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Good morning afternoon, Athletics Nation!
It’s been four days since our last Rumblings, and there’s been a ton of news since then. The MLB offseason market didn’t really get going until January, and now it’s humming at full speed as teams rush to make their final moves before spring training begins in a couple weeks. With February now upon us, let’s catch up on the end of last month.
The biggest blockbuster was not a free agent contract but a trade, as the Colorado Rockies finally parted with superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado. He’s the NL’s answer to Matt Chapman, but with a much longer track record, so really Chapman is the AL’s answer to him. They were essentially created in the same Skynet lab (El Toro High School) and are similarly superhuman specimens at the same position.
The difference is, Arenado is still signed for six more seasons at a total of $199 million (for ages 30-35), and his relationship with the Rockies had publicly been sour for a while. So they moved him to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, along with something like $50 million, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Arenado will get an extra year on his contract as part of negotiations, which include him waiving his no-trade clause, reports insider Jon Heyman.
Colorado’s return package hasn’t yet been announced, but Rosenthal suggests some prospects who might be involved. The point is, it sounds like the deal is happening, and Arenado is going to the Cardinals — where he’ll line up across the diamond from star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who was once the face of another NL West franchise before being dealt to St. Louis.
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Next up is one of the top remaining free agents, catcher J.T. Realmuto, who re-signed with his old club. He returns to the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $115.5 million contract, reports insider Jon Heyman. It’s complicated, so here’s the whole tweet (note: it should say “5 years” at the beginning):
JT Realmuto
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2021
Phillies
$115.5M, 3 years
Year by Year
$20M which $10M is deferred without interest (payable $5M on 7/15/26 and $5M on 7/15/27) - 2021
$23,875,000 - 2022
$23,875,000 - 2023
$23,875,000 - 2024
$23,875,000 - 2025
Plus: Awards bonuses
Plus: $1M if traded(each time)
That surpasses Joe Mauer for the highest annual salary for any catcher in MLB history, though Mauer got more total money on an eight-year deal.
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One final bit of major news before we get on to the links
MLB on Friday proposed to the union a 154-game schedule with full pay, delayed by a month and extended by a week, sources say. Also, with expanded postseason. Union considering.
— Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo) January 31, 2021
Remember, there’s not any need for a deal, as the season is already set. This is just MLB trying to negotiate some things it wants.
Players side source says union doesn’t like expanded playoffs in MLB proposal and worries about the commissioner having too much control. This no recipe for a deal. Counter proposal even a question.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 1, 2021
A’s Coverage
- Coffey: ‘I mean, it just sucks’: A’s players react to the departure of Marcus Semien ($$$)
- Rosenthal: Rosenthal: Marcus Semien leaving home for Toronto renews old questions about A’s ($$$)
- Jenkins: Wading through John Fisher’s cesspool of neglect, A’s refuse to be irrelevant ($)
- Kleinschmidt: Braden says A’s starters could be bright spot in 2021 season
- Laurila: Daulton Jefferies Talks Pitching (Look Ma, No Seams)
- AN: A’s acquire Cole Irvin from Phillies
- AN Prospect watch: Looking back at the 2020 Community Prospect List
- AN: A.J. Puk and Tyler Soderstrom make Top 100 prospect lists, but A’s mostly shut out
- AN: Who is the best Oakland A’s player not in the Hall of Fame? Closers Special
- Nico: I Took January Off, And Missed Absolutely Nothing
- AN: Dick Callahan, longtime A’s public address announcer, dies
“Fans, as you drive home tonight, please do so sssafely.”
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) January 30, 2021
Thank you for lending your warm and welcoming voice to the Oakland faithful. We will miss you, Dick. pic.twitter.com/fSmHvJm1VI
MLB News & Interest
- Diunte: Ernest Johnson, Last Surviving 1940s Kansas City Monarchs Player, Dies At 92
- Zencka (roundup): MLB Issues 154-Game Proposal To Players
- Brown: Baseball writers don’t have the answers for Hall of Fame voting
- Dierkes: The 20 Largest Contracts In MLB History
- Clair: Dustin Pedroia’s 13 greatest quotes
- Today in Baseball History
MLB Transactions
The final big name in the shortstop market is now off the board
Gregorius deal with Phillies is two years, $28M, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 30, 2021
In addition to the Arenado trade, the Cardinals also kept one of their longtime stars
Adam Wainwright Cardinals.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 29, 2021
$8M, Full No Trade
Plus: $50,000 for All Star
$50,000 for Gold Glove
$25,000 for Silver Slugger
$50,000 for DS/MVP
$50,000 for LCS/MVP
$50,000 for WS/MVP
$500,000 for Cy Young 1st thru 10th
Wait so the Indians do have money to spend? I’m confused.
