POLL: UPDATED: Bryce's team in 2019 will be.....

[UMDNats]

Ya think? 

Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

Also, Pollock to LA for 5/60 is a damn good deal for them.  Harper's options are now....terrible CWS, kinda OK philly, and return to DC with your tail between your legs

Also the Dodgers got Pollock for less AVV and only $10 million more than McCutchen. Phillies!

[GburgNatsFan]

And once he gets that long term contract, I'm sure he'll buckle down and work on baserunning, hitting the cut, situation hitting, etc.

 

Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

Also, Pollock to LA for 5/60 is a damn good deal for them.  Harper's options are now....terrible CWS, kinda OK philly, and return to DC with your tail between your legs

Also the Dodgers got Pollock for less AVV and only $10 million more than McCutchen. Phillies!

[UMDNats]

And once he gets that long term contract, I'm sure he'll buckle down and work on baserunning, hitting the cut, situation hitting, etc.

 

He'll build in a rider on the contract that allows him to leave the team to go watch the Golden Knights

[HalfSmokes]

And once he gets that long term contract, I'm sure he'll buckle down and work on baserunning, hitting the cut, situation hitting, etc.

 

It’s either that or learning to dodge batteries at CBP

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

If the Phillies sign Machado, then it really starts to look like Bryce returns to DC.  The Dodgers, Yankees, and Cubs are the teams that it seemed he would want to play for.  None of them are options. 

[GburgNatsFan]

It’s either that or learning to dodge batteries at CBP

The Phillies have nice batting helmets. Wear one.

[Smithian]

Machado and Bryce right now

[UMDNats]

Boswell thinks Harper ends up in Philly because no one wants him except them. As much as I would hate that, the entertainment value in him trying to force happiness there would be great.

[LoveAngelos]

Hmmm, maybe put MLB under the jurisdiction of a Public Service Commission like any other legal monopoly 

Oliver Wendell Holmes must be spinning in his grave

[GburgNatsFan]

Think the Nats are out? Not many FO rumors.

Boswell thinks Harper ends up in Philly because no one wants him except them. As much as I would hate that, the entertainment value in him trying to force happiness there would be great.

[UMDNats]

Think the Nats are out? Not many FO rumors.

i think he will have to decide between DC and philly. i'd say it's more likely he returns to DC as boras and mark lerner work out a PR-friendly deal where everyone wins. amazingly mark is in the drivers seat as we've clearly moved on and he needs us (to at least drive up a price) more than we need him considering we've made so many moves and are pretty much ready to give his money to rendon anytime we want

[GburgNatsFan]

$250M for eight.

i think he will have to decide between DC and philly. i'd say it's more likely he returns to DC as boras and mark lerner work out a PR-friendly deal where everyone wins. amazingly mark is in the drivers seat as we've clearly moved on and he needs us (to at least drive up a price) more than we need him considering we've made so many moves and are pretty much ready to give his money to rendon anytime we want

[Natsinpwc]

Now that the shutdown is over Bruce and Mannie can have the stage.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

i think he will have to decide between DC and philly. i'd say it's more likely he returns to DC as boras and mark lerner work out a PR-friendly deal where everyone wins. amazingly mark is in the drivers seat as we've clearly moved on and he needs us (to at least drive up a price) more than we need him considering we've made so many moves and are pretty much ready to give his money to rendon anytime we want

My thinking as well. 

[HalfSmokes]

and are pretty much ready to give his money to rendon anytime we want

only a sports agent could have that kind of a conflict of interest without losing a license

[Greg_SRT]

It seems to me that the offer from Philly wasn’t near what they’d hoped it would be.

[Senatorswin]

Boswell thinks Harper ends up in Philly because no one wants him except them. As much as I would hate that, the entertainment value in him trying to force happiness there would be great.

I like the Boz but I disagree because no owners want to spend outrageous money for 10 years it means collusion among the owners. Just because the agents come up with these numbers doesn't mean the owners are at fault for not wanting to pay it.

[rileyn]

I like the Boz but I disagree because no owners want to spend outrageous money for 10 years it means collusion among the owners. Just because the agents come up with these numbers doesn't mean the owners are at fault for not wanting to pay it.

Analytics have driven down the big FA signings.  I think Boras and Harper overplayed his "marketing appeal."  At the end of all of this, he will still get $300M from either Philly or Washington. 

[Greg_SRT]

Analytics have driven down the big FA signings.  I think Boras and Harper overplayed his "marketing appeal."  At the end of all of this, he will still get $300M from either Philly or Washington.

