The Orioles keep Mark Trumbo in the fold with a three-year deal worth $37.5 million. The Orioles must be thrilled to get Trumbo at roughly $12.5 million per year, though there was an ongoing internal debate over the merits of receiving the draft pick attached to him before the new collective bargaining agreement takes hold. […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:32 am | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
January 5, 2017
Tabloid Tabulations
Via BBTF, a calculation based on the number of Yoenis Cespedes tabloid backpage appearances went into the calculation of Cespedes’s asking price: They even put a figure, $3.2 million, on the value of the approximately 50 tabloid back pages that had featured Cespedes over the course of 2016. Cespedes playing with flair, Cespedes hitting game-changing […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:17 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
December 26, 2016
Money and the Cardinals
Via BBTF, Derrick Goold takes a look at the Cardinals finances and shows that they have some money to spend. Cardinals fans seem upset that the team did not spend the money on Edwin Encarnacion: The tumult and consternation about the slugger has it wrong. The Cardinals, according to a source, had “mild” interest in […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:12 am | Free Agents, Management | Permalink | No Comments
December 23, 2016
Indians Land a Slugger
The Cleveland Indians agreed to a contract with free agent Edwin Encarnacion. Terry Pluto notes how well the Indians played this deal: But suddenly, the huge spending for big bats just stopped. Meanwhile, the Indians had targeted Encarnacion as the kind of acquisition that could help them return to the World Series. But they were […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:04 am | Free Agents | Permalink | 1 Comment
December 21, 2016
The Waiting Game
David Schoenfield at ESPN.com looks at the reasons why free agents seem to be staying on the market longer this season. He makes some solid points, from free agents over valuing their talent to clubs preferring younger players at less money. Once reason he leaves out, however, is that the best deals happen at the […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:09 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
December 14, 2016
He’s Obnoxious and Disliked
I have to disagree with Steve Contursi a bit about why Jose Bautista remains unsigned: The reason why free agent Jose Bautista has not been signed has nothing to do with baseball, nothing to do with the fact that he’s 36, and nothing to do with the price tag of $100 million that he pinned […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:53 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | 4 Comments
December 13, 2016
Reduced Class
Mike Axisa makes a very good point about the post-2018 class of free agents: You know that monster 2018-19 free agent class everyone is looking forward too? The Bryce Harper/Manny Machado class? The talent pool is already starting to thin out. Andrew McCutchen might not be an elite player anymore. Matt Harvey had surgery to […]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:29 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
December 12, 2016
Jansen Stays in LA
Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner appear to be staying with the Dodgers: The Dodgers completed a significant portion of their off-season shopping on Monday, reaching an agreement to re-sign Jansen, while approaching the final stages of an agreement with Turner, according to people familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity because neither contract had been […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:17 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers, Players | Permalink | No Comments
December 9, 2016
Expensive No Trade
Ken Rosenthal reports on the Dexter Fowler deal with the Cardinals: Source: Fowler deal with #STLCards: Five years, $82.5M, full no-trade. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2016 The $82.5 million contract seems low to me. I estimate that Fowler should produce about 13 WAR over the next five seasons, which should put his value […]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:13 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
December 8, 2016
Back to the Future
The Yankees land Aroldis Chapman: Aroldis Chapman and his triple-digit fastball are heading back to the Bronx, as the left-handed closer has agreed to a five-year, $86 million contract with the Yankees on Wednesday night, a source told MLB.com. The agreement sets a Major League record for the largest contract ever handed to a relief […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:29 am | Free Agents | Permalink | 1 Comment
December 5, 2016
Giants Land Melancon
The Giants went with the cheap closer: They have reached an agreement with free-agent closer Mark Melancon. The deal is pending medical review, but Buster Olney reports Melancon’s contract will be for four years and $62 million. The largest free-agent contact ever given to a closer (for now anyway, until Aroldis Chapman and/or Kenley Jansen […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:02 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
December 4, 2016
Holliday in New York
The Yankees and Matt Holliday reached an agreement on a one year deal. I suspect he will serve mostly as the designated hitter.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:51 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
December 3, 2016
The Value of Beltran
The Houston Astros will pay Carlos Beltran $16 million for the 2017 season, putting his value at about two WAR. Given that Beltran produced 2.0 and 2.3 WAR in the last two seasons, that seems like a reasonable valuation. Both the prediction systems at FanGraphs, and Musings Marcels predict reduced performance and a much lower […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:29 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
November 29, 2016
Cespedes Signs
Yoenis Cespedes unofficially agreed to a deal with the Mets: A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and the New York Mets have agreed to a $110 million, four-year contract. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement is subject to Cespedes […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:20 pm | Free Agents, Transactions | Permalink | No Comments
November 13, 2016
Fitting in Reddick
Josh Reddick appears to mark all the boxes for matching well with the Orioles. He’s a left-handed corner outfield who hits well at Camden Yards. But what might make Reddick even more attractive to the Orioles than ever is the fact that he was ineligible to receive a qualifying offer after being dealt from the […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:35 am | Free Agents, Players | Permalink | 1 Comment
November 12, 2016
Old Men River
I’m sorry I missed this Friday. Batolo Colon signed with the Braves, joining R.A. Dickey in the 40+ club: The last major league team to have two pitchers 42 or older start 10 or more games was the 1990 Texas Rangers, with Nolan Ryan and Charlie Hough. The Braves were looking for short term pitching […]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:44 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers, Transactions | Permalink | No Comments
November 11, 2016
Morales to the Blue Jays
Multiple sources indicate the Blue Jays agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with Kendrys Morales. That looks like they value him at about 1.3 WAR a year, a reasonable estimate. It had seemed that Toronto would at least spend a bit more time looking into a return for Edwin Encarnacion, who had continued to […]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:09 pm | Free Agents, Players | Permalink | No Comments
November 10, 2016
Maybe Ascot Will Make a Comeback
The Braves take a one-year flyer on R.A. Dickey: So the Braves ink Dickey out of free agency to a one-year deal with an option for 2018. Jon Heyman reports that it’s for $7.5 million with an $8 million club option for 2018. Knuckleballers, man. They defy age. Dickey is 42 and has a contract […]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:05 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
November 8, 2016
Pricing Free Agents
Dave Cameron makes the case that the price for free agent players won’t go through the roof this winter: But, as much as there is a supply shortage of upper-end talent in the free agent market this winter, there is one reason to think that prices might not be as outrageous as some expect. That […]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:43 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2016
Desmond has a Barrow in the Market Place!
