receive another call-up over the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Campbell hit a decent but unspectacular .273/.382/.417 over 319 Triple-A PA, and he spent most of his time on the diamond as a first baseman, as well as seeing time at all three outfield slots in addition to second base.
Where Campbell might end up on the big league roster remains speculative. The Red Sox outfield is already crowded (Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu), plus Masataka Yoshida remains in the outfield and DH mix. Mayer and Durbin have second and third base covered for now. As for first base, offseason acquisition Willson Contreras has two years remaining on his contract, so that’s still a while for Campbell to wait if the Sox potentially now view him as Contreras’ heir apparent. Triston Casas is also still in the first base picture, looking to bounce back from his injury-shortened 2025 season.
Some future trades could potentially clear this situation up to some extent, with Duran, Casas, and Yoshida often mentioned as speculative trade candidates. Campbell’s contract keeps him part of Boston’s future plans and also probably keeps him off the trade market, as any interested teams would be making a $57MM investment in a belief that Campbell will emerge in the big leagues.
Padres To Select Walker Buehler
The Padres will carry Walker Buehler on their Opening Day roster, reports Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. The veteran righty would have been able to request his release tomorrow if San Diego weren’t going to call him up.
Buehler locks in a $1.5MM base salary by breaking camp. His deal also includes up to $2.5MM in active roster bonuses. Acee writes that Buehler and Germán Márquez are expected to round out the season-opening starting five behind Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Randy Vásquez.
The Padres will be without Joe Musgrove for at least a couple weeks after he didn’t recover as hoped from a recent start. Griffin Canning is beginning the season on the injured list as he rehabs last summer’s Achilles tear. Canning threw one inning against Mariners’ minor leaguers on the back fields this afternoon, his first competitive work since the injury (via the MLB.com injury tracker). Matt Waldron, out of minor league options, is also a few weeks behind due to a hemorrhoid procedure. Yu Darvish will miss the entire season after last fall’s elbow surgery.
Buehler is coming off a second straight rough season. He was tagged for a 4.93 ERA with a career-worst 16.3% strikeout rate across 126 innings. He spent most of the year in Boston but was released in August. Buehler caught on with the Phillies to close the season before returning to the open market at year’s end. He had to settle for a minor league deal but found a good opportunity in San Diego given their rotation injuries.
The righty has pitched in three Cactus League games, allowing four runs with 13 strikeouts and four walks over 11 2/3 innings. Buehler has mixed six pitches but is only averaging 92-93 mph on his fastballs. He’ll probably pick up some velocity as he gets into the season. He has some work to do to match last year’s career-low 94 mph mark, to say nothing of the mid-upper 90s heat he had before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2023.
Buehler isn’t the only veteran with an upcoming opt-out decision. Infielder Ty France can also get his release tomorrow if the Padres aren’t going to carry him on the roster. His minor league deal comes with a $1.35MM base salary. Acee writes that the team still hasn’t decided whether they’ll add France or fellow minor league signee Jose Miranda for that spot. Bryce Johnson is out of options and the favorite to win the fourth outfield role, while Nick Castellanos and Luis Campusano have bench spots secure.
France and Miranda have each had big performances this spring. The utility infield spot will go to Sung-mun Song once he’s back from an oblique strain. Intervening injuries could change the picture, but it’d be a cluttered bench no matter who the Padres tab to start the season. France has the service time to refuse any minor league assignment. Miranda is out of options and would need to go on waivers if the Padres try to send him back down after calling him up.
The Padres have one opening on the 40-man roster after waiving Daison Acosta a couple weeks ago. They’re essentially working with two additional free spots. Neither Darvish nor Bryan Hoeing has been moved to the 60-day injured list yet. They’re both out for the season.
In the bullpen, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com relays word from skipper Craig Stammen ruling lefty Yuki Matsui out for Opening Day. The southpaw suffered a left groin strain that kept him from pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll begin the season on the 15-day IL but could be back in April.
