Deserves Got Nothing to Do With It
J.D. Martinez was the most coveted free agent bat on the market this year. He and his agent Scott Boras thought that meant a seven-year deal for the 30-year old. He instead signed a five-year contract with the Red Sox.
Yu Darvish is a difference maker on any staff. The RHP helped carry the Dodgers through the playoffs and into the World Series, where he under-performed. And just now moving into his age 31 season, Darvish was the most sought-after pitcher on the open market.
All of that led to a six-year offer from the Cubs. And so if Darvish can only get six, how many players are going to get deals of equal or greater length? There will be some, but their numbers are diminishing and seem likely to continue to do so.
Yankees and Others Push Back
That’s because Yankees GM Cashman and others are pushing hard for one- and two-year deals for the vast majority of players; four or five if they are outstanding. And all Yankees observers have to do is look on the bench to see exhibit A: Jacoby Ellsbury.
But if he were the only example, his mistaken and albatrossian contract would not influence the entire sport.
His is far from that, however.
Teams throughout baseball are saddled with players they no longer want but must still pay. And those teams and their front office personnel have finally drawn a line in the sand over contractually obligated years, as well as paying for past performance.
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That has contributed to a prolonged free agency period. And to the Yankees paying more than $21 million for a fifth outfielder.
Somewhere in Brian Cashman’s office is a picture of Ellsbury and below it a sign that reads, never again. And there is or soon will be a similar one in every front office in baseball.
Welcome to the new free agency.