This is One Awful Contract—Miguel Cabrera.

[Dr Naysay]

The real facts are that the average MLB salary has declined for the second year running and is at its lowest for 4 seasons. The players are pissed off and for the first time in MLB history the Union and League have agreed to an earlier renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The premier FA starting pitcher available on the market who up until last year had earned 31 mil in 6 MLB seasons was waiting for his turn to get his "retroactive compensation" and he waited and waited and then once the compensation pick phase passed(well after the season had started) he got a 1 year 20 million deal. Why? Because no one fancied giving him a long term deal for the 31 year old who is probably on the downward trend of his career.

[D-train]

The real facts are that the average MLB salary has declined for the second year running and is at its lowest for 4 seasons. The players are pissed off and for the first time in MLB history the Union and League have agreed to an earlier renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The premier FA starting pitcher available on the market who up until last year had earned 31 mil in 6 MLB seasons was waiting for his turn to get his "retroactive compensation" and he waited and waited and then once the compensation pick phase passed(well after the season had started) he got a 1 year 20 million deal. Why? Because no one fancied giving him a long term deal for the 31 year old who is probably on the downward trend of his career.

Yep, owners, with the help of sabermetric oriented GMs and staff finally have had the epiphany of "why would we pay retroactive compensation" Of course much of the liberal sports media calls it collusion and keeping the poor "worker" down.

[DanielVogelbach]

The real facts are that the average MLB salary has declined for the second year running and is at its lowest for 4 seasons. The players are pissed off and for the first time in MLB history the Union and League have agreed to an earlier renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The premier FA starting pitcher available on the market who up until last year had earned 31 mil in 6 MLB seasons was waiting for his turn to get his "retroactive compensation" and he waited and waited and then once the compensation pick phase passed(well after the season had started) he got a 1 year 20 million deal. Why? Because no one fancied giving him a long term deal for the 31 year old who is probably on the downward trend of his career.

Manny Machado... 10 years / $300 million, will run through age 37.

Bryce Harper... 13 years / $330 million, will run through age 39.

It simply comes down to market value with FAs. They can play all interested parties against each other and max out their value. The GMs understand that "overpaying" the player in the latter half of the contract is part of the cost to obtain the FA. They know the guy is going to decline. This isn't some newfangled sabermetric thing to understand that a guys production is going to drop off as he gets older. You can look at good old AVG and RBIs for that.

The qualifying offer system is really a different topic. I think that one is definitely taking money out of players pockets. It's no longer a pure market system, because there's a penalty assigned with signing the FA.

[bpj]

Ownership understands that they need viewers these days, not necessarily butts in the seats- to make money. Harper and Machado bring viewers.

You can either win, or sign players people want to see to get by. Or, you probably get revenue share and don't care.

[D-train]

The real facts are that the average MLB salary has declined for the second year running and is at its lowest for 4 seasons. The players are pissed off and for the first time in MLB history the Union and League have agreed to an earlier renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The premier FA starting pitcher available on the market who up until last year had earned 31 mil in 6 MLB seasons was waiting for his turn to get his "retroactive compensation" and he waited and waited and then once the compensation pick phase passed(well after the season had started) he got a 1 year 20 million deal. Why? Because no one fancied giving him a long term deal for the 31 year old who is probably on the downward trend of his career.

Manny Machado... 10 years / $300 million, will run through age 37.

Bryce Harper... 13 years / $330 million, will run through age 39.

It simply comes down to market value with FAs. They can play all interested parties against each other and max out their value. The GMs understand that "overpaying" the player in the latter half of the contract is part of the cost to obtain the FA. They know the guy is going to decline. This isn't some newfangled sabermetric thing to understand that a guys production is going to drop off as he gets older. You can look at good old AVG and RBIs for that.

The qualifying offer system is really a different topic. I think that one is definitely taking money out of players pockets. It's no longer a pure market system, because there's a penalty assigned with signing the FA.

SD and the Phillies are a combined 17 games under .500. Neither will make the playoffs. I was in Philly on opening day. Everyone was SO excited about Harper and the Phillies winning it all in 2019. lol

[bpj]

I dont know what Jerry's waiting for as far as contending.

It's obvious who should be here next season and who shouldnt.

Get rid of Mallex Smith and fill his spot with the best player you possibly can. Do the same for the 4 weakest spots on the roster and we're contenders.

[DanielVogelbach]

The real facts are that the average MLB salary has declined for the second year running and is at its lowest for 4 seasons. The players are pissed off and for the first time in MLB history the Union and League have agreed to an earlier renegotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

The premier FA starting pitcher available on the market who up until last year had earned 31 mil in 6 MLB seasons was waiting for his turn to get his "retroactive compensation" and he waited and waited and then once the compensation pick phase passed(well after the season had started) he got a 1 year 20 million deal. Why? Because no one fancied giving him a long term deal for the 31 year old who is probably on the downward trend of his career.

Manny Machado... 10 years / $300 million, will run through age 37.

Bryce Harper... 13 years / $330 million, will run through age 39.

It simply comes down to market value with FAs. They can play all interested parties against each other and max out their value. The GMs understand that "overpaying" the player in the latter half of the contract is part of the cost to obtain the FA. They know the guy is going to decline. This isn't some newfangled sabermetric thing to understand that a guys production is going to drop off as he gets older. You can look at good old AVG and RBIs for that.

The qualifying offer system is really a different topic. I think that one is definitely taking money out of players pockets. It's no longer a pure market system, because there's a penalty assigned with signing the FA.

SD and the Phillies are a combined 17 games under .500. Neither will make the playoffs. I was in Philly on opening day. Everyone was SO excited about Harper and the Phillies winning it all in 2019. lol

There's definitely a marketing aspect involved with signing the superstar. It can certainly energize a fan base, sell tickets, etc. But, so can just straight up winning games. Typically, one superstar is not enough to make that much of an impact. We have WAR, which says the highest WAR players are around a 9. So that's about the maximum impact. Contrast that with the NBA, where the Raptors just won a championship and will likely have zero chance next year after the departure of Kwai Leonard.

Alex Rodriguez never won in Texas. Cano never won in Seattle. I believe both teams traded out of the contracts.

You can certainly make a case that low payroll teams should avoid these types of contracts, because they'll hamstring their ability to sign other FAs. But, FA money is FA money. If you don't spend $30 million on Harper, then you can only spend $30 million on other FA guys. You want Wade Leblanc for $5 million or Dee Gordon for $13 million? It's not like you can go spend your FA money on draft picks or young talent on other teams. Veterans are expensive. But, if you don't sign them, you don't win. Astros are paying Greinke and Verlander a combined 59 million.

[DanielVogelbach]

I dont know what Jerry's waiting for as far as contending.

It's obvious who should be here next season and who shouldnt.

Get rid of Mallex Smith and fill his spot with the best player you possibly can. Do the same for the 4 weakest spots on the roster and we're contenders.

See anything you like for next year?

https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/free-agents/

[DanielVogelbach]

I see Fernando Rodney will be a FA this offseason. Maybe we can sign him to bolster the pen.

[DanielVogelbach]

Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Anthony Rizzo look like some of the better players that will be available if JD was looking to sign a big contract this offseason.