Even with NL MVP candidate Nolan Arenado planning not to opt out of his Cardinals deal — “he will stay a Cardinal,” a friend says — no less than six opt-outs and player options for stars will bolster a solid free-agent list and make it special.
So in addition to superstar free agents Aaron Judge and Trea Turner, Jacob deGrom (who some believe will shoot to become the first $50 million player), Justin Verlander, Carlos Rodon, Carlos Correa and Xander Bogaerts are expected to exercise their opt-outs or decline player options and make it one of the best free-agent classes in recent memory.
Most expect the Yankees to re-sign AL MVP shoo-in Judge even though there was a big gap in talks when they broke for the season, and it doesn’t always work out the way we think or expect (see Freddie Freeman, now happy as a Dodger). As one rival GM put it, “They have to keep him, don’t they?” We’d certainly think so.
If Judge wasn’t thrilled with the way his negotiation went — and he’s done everything since to prove the $213.5 million, seven-year offer, seemingly reasonable at the time, to be quite light — then deGrom was truly disappointed with his negotiation and subsequent deal, to the point he changed agents and consistently says he will opt out. Mets owner Steve Cohen told The Post he wants to keep deGrom, and you have to think he has that ability.
DeGrom, like Judge, hasn’t discussed his desires aloud, but some believe Mets writer Mike Puma may prove close to correct with his estimate it’ll take $50 million or close to keep deGrom in Queens. Although Judge sought about $36 million according to sources, it’s very likely his price has gone up. If it seems odd the number is higher for the semi-available deGrom, keep two things in mind: 1) There’s a scarcity of super-elite pitchers and a belief they can have greater effect on October series, and 2) His contract will be shorter.
Verlander, who technically has a player option at $25 million, is sure to turn that into a steep raise and a probable multiyear deal. Verlander has profited doing short deals, and will profit again by agreeing to change his original $50 million, two-year Astros deal to a $25 million, one-year deal with a player option that triggered at 130 innings. Verlander and deGrom — even if he doesn’t hit the $50 million mark — will benefit from obvious comp of Max Scherzer’s record $43.33 million salary and are likely to make it three starters at the top of the salary leaderboard. “I hope people beat it,” union man Scherzer says.
Big-time shortstops will once again be at the free-agent forefront, with Correa and Bogaerts likely joining Turner and Dansby Swanson. Free-agent shortstops stole the show last winter, with Corey Seager winning the winter with his monster $325 million deal. Turner balked originally at going to LA to play second base, but he’s thrived there, and told The Post this week, “I love it. It’s probably the best organization in baseball considering everything — the way they treat the players, the fan base, the city. Who knows what will happen? But it’s been great being a part of this.”
Turner’s a team-first guy who appreciates the Dodgers unreal 90-39 record. But he’s also family-first, and Dodgers folks wonder if he might bow to the wishes of his Floridian family. In any case, they will give it a shot.
They did talk preliminarily about a contract this spring after Turner told them he wanted to concentrate on baseball in-season, but made no official offer.
“I told them if they wanted to do something we should try to get it done in spring training,” Turner said. “During the season I want to focus on baseball. I owe it to the team and to the fans.”
Swanson’s in the opposite situation playing for his hometown team, with the Braves surely looking for a hometown discount. Bogaerts was said to be insulted by Boston only offering to tack on one more year at his below-market rate of $20 million after he took the home-team discount the first time. Correa says he’d love to stay with the Twins, but it’s hard to see him not turning his situation into a long-term one somewhere after he passed up $275 million last winter with the Tigers.
Anthony Rizzo is also likely to opt out with $16 million and one year left, joining a free-agent market that also includes Willson Contreras, Josh Bell, Edwin Diaz, Taijuan Walker, Brandon Nimmo, Kenley Jansen Jose Abreu, Chris Bassitt, Noah Syndergaard and Adam Wainwright (if he wants to come back at age 41.) The way he’s going, you know he could do it. So could Albert Pujols, although he’s said this is it for him.
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