MLB 2023-2024 Offseason

[4everwarriors]

So steroids were a good investment? Maybe Braun would be a better one to ax, hey?

[Uncle Rico]

Congrats to Brandon Crawford for finally getting to play baseball the right way

[Pakuni]

Congrats to Brandon Crawford for finally getting to play baseball the right way

In front the Best Fans in BaseballTM.

[MU82]

5 years into his 13-year, $330 million contract, Bryce Harper says he wants an extension for a ton more money.

He has no opt-out clause in the contract, which at the time was the richest in the history of North American team sports.

[JWags85]

5 years into his 13-year, $330 million contract, Bryce Harper says he wants an extension for a ton more money.

He has no opt-out clause in the contract, which at the time was the richest in the history of North American team sports.

Seems crazy, but he's totally right.  $25MM a year for the level of player he is currently is pretty damn undervalued.  If he was a FA, he would be getting $35MM a year pretty easily.

[PGsHeroes32]

Seems crazy, but he's totally right.  $25MM a year for the level of player he is currently is pretty damn undervalued.  If he was a FA, he would be getting $35MM a year pretty easily.

He also signed the contract and that's always been the point of a lot of longer deals.

Lock yourself in for insane amount of yeaes and never have to worry again.

On the flip side value may change, always.

[MU82]

Seems crazy, but he's totally right.  $25MM a year for the level of player he is currently is pretty damn undervalued.  If he was a FA, he would be getting $35MM a year pretty easily.

If he's "right" about this, that means he was "wrong" when he insisted on the contract he received.

It could get ugly if he pulls a Harden.

[cheebs09]

He also signed the contract and that's always been the point of a lot of longer deals.

Lock yourself in for insane amount of yeaes and never have to worry again.

On the flip side value may change, always.

That will be tough on the small markets who try to lock up a guy early on a long contract. Trading security for dollar upside.

[JWags85]

If he's "right" about this, that means he was "wrong" when he insisted on the contract he received.

It could get ugly if he pulls a Harden.

Well his agent is Boras, so I wouldn't think Boras was "wrong".  I just think things have just fundamentally changed contract wise in the last 6 years.  Its personally surprising that there was no opt-out, but it is what it is.

He also signed the contract and that's always been the point of a lot of longer deals.

Lock yourself in for insane amount of years and never have to worry again.

On the flip side value may change, always.

Yea, I mean both angles are right.  Thats technically the risk of signing a long term deal.  But I don't blame a top 5-10 player that's one of the faces of the league for trying to amend a contract when he could get 75-80% more in the open market.  I mean, Rendon is making $10MM a year than him, lol

[MU82]

Wags, I'm on the players' side of these things probably 95% of the time, maybe more. But it's really hard for me to believe that a guy who insisted on a 13-year, $330M contract with no opt-out is somehow underpaid, mistreated or any other word of that kind one wants to use.

It will be interesting to see how hard Harper pushes it, if he becomes a malcontent, if ownership gives him something, etc.

[dgies9156]

In front the Best Fans in BaseballTM.

Yeup, we indeed are THE BEST FANS IN BASEBALL.

Will see the Cardinals Sunday against the Marlins!!!

[rocket surgeon]

AZ is much more compact than the Grapefruit League.   Much more distance in Florida.

  az has 5 teams to west of phoenix and 5 teams to east.  very easy to travel between any and all depending on the time of the day.  5 of the, teams- brewers, cub, angels, A's, giants, having their own complexes.   the other 10 teams share a complex

[Lennys Tap]

Seems crazy, but he's totally right.  $25MM a year for the level of player he is currently is pretty damn undervalued.  If he was a FA, he would be getting $35MM a year pretty easily.

So what? He's not a FA. Can ownership demand that players who are underperforming their guaranteed contracts give back some of the money? Harper got what he wanted. If he doesn't want to play baseball for 25M a year he can start his next career early.

[MU82]

So what? He's not a FA. Can ownership demand that players who are underperforming their guaranteed contracts give back some of the money. Harper got what he wanted. If he doesn't want to play baseball for 25M a year he can start his next career early.

You're right, Lenny. Unfortunately, that's often isn't the way it works. Many athletes pout, demand a new contract, demand a trade, hold out, fake injury, etc. Anything to get their way - as I said earlier, the James Harden method. And all too often, they get rewarded for their petulance.

Situations such as these are the rare times I don't side with athletes.

It should be noted that it hasn't come to any of that with Harper - at least not yet. He has simply publicly stated that he wants an extension and more money. He hasn't made threats or anything. We'll see how it all plays out.

[Lennys Tap]

You're right, Lenny. Unfortunately, that's often isn't the way it works. Many athletes pout, demand a new contract, demand a trade, hold out, fake injury, etc. Anything to get their way - as I said earlier, the James Harden method. And all too often, they get rewarded for their petulance.

Situations such as these are the rare times I don't side with athletes.

It should be noted that it hasn't come to any of that with Harper - at least not yet. He has simply publicly stated that he wants an extension and more money. He hasn't made threats or anything. We'll see how it all plays out.

I'm a player's guy, too. Don't begrudge them making big money - they're the best in the world at what they do and deserve it.

BUT, when it comes to contract disputes, it's always the players wanting to renegotiate, never the owners. In those cases I'm 100% for the owners.

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

I'm a player's guy, too. Don't begrudge them making big money - they're the best in the world at what they do and deserve it.

BUT, when it comes to contract disputes, it's always the players wanting to renegotiate, never the owners. In those cases I'm 100% for the owners.

Well yeah I'm assuming the owners know "I'd like to pay you less" wouldn't work.

[Lennys Tap]

Well yeah I'm assuming the owners know "I'd like to pay you less" wouldn't work.

Why should contracts only be binding to one side?

[The Sultan]

All depends on the leverage one has...and is willing to use.

What if Harper says he's going to retire rather than play under the current contract? 

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

Why should contracts only be binding to one side?

Isn't the reason for restrictions so owners can't use restructuring to get out of paying players

[Lennys Tap]

Isn't the reason for restrictions so owners can't use restructuring to get out of paying players

WTF does this even mean?

[MU82]

I'm a player's guy, too. Don't begrudge them making big money - they're the best in the world at what they do and deserve it.

BUT, when it comes to contract disputes, it's always the players wanting to renegotiate, never the owners. In those cases I'm 100% for the owners.

In the NFL, the owners make such demands all the time. But you're right about MLB.

[SoCalEagle]

I seem to recall an MLB player years ago that was injured for part of the season and wanted to return some of his salary because he didn't "earn" it.  The team (maybe my local Angels?) said no because it wouldn't work the other way around (i.e. they wouldn't have paid more if he had a good year).  Not quite sure who it was, probably because it's so rare I can vaguely remember it. 

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

WTF does this even mean?

Owner mad at player. Owner tell player "take less money or I'm sinking your career".

Or something like that. Chill.

[Marqus Howard]

I seem to recall an MLB player years ago that was injured for part of the season and wanted to return some of his salary because he didn't "earn" it.  The team (maybe my local Angels?) said no because it wouldn't work the other way around (i.e. they wouldn't have paid more if he had a good year).  Not quite sure who it was, probably because it's so rare I can vaguely remember it.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Twins) I believe

[HutchwasClutch]

Josh Donaldson retiring.