Training camps open in less than three weeks and Harper and Machado are still unsigned.

[Bleacher Creature]

This is insane. These are the two best free agents to hit the market in years, and nether has signed. This isn't an instance where you have two 30+ year old players asking for 10 year deals. These guys should both in their primes for the bulk of the next decade.

I'm glad that teams are trying to get a handle on out of control contracts, but not if it just means that owners get to pocket the difference. I'm also worried about what this means for keeping the peace between the players union and the league heading into the next CBA.

[ADX]

1. The fact that they both have "issues"...

...almost certainly has something to do with them still not being signed.

I hope my Yankees pass on both of them; we don't need their drama in the Bronx...

[Bleacher Creature]

3. I'm a Yankees fan as well (hence my screen name).

I'm just relieved that they're not taking on any more long term deals.

And, yes, it's likely that their "issues" aren't helping.

[Auggie]

2. I don't think it's insane ...

franchises may finally be re-evaluating the need of long-term mega contracts. It’s about time too!

Pablo Sandoval? Still owed $19+ million by the Red Sox. Now that’s insane.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Noticed that the Teams are dragging

out contract talks with several Players. Hope we are not going to see a major round of Rent A Player in order to game the World Series.

[Bleacher Creature]

5. Fair point.

The Yankees still owe Jacoby Ellsbury $42 million over the next two years, plus $5 million more to buy him out, and the $21 million they paid him last year not to play.

The money still owed to Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano may be even worse.

[Ohiogal]

6. Pujols was the one that came to my mind.

It's insane. Maybe teams now are just saying they don't need this kind of financial debacle.

[The Polack MSgt]

7. Albert signed a 10 year deal

after playing 11 years in the bigs and the next year he got hurt.

A 10 year deal for Harper would END when he was 2 years older than when Albert's albatross contract BEGAN. These are not remotely similar situations

Truth is the owners are colluding to under cut the CBA- Here's how

The owners already under pay compared to market value on the front end of a player's career because of salary caps and team control through the arbitration period.

That was the deal reached in the CBA with the players union, so that the free agency market would stay unregulated and the players can make up the difference in their compensation with regards to market value.

But now - coincidently I'm sure - all the owners have decided that free agents just aren't worth it? No, it's collusion meant to advantage the owners at the expense of the players

The owners cut a deal with the union so that they get a price break on players on the front of their careers and are now shafting the players on the back end of their careers.

And I have to point out that the game is financially robust - it isn't like the late 70s where half the MLB was losing money.

Even the Marlins owner walked away wit huge profits when he sold out to Jeter's group.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Don't Agree Sarge

I think this is a clear indicator of the takeover of sabremetrics.
Value is being considered as a function of WAR with decisions being made that 2 guys with WAR of 3 & 4 is more valuable than one player at 9 because it's far less likely that both players would be hurt at the same time.
On top of that, many (not all, of course) teams are seeing high enough attendance that a big star won't ring the cash registers enough extra to make it worth it.
I honestly believe that the data guys have reached the same conclusions at many teams, with no need to collude.
Last Note:
All that said, I have reviewed the math used to rationalize WAR, and find it lacking. So I don't fully embrace WAR, but the teams sure do.

[Brother Buzz]

8. San Francisco Giants Making a Surprise Push for Bryce Harper

San Francisco Giants Making a Surprise Push for Bryce Harper

According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network and Randy Miller of NJ.com, the San Francisco Giants met with and may have an inclination to sign top-tier free agent outfielder Bryce Harper.


This is probably the most impactful news of the offseason so far for the San Francisco Giants fans, many of whom are split on whether or not to sign Bryce Harper. The meeting could very well be an indicator that Harper’s asking price is dropping to the point where Farhan Zaidi and other Giants brass feel comfortable enough to at least test the waters.

Indeed, other teams, such as the San Diego Padres, seem to be getting into the Harper bidding in addition to the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies.

While the Giants already have several long-term commitments in place to veterans on the team (i.e. Evan Longoria, Buster Posey, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija, Mark Melancon, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, etc.), Harper is still incredibly young for a free agent and plays in the corner outfield, where the Giants have few established players.

He would bring a level of raw power and talent to newly-renamed Oracle Park’s outfield that the Giants haven’t had since Barry Bonds, but he is also frustratingly inconsistent, which is why he likely hasn’t been offered a deal he likes.

<more>

https://aroundthefoghorn.com/2019/02/06/san-francisco-giants-making-surprise-push-for-bryce-harper/



Bryce Harper wants BIG MONEY and to sign with a potentially winning team (sorry Padres). This Giants fan thinks the prospects of Harper signing with the Giants is a pipe dream, but, Boy Howdy, watching Harper playing in a park designed for left-handed sluggers would be worth the price of admission. Splash!

[Captain Stern]

9. It's bad timing for Harper and Machado

If they'd been free agents two years ago, they would have cleaned up.

Two years ago, the common "wisdom" was that teams (mainly the Yankees) were trying to get under the luxury tax threshold to be in position for this year's free agents....the Yankees are going to have an awesome young core, AND get two of the best players on the planet.

But, like the commercial goes,...life comes at you fast. The teams that actually could afford to pay record long-term contracts for these guys, don't need to. They're all pretty solid.

Also MLB teams (along with NFL and NBA teams) are starting to appreciate the 'art of the tank'....why pay big dollars for a free agent, and miss the playoffs, when you could miss the playoffs, and not pay a lot for a free agent?

This isn't a joke any more. Two of the most attractive free agents of all time are still unsigned, just days away from the opening of spring training. And, they're not unsigned because of a big bidding war. They're unsigned because nobody wants to pay them the money that they think they are worth.