Latest On CBA Negotiations: Revenue Sharing, Schedule, Rosters
Word of various potential changes in the MLB-MLBPA collective bargaining agreement has been trickling out of late, and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on a series of new matters under consideration. In particular, she looks at discussions involving the cash flow to the Athletics.
Revenue sharing is the key topic of interest for Oakland, which has been allowed to participate in the system despite its large-market status because of its inability to find a new ballpark. The O.Co coliseum has allowed the team to continue receiving funds, which Slusser pegs at $34MM in 2016.
Some around the game — including rival teams and the union — believe that the A’s aren’t putting those funds to use as intended. Reduction or even elimination of Oakland’s participation has “definitely been a topic” of discussion, a union source tells Slusser.
The interplay with the longstanding stadium question is complicated, as the report details. There’s a concern in some quarters not only that the club isn’t funneling enough cash into player salaries, but also that the team has been slow to settle its ballpark situation. (Of course, there’s a counter-argument to be found as well.)
If the team ultimately has its revenue-sharing pipeline narrowed, with a resulting hit to profitability, sources tell Slusser that there could be ownership changes. That might involve a minority owner leaving or even a full-on sale of the organization, she suggests.
There are a variety of other possible changes being discussed that could have even wider-ranging impact, per the report. That includes the possibility of trimming the regular season down to 154 games and inserting more off-days.
Even more intriguingly, perhaps, there’s apparently at least some consideration being given to expanding rosters from 25 to 26 players. That would certainly reduce the need to utilize the 15-day DL, increase teams’ flexibility to carry more specialty players, and perhaps add to the frequency of reliever usage during the regular season. It would also seem likely to enhance the value of somewhat marginal roster pieces (lefty specialists, power bench bats, glove-first players) who might otherwise be without a spot, while perhaps increasing the viability of the Rule 5 draft and opening service-time opportunities for less-developed players who’d otherwise be left playing in the upper minors.
MLBTR contributor Ryan Spilborghs recently advocated for several such provisions, reasoning that both teams and players could benefit. The current grind is arguably too great, leading to injuries (and rushed returns) that can harm players’ earning capacities as well as the investments already made by organizations.
Ian Desmond Switches Agencies
Impending free agent Ian Desmond has changed representation and is now a client of CAA Baseball, Robert Murray of FanRag Sports reported today (via Twitter).
Desmond’s switch will come on the eve of free agency as he seeks what will be the largest contract of his life. The 31-year-old notoriously rejected a qualifying offer from the Nationals last offseason, and while it’s not known exactly what he sought upon initially entering the open market on the heels of a down season, he ultimately settled for a late one-year deal in February that came with just an $8MM guarantee and a position change. Desmond is also known to have turned down a seven-year extension offer with the Nats prior to the 2014 season that would’ve paid him about $107MM, though it reportedly came with significant deferrals.
Furthermore, on the heels of a terrific first season in Texas, Desmond stands a good chance at recouping a good portion of that missed fortune. He’s already taken home $25.5MM over what would’ve been the first three seasons of that deal, and he could very well secure a contract of at least four years this winter after hitting .285/.335/.446 with 22 homers and 21 steals while proving a capable outfielder during the 2016 season. Desmond drew positive marks for his work in left field according to both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating, and while he took home negative marks as a center fielder, he didn’t rate horribly and could be reasonably expected to show some improvement with a full season of work now under his belt. It’s also possible that Desmond could also market himself as a Ben Zobrist-style Swiss army knife that can play multiple positions in the infield and the outfield, which would allow teams with needs virtually anywhere on the diamond to consider him a viable option for improvement.
In joining CAA, Desmond will be enlisting one of the game’s larger agencies, one whose current slate of free agents includes Yoenis Cespedes (in a joint representation with Roc Nation Sports), Andrew Cashner, a resurgent Joe Blanton, Jon Jay, Boone Logan, Jake Peavy, Drew Storen and Ryan Howard. All of that info, of course, can be found in MLBTR’s Agency Database, which contains agent information on more than 2,500 Major League and Minor League players (and now reflects Desmond’s switch). If you see any notable errors or omissions, please let us know via email: mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
Giants, Josh Johnson Agree To Minor League Deal
The Giants and right-hander Josh Johnson are in agreement on a minor league contract, per the MiLB Roster Tracker account on Twitter (MLBTR has confirmed the move). Set to turn 33 in January, Johnson hasn’t appeared in a Major League game since the 2013 season due a cavalcade of injury issues.
