Around Baseball 2021

[BlueRocky]

 

This doesn't mention his comments about not wanting to pay for Iwakuma to have a translator and his comments about JRods English

 

Was he completely baked or is this a prank?

[G-Snarls]

The Nationals have reached an agreement with right-hander Jeremy Jeffress on a minor league deal, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports (Twitter links). Jeffress will earn $1.25MM if he reaches the Nats’ big league roster, plus he can earn up to $1.25MM more in bonuses.

[G-Snarls]

Tatis Jr contract details. It's super back loaded.

 

$1MM in 2021,

$5MM in 2022,

$7MM in 2023,

$11MM in 2024,

$20MM in 2025 and 2026,

$25MM in 2027 and 2028

$36MM yearly from 2029 through 2034

[connorp]

Tatis Jr contract details. It's super back loaded.

 

$1MM in 2021,

$5MM in 2022,

$7MM in 2023,

$11MM in 2024,

$20MM in 2025 and 2026,

$25MM in 2027 and 2028

$36MM yearly from 2029 through 2034

 

They’ll save quite a bit in the short term and $36m likely isn’t as bad 10 years from now

[Jays24]

Tatis Jr contract details. It's super back loaded.

 

$1MM in 2021,

$5MM in 2022,

$7MM in 2023,

$11MM in 2024,

$20MM in 2025 and 2026,

$25MM in 2027 and 2028

$36MM yearly from 2029 through 2034

 

I am trying to understand how this contract would differ if the Padres had gone through the normal process of waiting when he was much closer to free agency?

 

Only thing I can think of is that they won't have to pay him for his potential washed up years. But is that risk worth giving someone this deal after not even playing a full MLB season? A lot of things can happen before he was supposed to hit free agency like a major injury or him just not being as great.

[connorp]

I am trying to understand how this contract would differ if the Padres had gone through the normal process of waiting when he was much closer to free agency?

 

Only thing I can think of is that they won't have to pay him for his potential washed up years. But is that risk worth giving someone this deal after not even playing a full MLB season? A lot of things can happen before he was supposed to hit free agency like a major injury or him just not being as great.

 

They (may) save $30-40m the next 4 years and after that will give him a contract of roughly 10/314 which would be under market rate (potentially) and no chance of getting outbid by the big clubs. Of course it could go wrong, any long contract can. But it can also be good deal for them just as easy

[connorp]

I’d be cool if Jays did it in that spot

[Laika]

RE: Tatis and the numbers:

 

This is likely a true superstar. 6.5 WAR in 143 games before he turned 22.

 

At some point a player becomes so good that locking them up for as many years as possible becomes more important than the dollars on the contract. Sure, dollars matter, but if this is the point in time when Fernando Tatis Jr. is willing to commit 14 years of his life to the team and ownership can afford it then you just do it.

 

If the question is "why not just wait until he is approaching free agency and if he is still this good offer him something similar to the last 10 years on this contract?"

The best answer is probably that you don't know if Tatis Jr. will want to sign a mega deal with the org in a few years. People change and teams change. If Boston had made a similarly serious offer to Mookie Betts in 2015 or 2016 then he's a Red Sox player for life, but they didn't and a few years later the relationship wasn't there to find agreement on an extension.

 

But the salary is not even that important. Superstar players don't even get what they are "worth" on the field because of certain anchoring dynamics in the market. Timing and term are the key features.

[connorp]

 

Inevitable I guess. Most of it was speaking frank in a casual atmosphere. Like texting, we don’t know the tone/delivery on the few “bad” things he said that went beyond “over-sharing”. Pretty insulting reading as text though..the language things

 

Anyways, being in that position you need to know better. Bunch of people like King sitting in every crowd these days. Can’t really feel sorry for him

[TheHurl]

Blue Jays front office employees are not allowed to participate in fantasy baseball out of fear they give away player information. They would be fired instantly for doing 1/100th of Mather did

[Laika]

Giving up the specifics around some of those player negotiations is just so, so, so bad as far as almost anybody in the industry would be concerned. The players would be insulted and feel betrayed, and the management side would be shaking their heads at the lack of discretion and disclosure of, really, in-house information.

