NEWSLETTER
I have hit a serious lull in book-reading lately. For about a year and a half I was killing it with books, but I used up the authors I really like (a tip: ready everything from Andy Weir, Iain Reid, and Blake Crouch), I used up some good recommendation lists, and then I ran into a string of failed reads (I give books 50 pages to hook me). Currently reading ‘Mickey7,’ which is solid. First book that’s held me in a while, and I wanted to make sure to read it before the (apparently troubled) movie version comes out in a few weeks, lest I be tempted to watch the movie instead.
- Ah, you know the drill: another day waking up waiting to see if Ryan Pressly accepts a trade to the Cubs. I have to believe we’re going to get a resolution one way or another today. I had a little update last night, if you missed it.
- New York Mets owner Steve Cohen got candid when discussing the state of negotiations with first baseman Pete Alonso (via The Athletic):
“We made a significant offer to Pete,” Cohen said. “He’s entitled to explore his market. That’s what he is doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough — this is worse.
“A lot of it is, we made a significant offer … I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us. It’s highly asymmetric against us. And I feel strongly about it. I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward. And as we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are. And I am being brutally honest.
“I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s been presented to us. Listen, maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we are going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”
- For his part, in response, Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, told The Athletic that the contract structure requests are “identical to the standards and practices of other clubs who have signed similarly situated qualifying-offer/all-star level players.” It’s fair to presume they’ve sought something like three years and $90-$100+ million with opt-outs after each year. As something like a 30-year-old power-only first baseman whose power numbers have seemingly declined, the market was never going to be as big for Alonso as his name might suggest. A reasonably three-year deal with the Mets or Blue Jays or some surprise team might be the best he can hope for at this point. He and Alex Bregman increasingly have that Boras Oopsie vibe for this offseason.
- Speaking of which, the Red Sox are in on Bregman, but only on a shorter-term deal. Kinda feels like Bregman has a chance at 5-ish years with the Tigers or maybe Astros or Blue Jays, but shorter-term elsewhere.
- The folks at ESPN offered predictions for the rest of the offseason, and there are a whole lot of intriguing things that could still happen between now and Opening Day outside of free agency. Many predictions that Nolan Arenado finally gets traded. That the Padres finally make a big trade. That Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will sign a massive extension.
- There’s still an expectation that the Dodgers will re-sign Clayton Kershaw, despite their glut of pitchers, and it makes sense when you look at the various injury risks, innings limitations, and the relationship there between the Dodgers and Kershaw. There’s enough comfort and trust there that both sides could just wait to get the deal done when it’s most advantageous for the roster.
- Speaking of Kershaw, Matt Snyder on the active players with a path to the Hall of Fame.
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