I think it also has a lot to do with how teams are winning right now. And these winning teams aren’t always the best team on April 1st... but they are right there at the top. And a big trade before August, then they make their run.

Also those teams foundations are grown talent, not monster free agent signings.

Last the irony. Players expected Harper and Machado to raise the money for everyone. But in reality, the previous FA signings have hurt the FA’s in the last 2 years. Because simply put it’s not the yearly salary but the long term years. Teams are getting the Shaft because of the years. I’m sure Machado could have gotten 3/100 easily already.

[imref]

OTOH, the JD Martinez signing showed spending some bucks for a top-level FA can pay off.  He did get only got 5 years / $110 million as he was already 30, and had a history of injury issues.  Seems Harper at $30 million given his age is a fair comparison.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

OTOH, the JD Martinez signing showed spending some bucks for a top-level FA can pay off.  He did get only got 5 years / $110 million as he was already 30, and had a history of injury issues.  Seems Harper at $30 million given his age is a fair comparison.

JD also got an opt out after 2 years if he hits 40 HRs each year.  After last year, I'm not sure a Home Run bonus would work for Harper, but maybe one based on sophisticated measure like wOBA would make sense. 

[Greg_SRT]

OTOH, the JD Martinez signing showed spending some bucks for a top-level FA can pay off.  He did get only got 5 years / $110 million as he was already 30, and had a history of injury issues.  Seems Harper at $30 million given his age is a fair comparison.

But it’s never the first or early years that show long contracts usually don’t work for a franchise.

Asking a team to commit to Harper for 10 years is a big ask.

And what is never talked about is will Harper or any player be committed to that 1 team for 10 years.

Sometimes GM’s, Coaching Staffs, and even Players do need a change of scenery. And that indication usually comes with down trending performance, making moving a player with high $$$ and multiple years tough.

And the player opts out to get more if performance is high, doesn’t if performance is low.

Anyway I’d bet teams would gladly give the 35+ a year to Manny or Bryce. It’s the years that have teams saying no.

[bluestreak]

But it’s never the first or early years that show long contracts usually don’t work for a franchise.

Asking a team to commit to Harper for 10 years is a big ask.

And what is never talked about is will Harper or any player be committed to that 1 team for 10 years.

Sometimes GM’s, Coaching Staffs, and even Players do need a change of scenery. And that indication usually comes with down trending performance, making moving a player with high $$$ and multiple years tough.

And the player opts out to get more if performance is high, doesn’t if performance is low.

Anyway I’d bet teams would gladly give the 35+ a year to Manny or Bryce. It’s the years that have teams saying no.

The only real comp for a long contract for Harper is A-Rod when he signed is first free agent contract. And he certainly performed over the life of that contract.

It’s unclear to me why people see opt outs as universally bad.  Say Harper signs a 10 year contract. The options are no opt out vs opt out after say 4 years.

Now if he gets injured or otherwise ends up as a crap performer, it doesn’t really matter. Under either option the team is screwed.
But if he performs well and opts out, what have you lost? You’ve gotten 4 years or excellent play, which were likely cheaper because you gave him the long contract and the opt out and you et someone else to overpay for what will be what would have been the decline portion of that contract. 

[HalfSmokes]

The only real comp for a long contract for Harper is A-Rod when he signed is first free agent contract. And he certainly performed over the life of that contract.

It’s unclear to me why people see opt outs as universally bad.  Say Harper signs a 10 year contract. The options are no opt out vs opt out after say 4 years.

Now if he gets injured or otherwise ends up as a crap performer, it doesn’t really matter. Under either option the team is screwed.
But if he performs well and opts out, what have you lost? You’ve gotten 4 years or excellent play, which were likely cheaper because you gave him the long contract and the opt out and you et someone else to overpay for what will be what would have been the decline portion of that contract. 

Opt outs put all the injury and performance risk on the team and give the player all the upside. Traditionally a long term deal give a player certainly and protects them from injury/bad performance while giving the team value if the player outperforms; opts take away the upside for the team

[bluestreak]

Opt outs put all the injury and performance risk on the team and give the player all the upside. Traditionally a long term deal give a player certainly and protects them from injury/bad performance while giving the team value if the player outperforms; opts take away the upside for the team

But Players at Harpers caliber don’t get team options. So the option is a full 10 year contract or one with a player option. These are equivalent of the player does badly. You’re on the hook for 10 years. But if he does well, great. But the assumption is that if 26-30 are good that 31-36 will be too. I think we know that isn’t the case.