That is crazy.
Wonder if the Yankees called Boras’ bluff. Surprising that it came together so quickly. Did he need to opt-out to keep the 4-$144M contract?
No, if he didn’t opt out Saturday, he’d still have the 4/144. Another crack in Boras’ facade?
If I'm understanding the whole process correctly, Cole had a limited window to opt out or not, and the team had a limited window to react to that.
That was what people were guessing was going on, but Cashman made a point this evening of saying they're not actually negotiating, just going back to the old deal, that was more weak spin from Boras. Different reporters are phrasing this slightly differently, this Martino one seems accurate.
naruhodo, thanks! Strange happenings; if it's truly a crack in the Boras armor then that's wonderful.
I think Cole seeing how Montgomery and Snell fared as Boras clients last offseason may have been in his mind too. Crickets from the league, each signing late, being behind with getting ready going into 2025, and sucking/being hurt before stabilizing. There could have been an immediate and curt "yeah no I'm not doing that" from Cole to Boras over the past few days.
I can't say I've watched the Guardians much beyond the ALCS, but he had the look of an absolute professional hitter with serious pop. Kind of what Rizzo used to be before all the injuries.
I want Carlos Santana or Christian Walker, just saw that broached and thought it might make sense both ways.
Normally, Cleveland will trade a guy who's about to get expensive and doesn't play a real premium position anyway, but I'm not sure that's case with Naylor. I'm guessing we'll hear more about him in the off-season, whether it's talk of a possible extension or trade, but they've been tight-lipped so far. A couple of things make Naylor's case different, one being that he loves playing with his brother Bo who's under team control for another 5 years. I'd be surprised if he wouldn't sign with Cleveland for less than he can get elsewhere. Additionally, he's sort of the mother hen in the clubhouse. Being on such a young team has allowed him to become the vet who takes care of his teammates even though he's not that much of a vet himself. Those who have only seen his emotions on the field might not get that he really isn't a lone-wolf, alpha personality but is more of a creature of comfort, fraternal one-of-the-guys sort.
Nobody really knows what Soto wants, including whether he has a real preference for any team. If he enjoyed his time in NY, maybe that helps the Yankees a hair. If he didn't, he'll be looking for a reason to accept an offer from another team. At this point, the only thing anybody knows* is that if you want a shot at signing him, you have to sign either the top or 2nd top contract of all time in baseball. Just all guessing at this point.
I am going against the grain.
Do not disagree with any of this. The optimistic side of me thinks that all the Heyman reports (direct from Boras) on meetings going well with other teams was meant to drive up NY’s offer.
I can see the argument, but I don’t trust that they would reallocate all of that $$ or be able to chase and sign the players that would bolster the roster (which has plenty of holes). Soto and Judge together can hide a lot of weaknesses in an imperfect team.
I've been the lone wolf on this one for awhile amongst my friends. It's not that I don't want Soto and don't slightly prefer we sign him at the crazy cost, it's that I don't think it's the end of the world if he goes. Lot of opportunity to use that money in the coming years. The thing that will hurt the most is that the usual suspects are the field of teams most likely to pony up the money to sign him. Dodgers and Mets...That will make winning a chip all that much harder.
I get that concern. I don't really trust them either. But loading up on one guy like that is not a wise way to build a baseball team that is good for a long time.
Yep totally agree with you.
And he can't throw runners out. Which seems like a real problem for a backup catcher.
He is still a top 5 framer, the throwing thing was odd but maybe a blip?
Where's that number come from? Is it just total dollars divided by total WAR, because that would understate how much a WAR is worth on the free market.
Total salary / 870
Right, but that includes the subsizied pre-FA players, so it's not a fair representation of how Free Agents are valued.
Thanks, good counter since this isn't a truly free market as much...hm. Thanks for this. I guess you'd remove that portion of the player pool relative to the 870 from there?
I think it was simply because he was always the best CF when he was in the lineup, and they mostly played him when one of Stanton/Soto/Judge was out, so the other two would be at RF/DH.
