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CONTRERAS INKS FIVE-YEAR
DEAL WITH CARDINALS
Thursday, December 8: For the first time in 19 seasons the Cardinals have a new starting catcher, signing former Cubs star Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5-million contract. At $17.5 million per season, Contreras has the third highest annual salary behind Yasmani Grandal and Salvador Perez.
Contreras, 30, was the best free-agent catcher available and the Cardinals had a huge hole to fill after the retirement of Yadier Molina, the team's Platinum Glove backstop since 2004. Contreras is coming off an All-Star season — his third — in which he slashed .243/.349/.466 for Chicago, with 22 home runs and 55 RBIs in 113 games. He's thrown out 30 percent of baserunners over his seven-year career.
My take: He's not Molina behind the dish, but he's a much better offensive player. I'm not entirely sure how much caught stealing stats will matter in 2023 with the larger bases, but he's one of the better arms in the game. No surprise The Cards nabbed him — it was expected — but it definitely keeps them the NL Central favorite. — Bob
GRINER FREED FROM RUSSIAN
CUSTODY IN PRISONER EXCHANGE
Thursday, December 8: The U.S. Department of State has confirmed they have secured Thursday the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the "Merchant of Death" for his actions in supplying weapons and munitions for wars and civil wars in African nations. Griner is "safe. She is on a plane. She is on her way home," according to a tweet by President Joesph R. Biden.
WNBA players immediately took to social media to exopress their gratitude and relief that Griner's ordeal is over. The Phoenix Mercury, for whom Griner has played her entire career since being the No.1 overall pick in 2013, tweeted simply "No more days, She's coming home."
As part of the Griner exchange,.the State Department is alleged to also have tried and failed to secure the release of missionary and U.S. businessman Paul Whelan, in a Russian prison since 2018 on an espionage conviction.
Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possession of cannabis oil and was in August convicted of criminal possession of illegal narcotics and sentenced to nine years in a penal colony. Her appeal was denied in September and she was secretly shipped from a Russian prison to a penal colony in October.
In 2011, Bout was sentenced to 25 years in a U.S. federal penitentiary for arms dealing after he was arrested in Thailand in a 2008 sting operation, in which Bout was selling arms to Columbian terrorists for the expressed use of killing Americans.
My take: I am happy for Griner, whose political show trial and sentencing were a human-rights travesty, and I'm glad she will be reunited with family inside a day or so. That said, does Neal Huntington work for the State Department? This is not an equal exchange and I imagine will be criticized as such. — Bob
PADRES LOAD UP WITH
BOEGARTS SIGNING
Thursday, December 8: Former Red Sox shortstop Xander Boegarts has agreed to an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres, taking the largest remaining pice off the free-agent board and bolstering a lineup which already has Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto.
The contract now gives San Diego three deals around $300 million: Machado ($300 million) and Tatis Jr. ($340 million), with Juan Soto still a possibility to re-sign before free agency hits in 2024. That spending to date has not produced a World Series appearance, but Boegarts provides a better chance — especially after Tatis returns on April 20 from his 80-game PED suspension.
The signing also rearranges the defense. Tatis Jr, will move to the outfield, joining Soto and Trent Grisham, while Ha-Seong Kim will move from shortstop to second base, and second baseman Jake Cronenworth will move to first base now that Josh Bell has left for Cleveland.
Boegarts, who rejected a $20 million per season extension offer from the Red Sox prior to the 2022 season, opted out of his contract with Boston after the season ended, exploring free agency after 10 seasons in which he slashed a career .292/.356/.458 with 156 home runs, 308 doubles and 658 RBIs. The four-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger won two World Series titles in Boston and will look to bring that championship experience to San Diego to help get the franchise back to the Fall Classic.
My take: Good grief. Machado, Tatis Jr. and Boegarts are all going to be 38 or older when their contracts expire. That won't be too much fun to watch in 2032, but if they can rack up a few championships along the way, i'm sure the front office will feel validated. If. No way they can move those deals unless it's to one of the other eight uber-rich teams. The Padres are now in the lead with $250-plus million in 2023 salaries. You stay classy, San Diego. Phillies, Yankees and Mets also spent big at the Winter Meetings. Shocking.— Bob
QUINTANA PUSHES METS OVER
$100 MILLION AT ROTATION TOP
Wednesday, December 7: There are still moves to be made, but as of now the Mets have $100 million in 2023 payroll allotted to the top three in their rotation after signing former Pirates starter Jose Quintana to a two-year, $26-million contract Wednesday, the final day of the Winter Meetings. As of now, New York has only three starters secured for 2023: Max Scherzer ($43.3 million), Justin Verlander ($43.3 million) and Quintana ($13 million).
Quintana, 33, rebounded with the Pirates and Cardinals in 2022, after struggling with the Angels and Giants in 2021. The southpaw went a combined 6-7 over 32 starts with a 2.93 ERA, a 1.253 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 165.2 innings pitched.
My take: Nothing screams payroll disparity than one team spend more on three starting pitchers than eight teams spent on their entire roster than 16 teams spent on their entire 26-man payrolls last season. That's fine, Mr. Manfred. Nothing to see here. — Bob
JUDGE INKING RECORD DEAL
FOR POSITION PLAYER
Wednesday, December 7: The next round is on Aaron Judge, The free-agent slugger has agreed to a record-setting contract to return to the Yankees — 9 years, $360 million. The average annual salary of $40 million is the highest ever paid to a position player, passing Mike Trout' s $37.1 million. Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander share the largest-ever average annual salary at $43.3 million. Judge's deal is also the third-largest contract ever in total dollars, trailing only Trout and Mookie Betts.