The Rangers signed Ian Desmond to a one-year deal to replace Josh Hamilton in leftfield: With Josh Hamilton starting the season on the disabled list, the Rangers made a move Sunday, signing free-agent shortstop Ian Desmond to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports. The team is expected to convert Desmond, 30, into a left […]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:51 pm | Free Agents, Injuries, Players | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 25, 2016
Fowler and the Short Term
The Orioles and Dexter Fowler could not reach an agreement on an opt-out, so Fowler settled on a one-year contract with the Cubs: Fowler will be paid $8 million in 2016 with a $9 mutual option for 2017. The deal includes a $5 million buyout. Epstein said the two sides agreed to terms Tuesday night, […]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:39 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | 1 Comment
February 24, 2016
Gallardo Gets Two Plus
The Orioles and Yovani Gallardo finally reached a deal. He gets two guaranteed years instead of three, and can earn nearly the full contract if he stays healthy gets the option for the third year. It’s almost become a running joke around MLB that the Orioles will find something to give them pause and reconsider […]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:22 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
February 20, 2016
Gallardo an O
The Orioles and Yovani Gallardo appear to have reached a three-year deal: After weeks of negotiating, a three-year deal was finally struck Saturday between pitcher Yovani Gallardo and the Orioles, according to MLB’s Jon Heyman. The Orioles had been “making progress” toward a deal with Gallardo for a couple of weeks. But the two sides […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:50 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | 2 Comments
February 18, 2016
Tango on Free Agent Dollars
Long time readers of Baseball Musings know that I favor all players being free agents all the time. There would be no draft, no reserve clause. When your contract is up, you sell yourself to the highest bidder, even at the minor league level. Tom Tango looks at the cost of free agency, and his […]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:54 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
February 18, 2016
The Future is Now
The Orioles are going all in as they are on the verge of signing both Dexter Fowler and Yovani Gallardo: In addition to a monetary investment, the O’s are also taking away future assets to their farm system. Both players were given qualifying offers by their previous clubs, so the Orioles will have to give […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:48 am | Free Agents, Management, Owners | Permalink | 1 Comment
January 28, 2016
Fister of Fury
The Astros sign Doug Fister to a one-year, $7 million deal. That means they expect him to produce less than one WAR. “The choice to come here was driven from top down,” Fister said Thursday. “I know we’re trying to win a World Series here, and that’s your ultimate goal and that’s why you come […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:43 pm | Free Agents, Pitchers | Permalink | 3 Comments
January 28, 2016
Drive Thru or Freeway
I like the way Scott Boras describes an opt-out clause: A three-year deal between the Yankees and reliever Rafael Soriano, signed in January 2011, gave Soriano the right to opt out after the first or second year. Soriano had just earned 45 saves for Tampa Bay but did not have a long history as a […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:51 am | Free Agents | Permalink | No Comments
January 26, 2016
Nationals Add Innings
The Washington Nationals signed Bronson Arroyo. Keep your eye out for details. Arroyo is making a comeback from Tommy John surgery, and the Nationals had good luck with both Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg after their surgeries. Arroyo knows that the Nationals won’t push him beyond his limits. He fits in nicely as a fourth […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:24 pm | Free Agents, Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
January 25, 2016
Hip to Lincecum
Tim Lincecum set up an audition for teams interested in his services. He will try to demonstrate that he recovered from hip surgery: “He’s throwing every day and says he’s doing great,” Lincecum’s agent, Rick Thurman, told the Chronicle. “He’s got no instability in his hip, and he’s enthusiastic about his progress.” Thurman reveals that […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:35 am | Free Agents, Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
January 23, 2016
The Cespedes Switch
The Mets and Yoenis Cespedes agreed to a three-year deal. He gets $27.5 million in 2016, and $75 million total if he doesn’t opt out after one year. That’s compared to a report $100 million, five year offer from the Nationals. Here’s why Cespedes took that deal: Still, it’s a gamble that few players take, […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:49 am | Free Agents, Players | Permalink | 1 Comment