Elephant Rumblings: Dodgers sign Trevor Bauer to record-setting contract
MLB news roundup
Good morning afternoon evening, Athletics Nation!
The top free agent of the MLB offseason is finally off the board. The Los Angeles Dodgers signed 2020 Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer to a three-year, $102 million contract, reports insider Mark Feinsand.
That’s not an especially large total deal relative to other superstars, but Bauer will set records for highest single-year salary. In 2021 he’ll get $40 million, the biggest payday in history, and then in 2022 he’ll see a raise to $45 million. He has opt-outs after each of those first two years, and if he sticks around for the third year he’ll get another $17 million (presumably, based on math). Because of that potential discounted season at the end, the overall pact doesn’t technically eclipse Gerrit Cole’s historic annual value ($36m vs. $34m).
Bauer won the NL Cy Young for the Cincinnati Reds last season, with a 1.73 ERA and 2.88 FIP in 11 starts, and in 2018 he finished sixth for the AL award as a member of the Cleveland Indians. At age 30, he’s one of the top pitchers in the game right now, and he had publicly expressed a desire for a short-term deal with an especially high salary playing for a title contender.
The right-hander checked all those boxes and more with the Dodgers, as he joins an absurd starting rotation on the defending World Series champion, and in his hometown of Los Angeles. His teammates now include Clayton Kershaw, David Price, Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin, making him the third Cy winner in the group.
The New York Mets also made a push for Bauer and even offered him more money, and at one point there were reports that they’d signed him. However, “going home to SoCal, defending champs, modern/cutting edge pitching shop won out,” reports Joel Sherman of the NY Post.
Good luck to the rest of the NL West!
Bauer released the following video announcement on YouTube (note how he trolls the Mets just past the one-minute mark):
A’s Coverage
MLB News & Interest
- Stephen: Trevor Bauer contract pushes Dodgers into upper echelon of competitive balance tax
- Today in Baseball History
MLB Transactions
Classic
— Freezing Cold Takes (@OldTakesExposed) February 5, 2021
Another of the top free agents comes off the board. He’s entering his 30s and has been an inconsistent hitter in the past, but he can slide to the DH spot if and when the NL adopts it (presumably sooner than later).
Braves announce Ozuna deal: Four years, $65M, with a fifth-year option. Maximum of five years, $80M if option is exercised.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 6, 2021
Feel like this would have been another good A’s target
Free-agent second baseman Jonathan Schoop has signed a one-year, $4.5M contract with the Tigers, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2021
Or at least this?
Source: The Nationals have signed infielder Jordy Mercer to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Mercer, 34, played in nine total games with the Tigers + Yankees in 2020. He's versatile on defense with most of his experience at SS.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) February 5, 2021
AL West rival adds a pitcher
Mike Foltynewicz’s deal with the Rangers, first reported by @kileymcd, is for one year, $2M, plus incentives, source tells @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 5, 2021
Backloaded contracts are becoming an obvious trend this winter (with Bauer as a notable exception)
La Stella contract: $2 million in 2021, $5.25 million in 2022 and $11.5 million in 2023. He will also make an annual donation to the Giants Community Fund, which includes $10,000 in 2021, $26,250 in 2022 and $57,500 in 2023.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) February 4, 2021
Best of Twitter
Good news!
Matt Chapman gives an injury update here. Said he was walking without crutches two weeks after surgery. He’s progressing through rehab and says he’ll be fully healthy for the season. https://t.co/raXzh9RoA2
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) February 4, 2021
Interesting development for a prospect who isn’t yet on the radar
A's 2019 36th-round pick picked up a few extra ticks of velo over the summer and earned an invite to fall Instructs, where he opened a few eyes. https://t.co/UOGabzxgCr
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) February 5, 2021
At this point, why not?
The #Athletics need a shortstop and Yoenis Cespedes is still a free agent. Do it you cowards.
— Alex Hall (@AlexHallAN) February 4, 2021
Wait but seriously this time, why not?
Joc Pederson, Trevor Williams and Andrew Chafin are now official. Max Schrock has been DFA’d. #Cubs
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) February 5, 2021
Regarding Bauer’s $40+ million salary
There are whole teams that don’t spend that much on an entire roster. Let that sink in.
— Jake Diekman (@JakeDiekman) February 5, 2021
... Saying the same thing in a different way
I think Trevor Bauer getting paid as much as some teams' entire payrolls this season says a lot more about those teams than it does Bauer or the Dodgers.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 5, 2021