Judge, 30, rejected a seven-year, $213.5-million offer from the Yankees in Spring Training ($30.5 million per season), then went out and set the American League single-season home run record and won the American League MVP, leading Major League Baseball in eight offensive categories and was .005 away in batting average from winning the Triple Crown. That historic season has now earned him an extra $147.5 million.
My take: About right, considering where player salaries are. If Judge can repeat his batting feats then it will be worth it, but he's no Mike Trout so that will be an overpay in and of itself. The next big contract — unless an owner does something really stupid — will be Shohei Ohtani, either as an extension in Anaheim this offseason or as a free agent after 2023. — Bob
MAYFIELD SIGNS WITH
DEPLETED RAMS
Tuesday, December 6: Baker Mayfield was chosen by the Rams before the waiver deadline Tuesday, joining the reigning Super Bowl champs, who are in free-fall at 3-9 as they've suffered injuries to key players, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is on injured reserve after being in concussion protocol for the second time this season.
In Stafford's absence, John Wolford has been starting with rookie Bryce Perkins backing up. Wolford is on the injury list this week, questionable with a neck injury, with L.A. hosting the Raiders Thursday night. Mayfield is currently listed as No. 3 on the depth chart.
My take: Mayfield and Los Angeles may be he best marriage since chocolate and peanut butter — Drama King in the land of endless drama. This is a no-harm, no-foul signing if there ever was one. The champs aren't making the playoffs and Sean McVay doesn't have to trot out Perkins with a straight face. Win-win. — Bob
BELL, BELLINGER INK
DEALS WITH NEW TEAMS
Tuesday, December 6: Former Pirates first baseman Josh Bell is headed to Cleveland. The reigning National League Silver Slugger for designated hItters has agreed to a two-year, $36-million contract with the Guardians Tuesday, as the second day of the Winter Meetings also saw former National League MVP Cody Bellinger agree on a one-year deal with the Cubs.
Bell, 30, will now be on his fourth team in four years. He was with the Pirates in 2020, traded to the Nationals in that offseason, spent 2021 with Washington before being traded to the Padres at the 2022 deadline. Bell had a strong 2022 with Washington but fell off with San Diego. He has a career slash of .262/.352/.459 with 130 home runs over seven seasons.
Bellinger, 27, was offered multiple-year deals, but his agent said the 2017 Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP is betting on himself to rebound from a a serious decline in his game. Bellinger's last two injury-riddled seasons with the Dodgers saw an OPS of .542 and .654, making many wonder if he wull ever fully return from a shoulder injury suffered in 2020.
My take: Bellinger's fall has been astounding, after beginning as one of the dominant players of his generation, he's no better than a good defender off the bench. Tragic, really. Hopefully, he'll find his form again — it's a better game to watch with him raking — but I wouldn't bet on it, though the Friendly Confines might help bump his OPS+ over 100 again. Bell is who he is at this point. He's still streaky, but those big months can carry a club. He's priced about right and the Guardians will love having a power bat in the order, but he'll frustrate the heck out of them. I wouldn't put it past that staff, though, to get him more consistent. — Bob
VERLANDER, TURNER CASH
IN ON FREE-AGENT DEALS
Monday, December 5: The rich got richer Monday, both teams and players as reigning American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander agreed to a two-year, $86.67-million contract with the Mets. A third-year option vests if Verlander pitches 140 innings in 2024, his age 41 season. The annual $43.3 million matches what the Mets are paying three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, giving New York six combined Cy Youngs atop their rotation in 2023.
Later Monday, shortstop Trea Turner agreed to an 11-year, $300-million, no-trade contract with the Phillies. The 29-year-old was one of the most coveted players in free agency, pairing a strong bat with good defense. Over eight seasons with the Nationals and Dodgers, Turner has slashed .302/.355/.487 with 124 home runs, 434 RBIs and 230 stolen bases.
My take: First, I'll defer to our own Alex Stumpf's live-file post on Verlander when this broke: "That's more guaranteed money than any contract in Pirates history. And it's just two years." Because this is good for the game, right Rob Manfred? $200-plus-million payrolls can afford the best guys. Lower revenue and payroll teams will try to win the lottery on a reclamation pitcher for $5 million on a one-year deal. So it goes.
FORMER NO.1 DUMPED BY
PANTHERS DURING BYE
Monday, December 5: It's hard to get any lower if you're Baker Mayfield. The former No. 1-overall pick in the NFL draft is now out of a job after the Panthers released him Monday, as the team returned to practice off its bye week. Mayfield immediately becomes a free agent. Sam Darnold, another reclamation project, is expected to start the remainder of the season.
Former Panthers head coach Matt Rhule acquired Mayfield from the Browns, confident that the change in scenery would help restore the former top prospect's top form, flashed in the 2020 season when he returned the Browns to the playoffs, going 11-5 and throwing 26 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. Instead, he went 1-4 to open the season, was injured, Rhule was fired, and Mayfield went to backing up former XFL star PJ Walker. He started once more, on November 20, going 21 of 33 for 196 yards and two interceptions in a loss to the Ravens.
Mayfield finishes his Carolina tenure with a 1-5 record, completing 57.8 of his passes for six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Cleveland is paying Mayfield $10 million this season and the Panthers are still responsible for the remaining pro-rated portion of the $5 million they are paying him this season.
My take: Mayfield needs to reassess his situation, get some offline coaching and attempt a comeback through the backup route. He's not a franchise quarterback, but 2020 showed he can be good enough to help teams win. The Panthers were always a bad situation because the team's just bad. He'll catch on somewhere else, perhaps this week — the No. 1s always do — but it's been a meteoric plunge since 2020. Hope he had career insurance through Progressive or made friends with that UFO he witnessed in 2021. — Bob
