Players upset over lack of free agent signings

I have to admit it is a bit weird that there haven't been too many free agent signings this year.. You still have two top tier free agents in J.D Martinez and Yu. Darvish

Also, I cant take a boycott or BS hubbub from baseball. I finally have my fiance genuinely interested in baseball and she appreciates the fact that they dont have the same garbage that the likes of the NFL goes through.

After all the goodwill and new fans that MLB has built in the last few years, they risk losing so much. I'm confident they wont, but please dont be shortsighted. (Directed at both players and owners)

a couple of things that are going on...

first, a majority of GM's are finally seeing the light (after years and years and years) of disastrous long-term contracts to players in their 30's. Many GM's don't want to do that anymore. It's not smart business.

second, with (I believe) 5 or 6 unsigned free agents that hit at least 30 home runs last year...GM's are valuing multi-tool players (as they should)...as opposed to guys that just hit HR's...and usually strike out a ton.

perhaps call the new phenomenon the "Astros model" --- the 'stros won the championship without any cumbersome long-term deals and with a bunch of multi-tool positions players. Guys that provide power, speed, average, and defense

Plus it's a weak market

The top position player is fackin JD Martinez. Wait till next year when Harper and Machado hit the market and we'll see GMs throwin around plenty of money.

The problem is that players get ****ed due to the absurd rules on team control that MLB has.


Which was "fine" as long as they knew they were going to be overpaid when they hit free agency.

Now that the owners are tightening those purse strings, they're mad.

I hate the people that are like "well those long deals for FAs never work out" while never wanting to acknowledge the fact that Aaron Judge produced something like 55 million dollars worth of value last year (purely on the diamond, not even speaking about a business/jersey sales dimension) and was paid a paltry 500k for his efforts.

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second, with (I believe) 5 or 6 unsigned free agents that hit at least 30 home runs last year...GM's are valuing multi-tool players (as they should)...as opposed to guys that just hit HR's...and usually strike out a ton.

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The game is still trending towards the 3 true outcomes though. So I don't buy that are trying to put less HRs on their roster.

I think it's nothing more than the players are reaching their peaks faster and the incentive is not there anymore. Before, the 24 year olds were in high A ball. Now they are on the major league roster and raking. You don't need the 30 year old player. It used to be that high 20s was the prime of the baseball player.

Oddly enough though, the GMs are burying their owners for 2021. All they are doing is teaching the players to hold out until they get earlier free agency.

Astros successfully changed the market.

Maybe GMs finally realized that giving big contracts to players in their 30s tends to backfire (looking at you Angels)

Next year's free agent class has a lot to do with the lackluster market this year. JD Martinez is very good, but Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are great. Spend your money this year, and you don't have enough to go after those guys.

I think baseball's front offices have also realized that players aren't taking steroids and having quality seasons into their late 30s. I bet 31-year old Darvish could get $25 million for three years, but the 5-6 years he's wanting means too many expensive, low-value seasons at the end of the contract.