Most notably, Johnson underwent Tommy John surgery in early 2014 after signing a one-year, $8MM deal with the Padres the preceding offseason. Johnson re-upped with San Diego on a one-year deal worth about $1MM for the 2015 season, but his rehab was slowed by a nerve issue in his neck and recurring soreness in his elbow later that year. The 2015 season brought the third Tommy John surgery of Johnson’s career — a procedure from which he is now attempting to return.
While the odds are certainly stacked against Johnson, the allure is easy to see. When Johnson was healthy and at his best, he was a top-of-the-rotation talent, as evidenced by an NL-leading 2.30 ERA in 2011 and a collective 2.99 ERA in 644 1/3 innings from 2009-12 while anchoring the Marlins’ rotation. Injuries have routinely been a problem for Johnson throughout his professional career, though, and the right-hander’s last MLB action saw him post a 6.20 ERA through 81 1/3 innings in an injury-shortened season with the Blue Jays after being included in the Jose Reyes/Mark Buehrle blockbuster.
Johnson, obviously, is somewhat of a lottery ticket for the Giants and amounts to little more than a low-risk depth move. The team currently has a deep rotation mix including Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Matt Moore as locks, with former ace Matt Cain and intriguing young lefty Ty Blach both serving as options in the No. 5 slot. The bullpen may be a better option for Johnson in his attempt to return from a three-year absence from a Major League field. The Giants have Hunter Strickland, Will Smith, Derek Law and George Kontos among those who will be penciled into the ‘pen next season.
Greg Holland Set For Showcase Within The Next Week
Former Royals closer Greg Holland, who missed the 2016 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last October, has thrown off a mound three to four times and is set to host a showcase for interested teams within the next week, agent Scott Boras tells Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Per Boras, Holland’s velocity is currently in the low 90s, and the showcase will take place either at Boras’ sports facility in Florida or near Holland’s North Carolina home.
Holland, 30, was one of the game’s elite relievers prior to tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and requiring surgery. From 2011-14, he amassed 113 saves for the Royals while recording a minuscule 1.86 ERA with a 358-to-91 K/BB ratio in 256 1/3 innings (12.6 K/9, 3.2 BB/9). Adding in his postseason work in 2015 tacks on another 11 innings of one-run ball with 15 strikeouts against five walks.
However, Holland’s numbers took a turn for the worse in 2015, as he worked to a solid-but-unspectacular 3.83 ERA with 9.9 K/9 against 5.2 BB/9. His average fastball, which once sat a tick over 96 mph, was instead a more pedestrian 93.6 mph. Clearly, something was wrong with Holland, and manager Ned Yost made the shocking revelation at the time his ligament tear was reported that it appeared Holland actually tore his UCL late in the 2014 season, meaning he pitched the entire 2014 postseason and the entire 2015 campaign with a torn UCL. The extent of the tear was likely minimal in nature at first, but by the end of that ’15 season, it was reported to be a “significant” tear — hardly a surprise after more than a year of pitching through the injury.
Back to the present day, Boras tells Sherman that his client is “back at it full steam” and suggested that his client’s market will be “interesting” in light of the value that is being placed on premium bullpen arms in the postseason. While Holland comes with considerably less certainty than the free-agent market’s top relief arms — Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon — the upside of signing him is tantalizing, especially considering the fact that he’ll 17 months removed from Tommy John surgery when Spring Training opens.
Holland has already been linked to the Royals recently, but teams in search of top-tier bullpen arms figure to certainly check in with Boras — especially those that miss out on the aforementioned free agents. Teams that seem likely to pursue high-end relief arms this winter include the Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees and Nationals, though Holland’s price point should be reasonable enough that even clubs that won’t go anywhere near the big three relievers at their expected asking prices could view Holland as an opportunity to add a comparable talent at a reduced rate.
