The MLB Winter Meetings started out with the usual BS about the Yankees were prepping an offer for Gerrit Cole for $245 M, blah, blah, blah. BTW, I wonder who planted that rumor and where the number came from? Oh! Hi there, Scott Boras! Scott Boras just happens to also be Stephen Strasburg's agent and later in the day came the bombshell announcement that Strasburg was re-upping with the Nationals for.......wait for it.....$245 M over 7 years! Suddenly it was the Yankees who looked like cheapskates and talk of Gerrit Cole commanding well over $300 M filled the time at MLB channel.
At this point, comment on the money seems pointless. This just reinforces my long held belief that any MLB team can easily afford any player they really want for any amount of money. Stephen Strasburg is an ace pitcher. Championships are won by ace pitchers. The Nationals keep their aces together for a few more years. End of story. This deal can't help but be a boon to Madison Bumgarner's market. Bummy's team is reportedly demanding a 9-figure contract and why shouldn't they?
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"Bummy's team is reportedly demanding a 9-figure contract and why shouldn't they?"
ReplyDeleteIMO, he should play where he wants to play for whatever reasonable amount they are willing to give him because:
1. He's not going to set a payday record
2. He's the prototype competitor with a stellar post season record -- he should sign with a competitor who plays meaningful games year in and year out
3. Like most successful major leaguers he has and will have more money than he can spend in 1,000 lifetimes and he's not a conspicuous spender
4. He's a Southern boy and he likes horses and trucks
5. He seems not to be consumed by accolades as much as competition
6. He didn't ask to be traded before the deadline which would have helped in his next contract (if he did ask, FZ didn't like the "best offer").
7. He loves to bat, he should sign with an NL team.
Personally, it was a little sad that the Braves signed Hamels because that lessened Bummy's value to them, and they still need a power 3Bman more than another premier starter. That's a franchise made for him.
Similarly, it's rural 10 miles outside of Washington DC which could have been a good destination but signing Strasburg may have ended that. Like the Braves, the Nats are committed to winning with 8 consecutive winning years.
The Cardinals are committed to winning and are (very nearby) rural but that is an unlikely contract for them.
The Phillies have probably taken themselves out of the market signing Wheeler putting them fairly close to max lux tax payroll.
California and Arizona are pretty far from home -- he doesn't make AZ a long term winner, SD has a great farm system and is spending money, but no track record, and we can't stomach LA can we?
Cubs aren't buyers, Cincy's not a "winner," nor or most of the other NL teams.
Mets are nearly maxed out.
Brewers? Haven't they peaked?
Maybe he'll back and maybe FZ will spend more than $100 mil and maybe ...
Maybe Giants can sign Bumgarner but not on a no-trade clause - he might have value to the Braves or Nats at the 2020 trade deadline for whatever reason...but then if they can pick up Cesar Hernandez for LH utility IF, sign Castellanos for LF and Gausman for a bounce-back at SP the team is looking competitive with quality SP depth and Castellanos, Yaz and Dickerson making a very good-hitting OF. (If you don't trust Yaz in CF then Boston might like to swap JBJ for Yaz?) More production from Belt, Posey and Longoria would be a BIG HELP (no one expects Crawford to do much, do they?)
ReplyDeleteGausman - check. Castellanos and Hernandez still to sign. Not feeling a Bumgarner signing - maybe Alex Wood...
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