Spring Training is a great time for teams to give out a contract extension, so we look at one player for each MLB team who could receive one.
MLB owners are getting smarter and they know the risks of signing someone in free agency. Instead, a lot of front offices will look to extend a young player early to avoid paying big in the end.
While we’ve seen a lot of big free agent contracts not work out, it seems there are very few contract extensions that don’t go well for both sides.
Just over the past week we’ve seen the Yankees give Luis Severino a contract extension, the Minnesota Twins extended Max Kepler, and the Philadelphia Phillies did the same with Aaron Nola.
In a couple of years, we could see a big change in how this works. The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) knows that teams are no longer willing to fork out big money and years in free agency, instead, they are more willing to let young players play for the league minimum.
But these extensions are good for the players as well because it’s guaranteed, life-changing money.
As it is with any athlete, you never know when an injury will occur, or when your effectiveness will diminish.
I understand there are guys like George Springer who was willing to bet on themselves and not sign a contract extension, but for most, I think getting that guaranteed money is a big deal.
And for front offices, it allows them to avoid arbitration with some of their young stars, and it helps them budget for future seasons.