David Robertson Undergoes Knee Surgery
White Sox closer David Robertson underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a damaged meniscus in his left knee which plagued him for a portion of the 2016 season, reports MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. The White Sox expect Robertson to be at full strength come Spring Training 2017, Merkin adds.
Robertson, 32 next April, pitched to a 3.47 ERA in 62 1/3 innings this year in the second season of a four-year, $46MM pact inked at the 2014 Winter Meetings. That marks the second straight season with a mid-3.00s ERA for Robertson, which likely falls shy of the White Sox’ expectations upon signing him, though his strikeout rate remains excellent and his ground-ball rate bounced back in 2016 after a sudden drop-off in 2015. Robertson’s chief problem this past season was that his control eluded him; his 4.6 BB/9 rate was the highest its been since 2011, when he had only just begun to establish himself as one of the American League’s premier relievers.
It’s not known to what extent the meniscus damage impacted Robertson’s 2016 performance, but it didn’t appear to be significant enough to deter him from taking the hill with regularity over the season’s final months, and he performed quite well down the stretch. Robertson logged a 1.64 ERA with 26 strikeouts against 11 walks in his final 22 innings on the season. The strong finish and the seemingly minor nature of the procedure bode well for his 2017 status.
As Merkin notes, Robertson could potentially be a trade chip this offseason if the White Sox do ultimately decide to sell off veteran assets rather than make another run at contending. However, with a core of Chris Sale, Jose Quintana, Carlos Rodon, Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Tim Anderson all under control for another three seasons or more, there’s plenty of reason for the Sox to continue their attempt to put a winning product on the field. Any of their most frequently cited trade assets — namely Sale and Quintana, but also Robertson to a lesser extent — should still be marketable next summer or next winter. Additionally, outside of the Indians, the AL Central doesn’t look especially imposing at the moment. The GMs of both the Tigers and Royals have suggested that their teams will scale back the payroll this offseason, and the Twins finished the 2016 season with baseball’s worst record.
Nonetheless, if the Sox do look to shed some veterans in either a partial or total tear-down this winter, Robertson’s operation doesn’t seem serious enough that it would do any major damage to his trade value. He’d be one of many appealing late-inning options for interested parties, as the free-agent market features the likes of Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon, while the trade market could see names like Wade Davis or Francisco Rodriguez added to the list of available relievers.
Mariners Interested In Re-Signing Dae-Ho Lee
Korean slugger Dae-ho Lee recently returned home after his first season in the Majors and spoke to reporters at Incheon International Airport in Korea, revealing that manager Scott Servais and second baseman Robinson Cano have already informed him that they hope he’ll return for a second season with Seattle in 2017 (via the Korea Times). And Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto has confirmed his desire to re-sign the 34-year-old slugger as well, citing a lack of quality right-handed platoon bats on the open market.
However, while Lee sounds open to returning to Major League Baseball, he stressed to reporters that playing time will be a major factor in his decision. Seattle seems likely to give lefty swinging Dan Vogelbach, acquired in the July trade that sent southpaw Mike Montgomery to the Cubs, every opportunity to establish himself in the Majors next season. That could leave Lee in a part-time role once again if he returns to the Mariners, which may prompt him to look elsewhere.
“Playing time is an important factor to consider when choosing a team,” Lee said (via the aforementioned Korean Times link). “…Early on, it was fun to come off the bench to pinch hit, but it started to hurt my pride later. I wanted to play more, but it’s entirely up to the manager how he runs the team. I have no hard feelings for manager Servais. If anything, I should have played better and tried harder.”
Lee, 35 next June, was a superstar in both Korea and Japan before testing international free agency but had to settle for a minor league deal and a $1MM base salary with incentives this past winter in order to prove himself to Major League clubs. He succeeded in doing so, though, hitting .253/.312/.428 with 14 home runs in just 317 plate appearances despite calling the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field his home. Lee did strike out at a higher clip against right-handed opponents (25 percent) than left-handed opponents (22 percent), and his overall production against righties (.244/.292/.407) was weaker than his output when holding the platoon advantage (.261/.329/.446). That said, Lee’s overall offense was better than the league average, although he faded in the final months of the season after getting off to a strong start.
