I never said anything other than he wasn’t worth $30M but good try. Quite frankly, I don’t care what he does as long as we aren’t the idiots to give him $30M over 6+ years like you suggested Crane should do because he’s rich. Speaks to quality of character…LOL **** off
Beltre was 5'11" and was 6+ WAR at age 37. Sheffield put up a 3 WAR season at 38. Biggio had 3 WAR at 35 (not a 3B). Did we have this discussion with short 2B when Altuve was getting extended to his mid-30s? Altuve, Ramirez, Betts... these are stars regardless of their stature who seem like they are aging well. I'd be interested in the converse - where are the 5'10" 3B who were 4+ WAR but fell off a massive cliff in their early 30s? You mentioned Pedroia at one point, but that guy suffered a freak, catastrophic injury in a collision with another player.
Sheffield didn’t play 3B past his age 24 season and was a much more gifted natural athlete than Bregman. Beltre had a sturdier build than Bregman and didn’t have the injury history. Betts is only 32 and plays SS. The full list of good 3B Bregman’s size at any age is extremely short. That’s a point against projecting him to be good into his late 30s, not for it. Interesting you bring up Altuve, frankly I love Altuve enough I didn’t care how he projected to age, I just wanted him to retire an Astro. Hes the only baseball player I have ever really been sentimental about. And just this week this board has been littered with debate about whether he can even play the field thru the end of his contract. Also, he’s not that well paid. But paying any player under the expectation that “he’ll age just like Altuve!” seems like a losing bet. Bregman aging like Adrian Beltre is in the realm of possibility. But to my original point that started this off, if I’m Bregman, I’m not betting on myself to age like Beltre or Altuve. I’m getting the most money I can now, full stop.
I'm sentimental about Altuve, too. My absolutely favorite baseball player ever. I'm so glad they kept him. But, he is highly paid. He's making $33m this year and next. In fact, for his age 30-37 seasons he's going to end up making $244m. For the age of 31-36 (apples to apples with a 6 year Bregman deal), Altuve will have made $182m. I'd say that is highly paid. I'm with you on Bregman not wanting to bet on himself though - there's a reason he is trying to get long term security. He'd like to make as much as he can and retire as an Astro, while avoiding having to go through free agency again and the inherent risks. Hopefully he and the team can see eye to eye. Altuve loves having him around and is willing to move positions to keep him. He hasn't advocated in that way for the guys we've lost in the past.
True, if Bregman wasnted to bet on himself he'd sign a shorter term prove-it deal with opt outs and crush it. He wants to be somewhere for at least 6 years to end his career and trying for 7 or as much money as he can get. I think he feels that $156/6 will continue to be on the table so why not hold out a bit longer.
We've been here before. Crane offers what he believes is market value and the player either accepts it or not. Boras trying to squeeze Crane for another $2-$4M/yr is probably not happening. If another team was going to beat that offer, they probably already would have made the move. This is where Alex needs to step up and make a decision, he's seen Springer and Correa leave and what has happened to their lives/careers, he's made great money already and $156M invested the right way will provide his family multi-generational wealth. If he wants to move on then take a shorter term deal and bet on yourself (pretty risky), but hey all these guys have to have belief in themselves to be pros. I'll be surprised if someone gives him more than the 6/$156M before the season, but hey NY and LA seem to always throw money at stars.
If he leaves...great. If he comes back...great. I can spin it either way. But, the waiting is excruciating.
$7.75M guarantee with $11.25M possible with incentives. Fair contract and I would have liked Houston to have signed him at that price.
Possible the Astros offered something similar but Polanco wanted a guarantee at 2nd base for the year.
