Sooooo nothing yesterday. I can't wait til philly gets no one and all the fans convince themselves they didn't want either guy anyway.
If they don’t get either one, the reaction will be the exact opposite of that. You’ll probably love that as well.
Sooooo nothing yesterday. I can't wait til philly gets no one and all the fans convince themselves they didn't want either guy anyway.
The late Roy "Doc" Halladay going into Baseball HOF with no logo on his hat. Choices were Toronto, where he spent most of his career and Philly, where he had some of his highlights (perfect game). Family didn't want to choose. So neither one.
Sooooo nothing yesterday. I can't wait til philly gets no one and all the fans convince themselves they didn't want either guy anyway.
Pitchers and catchers report in 10 or less days and still have a bunch of free agents, even outside of Harper/Machado/Keuchel. Gio Gonzalez, Moosetacos, Clay Bucholz, CarGo, Jose Iglesias, Marwin Gonzalez, Denard Span are all coming off above average years.
Mystery teams are everywhere on the top 2.
The second tier position player free agents are in something of a holding pattern pending signings by the top 2. Their signings seem to be at least somewhat dependent on where the top 2 go (or don't go).
Pitchers to a lesser extent, primarily luxury tax issues.
Agents are behind how teams are evaluating players, half the teams aren't trying to win, and several big players are rebuilding or maxed out.
Of the top 50 eligible free agents according to MLB Trade Rumors, 39 have signed.
Harper turned down $300 million for 10 years. Machado has an offer of $25 million a year for 7 years (which Machado's agent claims is under-stated). Kimbrell was asking for a 6-7 year contract which he was never going to get, and the next best FA Dallas Kuechel is over 30 and palpably regressed since his 2015 Cy Young season. The remaining free agents outside of maybe Marwin Gonzalez (Gio Gonzalez, Mike Moustakas, Martin Maldonado, Bud Norris) all are question marks that aren't worthy of long term deals. I know the players are bitching that Harper and/or Maldonado aren't signing $400 million deals, but they simply don't make economic sense for a team that wants to build long term success. IMO, the complaints about the treatment of this year's free agency are largely meritless.
If 7/$175 is the new going rate for a 5-6 win player going into his age 26 seasons then I think major labor strife is coming when CBA expires.Of the top 50 eligible free agents according to MLB Trade Rumors, 39 have signed.
Harper turned down $300 million for 10 years. Machado has an offer of $25 million a year for 7 years (which Machado's agent claims is under-stated). Kimbrell was asking for a 6-7 year contract which he was never going to get, and the next best FA Dallas Kuechel is over 30 and palpably regressed since his 2015 Cy Young season. The remaining free agents outside of maybe Marwin Gonzalez (Gio Gonzalez, Mike Moustakas, Martin Maldonado, Bud Norris) all are question marks that aren't worthy of long term deals. I know the players are bitching that Harper and/or Maldonado aren't signing $400 million deals, but they simply don't make economic sense for a team that wants to build long term success. IMO, the complaints about the treatment of this year's free agency are largely meritless.
Baseball's current economic system is built on waiting to put players to max out their economic leverage until after their 6th year on an MLB roster. Teams have figured out that long term investments on players from year #7 on are bad deals. The system needs to be tweaked so that either players become free agents earlier or that minimum salaries are significantly higher than $500K. The problem isn't that Bryce Harper will "only" make $30 million next year, but that Ronald Acuna and Walker Buehler will only make $500K.
I mean, thats not a baseball problem, if it even is a problem. Next year Alvin Kamara will make $850k and Jerrick McKinnon will make $10 million. Alex Smith will make $20 million and Patrick Mahomes will make $3 million. There are always going to be rookie deals - the service time issue will likely be fought over, and maybe moving up arb years, but making a roster would be impossible if there was no way to have some great talent at decent salaries - it goes against the whole idea of having a development system.
If 7/$175 is the new going rate for a 5-6 win player going into his age 26 seasons then I think major labor strife is coming when CBA expires.