The Texas Rangers got some of the worst news possible at
possibly the worst possible time this year and the organization was left
scrambling for help. The team learned that Josh Hamilton, shocker I know, was
injured and would likely begin another MLB season on the disabled list leaving
a huge hole in their lineup and in their outfield. Thankfully for Texas and
thankfully for the former Washington National Ian Desmond that he was still on
the free agency market. The former shortstop and second baseman signed a
one-year deal to play the outfield in Texas thus ending his free agency
experiment, an experiment that he wants to see changed before next season.
Desmond wants free agency changed after turning down a
seven-year deal worth $107 million contract extension and a qualifying offer
worth one-year and $15.8 million to sign a one-year deal with Washington worth
$8 million. Sure Desmond said all the right things in front of the media with
his new teammates in front of his new locker but he also expected these things
to be fixed before he hits free agency again admitting a certain frustration
and an anger towards the whole system. Desmond admitted that something needs to
change and wants something to change and who could blame him?
Desmond, despite being one of only six players with at least
100 home runs and 100 stolen bases since 2010, at a historically offensively
anemic position mind you, along with three Silver Slugger and one All-Star
nomination to his belt, basically lost $100 million over the course of a
calendar year. Who could blame him for wanting to change free agency? Then
again who could blame him or turning down a guaranteed $107 million and a
guaranteed $15.8 million on separate occasions either? Me personally I don’t
feel bad for the guy, he made a business decision and it didn’t work out. Try
again next year pal. You didn’t hear Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales screaming
when they sat out until June because of the same process, did you? I think not.
There is no doubt that there are flaws in this current system, but I will say that it is significantly better than the old system. I think with a few tweaks, this system would work. First, they should extend the timeframe for players to accept or decline. This would give players and agents more time to evaluate the market. It would also prevent some teams from extending the offer, especially to marginal players. Most teams would not want to tie up $16 million for an extended period of time. The other thing that needs to happen, is marginal players like Desmond need to start accepting these offers. When that happens, teams will stop offering them. A good rule of thumb is that if the offer represents a significant more than you've ever received in arbitration, chances are, you should accept the offer.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Jeff, the system is improved. It was always up for debate whether a player was a A free agent or B free agent or whatever the wording was and there was always a differing in opinion. This way it's up to the team and it's up to the player.
DeleteAlso, on a side not, it's hard to feel sorry for Ian Desmond after he turned down over $100 million. He made the business decision and it was the wrong one, deal with it.