They are also players that have at least one MLB AB and games pitched. Id say that's a tremendous difference. If Olivera had just one single .290/ 20 + hr 85 rbi season in MLB at 2nd, and you don't think he would command comparable money in AAV vs his age? I do.
The only reason he isn't is because he is an unknown. Completely. No history to fall back on whatsoever.
I guess your definition for a franchise player with a well documented history vs MLB competition and mine for a player with zero to go on but a workout differ. Which is fine. 50 mill for a guy with 0 ML swings is a lot of money IMO.
No, the reason is because he's not in that class of player. I'd also recommend you read between the lines a little when throwing even the $50 million figure around, because it sure smells like posturing to try to get us or San Diego to up our offers to me personally. Here's what we "know"...
1.) The Braves are interested, and are apparently comfortable with something in the 4/$32 million to possibly 4/$40 million range, but the franchise is in the middle of retooling/rebuilding/insert your favorite term and just isn't going to overpay for Olivera because a.) he isn't the one missing piece that puts them over the top in their current situation, and b.) his best positions are places we may very well have answers for by the time the team is ready to contend. Would he make them a better team now? Sure. But if they move him to 3B next season to make room for Peraza, and LF in 2017 to make room for Ruiz, they don't want to have a ton of money tied up in a 31 year old guy with health concerns that they're trying to convert into an OF for the first time in his career.
2.) The Padres are interested, and he'd upgrade them at either 2B or 3B. They're perfect in that they're in win-now mode. The problem? Their payroll is already at an all-time franchise high and they look like they'll have a tough time beating the Braves' offer.
3.) The Dodgers are the Yankees of old - EVERY agent is going to try every possible way to leak that they're interested because they can afford to pay whatever it takes to get every player they want. The problem? They've already got untradeable BAD contracts that HAVE to be on their 25 man roster in Ethier, Alex Guerrero, etc. and while Olivera might be an upgrade over Juan Uribe, he's not a $70 million upgrade. If the Dodgers decide that Corey Seager's not going to stick at SS, they'll just slide him over to 3B and spend money on Ian Desmond (or someone else) to play SS. If the Dodgers wanted Olivera, he'd already be in camp.
4.) The Marlins DEFINITELY sound like they're being used to drive the price up. Given the fact that Jeffrey Loria simply doesn't spend money and the fact that they went and got Dee Gordon to play 2B, Martin Prado to play 3B, and they certainly don't need him in the OF, does anyone really buy that he's going to plunk down $53 million for a player that they don't have anywhere to play??? And if they were serious with that offer, they wouldn't have just run scared from a rumored Dodgers' offer given the obvious Cuban ties in South Florida.
