Yeah it’s pretty intriguing. Rodriguez was undoubtedly one of the most talented arms on the market. Upper 90’s from the left side with a nasty change up. His regular season numbers were a bit skewed, IMO. The talent was on full display in that ALCS game 3. I saw a lot of guys possibly having him pegged for 20 mil AAV. Hopefully sets the market a little lower than expected and possibly the trade market.
I just don't know about signing a 33-year-old to a 4 year or longer contract when one of his main attributes is speed....
I’m really surprised to see such a big signing this early. Lends credence to the rumors that players are eager to get deals done in advance of any potential lockout. Could be an extremely busy next 10 days.
I wonder if MLBPA is actually serious about getting players under club control paid more which could cause some free agents to worry they will get less after the CBA is signed.
Excellent point; MLBPA could have provided guidance that major FA securing money prior to negotiating might give them more leverage since they’d not have to worry (as much) about how the outcome will affect current free agents.
Giant free agent contracts are the pride of the MLBPA. I can't see them agreeing to much that's going to curtail that. I think the E-Rodriguez's - the non-stars that are in line for big deals - are always the ones to sign most quickly because they risk being squeezed out of the market. Someone will always find a way to pay the elite players and the cheaper role players or short-term deals. But the mid-tier deals with longer commitments are where you tend to find players who have more to lose if the market turns south on them.
The pride of the MLBPA has made it easier for the owners to pay players less (as a percentage of MLB revenue) the last few years overall before the pandemic, though still within historical bracket of percentage of revenue (barely). You are probably right as every CBA the MLBPA caves to protect the high-priced veterans, offers up club controlled players as a sacrifice, and then the players whine the next 5 years about the club controlled players getting taken advantage by the owners.
Exactly right - I think the MLBPA works against their own economic interests pretty regularly because of pride at the top end and being able to say they produce the biggest contracts of all major sports, etc. And yeah, it sucks for the club controlled players - especially the ones who's careers peak during that time.
Structure of that deal is easy on the Tigers: 14, 14, 16, 16, 17, with $3M in incentives along the way. Pretty affordable for a guy who might be a very good #2 SP with a floor as a solid #4.
Because if he doesn't then the QO could be a poison pill similar to when Dallas Keuchel turned down the QO and didn't get signed until mid-season after the QO penalty dropped off. Do teams want to give up their draft pick for a short term deal on a 39 year old coming of TJ? Or teams say let Verlander play a prove it season on a one year QO deal and if does well make an aggressive offer next offseason.
I think the Angels are staring at Trout, Ohani and Rendon and will gamble on a deal with Verlander over that draft pick and being financially prudent. They are the Angels.
I thought that since he got the 2 year- $66M contract that he wasn't able to earn on the field, JV would give the Astros this comeback year for the QO- $19M and give us his best shot at winning a Championship.
