For those that don’t know, each team has control over a player for his first six seasons of professional experience (which can be broken up into smaller chunks – in other words, a guy doesn’t become a free agent until he’s accumulated more than six total seasons’ worth of Major League service time). Subject to some exceptions, in years four through six, the player is eligible for arbitration, and his salary – if not agreed upon by the parties – is decided through the arbitration process. Teams and players usually settle long before that, though.
For guys who are in their first three years – and on the 40-man roster – the team may, essentially, pay them whatever they want, subject to the Major League minimum salary. When those players are given a contract for the year, they are said to be “renewed.” Players tend to get a token raise as they go along in those first three years, but teams are not obligated to pay a player “what he’s worth.” Or even half that amount. Or, in Mike Trout’s case, even 1/30th the amount. That is the collectively-bargained setup in baseball, and all sides have agreed to it.
Today, the Cubs renewed all of their pre-arbitration players, 21 in all. That includes:
- Right-handed pitchers Michael Bowden, Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis, Trey McNutt, Hector Rondon, Arodys Vizcaino and Robert Whitenack.
- Left-handed pitchers Brooks Raley, Chris Rusin and Travis Wood.
- Catchers Welington Castillo and Steve Clevenger.
- Infielders Darwin Barney, Junior Lake, Anthony Rizzo, Christian Villanueva, Josh Vitters and Logan Watkins.
- Outfielders Brett Jackson, Dave Sappelt and Matt Szczur.
Although the Cubs did not announce the terms of the renewals, a few were tweeted: Darwin Barney’s getting $562,000, Travis Wood is getting $527,500, Welington Castillo is getting $503,000, and Anthony Rizzo is getting $498,000. That’s usually the range you see these guys in, and it’s also why it can be a good idea for pre-arb players to sign extensions to try and cash in now (and the team, in return, might save a lot of money through those arbitration years).
I’m glad to see that a middle infield Gold Glove is worth $72K over the league minimum… heh heh heh
a little surprised that Rizzo got less then Castillo.
I think it’s just a matter of service time. Castillo’s got a touch more than Rizzo.
It would be interesting to see Castillo’s wOBA+ by position vs Rizzo’s.
Rizzo wRC+ 116 ranked 15th among 1B last year with at least 350 PA
Coastillo wRC+ 101 ranked 23 among C last year with at least 150 PA
Every team has their own way of doing this, but iirc the Cubs do have a set amount for each year based on service time.
You are right, he does but he has played in 1/2 the games that Rizzo has. It is interesting how all that works.
“That is the collectively-bargained setup in baseball, and all sides have agreed to it.”
Is that a little stab at a certain player out west?
…
Except that Trout never agreed to the deal. The players’ association is controlled by veterans and, as noted previously, the new agreement generally directs more money to veterans and less to things such as amateur signings. It also allows the clubs to pay those with less than 3 years service far less than the value they would otherwise have. So Trout (or perhaps Baez) could come up, have 3 MVP seasons in a row and get paid just the minimum. And what if Trout gets a career-ending injury at the end of his third year. If I were Trout, I’d be pissed, but not so much at the clubs as at the veteran players who agreed to the deal that enriched themselves.
Trout did agree to it when he signed the contract agreeing to play for the Angels in exchange for a $1.5M signing bonus.
I’d say, for someone of Trout’s caliber, to trade three years of major league minimum (when you should be near your least productive) for 10 years of free agency (a good chunk of these near your productive max) is a good trade.
How often does a young positional player have a career (or near career) ending injury?
“Trout did agree to it when he signed the contract agreeing to play for the Angels in exchange for a $1.5M signing bonus.”
What were Trout’s choices when he signed? He could have sat out a year and re-entered the draft, or he could have decided to pursue another profession, or he could have played in Japan, or ???
Pretty much. Also, if he doesn’t like it, he could just retire and walk away. I believe he is entitled to some lifetime benefits already.
You want to join an incredibly exclusive club that is willing to pay you hundreds of millions of dollars, you have to follow their rules (which includes getting paid $3M over the first 5 years you are in the club thereby placing you in the top .5% of American wealthy).
Italy has a league…
So does this anger get retroactively directed at Albert Pujols and every other player that had a great rookie year and played for near the league minimum the next year per their contracts? The same veterans that you are saying are at blame all went through the same thing Trout is going through now.
Or how about the old timers? Babe Ruth’s 1927 salary was equal to $800K in today’s money.
scratch that, my Rule of 72 math remembering was wrong.
His 1927 salary has “doubled” 3.58 times since 1927. He would be around $300K.
He could always go sign with another baseball league. Or dig ditches.
Yes Kyle!!! “The world needs ditch diggers too!”
Anyone know the avg salary of a AA player not on the 40 man?
It’s below $50K.
So Villanueva is going to make around $500k while playing the year at AA (most likely) because he was put on the 40 man. While most of his team mates are making 50K?????
