The player has to be willing to sign for 1 year and $17 million with the team that is arguably the front runner to win the series or similar money, even a bit more for a team that may have a chance to compete for a ring….. a 32 year old that has made money would take the Dodgers contract for a chance for a ring now.
Tells me that his market may have been light on term, basically a one-year ‘prove it’ deal. IMO, he was an extremely realistic FA signing. After hearing about the Soto deal and piecing together BC’s tidbits on FA spending over the last year, they will probably let the dust settle on the FA market then look for trade partners who may want to dump salary or have excess depth after new signings. Essentially the equivalent of shopping at second-hand stores.
Offer 2 years with an opt out for the same price. He signs with Pittsburgh. No questions. No one turns down a potential $17 million dollar payday. The Pirates are a joke, and Cherington is a joke. 2 years $17 million per for Conforto is a good deal.
That would have been an outstanding deal but also well above market. I don’t fault BC for not having the resources to compete with the Dodgers on contract value and term; I fault him for is his inability to ‘read the market’ over the course of rolling two, three, and four year periods. There is way too much parity in scouting these days to be competitive in FA on one-year deals, not to mention a lot of those deals may include circumstances outside of just money, and the only way to get a ‘deal’ in FA is to offer term. What seems like an overpay two or three years ago can be a deep discount today, i.e., the 4/52 for a MOR arm in 2022 is now 1/13 in present value terms, while the current FA market for a MOR arm is probably closer to 1/17. Assuming this player is producing at MOR levels, you not only have a productive player but also a moveable asset.
The "new normal" on pitching deals seems to be 2 or 3 years at most. No one seems to want to go beyond 3 years on a pitcher, so the cost per year has gone up as risk has gone down.
That dollar value is about exactly what I expected Conforto to receive. The internet gossip gallery is making all sorts of silly claims like he is an average player at best whose is past his prime, so the Dodger overpaid. Not true. He played in the hardest park in baseball for left-handed hitters. His home OPS+ was 83. On the road, it was 133. He led all major-league players in HRs in away games (17). His zone contact, hard-hit, and ability to handle fastballs and velocity is the same as it ever was. The guy hits.
He had a bad year coming off a full-season injury 2 years ago. It looked to me like he was back this season to being the guy he was before the injury. Looks that way to the Dodgers too. They got him on a one-year deal for market value on a one-year deal. So, it is not just misreading the market (which he does), it is also the inability to find value... ever. I submit as evidence every single hitter that he has acquired in 5 years as the Pirates GM with the exception of Daniel Vogelbach.
Not if his intent is to try for a ring before it is too late. That is my point. If Conforto really wants to play for a ring he accomplished what he wanted. Depends on what the player is looking for in a deal.
Teams like the Royals, the As, and Pirates... year in and year out these teams just can't find anyone who wants to play for them... I guess. Oh wait! It's only 1 team who can never seem to find anyone who wants to play for them. Every free agent who fits their needs perfectly and should be within their budget opts to play for a "contender." It's so strange. I can't figure out why this happens to only 1 team in the whole league. This is what happens when you combine a cheap owner with a garbage GM... Garbage in.. garbage out.
The pirates actually have to offer 17 million to a player. Enough of this absurd narrative that no free agent will sign with the pirates because they are the pirates.
Pirates OUTBID the Yankees for Russ Martin. Pirates signed Frankie to a 3 year 39 million dollar deal in 2014. The pirates made moves and were aggressive in certain circumstances adding players to the roster to build a winner. When are they going to actually TRY to build a winner?
If the Pirates don’t add real talent to the team this year, then why continue be a fan? They have Skenes, a generational pitcher, along with a solid rotation to compete for the division.
The Pirates better spend some real money to have a winner in Pittsburgh for the next 4 years. If not, then how can fans watch this franchise? What’s the point? When will it be the time to spend to build a winning team?
Never said that a free agent would not sign with the Pirates just because they are the Pirates. In this one case, I believe the player took the deal he did because the Dodgers offer the surest bet on being in the Series in a player’s eyes if that is what the player is truly looking for.
Disagree. He had a mediocre season last year and was given a more than fair offer. The dodgers are aggressive in what they want because they expect to win.
Even though the HOF has been turned into a joke by the PED Jury known as the BBWAA, I’m happy for Dave Parker. Thankfully the Veterans Committee righted a wrong as The Cobra is undoubtedly one of the greats of the game.
So glad he finally made it. And thank goodness he is still alive to celebrate. Dick Allen got in as well, but he died in 2020. Somehow inducting Parker and Allen together is fitting.
I wouldn’t be too concerned over the lack of activity just yet. If we are looking to trade a pitcher, the Corbin Burnes/Max Fried sweepstakes might be holding up the market down river. And this front office isn’t very leaky. Doesn’t make for seeing us in the rumors articles of MLBTR very often.
“Rainey was non-tendered by the Nationals last month even though he posted a 2.48 ERA in his final 29 appearances of the season. Overall, he had a 4.76 ERA over 51 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. He’ll stand a decent chance of winning a spot in Pittsburgh’s pen.”
When Rainey was non-tendered I posted here that he was a good potential pick up for the Bucs. He has a great arm, but has had problems learning how to pitch, and then his recovery from TJ surgery was long and arduous. High upside pickup especially on a minor league deal. Good move.
Soto to the Mets: 15 years, $765 million.
Mets got their DH covered for possibly the rest of Steve Cohen’s life.
Soto to Mets for $765 mm.
C’mon Ben get on the phone with Polar Bear’s Agent.
Conforto to the Dodgers for 1 year $17 million.
Ben Cherington fiddles while Pirates lineup burns for more talent.
The player has to be willing to sign for 1 year and $17 million with the team that is arguably the front runner to win the series or similar money, even a bit more for a team that may have a chance to compete for a ring….. a 32 year old that has made money would take the Dodgers contract for a chance for a ring now.
