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2020 Phillies: Free agency, catcher, front burner

By Tal Venada

CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field on February 25, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action during the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Spectrum Field on February 25, 2020 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Betts will be the big-ticket signing for 2021. Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images. /

Competition:       

Fans including those for the Phillies usually worry needlessly about losing their Realmutos to a wealthy franchise, while those organizations may have other needs to fill. To illustrate, some Yankees faithful feared the Fightins would sign C.C. Sabathia as a fifth ace despite an obvious fact. They barely inked Cliff Lee.

For ’21, the Yanks are at $135 million AAV and will need three starters. But they could re-up two currently at $34.7 million AAV, and they could continue four arb deals now at $14.8 million AAV for $184.5 million AAV before expected increases. Yes, it’s too soon to know, but all teams will have raises and other holes to plug after ’20.

Even though the Dodgers have $117 million AAV for 2021 already, they’re currently paying $43 million AAV for Mookie Betts and Justin Turner plus $19.7 million for Bellinger, Bryant and Buehler. However, Betts alone would considerably raise the total of $179.7 million AAV before expected increases.  

$210 million competitive-balance threshold for 2021 ($20 million for Realmuto):

(All dollar amounts in this article are 2020’s numbers with no projections for 2021.)

  • 2020 Yankees: $261.4 million AAV with -$76.2 million AAV for 3 SPs, 2B, OF and 11 arb-eligible players at -$24.7 million AAV with $13.5 million for Judge and Sanchez plus more for Torres and Andujar.
  • 2021: $135.3 million AAV and replacing Paxton, Tanaka, Happ, LeMahieu and Gardner.
  • 2020 Dodgers: $232.7 million AAV with -$74.7 million AAV for 2 OFs, INF, 2 RPs and 8 arb-eligible players at -$25.4 million AAV with $19.7 million for Bellinger, Seager and Buehler ($.6 million for 2019.)
    2021: $117 million AAV and replacing Betts, Pederson, Turner, Hernandez, Baez and Treinen.
  • 2020 Cubs: $214.1 million AAV with -$50 million AAV for 3 SPs and 12 arb-eligible players at -$49.2 million AAV with $40.1 million for Bryant, Baez, Schwarber and Contreras.
    2021: $93 million AAV and replacing Lester, Quintana and Chatwood.
  • 2020 Red Sox: $195.9 million AAV with -$28.3 million AAV for SP, CL, 1B, 2 OFs and 13 arb-eligible players at -$26.4 million AAV with $9 million for Rodriguez and Devers.
    2021: $138 million AAV and replacing Perez, Workman, Moreland, Bradley and Pillar.
  • 2020 Angels: $192 million AAV with -$27.5 million AAV for SP, SS, C, INF and 13 arb-eligible players at -$26.4 million AAV with $3.9 million for Robles.
    2021: $133.5 million AAV and replacing Teheran, Simmons and 2 reserves.
  • 2020 Phillies: $203.9 million AAV with -$65.5 million AAV for SP, SS, 2 RPs, LF and 8 arb-eligible players at -$11.1 million AAV.
    2021: $118.8 million AAV and replacing Arrieta, Gregorius, Robertson, Alvarez and Bruce.
  • Free agents not included in the team’s total AAV for 2021.

Beginning with $93 million AAV for ’21, the penalty-adverse Cubs will have three open rotation slots presently costing $50 million AAV and four regulars who are already at $40.1 million. Ergo, that alone will raise their tally to $183.1 million AAV before expected increases.

Like the Cubbies, the Red Sox prefer only minimal penalties, and they currently are at $138 million AAV for 2021. But they need $10 million AAV to match a starter’s and closer’s current pay and $9 million for same regarding Rafael Devers and an arb-eligible starter. So, they’d be at $157 million AAV before expected increases. 

The Angels –who need a decent five-man staff– will be at $133.5 million AAV  for ’21 with $17.3 million AAV of present salary for a starter and a shortstop. Also, their arb-eligible closer is now at $3.9 million for a total of $154.7 million AAV before expected increases.   

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