/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68841236/1279086043.0.jpg)
Good morning, Athletics Nation!
The Oakland A’s made serious headlines this week, signing two more free agents including an eight-figure salary for closer Trevor Rosenthal. But they weren’t the only team to make a significant transaction.
The San Diego Padres locked up a central piece of their long-term future by signing shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr to a 14-year contract that guarantees him $340 million along with a full no-trade clause. The 22-year-old is now committed to the club through his age-35 season.
The contract shatters one MLB record, as the biggest extension for a pre-arbitration player, at nearly $200 million more than the runner-up (Mike Trout). It’s also sets a new mark as the longest pact the league has seen, at 14 years. And it’s the third-richest deal of any kind in major league history, trailing just two other recent mega-extensions and exceeding every free agent ever.
- $365 million, Mookie Betts, 12 years (LAD)
- $360 million, Mike Trout, 10 years (LAA)
- $340 million, Fernando Tatis Jr, 14 years (SDP)
- $330 million, Bryce Harper, 13 years (PHI)
- $325 million, Giancarlo Stanton, 13 years (MIA to NYY)
- $324 million, Gerrit Cole, 9 years (NYY)
- $300 million, Manny Machado, 10 years (SDP)
- $275 million, Alex Rodriguez, 10 years (NYY)
- $252 million, Alex Rodriguez, 10 years (TEX to NYY)
- $248 million, Miguel Cabrera, 8 years (DET)
The annual value falls short of several others, which is to be expected since it’s buying out a minimum-salary season at the beginning and then a few winters of cost-controlled arbitration. But it’s still a historically massive outlay, and gives San Diego a second current entry on the above Top 10 list.
It’s a hell of a gamble for the Padres, who are suddenly acting like a big-budget club the last couple years. Tatis has still only played 143 games in the majors, not even one full season. But he’s already been worth around 7 WAR in that time, with an absurd 150 wRC+ at a premium defensive position, and he’s nowhere near reaching his prime yet on the traditional arc. If anyone deserves this kind of extreme early confidence, it’s him.
Tatis is already one of the best players in the sport, with a 4th-place MVP finish and a Silver Slugger on his resume, and he has all the tools to continue blossoming into the next generational superstar. Whatever happens on his journey, it’ll come in San Diego, where the Padres are doing their best impression of the division rival Dodgers’ extravagant but effective spending.
A’s Coverage
- AN: A’s had a contending offseason after all entering 2021
- AN: A’s sign Trevor Rosenthal to one-year, $11 million contract
- AN: A’s sign Mitch Moreland to one-year contract
- AN: A’s Spring Training 2021 guide: Roster, schedule, and news from first day of camp
- Coffey: In signing Trevor Rosenthal and Mitch Moreland, A’s make a push for the AL West ($$$)
- Coffey: Sean Murphy surprise, A.J. Puk update, Frankie Montas and more A’s spring notes ($$$)
- AN: A’s spring injury updates: Frankie Montas COVID-19, Sean Murphy lung
- AN: A’s infielder Nate Orf retires
- AN: Nationals sign T.J. McFarland; only one A’s free agent remains
- AN: Angel Mangual, A’s World Series hero, dies at 73
MLB News & Interest
- Davidi: Blue Jays set to open 2021 season playing home games in Dunedin (Florida)
- Zolecki: Realmuto breaks thumb, hopeful for opener
- Adams: Brian Dozier Announces Retirement
- Byrne: Cody Allen Retires
- Sypa: Tim Tebow retires from baseball
- Moura: The ‘drug of abuse’ vs. the pills: One pitcher opens up about battle within MLB ($$$)
- Today in Baseball History
MLB Transactions
In case you’ve had trouble keeping up with the last two months weeks of the A’s offseason
In less than 2 weeks in Feb, the A's:
— Alex Hall (@AlexHallAN) February 18, 2021
- Traded for Andrus
- Traded for Kolarek
- Signed Fiers
- Signed Lowrie
- Signed Petit
- Signed Romo
- Signed Moreland
- Signed Rosenthal
It's like waiting until the night before to start your term paper, but somehow nailing it anyway.