Tells me that his market may have been light on term, basically a one-year ‘prove it’ deal. IMO, he was an extremely realistic FA signing. After hearing about the Soto deal and piecing together BC’s tidbits on FA spending over the last year, they will probably let the dust settle on the FA market then look for trade partners who may want to dump salary or have excess depth after new signings. Essentially the equivalent of shopping at second-hand stores.
Offer 2 years with an opt out for the same price. He signs with Pittsburgh. No questions. No one turns down a potential $17 million dollar payday. The Pirates are a joke, and Cherington is a joke. 2 years $17 million per for Conforto is a good deal.
That would have been an outstanding deal but also well above market. I don’t fault BC for not having the resources to compete with the Dodgers on contract value and term; I fault him for is his inability to ‘read the market’ over the course of rolling two, three, and four year periods. There is way too much parity in scouting these days to be competitive in FA on one-year deals, not to mention a lot of those deals may include circumstances outside of just money, and the only way to get a ‘deal’ in FA is to offer term. What seems like an overpay two or three years ago can be a deep discount today, i.e., the 4/52 for a MOR arm in 2022 is now 1/13 in present value terms, while the current FA market for a MOR arm is probably closer to 1/17. Assuming this player is producing at MOR levels, you not only have a productive player but also a moveable asset.
The "new normal" on pitching deals seems to be 2 or 3 years at most. No one seems to want to go beyond 3 years on a pitcher, so the cost per year has gone up as risk has gone down.
That dollar value is about exactly what I expected Conforto to receive. The internet gossip gallery is making all sorts of silly claims like he is an average player at best whose is past his prime, so the Dodger overpaid. Not true. He played in the hardest park in baseball for left-handed hitters. His home OPS+ was 83. On the road, it was 133. He led all major-league players in HRs in away games (17). His zone contact, hard-hit, and ability to handle fastballs and velocity is the same as it ever was. The guy hits.
He had a bad year coming off a full-season injury 2 years ago. It looked to me like he was back this season to being the guy he was before the injury. Looks that way to the Dodgers too. They got him on a one-year deal for market value on a one-year deal. So, it is not just misreading the market (which he does), it is also the inability to find value... ever. I submit as evidence every single hitter that he has acquired in 5 years as the Pirates GM with the exception of Daniel Vogelbach.
Not if his intent is to try for a ring before it is too late. That is my point. If Conforto really wants to play for a ring he accomplished what he wanted. Depends on what the player is looking for in a deal.
Teams like the Royals, the As, and Pirates... year in and year out these teams just can't find anyone who wants to play for them... I guess. Oh wait! It's only 1 team who can never seem to find anyone who wants to play for them. Every free agent who fits their needs perfectly and should be within their budget opts to play for a "contender." It's so strange. I can't figure out why this happens to only 1 team in the whole league. This is what happens when you combine a cheap owner with a garbage GM... Garbage in.. garbage out.
The pirates actually have to offer 17 million to a player. Enough of this absurd narrative that no free agent will sign with the pirates because they are the pirates.
Pirates OUTBID the Yankees for Russ Martin. Pirates signed Frankie to a 3 year 39 million dollar deal in 2014. The pirates made moves and were aggressive in certain circumstances adding players to the roster to build a winner. When are they going to actually TRY to build a winner?
If the Pirates don’t add real talent to the team this year, then why continue be a fan? They have Skenes, a generational pitcher, along with a solid rotation to compete for the division.
The Pirates better spend some real money to have a winner in Pittsburgh for the next 4 years. If not, then how can fans watch this franchise? What’s the point? When will it be the time to spend to build a winning team?
Never said that a free agent would not sign with the Pirates just because they are the Pirates. In this one case, I believe the player took the deal he did because the Dodgers offer the surest bet on being in the Series in a player’s eyes if that is what the player is truly looking for.
Disagree. He had a mediocre season last year and was given a more than fair offer. The dodgers are aggressive in what they want because they expect to win.
I’m tired of the excuses. Just sign one FA who’s wanted by other teams. Is that asking too much?
Yes, you’re asking too much. No way they were giving him $17 million. Just the harsh truth.
Even though the HOF has been turned into a joke by the PED Jury known as the BBWAA, I’m happy for Dave Parker. Thankfully the Veterans Committee righted a wrong as The Cobra is undoubtedly one of the greats of the game.
So glad he finally made it. And thank goodness he is still alive to celebrate. Dick Allen got in as well, but he died in 2020. Somehow inducting Parker and Allen together is fitting.
Let's hope Parker is still with us in July. He's dealing with a tough disease.
HOT DAMN!
Happy day!
The Cobra is finally in the hall!
Marco > Falter
Yes Marco is > older than Falter.
Maybe a few years ago, but not this version of Marco.
I wouldn’t be too concerned over the lack of activity just yet. If we are looking to trade a pitcher, the Corbin Burnes/Max Fried sweepstakes might be holding up the market down river. And this front office isn’t very leaky. Doesn’t make for seeing us in the rumors articles of MLBTR very often.
Pirates sign Tanner Rainey to MiL deal.
Seems like a decent minor league signing.
“Rainey was non-tendered by the Nationals last month even though he posted a 2.48 ERA in his final 29 appearances of the season. Overall, he had a 4.76 ERA over 51 innings in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. He’ll stand a decent chance of winning a spot in Pittsburgh’s pen.”
When Rainey was non-tendered I posted here that he was a good potential pick up for the Bucs. He has a great arm, but has had problems learning how to pitch, and then his recovery from TJ surgery was long and arduous. High upside pickup especially on a minor league deal. Good move.
Good call, very surprised he signed minors deal, he should easily have a MLB deal from someone.