A contending club may not leap to sign Lee as its starting first baseman or DH, but it’s easy to envision him once again drawing interest in a bench or platoon capacity. It’s also not out of the question that a rebuilding club could look to plug Lee into a more regular first base/designated hitter role as an affordable source of pop. He did slug at a 26- to 27-homer pace in a pitcher-friendly setting this past season, and neither Ultimate Zone Rating (+1.8) nor Defensive Runs Saved (-3) felt that his glovework through 622 innings was a significant detriment. Alternatively, if he wishes to continue playing, I’d imagine there would be plenty of interest from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization, though Lee did specifically note that he “learned a great deal from playing with good players on a big stage,” in Major League Baseball.
MLBTR Chat Transcript
Click here to read a transcript of today’s chat with MLBTR’s Steve Adams.
MLBTR Poll: Should The Rockies Trade An Outfielder?
In addressing the three biggest needs for the Rockies heading into the offseason, I advocated that the team trade away Carlos Gonzalez and his hefty $20MM salary. You can read the full reasoning here, but it boils down to the fact that he’s expensive and isn’t as necessary to the organization given its other left-handed-hitting options and many other needs. The emergence of David Dahl gives the Rox three southpaw-swinging outfielders, and it’s probably sub-optimal to have so many resources tied up in such players.
Still, there’s an argument to be made that Colorado ought instead to pursue deals involving another player. Charlie Blackmon‘s monster 2016 season and two affordable years of control make him a highly appealing piece, especially with numerous rival organizations in the market for a center fielder. Of course, he’s also the Rockies’ primary option up the middle, though there are some alternative strategies.
The club could conceivably pair Gerardo Parra with a cheaper right-handed-hitting bat in center. Free agents such as Rajai Davis, Austin Jackson, Peter Bourjos, and Drew Stubbs should all be available on short-term deals. If trusting Parra up the middle isn’t desirable, Jon Jay or Michael Bourn could fill that role. Colorado could even provide a highly appealing bounceback locale for Carlos Gomez, though he’ll likely cost nearly as much as Gonzalez.
Parra himself could also be moved, though that would involve eating some salary. The Rockies owe him another $19.5MM over two years, including the buyout on a 2019 option. That’s a reasonable-enough commitment for the Parra of old, but he posted a 65 OPS+ in an injury-marred 2016 — which followed up a disappointing second-half run with the Orioles in 2015.
Dahl, meanwhile, only debuted last year, and seems much more likely to represent a foundational piece in Colorado than trade fodder. He spent most of his time in the minors in center field, and appeared a few times there last year, so could potentially step in for Blackmon rather than occupying a corner spot. Certainly, trading him now wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense for a team with limited willingness to spend. His development, following numerous other success stories on the position player side, demonstrates that the Rockies may be well-situated to ship out position players who are closer to free agency in exchange for pitching, as they did last year with Corey Dickerson. The team has struggled to attract free agent arms (or, at least in the past, to develop their own) even as they churn out quality bats.
Dealing Gonzalez or Blackmon would hold out the promise not only of opening some salary, but also of bringing back some interesting pieces in return. The Rockies are always hunting for pitching, of course. Even if the team is in better shape in the rotation than it has been in years, there’s room to add there. And the bullpen remains an area of concern. Plus, Colorado has needs behind the plate and at first base that could be addressed.
So, let’s put it to a vote … should the Rockies pursue a trade of an outfielder, and if so which one? (Link for mobile users.)
Should The Rockies Trade An Outfielder?
-
It's time to trade CarGo 49% (2,945)
-
Cash in Blackmon 29% (1,767)
-
Cut bait on Parra 16% (950)
-
Nah, keep this trio and pursue alternative strategies 6% (389)
Total votes: 6,051
Free Agent Notes: Cespedes, Wieters, Tolleson
Things remain quiet as the World Series draws to a close, but here are a few recent notes on the free agent market:
- While some analysts and fans think there’s a match to be made between the Giants and top expected free agent outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, we haven’t heard any firm reports connecting those dots. And there may not be reason to do so, according to Andrew Baggarly of the Mercury News (via Twitter), who labels any link “outside speculation based on apparent need.” Of course, it would be surprising if San Francisco didn’t at least consider such a move, given the team’s opening in left field and middle-of-the-road offensive output in 2016. But whether the organization will undertake a real pursuit seems unclear at this point.
