Around the League 2020 Edition

[nsacpi]

Whatever happened to that guy by the way? He finally left peacefully??

security escorted him off the boards...i helped Chosen One conduct the exit interview...but can't say more due to confidentiality rules

[UNCBlue012]

Sources: The #BlueJays remain in contact with multiple top free agents -- Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, and George Springer -- after failing to lure DJ LeMahieu from the #Yankees.

[UNCBlue012]

The Braves reached agreements with Max Fried ($3.5M) and A.J. Minter ($1.3M). Their other two arb-eligible players Dansby Swanson and Mike Soroka are now slated to have their respective salaries determined by an arb hearing.

[Russ2dollas]

Don't like Soroka going to arb. Want to see a history of getting along with management in hopes of an extension. He will be a weird case b/c he's awesome when pitching but hasn't pitched much.

Swanson seems to have no whispers about extension. I guess he is going to be a free agent.

Fried only making 3 million and being controlled through is age 30 season is not great for him and for players. I'm sure that will be a battle ground in the strike/lockout after this year.

[clvclv]

Don't like Soroka going to arb. Want to see a history of getting along with management in hopes of an extension. He will be a weird case b/c he's awesome when pitching but hasn't pitched much.

Swanson seems to have no whispers about extension. I guess he is going to be a free agent.

Fried only making 3 million and being controlled through is age 30 season is not great for him and for players. I'm sure that will be a battle ground in the strike/lockout after this year.

The injury issues are probably the exact reason both sides are probably putting things in an arbitrator's hands - neither side knows how to best value him and may be more interested in not creating any fuss. He's the one I was probably worried about the least - don't really think there will be any animosity on either side in his situation.

Dansby on the other hand is an entirely different situation - definitely expected them to come to an agreement on his number without any drama.

[jpx7]

The injury issues are probably the exact reason both sides are probably putting things in an arbitrator's hands - neither side knows how to best value him and may be more interested in not creating any fuss. He's the one I was probably worried about the least - don't really think there will be any animosity on either side in his situation.

Dansby on the other hand is an entirely different situation - definitely expected them to come to an agreement on his number without any drama.

It's also possible (though not especially probable, in my opinion) that they're working on an extension—which would supersede any one-year arb contract—with one or both of those guys. It might explain why there was less urgency to come to an accord re 2021 specifically.

However, I think it's much more likely that Swanson plays out this coming year before even thinking about a longer-term extension; and whether he heads to FA after 2022, as a 29-year-old looking for one big payday, or gives any consideration to extenting, likely relies on him being good, but not too good, this coming season. Soroka, meanwhile, seems a little more likely, if only because he might be willing to cede some earnings potential for guaranteed money, given his twofold experience with season-ending injury.

[Carp]

I like Swanson and am hopeful 2020 version is closer to what we see going forward. But I have a lot of doubts. If he accepts a below market extension that buys out a couple FA years, I'd be ok with it. May be something like 4/45. Otherwise, I'd let him play out his arb years.

[PawPawMaxwell]

JMO but I doubt the Braves are even looking at an extension with Dansby. Freeman has to be dealt with and the implications of a long term DH if it is voted in would seem to be limiting factors.

[clvclv]

I like Swanson and am hopeful 2020 version is closer to what we see going forward. But I have a lot of doubts. If he accepts a below market extension that buys out a couple FA years, I'd be ok with it. May be something like 4/45. Otherwise, I'd let him play out his arb years.

No idea whether that's the angle, but that's exactly what I'd be trying to work out with all three of Dansby, Fried, and Soroka right now if I were in AA's shoes. If he could buy out the first two free-agent years and start a 5 year Freeman extension by tearing up this year's deal, the core of Acuna, Albies, Pache, Waters, Contreras, Langeliers, Fried, and Soroka would all be locked up through 2026 with Freeman, Dansby, Anderson, and Riley also controlled through 2025.

If Riley's adjustments don't take, your replacements may already be "in-house" in Shewmake or Grissom, and your DH (whenever it returns) is already in the system as well in Freeman or Ball.

This group may not all reach their ceilings, but I do think they'll come close enough that it would be able to at least contend for the division throughout that period - if you include the 3 straight division titles they've already snared, that's an 8 year window.

[Southcack77]

I guess Dansby is popular, but I don't see a whole lot of reason to sign him to anything other than a team favorable extension.

His hot streaks are fun, but he has never sustained them.

[Tapate50]

I guess Dansby is popular, but I don't see a whole lot of reason to sign him to anything other than a team favorable extension.

His hot streaks are fun, but he has never sustained them.

This is pretty much all baseball players though.

Not many are just a .275 hitter every single month.

Justin Upton was one of the more streaky hitters I've watched, but he got it done.

[CyYoung31]

Mets fire their GM, lol.

[Southcack77]

This is pretty much all baseball players though.

Not many are just a .275 hitter every single month.

Justin Upton was one of the more streaky hitters I've watched, but he got it done.

Fair enough.

Maybe Dansby would have held his 116 wRC+ in a full season. That would be a pretty linear progression year to year. I guess that's the counterargument to keeping him. He's steadily improving and maybe hasn't peaked.

In that scenario, I guess the Braves could regret not extending him.

I'd roll the dice betting against that unless he wanted to give me a good deal.

[thewupk]

Swanson is likely to want market value for his FA years. At this point I wouldn't give it to him. 2020 was a step in the right direction but he will need to show he can sustain that for the next two years to make a believer out of me.

[bravesfanMatt]

Swanson, who I like a lot, needs to improve his K rate still. That is when we can all start to believe in his numbers.

[NYCBrave]

Swanson, who I like a lot, needs to improve his K rate still. That is when we can all start to believe in his numbers.

The problem is, if he makes the improvements necessary for you guys to want to keep him around, he will have priced himself out of our market. So realistically, we have to take a shot on an extension now and hope the improvements come.

[bravesfanMatt]

The problem is, if he makes the improvements necessary for you guys to want to keep him around, he will have priced himself out of our market. So realistically, we have to take a shot on an extension now and hope the improvements come.

I would be fine with extending him now. We don’t need superstars at all positions. He is just entering prime and should provide contender level SS play for several years to come. Snag him for cheap now.

[CyYoung31]

Mets fire their GM, lol.

No comments on this?

[bravesfanMatt]

No comments on this?

It’s the Mets.

[Tapate50]

No comments on this?

In another thread

But he seemed too cocky