Quote from fenn68 on March 21, 2019, 3:51 pm

Continuing with the trend of extensions:

Goldschmidt did well extending for ages 31-35 (5 years) at $130MM ($26MM AAV) ... no trade / no opt out. A few years ago the $26MM AAV would seem low for his talent but based on the last two FA seasons discounting age  ... smart move by Goldschmidt .... especially staying with StL.

Blake Snell probably is the more controversial one. He signs a 5 year / $50MM deal covering 4 more control years and one FA year at age 30-31. For a pitcher who just won the Cy Young award in the NL with a dominate performance in 2018 that seems light (if he continued near that level) even for the arbitration years. He "sold" his FA year at only $16MM (plus $2MM in incentives). Now he is a pitcher which suggests a higher injury risk ... so must factor in the guaranteed money.

Clearly the thinking process of players / agents has changed over the past two winters and the spector of the next CBA.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 21, 2019, 5:13 pm

Blake Snell now becomes the most valuable trade chip in baseball.

If I’m Preller I’m already on the phone.

Renfroe/Mejia/Quantrill/Baez/Naylor.

 

 

Quote from David Jay on March 21, 2019, 6:56 pm

If I'm Erik Neander, I chuckle derisively and drop the phone.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 21, 2019, 8:29 pm

I get it.....gotta start somewhere.

Give em what they want minus Tatis and Gore.

Obviously he’s worth those guys....but we have enough to put it together without them.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 22, 2019, 9:25 am

Quote from David Jay on March 21, 2019, 6:56 pm

If I'm Erik Neander, I chuckle derisively and drop the phone.

Given this is TB ... they would put Preller on hold for 3-4 years then discuss a blockbuster deal with 1-2 years left on the deal.

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Side: don't sleep on TB as a wild card. They won 90 games last season in the tough AL East ... came in right behind OAK for the last wild card slot (and expect OAK to take a dive from the overachieving 2018) ... added Morton to bolster their SP ... have a modest payroll of $65MM leaving (potentially) some money for a key trade deadline add a final push.

They have a decent farm system ... maybe the Padres are best served trying to get them to bite on Renfroe for a prospect.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2019, 8:05 am

Well the extensions keep on coming .... Sale adds 5 years / $145MM (ages 31-35) ... good deal for Sale.

Although Boston was already in extension talks with Sale ... I wonder how much Mookie Betts recent comments about wanting to go the FA (in 2 years) and Trout leaving money on the table may have push them the extra bit to seal the Sale deal?

Boston is over the luxury tax BUT will have some money off the books after the season via FA / options declined with the real wild card being J.D.Martinez have an opt out of his last 3 years ... if he has another All-Star season could see him taking the opt out unless a re-negotiation. Boston does need to re-sign Bogarts though. Should be interesting on the future Boston moves.

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Side: sounds as though Verlander and Houston are getting close to a 2 year extension. Next winter's FA crop is shrinking if you are looking for quality. Cole (who said he is not signing an extension and is still in his 20s) has to be be happy (maybe not as much as his agent).

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 23, 2019, 9:27 am

I just don't see the Rays in the Playoffs any time soon.

Last year was a fluke IMO.

They just don't have the offense or Pitching beyond Snell.

Ain't gonna happen.

Morton is 35 and I see him getting pounded in the AL East....always seemed like an over achiever to me.

Doesn't mean TB would entertain trading Snell though....

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2019, 10:00 am

Quote from David Nevin on March 23, 2019, 9:27 am

I just don't see the Rays in the Playoffs any time soon.

Last year was a fluke IMO.

They just don't have the offense or Pitching beyond Snell.

Ain't gonna happen.

Morton is 35 and I see him getting pounded in the AL East....always seemed like an over achiever to me.

Doesn't mean TB would entertain trading Snell though....

With the AL safe bets on NYY, BOST, HOU, and CLEVE returning to the playoffs but OAK was also a major overachiever last season with that pitching staff. So the 90 wins in TB may be a fluke ... but would not put money on any other team to be the odds on favorite to capture that 5th spot.

Side: Snell was great last season but if he falls back to being just very good ... how much will that hurt TB in 2019?

Think the NL should be a lot more fun (at least in theory) for Division winners and WC slots with the NL East and NL Central potentially cannibalizing each other creating a tight shot group were a game or two can spell the difference.

Quote from fenn68 on March 23, 2019, 11:32 am

Mar. 23, 12:50 PM: Per Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston, the Astros have reached an agreement with Verlander on a 2-year, $66MM extension.