[connorp]

Giving up the specifics around some of those player negotiations is just so, so, so bad as far as almost anybody in the industry would be concerned. The players would be insulted and feel betrayed, and the management side would be shaking their heads at the lack of discretion and disclosure of, really, in-house information.

 

Yeah I guess the question is how do you climb the ladder that high with that kind of lack of discretion. I’d say maybe he had one cocktail too many but it was a breakfast meeting... though if someone has a problem I guess that doesn’t matter

[G-Snarls]

Yeah I guess the question is how do you climb the ladder that high with that kind of lack of discretion. I’d say maybe he had one cocktail too many but it was a breakfast meeting... though if someone has a problem I guess that doesn’t matter

 

https://www.inspiredtaste.net/19516/mimosa-recipe/

[Brownie19]

Albert Pujols' wife, Deidre Pujols, wrote on Instagram Monday that "today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!"

 

The obvious indication here would be that Pujols is planning to retire at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, and he did add a few heart emojis under his wife's post before telling USA Today's Bob Nightengale that he has yet to make a decision. This is indeed the final year of the 10-year, $240 million free agent contract that Pujols signed with the Angels back in December 2011, following a ridiculous 11-year run in St. Louis that included two World Series titles. The veteran slugger is currently sitting on 3,236 hits, 662 home runs, and 2,100 RBI, to go along with a lifetime .299/.377/.546 batting line. He'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

This isn't surprising, but I must say it will be bittersweet to see this legend retire from the game. I still remember his rookie season when he took the league (and every fantasy league) by storm out of nowhere and never looked back. The guy was an absolute beast and a fantastic ambassador for the game of baseball. It's been so difficult watching him the past couple of seasons - but I still have the utmost respect for him and will continue cheering him on as he finishes up his career.

[The Iceman]

OK, I know I am an old dude with older values.

Is it that horrible for a GM to say about one of his players "he has a personality bigger than anyone in the room but his English isn't awesome"

 

So to me good isn't awesome so if he said his English is good would that have been offending too?

 

I think people are making a way too big deal out of this. And it is the reason Atkins/Shapiro speaks to the media the way they do. I will get off my soap box now.

[Jimcanuck]

OK, I know I am an old dude with older values.

Is it that horrible for a GM to say about one of his players "he has a personality bigger than anyone in the room but his English isn't awesome"

 

So to me good isn't awesome so if he said his English is good would that have been offending too?

 

I think people are making a way too big deal out of this. And it is the reason Atkins/Shapiro speaks to the media the way they do. I will get off my soap box now.

 

Ya, the guy damaged the organization he works for - what he said isn't the issue, its the impact on his employer. It wasn't Joe Blow on the street saying these things.

[glory]

Mather not only made himself and the team he worked for look bad, but he also threw the entire league under the bus. This situation might end up being a great thing for the MLBPA. Granted, if anyone could air ball a wide open layup, it would be Tony Clark, but having an exec admit that service time manipulation was an organizational stance (something everyone knew already but no one was dumb enough to admit out loud) certainly isn't going to make the next CBA talks easier for MLB. The stuff about speaking English is just ridiculous. Even if he felt that way, and even if others in the league agree with him, what was the point of saying it out loud? The M's actually have an advantage with Asian players due to Ichiro and others. He was hurting his own competitive advantage. From any aspect you want to look at this from, it was stupid.

[Deadpool]

Albert Pujols' wife, Deidre Pujols, wrote on Instagram Monday that "today is the first day of the last season of one of the most remarkable careers in sports!"

 

The obvious indication here would be that Pujols is planning to retire at the conclusion of the 2021 campaign, and he did add a few heart emojis under his wife's post before telling USA Today's Bob Nightengale that he has yet to make a decision. This is indeed the final year of the 10-year, $240 million free agent contract that Pujols signed with the Angels back in December 2011, following a ridiculous 11-year run in St. Louis that included two World Series titles. The veteran slugger is currently sitting on 3,236 hits, 662 home runs, and 2,100 RBI, to go along with a lifetime .299/.377/.546 batting line. He'll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes.