Source: Eddie Rosario's contract with Cleveland is for one year, $8M guaranteed.
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) January 30, 2021
... And the Cubs do too? I thought both these teams were too broke to even keep the stars they already had, but they can afford luxury corner outfield bats. (Note: Part of Joc’s money is a buyout for a 2022 mutual option.)
Joc Pederson is in agreement on a one-year, $7 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, sources tell ESPN. First with the agreement was @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 29, 2021
Blue Jays add another player
The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire starter Steven Matz from the New York Mets for three prospects, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 28, 2021
Moore’s last decent season was in 2016
Free-agent left-hander Matt Moore in agreement on one-year, $3M contract with Phillies, source tells @TheAthletic. Deal also includes performance bonuses. First with agreement: @JSalisburyNBCS.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 29, 2021
Next up are a few relievers, but not any I was specifically hoping the A’s would go for, and all for more than I need Oakland to spend on its bullpen
The #Whitesox have fabulous bullpen depth with the signing of Carlos Rodon for$3 million
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 30, 2021
Aaron Loup official: 3M with 250k incentives for games pitched #mets
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 30, 2021
Trevor Williams Cubs deal is believed to be for about $2.5M
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 30, 2021
Also a couple catchers find homes
Wilson Ramos 1 year - 2 MM with Detroit Tigers. #MLB @tigers
— José F. Rivera (@josefriverap) January 27, 2021
Free-agent catcher Alex Avila in agreement with Nationals on one-year contract, pending physical, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 28, 2021
DeShields always finds his way back to the majors, so I’d bet we see him in Texas this summer
Delino DeShields Jr returns to the #Rangers on minor league deal
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 1, 2021
And hey, the A’s signed a free agent, technically!
A’s loved the work Pérez did at the alternate site this summer. Was almost an extra coach in addition to a solid backstop. Adds to the veteran depth behind Murphy/Heim/A. Allen https://t.co/sDUXEU3DyI
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) January 29, 2021
Best of Twitter
Worth mentioning as the A’s try to figure out their middle infield
Adam Frazier is being discussed on trade market. Could be the next Pirate to move.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 28, 2021
Yes, yes they are
The @Athletics are in desperate need of new ownership
— Jose Canseco (@JoseCanseco) February 1, 2021
A more detailed take from one of the team’s loyal customers (and longtime AN community member)
I think of myself as one of the more engaged fans the A’s can have. Long time season ticket holder, 70+ games a year, went on TV to help with the stadium push, fan council, you name it. I am very disillusioned right now. The idea of investing in the team at all right now is tough
— Thischarmingham (@Thischarminham) January 28, 2021
“Tearing down” is a bit strong since they’ve only lost free agents and not traded anyone away, but the larger point still stands — and Susan Slusser’s response to the tweet was, “Basically.”
The Giants: expected to lose and adding affordable pieces to get better.
— Thischarmingham (@Thischarminham) January 29, 2021
The Oakland Athletics: expected to win and tearing down the team while the payroll still ranks among the lowest.
I’m not a fan of tiny-sample platoon OPS as any kind of meaningful measure, but in this case Diekman and Turley also had strong K/BB rates in the same split to back it up
Lowest OPS by LHP vs. RHB in the '20 regular season?
— Codify, Inc. (@CodifyBaseball) January 28, 2021
Jake Diekman --> .253
Jake McGee --> .436
Nik Turley --> .456
All of MLB --> .735
JD: 50 batters, 3 singles, .070 AVG, .070 SLG #unreal@JakeDiekman @Athletics @nturley108 pic.twitter.com/vHo2R6LKL7
Progress!
Significant news from the Brewers: They have promoted Sara Goodrum to Minor League hitting coordinator, making her the first woman in baseball history to serve in that role. Her official title is Coordinator - Hitting Development Initiatives.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) January 28, 2021
Rajai will work with Nick Hundley and Gregor Blanco in his new role with MLB
Congrats to former Tigers outfielder @rajai11davis, who is joining @MLB as senior director of on-field operations. His work will include playing rule changes, amateur baseball and mentorship of minority players thru amateur ball and minor leagues.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) February 1, 2021
The pride of Woodland, CA
Dustin Pedroia officially announces his retirement.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 1, 2021
This is the NBA equivalent of if they let Ramon Laureano into the TV booth for an inning against the Astros
Klay defending his teammates on the mic ️ pic.twitter.com/xgTUxwcP36
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 31, 2021