Nothing guaranteed in FA. This is also why its comical whenever off-season aspirations to sign FA’s who haven’t been here (Bryant, Marte, Story, Semien) can never be presumed even if the money is close. Its why you can’t automatically presume that if they’re unable to sign Correa that they can just go easily spend that money elsewhere (other than giving out earlier extensions to Tucker/Alvarez). Free agents care about a lot of things in addition to money… things they don’t have to make public. They don’t owe anything to other teams they’re in negotiations with. I presume this isn’t the first time a FA changed their mind, although in this day/age of social media we get to hear the complaining in real time.
I really don't know what the "protocol" is on things like contract matching. But if you are refusing to go to a number and another team is, it doesn't seem like they have any obligation whatsoever to give you a chance to match, even if they say they will.
Agreed. I’d add that teams are just as dishonest (if not more so) when it comes to verbal promises or trying to keep their word. Free agency has no explicit rules. Landing free agents is not a skill that any GM or owner can claim to excel at, other than simply giving the best offer. Many times, players already know where they want to go and it’s the agents job to get the best possible offer.
Cohen has no one to be mad at but himself. He knowingly offered Matz less than what they were really willing to offer him. He took a gamble/risk and it didn’t pay off. No player, under no circumstance, is obligated to circle back to any team, even if they said they would. Make your best offer or reap the consequences.
Divisional counterparts, Mariners and Angels are in on Gausman. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/11/kevin-gausman-rumors-mariners-angels.html
An agent who gives his word then breaks it will never be taken seriously again. He gave away his reputation. Players will know it and look for other representation as a result.
That's bullshit. The agent works for the player. The player has the final say on what they want their agent to do. If Matz wanted to be in St. Louis, and didn't want to be in NYC, that's his choice... regardless of what the agent says to GM's/Owners who say their fair share of bullshit all the time.
What if the player was the one that told his agent to sign him up with STL and not go back to talk to the Mets?
What type of contract do you think Schwarber gets? I’m seeing 3, 4, or 5 years, and anywhere from $12M to $20M AAV. Would 3yr/$54M do it? I wouldn’t mind that, he’s a really great bat.
Unless the Astros trade Michael Brantley I have zero interest in Schwarber. An outfield of Brantley, Tucker, and Schwarber would be awful defensively.
The agent is taking the bullet for the player. The team gets to b**** about the agent rather than the player. Teams will not refuse to negotiate with a player because they don't like the agent.
