Hot Stove: 2019-2020 Offseason

[Five Banners]

Astros are being called the mystery team in on Cole. Apparently Heyman noticed their GM whistling and banging on a trash can in the hotel lobby and got the scoop.

[Five Banners]

MLB Network says Cole and Yankees agree to 9-year, $324M deal

[Slateman]

Anthony, you are on the clock

[vicki4471]

MLB Network says Cole and Yankees agree to 9-year, $324M deal

1 million more a year than Stras. ...

[RyanZimsKazoo]

1 million more a year than Stras. ...

9 years for a pitcher is way too long.

[vicki4471]

9 years for a pitcher is way too long.

I agree. 7 is too long. We are starting to see a drop in Max( in terms of durability and injury) and we aren't even at year 7 yet. Can you imagine two additional years? Boras is doing work early this season. I hope that means Anthony's news is coming soon. Two in two days for Boras. Whether Anthony goes or stays I just want it to be done. I was certain he was going but now I am not so sure. With Boras and Rizzo both specifically mentioning the structure of Strasburg's deal and it opening doors back up, and then the article about Strasburg himself appealing to Anthony to stay. This contract is most definitely Strasburg's last and more than likely Anthony's, it would be huge if they both committed the rest of their careers with the Nats. I know how much Anthony loves the kids at the youth academy. I was hoping sentiment would win out.

[Five Banners]

1 million more a year than Stras. ...

It would’ve been more if the Nats hadn’t put up five on him including Zim’s homer and Soto’s train track shot

[Mattionals]

Astros are being called the mystery team in on Cole. Apparently Heyman noticed their GM whistling and banging on a trash can in the hotel lobby and got the scoop.

The Asstros cheating will never not be funny. 

[The Chief]

The Asstros cheating and losing anyway will never not be funny. 

Fixed

[hohoho]

9 years for a pitcher is way too long.

You are thinking like the Lerners (no surprise).
The Yankees are smart: Nine years intentionally spreads the total pay beyond what they expect his career to be in order to lessen the impact on future salary caps, which are probably going to be raised or even eliminated by then anyway.

[Mattionals]

Fixed

Good fix!

[Mattionals]

You are thinking like the Lerners (no surprise).
The Yankees are smart: Nine years intentionally spreads the total pay beyond what they expect his career to be in order to lessen the impact on future salary caps, which are probably going to be raised or even eliminated by then anyway.

It's still 36MM a year against the CBT. The owners won't let the CBT miraculously disappear when the current CBA expires. There will very likely be a strike. Even after a strike, I doubt the CBT threshold will be abolished. Even if it does go up significantly, 36MM is a lot of money for a pitcher, ESPECIALLY for 9 years. That doesn't mean I don't think Cole deserves it, but 9 years takes him to his age 37 (I think?) season. He may still be very good, but that's the name of the game of long term contracts. The Yankees aren't smart because of this deal, they are literally playing the same game as everyone else.

[Elvir Ovcina]

It's still 36MM a year against the CBT. The owners won't let the CBT miraculously disappear when the current CBA expires. There will very likely be a strike. Even after a strike, I doubt the CBT threshold will be abolished. Even if it does go up significantly, 36MM is a lot of money for a pitcher, ESPECIALLY for 9 years. That doesn't mean I don't think Cole deserves it, but 9 years takes him to his age 37 (I think?) season. He may still be very good, but that's the name of the game of long term contracts. The Yankees aren't smart because of this deal, they are literally playing the same game as everyone else.

Yeah, people seem to be ignoring the non-trivial risk that this deal goes south in 1 or 2 years, not 8 or 9.   Cole gives up too many homers as it is, and the RF wall at Yankee Stadium is - last time I checked - about nine feet behind the second baseman.  He's coming off a career-best year (in which he ran up almost 240 innings, putting him over 450 over the past 2 years).  The trend here is not likely to be upward, and the risk of an injury or serious decline is pretty real.   

