Quote:
Originally Posted by NoOne
don't let that message dishearten you.... i don't recall a player ever negotiating before their last contract year. .
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This guy did. Signed a long-term deal that escalated so he was affordable early on and the owner is stuck with the expenditure later. I'm starting to think a lot of this game is about backing your owner into a corner and shaking him down.
Here's what happens to me, with a small-market team. When a guy waits until his contract year to talk, he's gone from the future budget. Guys who are arbitration eligible or have option years are accounted for in next season's budget, but guys who can walk aren't. If a guy is in next season's budget at a $5 million estimate in his last arbitration year and he wants a two-year contract for $7 million, that only requires $2 million from "money for extensions" because the first $5 million for next season was already in there. If he's an FA after the season it requires $7 million from "money for extensions" and the owner is already picking out his next boat.
So right now I'm looking at "money for extensions -- none" and the left fielder wants $24 million. I'll make the qualifying offer and take the draft pick, but the Sacramento Royales fan base better get used to the idea of life without Jake Walker.