I don’t know about Villanueva but Soler definately fits into that mold.
Soler is making $30 million over 9 yrs.
I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way. He’ll only get the MLB rate for time he’s on the active 25-man roster or DL.
That would make sense thanks….
this is the truth
While watching an A’s game with my roommate, ray fosse said when a players contract gets purchased they get the entire ml value even if they are up for one day then sent back down. That may only be for that season however but it isn’t just limited to 25 man roster time.
Level 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year
Rookie $1150 $1200 $1250
Short Season A $1150 $1200 $1250
Low A $1300 $1350 $1400
High A $1500 $1550 $1600
Double A $1700 $1800 $1900
Triple A $2150 $2400 $2700
The incentives include:
$500 bonus after 60 days in Double A time.
$1000 bonus after 60 days Triple A time.
$5000 bonus after 60 days Big League time.
All minor league players recieve $20 meal money per day that the team is away from home. Not including the off season.
source: http://www.yougoprobaseball.com/how-much-money-do-minor-league-baseball-players-make-get-paid.html
I heard that if players refuse to renew they get run down by Sandmen.
Tusken Raiders?!
They scare easily, but they’ll be back. And in greater numbers.
Arguably the best part of Episode 1 was the Tuskens takings shots at the pod racers and celebrating when their shots connected.
I lost interest in EP1 shortly after “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away…”
Well, yeah, but if you stuck with it there are a few fun parts.
Oh, certainly. (But emphasis on “few”.) I’m as much of a SW geek as anyone, but that movie is a tough slog.
If you’ve ever seen The Phantom Edit (and Attack of the Phantom), two fan edits of the first two of the prequels, you’ll be much, much more satisfied. AotP especially — it cuts out 45 minutes of sappy dreck and makes for a much more concise, cohesive (and coherent) movie.
Pfft, Capt. Kirk would kick the snot out of Luke any day of the week.
(ignored)
HAMBURGERS!!!!!
Logan’s Run.
Before someone goes off callling me a loser, I did NOT know Brett was at a funeral. For those who think that I am that evil of a person, i am sorry to burst your bubble but i am not that evil. I only was trying to say that in times that Brett can’t write posts, he could hire someone else to help write for the site. As far as my skills are concerned i know how to spell. However, in the comments i don’t always use proper spelling because its faster, and easier. If i actually had a job on this site, i would obviously type correctly. When i first started college my major was journalism so i know some things! I am also obsessed with the cubs and figured i would be of service.
Before you apply for a job, I think you should know that you will probably be paid the same as Luke (the minor league reporter) but I don’t want to speak for Brett. That’s just a guess on my part.
No, you will get paid less than Luke when Brett hires you. That’s just a guess on my part, but Luke’s a minor league prospect pimp, so you have a long way to go to get paid like him. Congratulations on the new position.
Which, at the time of hiring, was $0.00.
As someone who actually finished his journalism program in college and spent some time supervising college journalists, I’ve found that the “Well, I’m not writing for publication” excuse is usually pretty thin. Sure, there’s a different level of writing for posting than there is for publication, but good writers never come off as bad writers in any format.
Writing for publication takes a fairly high level of writing ability that most people can’t reach. So you can be better than average, but that still doesn’t mean other people want to read what you write. Any more than I want to watch the college’s 2500th best quarterback put on the school colors on a Saturday and hit the football field.
That’s fine, i am willing to work my way up and get paid what i am worth. If Brett is willing to give me a chance i will make him proud. I am also expecting a child in July, and my job does not pay well so im sure it pays more then my current position.
No my guess is it doesn’t.
If I remember correctly, when Brett posted the minor league job, he stated it paid nothing but glory and immortality (Which Luke has as he is the best Cubs minor league blogger on the web) but that was about it.
Anyone know how to purchase an Anthony Rizzo Italia jersey? Those look cool!!!
http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18999366&cp=3477774.3471178
The home white:
http://shop.mlb.com/product/index.jsp?productId=18999356&cp=3477774.3471178
Thank you sir. You are a gentleman and a scholar.
Whoa, I just had a truck driver say this to me after I was done unloading his truck at work today. First time hearing it and now twice in the same day.
Jackson for Phillies D. Brown could help both reach potential
Do you still think geo soto can play 3rd? Lord knows we need a 3rd bagger.
Wait what??? I think the soto on our spring squad is Elliot soto, not sure there is any relation to geo soto
Haha I was just being an ass. Last offseason die hard was saying Geovany Soto could play third base for us. I was giving him a hard time.
I caught the joke… but couldn’t respond in time. Well played sir.
Thanks, pal!
That’s funny;)
Soto is better than what have now unless move Castro
Rizzo has to play for Italy against the USA team on Saturday. Could get ugly. Italians may break out the soccer balls.