nsacpi
Expects Yuge Games
The case for extenting Ender rests only in part on the player that Ender is. It also rests upon the fact that extensions given out to players at this point in their careers have generally worked very well for clubs. The Braves themselves have had very good results with such extensions. Much better than signing free agents. Extenting players like Ender in fact reduces the need for free agent signings by giving the club an extra year or two of contractual control, often at a below market rate. Players accept this as part of a trade-off. They receive security and peace of mind, and in return allow the club to buy a year or more of their free agency years at a good price.
The particulars of Ender's case are that he will be a Super Two this off-season. Without an extension we would still have him for the 2017-2020 seasons, his age 26-29 seasons. His baseline is that of a 3 WAR player. The arbitration process tends to be less generous with players like Ender whose value is tied up to a significant degree to his defense. My guess is if he went through arbitration, he would make something along the line of 2, 4, 6 and 8M over the next four years. I'd offer him something slightly less: say 2, 3.5, 5, 7 for those four years, plus 10M per year for his ages 30 and 31 seasons.
The particulars of Ender's case are that he will be a Super Two this off-season. Without an extension we would still have him for the 2017-2020 seasons, his age 26-29 seasons. His baseline is that of a 3 WAR player. The arbitration process tends to be less generous with players like Ender whose value is tied up to a significant degree to his defense. My guess is if he went through arbitration, he would make something along the line of 2, 4, 6 and 8M over the next four years. I'd offer him something slightly less: say 2, 3.5, 5, 7 for those four years, plus 10M per year for his ages 30 and 31 seasons.