Righty Jason Adam is making his Spring Training debut tonight. He’s trending towards opening on the active roster. Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Kyle Hart all seem assured of bullpen spots. If Adam is healthy, that’d leave one spot available. Ron Marinaccio is out of options and could be the favorite for that reason. Hard-throwing Bradgley Rodríguez impressed late last season, while the Padres have spoken highly of non-roster invitee Logan Gillaspie as a potential long reliever.
Latest On A’s Extension Talks With Nick Kurtz
The A’s have signed a number of extensions over the past two seasons. Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom are all locked in as long-term lineup pieces in advance of the 2028 move to Las Vegas. The A’s have also opened extension conversations with Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers.
The latter two players would be the most difficult to extend. Langeliers is into his arbitration window. Kurtz is coming off an otherworldly rookie season and would require the A’s to shatter their franchise record contract (Soderstrom’s $82MM guarantee).
Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported last month that the A’s made Kurtz an official offer. Details of the proposal weren’t known at the time. The Post’s Jon Heyman wrote last night that the offer was well into nine figures, adding that it’s believed to have landed in the $130MM range. Kurtz evidently declined and Heyman characterizes an extension as a long shot.
[Related: What Would It Cost The A’s To Continue Their Extension Run?]
Despite being called up in late April, Kurtz earned a full year of service time with last season’s Rookie of the Year win. The A’s have him under club control through 2030. He’s two years away from his first major salary jump via arbitration. However, Kurtz should already be well positioned financially. The A’s paid him a $7MM signing bonus as the fourth overall pick in 2024. He also made almost $1.3MM last offseason via the pre-arbitration bonus pool, which rewards the best performers who have yet to accrue the service time to qualify for arbitration.
There have been five nine-figure extensions for players with less than two years of MLB service. The guarantees on those deals range from Corbin Carroll’s $111MM to $210MM for Julio Rodríguez — though the latter’s contract was loaded with escalators and options that could take it close to half a billion dollars in certain situations. The other players to get to nine figures within their first two years as a big leaguer were Wander Franco ($182MM), Jackson Merrill ($135MM) and Roman Anthony ($130MM).
Kurtz would be unique among that group as a first baseman. Rodríguez, Merrill and Franco all played up-the-middle positions. Anthony and Carroll are primarily corner players but are superior athletes and provide more defensive and baserunning value. The biggest extension for a pre-arbitration first baseman is Anthony Rizzo’s $41MM deal from more than a decade ago. That’s useless as a comparison point for Kurtz, so he’s a difficult player to value.
There’s little doubt Kurtz will continue to mash. He hit .290/.383/.619 with 36 home runs over his first 489 plate appearances. His exit velocities are near the top of the league. Although it comes with a fair amount of whiffs, Kurtz has the kind of rare power that should allow him to be an offensive force even if he’s striking out 30% of the time.
It’s not all that surprising if an offer in the $130MM range wouldn’t get it done. Anthony landed that amount of money less than two months into his MLB career and without a full year of service, which put him a year further away from free agency. Anthony was the superior prospect, but Kurtz’s camp could point to the service time difference and the bigger body of work at the MLB level. It’s also notable that Kurtz is represented by an agency (Excel Sports Management) that has almost no history of pre-arbitration extensions.
At the same time, it’s hardly a lowball offer on the team’s part. They were evidently willing to make Kurtz the highest-paid player in franchise history by a wide margin while valuing him similarly to other young superstar hitters despite the lack of positional value.
Kurtz simply has a lot of leverage if he’s inclined to bet on himself remaining a top 10 hitter in MLB. The upside of going year by year could resemble the Vladimir Guerrero Jr. path of racking up arbitration earnings and setting himself up for a monster deal at or near free agency. Kurtz is on track to hit the open market at 28. Guerrero’s $500MM extension with the Blue Jays begins this year, his age-27 season. Anything close to that kind of money would very likely price Kurtz out of the A’s range someday, but the team has plenty of time before concerning itself with that possibility.