- The Orioles are still undecided on whether to issue catcher Matt Wieters a qualifying offer, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com writes. At present, the sense is the team will let him reach the market unhindered, says Kubatko, which would match the consensus recommendation of MLBTR readers (per a recent poll). There’s certainly an argument to be made that a one-year, $17.2MM commitment wouldn’t be a terrible outcome, though, and Kubatko says he doesn’t think Wieters would again take the QO, which would net the club a draft pick if he signed elsewhere.
- Righty Shawn Tolleson is open to a return with the Rangers despite being cut loose recently, as MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports. Poor performance, bad luck, and a back injury conspired to create a lackluster 2016 campaign for Tolleson after he entered the year as the club’s closer. While he’ll surely be looking for the best opportunity available, and says he’s allowing his agent to lead the charge, Tolleson noted that he is “not closing any doors” and won’t let the disappointing ending prevent him from returning to Texas. The 28-year-old, who turned in strong efforts in 2014 and 2015, added that he is back to full health after rehabbing his back strain and has been cleared for “a normal offseason.”
This Date In Transactions History: Derek Jeter
On November 1st of 2013, the Yankees did one of the most natural things imaginable for the organization, deciding once again that Derek Jeter would be the shortstop for the following season. At the time it wasn’t clear, but it turned out to be the final time the organization would make that call, as Jeter announced just before 2014 Spring Training that it would be his final campaign.
The one-year, $12MM contract struck between the Yanks and their aging franchise icon kicked off a dramatic farewell tour, brought Jeter’s fantastic career to a close, and wrapped up an interesting transactional history between the two sides. His first big contract — ten years, $189MM — came one year after the sides had seemingly agreed to a lesser deal that ultimately wasn’t consummated by owner George Steinbrenner.
In the 2010-11 free agent period, Jeter was already a Yankee legend but was coming off of a poor season as he entered the open market. It took a bit of gamesmanship — MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk called it a “tug-of-war” before the month of November was out — before the sides finally agreed to a three-year, $56MM deal. (GM Brian Cashman said this on November 23, 2010: “He should be nothing but a New York Yankee,” Cashman said. “He chooses not to be.”) There was drama even after that deal was struck, too, with chatter about moving Jeter to the outfield (see here and here) and discussion of hurt feelings.
Heading into 2013, it seemed that Jeter might again command a multi-year pact. He was fresh off of a productive and healthy 2012 in which he slashed .316/.362/.429. But the aging star managed to appear in only 17 games in 2013, with a variety of leg injuries keeping him off the field.
Complicating matters was a player option that was ultimately valued at $9.5MM by operation of incentives provisions. Negotiations weren’t contentious this time around, but nevertheless proved as complicated as anything the sides had previously arranged due to CBA considerations that still seem unclear in retrospect. (Want to have a crack at understanding it? You can check out all the contemporaneous reporting right here.)
Ultimately, the deal didn’t pay off from an on-field perspective. Though Jeter made his 14th All-Star game, that was an honorary nod — albeit one that delivered some memorable moments. He did still play nearly every day, wrapping up his career with a .256/.304/.313 batting line over 634 plate appearances. And New York’s second place finish in the AL East wasn’t enough to snag a Wild Card spot.
Of course, that tepid finish did little to change the fact that Jeter enjoyed an unbelievable run with the game’s most iconic franchise. All told, he took over 12,000 plate appearances over two decades and compiled a lifetime .310/.377/.440 batting line with 260 home runs. He helped lead the organization to five World Series titles, and racked up 71.8 wins above replacement by measure of both fWAR and rWAR. Jeter is a surefire first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, with the only question now is whether he’ll become the first player to receive unanimous support in his first year of eligibility.