 

---------------------------------------------------------

 

This isn't surprising, but I must say it will be bittersweet to see this legend retire from the game. I still remember his rookie season when he took the league (and every fantasy league) by storm out of nowhere and never looked back. The guy was an absolute beast and a fantastic ambassador for the game of baseball. It's been so difficult watching him the past couple of seasons - but I still have the utmost respect for him and will continue cheering him on as he finishes up his career.

 

Hey, retiring when you're 50 isn't too shabby.

[TwistedLogic]

[wilko]

 

AA giving lunchbox one more shot!

[G-Snarls]

AA giving lunchbox one more shot!

 

He just needs more time!

[Boxcar]

I am trying to understand how this contract would differ if the Padres had gone through the normal process of waiting when he was much closer to free agency?

 

Only thing I can think of is that they won't have to pay him for his potential washed up years. But is that risk worth giving someone this deal after not even playing a full MLB season? A lot of things can happen before he was supposed to hit free agency like a major injury or him just not being as great.

 

Yeah this deal seems like the high end of what he'd make in FA anyway. I really don't understand it.

 

I understand locking up young stars, but usually there's something in it for the team.

[G-Snarls]

Yeah this deal seems like the high end of what he'd make in FA anyway. I really don't understand it.

 

I understand locking up young stars, but usually there's something in it for the team.

 

All it really does is prevent him from leaving as a free agent when he's 26 or 27. Now they don't have to worry about that. I don't think the Padres are thinking they're saving significant amounts of money. And there's a huge risk if he tanks at some point or has a serious injury, though I'd expect the contact is insured.

 

They just really believe in him and want him through all his prime years. I heard they wanted a 12 year deal but his agent got 2 more years negotiated.

[Boxcar]

All it really does is prevent him from leaving as a free agent when he's 26 or 27. Now they don't have to worry about that. I don't think the Padres are thinking they're saving money. They just really believe in him and want him through all his prime years. I heard they wanted a 12 year deal but his agent got 2 more years negotiated.

 

I guess it makes sense when you don't have a history of being a FA destination like the Padres. That's still so much risk, though.

 

And, for as big of a f up as AJ Preller is, I greatly respect his attitude towards his players. He doesn't tend to game the system to extend years of control or worry about super two. If you're good enough to be on the team, you're on the team, full stop. It's not smart from a business perspective but if we are ever going to have a paradigm shift within MLB offices, it starts with guys like Preller throwing the general practices in the trash.

[TwistedLogic]

OK, I know I am an old dude with older values.

Is it that horrible for a GM to say about one of his players "he has a personality bigger than anyone in the room but his English isn't awesome"

 

So to me good isn't awesome so if he said his English is good would that have been offending too?

 

I think people are making a way too big deal out of this. And it is the reason Atkins/Shapiro speaks to the media the way they do. I will get off my soap box now.

 

In a 45 minute call, the guy managed to:

 

- Offend Japanese people.

 

- Offend Latino people.

 

- Offend translators and anyone who uses a translator.

 

- Offend his past/present star.

 

- Offend his two future stars.

 

- Offend the TV network that broadcasts their games.

 

- Offend the local residents.

 

- Throw his own team under the bus. Over and over and over and over again.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing the Mariners have a bum payroll.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing that he gets his employees to park further away, in a neighborhood he claims is unsafe, so he can price-gouge on his parking lot.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by admitting service time manipulation.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by implying there was collusion in free agency.

[G-Snarls]

“I want to apologize to every member of the Seattle Mariners organization, especially our players and to our fans. There is no excuse for my behaviour, and I take full responsibility for my terrible lapse in judgment,” Mather said in a statement Sunday. “My comments were my own. They do not reflect the views and strategy of the Mariners baseball leadership who are responsible for decisions about the development and status of the players at all levels of the organization.”

 

-

 

The apology is hilarious. If you're the f***ing president and CEO how do your words not represent the team's leadership and how do they not represent strategy when you're sharing actual real insider secrets that should never have been spoken aloud outside of the front office. Lmfao

[The Iceman]

In a 45 minute call, the guy managed to:

 

- Offend Japanese people.

