MLB: One Potential Contract Extension for Every Team
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.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles really need to try and lock up Chris Davis … I kid, I kid. To be honest, there isn’t an ideal candidate for Baltimore. Mychal Givens may be there best player, but you don’t see too many relief pitchers get contract extensions — and he’s soon to be 29.
Boston Red Sox: The obvious one here is Mookie Betts — who just got $20 million for the 2019 season through arbitration. At 26-years-old with just two years of control left, you know Boston is looking to lock up their MVP for several more seasons.
New York Yankees: After locking up Severino, the Yankees should now shift their focus to Aaron Judge. The soon-to-be 27-year-old is not even arbitration eligible until the 2020 season. To me, he’s the face of this franchise and should be for a long time. At the very least, the Yankees need to buy out his three arbitration seasons to avoid any awkwardness.
Tampa Bay Rays: Another pretty obvious one here is Blake Snell. Coming off a Cy Young season at 25-years-old, it would be good for the money conscious Rays to lock him up. He won’t be arbitration eligible until the 2020 season, so the Rays may want to see him duplicate his 2018 success in 2019 before buying out his contract years and maybe a free agent season or two.
Toronto Blue Jays: Maybe we need to see this guy actually play at the major league level first, but if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is as good as everyone says he is, the Blue Jays may want to act quickly to lock him in for a while.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: There are a lot of young players that seem like obvious candidates for the White Sox to lock up, but none have really proved themselves at the major league level yet. Yoan Moncada is the likely candidate here, but he needs to pick it up in 2019.
Cleveland Indians: This one is pretty clear, the Indians have to back up the truck for Francisco Lindor. The 25-year-old has already put in five solid seasons, playing at an MVP-level the past three seasons. Lindor has three more arbitration seasons. Cleveland should buy those out and a couple of free agents years.
Detroit Tigers: The only one that really makes sense for the Tigers right now is Michael Fulmer. The soon-to-be 26-year-old has been mentioned in trade rumors, but the Tigers could change directions and lock him up. A down 2018 season didn’t help his chances though. He may have to prove himself again in 2019 before the Tigers decide to buy out his last three arbitration seasons.
Kansas City Royals: The Royals have already done a good job of extending Danny Duffy and Salvador Perez in years past, as well as Whit Merrifield this offseason.
Minnesota Twins: Another obvious one is 24-year-old Jose Berrios. He’s had back-to-back solid years in Minnesota and could be the face of this franchise going forward. He won’t be arbitration eligible until the 2020 sesaon, so the Twins have control over him for four more seasons.
AL West
Houston Astros: There are several options here for the Astros, but I’d lock up Alex Bregman. This guy is becoming a polarizing figure in MLB, and the 24-year-old gets it done at the plate and in the field. He won’t be arbitration eligible until the 2020 season, but Houston should go ahead and buy those seasons out and some.
Los Angeles Angels: I’m going to ignore the obvious of Mike Trout, because I think the Angels are already getting ready to back up the truck for him. Shohei Ohtani took a chance on himself coming to MLB before turning 25. Now he has to go through the pre-arb and arbitration process. The Angels should go ahead and reward him by giving him guaranteed money for those years. If he comes back from surgery in 2020 and pitches and hit like he did early in 2018, the price is only going to go up. then.
Oakland Athletics: I can’t decide which one, but they should definitely consider locking up one of their corner infielders. Or, maybe they just go ahead and extend both Matt Chapman and Matt Olson.
Seattle Mariners: Teams have tried to trade for Mitch Haniger since the Mariners started trading off players, but the team says they will hold onto the 28-year-old until they’re ready to compete again. He won’t be arbitration eligible until after the 2019 season and is under control for five more seasons. If you want to make it official that Haniger is your guy, go ahead and lock him up now.
Texas Rangers: Nomar Mazara is 23-years-old and has hit 20 home runs in three straight seasons. He’s under team control in arbitration for four more seasons. The Rangers may want to consider making him their guy for the future and buy out those years and a few free agents seasons.
NL East
Atlanta Braves: I know Ronald Acuna Jr. has been in the big leagues for less than a year, but boy was it impressive. The Braves will probably want to see him do it over a full season first, but then they better lock up this kid quick for as long as they can.
Miami Marlins: Unfortunately for the Marlins, there isn’t much to choose from here. Lewis Brinson is their only real prospect who has been called up yet, and he did not have a great 2018. The guy above wouldn’t like this, but they could look to extend Jose Urena to secure a middle of the rotation arm for their rebuild.
New York Mets: This is something the Mets probably should have done a couple of years ago before he won a Cy Young, but they need to extend Jacob DeGrom. The ace is under control for the next two seasons and is 30-years-old. He’s already set to make $17 million through arbitration this season. The Mets should buy out his last arbitration year in 2020 and extend him another two seasons.
Philadelphia Phillies: Even though I didn’t think the Phillies gave up too much for him, it would still be wise to extend J.T. Realmuto. Otherwise, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to trade for two years of the catcher unless you think the Phillies will win a World Series during that time.
Washington Nationals: You probably thought I was going to say Juan Soto, but I’m not. Instead, I think the Washington Nationals should look to extend shortstop Trea Turner. I really love this guy, and his speed and power combination make him a dynamic player.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: It’s already been reported that Kris Bryant turned down a contract extension, so maybe the Cubs can lock up Javier Baez? Not to be judgemental, but Baez seems like the type of guy who wants the attention of free agency. Still, I would be surprised if the Cubs don’t try to extend the 26-year-old who is under control for three more seasons.
Cincinnati Reds: There have already been rumblings of the Reds wanting to extend Scooter Gennett as he enters his last season before hitting free agency. The second baseman has been outstanding in Cincinnati the last two seasons and will play most of this year at 29.
Milwaukee Brewers: I know Christian Yelich is already under contract through the 2020 season at a great price, but after winning the MVP the Brewers could reward him by upping that contract a bit and extending through his age 32 season (2024).
Pittsburgh Pirates: I would really love to see the Pirates lock up Jameson Taillon. The 27-year-old had a breakout season in 2018 and still isn’t arbitration eligible. The Pirates don’t need to let him get away.
St. Louis Cardinals: This one is pretty obvious, but the Cardinals need to extend Paul Goldschmidt after trading for him this offseason. Otherwise, he’s gone after the 2019 season. He’s still just 31 and is perhaps the best first baseman in the game.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks: I have no idea what the Diamondbacks are trying to do, but the only player that makes sense to extend for them is Robbie Ray. However, it sounds like they’re at least open to the idea of trading the 27-year-old lefty.
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Colorado Rockies: Maybe Nolan Arenado is watching what is going on with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado this offseason and will decide he doesn’t want any part of that? Either way, the Rockies need to try their best to make him a Rockie for the rest of his career. I can’t see him playing anywhere else. Similar to Trout, I think any contract extension for him will depend on what Harper and Machado get.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Corey Seager makes the most sense here, but the Dodgers may want to see him back and healthy first. He’s under control for three more seasons. Walker Buehler could make sense here too, but I’d like to see him repeat his 2018 success first.
San Diego Padres: There honestly is no one on this team I would extend right now. Instead, they need to save their money and sign either Harper or Machado this offseason.
San Francisco Giants: If they’re not going to trade him, then they need to make sure that Madison Bumgarner is a Giant for life.
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So what do you think? Are there are other candidates around MLB that you think should have their MLB team quickly jumping to the table with an extension?