Details on Rosenthal’s deferred salary (Trevor’s not Ken’s)
Actually I worded this wrong. Deal is deferred, not backloaded. https://t.co/3RMKWnCsfE
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 19, 2021
This could have been an alternate option to Moreland for the A’s, with some defensive versatility mixed in
Brad Miller Phillies deal is for $3.5M. Good lefty bat off bench.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2021
Giants have done some serious work on their pitching staff this winter, inking a few starters, a new maybe-closer, and lots of cheap sleeper relievers
I’m told the Giants are in agreement with RH Aaron Sanchez on a $4 million deal.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 17, 2021
... Speaking of those sleeper relievers, here’s one of them. He was one of my favorite targets this winter, not that I’m complaining how the A’s pen turned out.
I’m told Tropeano will be a non-roster invitee with $1.1 base salary and incentives that can take it up to right near $2m based as starter or reliever. Strong indications team feels he can make the club out of camp.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 17, 2021
... Meanwhile, here’s one good arm the Giants let go
Lefty reliever Tony Watson will make $3 million if he makes Phillies roster. @ToddZolecki first reported the signing.
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) February 17, 2021
Just watching the remaining reliever market for fun at this point
The #Rays also making Oliver Drake's one-year, $775,000 contract official. He also will earn additional $325,000 by being on the roster for 50 days this season.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) February 18, 2021
... Another Oliver reliever but this one’s a lefty
#Indians bringing LHP Oliver Pérez back into camp on minor league deal.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) February 18, 2021
... This one is a Brandon but that’s so 2012
Brandon Workman has MLB deal with the Cubs. $1M plus $2M incentives. @PJ_Mooney on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 17, 2021
Every Rays trade might be relevant, because you never know what random name will become their next breakout star
Marlins acquiring RHP John Curtiss from Rays for 1B Evan Edwards, sources tell @TheAthletic. Edwards was a fourth-round pick out of NC State in 2019.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 17, 2021
Rooting for Ravelo, but it would be bittersweet to see him become the next Max Muncy Hindsight Late-Bloomer down in Los Angeles
The #Dodgers have signed Rangel Ravelo to a minor league contract.
— MLB News Network (@newsnetworkmlb) February 16, 2021
This move was already reported but now the salary terms are public
Giles Mariners deal breakdown: 500K signing bonus. $1M 2021. $5M 2022. $9.5M option with 500K buyout 2023. $7M/2 guarantee, $19M/3 possible (including incentives)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 18, 2021
Best of Twitter
Spring action!
Some Matt Chapman action via A’s IG account. pic.twitter.com/DXXS4fFgCb
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 18, 2021
Spring PFP!
Pitchers ✔️
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) February 18, 2021
Catchers ✔️ pic.twitter.com/qUxhAv5UdA
Spring pix!
Back at it. pic.twitter.com/4qhQexO1tv
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) February 18, 2021
This is the kind of thing you want to hear about your team’s oft-injured top prospect
A.J. Puk impressed in his first session today. Melvin: "I think surgery really did a lot for him. He just looked free and easy. He told me that he feels great. He's in great shape. The ball had a lot of life. He looked really good."
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 17, 2021
BREAKING NEWS: Sergio Romo is a free spirit
Sergio Romo joined the A's in camp for today's workout. Bob Melvin: "He looks good in green and gold. He seems to be a bit of a free spirit, and that should play well here and fit in well here."
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 18, 2021
Nice to bring back a free agent now and then
Chris Bassitt on Yusmeiro Petit: "We had three leaders on our team and lost two. I was like, 'We can't lose Petit.' .. He's kind of the dad of the bunch that barks at us and keeps us in shape when we need to calm down. Getting Petit back is way bigger than I think people know."
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 17, 2021
Moneyball
Leave it to the A's to "backload" a 1-year contract. Whatever it takes to get it done. https://t.co/BccBMS6YaG
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) February 19, 2021
New Athletic #1
What’s up Oakland?! pic.twitter.com/g5ss6ztTji
— Trevor Rosenthal (@TrevRosenthal) February 18, 2021
New Athletic #2, as in 2-Bags
Mitch Moreland is heading to Oakland! In his career, Mitch's 15 HR at the Oakland Coliseum are his highest total in any road stadium he has played in over his 11 seasons in the bigs #rootedinoakland pic.twitter.com/WXTWkIMTqD
— Paragon Sports International (@ParagonSportInt) February 18, 2021
RIP to an original Oakland Athletic
Lew was the starting pitcher for the A's first game in the Coliseum on April 17, 1968 and then threw out the ceremonial first pitch 50 years later in the 50th Anniversary free admission game on April 17, 2018. https://t.co/yD3slknZuK
— Mike Selleck (@MikeSelleck) February 18, 2021