[Five Banners]

Yeah, people seem to be ignoring the non-trivial risk that this deal goes south in 1 or 2 years, not 8 or 9.   Cole gives up too many homers as it is, and the RF wall at Yankee Stadium is - last time I checked - about nine feet behind the second baseman.  He's coming off a career-best year (in which he ran up almost 240 innings, putting him over 450 over the past 2 years).  The trend here is not likely to be upward, and the risk of an injury or serious decline is pretty real.   

I think people see the Yankees as being able to survive this even if it goes Ellsbury on them, so not too many are breaking down the risk part as it would factor into most franchises

[Natsinpwc]

The Yankees are expected to win World Series by their fans. So the last two seasons, which would be successful for anyone else, are disappointments.  So they had to make a move like this.  Their starting pitching was just not good enough.

[Natsinpwc]

I think people see the Yankees as being able to survive this even if it goes Ellsbury on them, so not too many are breaking down the risk part as it would factor into most franchises

Also Cole seems to be a bit of a head case. Not everyone can handle the pressure of playing in New York.

[Natsinpwc]

You are thinking like the Lerners (no surprise).
The Yankees are smart: Nine years intentionally spreads the total pay beyond what they expect his career to be in order to lessen the impact on future salary caps, which are probably going to be raised or even eliminated by then anyway.

Giving Strasburg seven years was essentially the same as nine for Cole given their ages. So why are the Yankees smarter? I don’t get it.

[Slateman]

Giving Strasburg seven years was essentially the same as nine for Cole given their ages. So why are the Yankees smarter? I don’t get it.

Yankees are smart for paying 1 million more and getting a better, younger pitcher

[RyanZimsKazoo]

Giving Strasburg seven years was essentially the same as nine for Cole given their ages. So why are the Yankees smarter? I don’t get it.

It's not. It's just that crybaby complaining because I said what everyone is thinking. 9 years is way too long of a contract.

The only player that has paid off on a long long contract was Alex ovechkin.

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

Fans keep talking about too many years like teams WANT to give the years.  These elite, elite players have the leverage.  There is 1 of them and 30 teams.  You HAVE to give the extra years on the back-end if you want to acquire elite free agents.  They don't want to hit free agency again in their mid-30s after a decline.  They want their free agent contract to take them to the end of their career essentially.  You are paying to get an elite player in their prime years intially, then maybe the last few years you just hope to still get something of value.  If Max tails off in Year 6 and 7, then we "got our money's worth" in Years 1-5.  That's how it works.  I'm sure the Yankees would have rather gave Cole 5 or 6 years tops, but someone else would be willing to go longer and that's where he'd sign. 

[Natsinpwc]

Yankees are smart for paying 1 million more and getting a better, younger pitcher

Your assuming he had interest in the Nationals. No evidence of that. The Yankees were bidding against the Angels and Rangers and maybe the Astros.

At this point in time Strasburg is the post season MVP and has a world title. Cole does not. We will see how he does in the pressure of NYC. Im just happy to have Strasburg back as there was a risk of losing him with no replacement lined up.

I know you can’t but you should just try and be happy. No one ever knows how any of it will pan out. That’s why they play the games. Just remember that the Caps won after everyone said their window had closed. And the Nats won when everyone counted them out.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It's not. It's just that crybaby complaining because I said what everyone is thinking. 9 years is way too long of a contract.

The only player that has paid off on a long long contract was Alex ovechkin.

Max Scherzer is darn close. His first 5 paid off the contract.  Only if he has negative value was that deal not worth it.

[imref]

Nats make some coaching changes:

Jesse Dougherty  @dougherty_jesse
11s
Nationals staff changes: Chip Hale is now the 3B coach, Bobby Henley goes to 1B and Tim Bogar moves to bench coach. Pat Roessler is also officially the new assistant hitting coach.

[Natsinpwc]

Nats make some coaching changes:

The Nats will be trying to stretch singles into doubles.

[RyanZimsKazoo]

Max Scherzer is darn close. His first 5 paid off the contract.  Only if he has negative value was that deal not worth it.

I'm talking close to 10+ or more. Ovi signed a 13 year deal. He's been worth every penny every single year. Max has also earned his contract and I'm glad both were rewarded for their performances