 

- Offend Latino people.

 

- Offend translators and anyone who uses a translator.

 

- Offend his past/present star.

 

- Offend his two future stars.

 

- Offend the TV network that broadcasts their games.

 

- Offend the local residents.

 

- Throw his own team under the bus. Over and over and over and over again.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing the Mariners have a bum payroll.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing that he gets his employees to park further away, in a neighborhood he claims is unsafe, so he can price-gouge on his parking lot.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by admitting service time manipulation.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by implying there was collusion in free agency.

 

Last comment from me on this but this further extends my point. WTF is everyone getting so offended about?

From this speech Japanese and the translator are offended...really?? BOOHOO

He spoke the truth on a few topics that I found refreshing. Stepped over the bounds on what a management person should say in some cases but nothing everyone didn't already know.

 

I get offended by liars. Do you think Atkins and Shapiro were lying to fans when they were saying Vladdy needs to go down for a month to learn to be the best team mate he can be. BAHAHAHAHA.

If they weren't lying they would say Kid can rake and would help the lineup. Want him to get MLB exposure ASAP and coaching from the big league coaches BUT we can't because we will lose a year of service.

[max silver]

Last comment from me on this but this further extends my point. WTF is everyone getting so offended about?

From this speech Japanese and the translator are offended...really?? BOOHOO

He spoke the truth on a few topics that I found refreshing. Stepped over the bounds on what a management person should say in some cases but nothing everyone didn't already know.

 

I get offended by liars. Do you think Atkins and Shapiro were lying to fans when they were saying Vladdy needs to go down for a month to learn to be the best team mate he can be. BAHAHAHAHA.

If they weren't lying they would say Kid can rake and would help the lineup. Want him to get MLB exposure ASAP and coaching from the big league coaches BUT we can't because we will lose a year of service.

 

Were you actually paying attention to what was said about Vladdy Jr. by management when he was held back? He was said to need to work on baserunning, defense and conditioning. All three were obvious issues when he made his debut, which completely validated what Atkins stated he needed to work on. Even the touted MLB ready bat still led to a player who went through prolonged struggles at times. This wasn't a player who was fully formed and ready for prime time such as Kris Bryant, this was a young immature kid with precocious talent but poor routines that needed further refinement in every aspect of his game.

[connorp]

Last comment from me on this but this further extends my point. WTF is everyone getting so offended about?

From this speech Japanese and the translator are offended...really?? BOOHOO

He spoke the truth on a few topics that I found refreshing. Stepped over the bounds on what a management person should say in some cases but nothing everyone didn't already know.

 

I get offended by liars. Do you think Atkins and Shapiro were lying to fans when they were saying Vladdy needs to go down for a month to learn to be the best team mate he can be. BAHAHAHAHA.

If they weren't lying they would say Kid can rake and would help the lineup. Want him to get MLB exposure ASAP and coaching from the big league coaches BUT we can't because we will lose a year of service.

 

It’s only for the owners like a Steve Cohen to come out and say they’re manipulating service time. Maybe it’s known to anyone with a brain but it’s still your role as a corporate shill to be like “he needs more seasoning”. If you want to carry the big stick, buy your own team

 

And even an owner has to answer to mlb

[Spanky__99]

In a 45 minute call, the guy managed to:

 

- Offend Japanese people.

 

- Offend Latino people.

 

- Offend translators and anyone who uses a translator.

 

- Offend his past/present star.

 

- Offend his two future stars.

 

- Offend the TV network that broadcasts their games.

 

- Offend the local residents.

 

- Throw his own team under the bus. Over and over and over and over again.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing the Mariners have a bum payroll.

 

- Imply that it's a good thing that he gets his employees to park further away, in a neighborhood he claims is unsafe, so he can price-gouge on his parking lot.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by admitting service time manipulation.

 

- Throw the owners under the bus by implying there was collusion in free agency.

 

It was quite spectacular, wasn't it?!