Its a good idea IMO. But your numbers are a little light. probably 10-20 million.

Steve Trout will be eligible for arbitration soon and there is already talk he can get 10 million his first time through. so we should expect more than 3 million after arbitration. If Sano were to sign a contract like this he will need to leave some money on the table but not that much. They would probably look at how much he could make if he was to make the team out of spring training and how much he would loose if they wait till June and sign him for fairly close to what he would make market value if he was called up in June. at least that's where I start if I'm Sano.

It would be a smart move, no doubt about that. But Sano would have to earn it in his first or second year being a starter at the Major League level

MLB minimum is probably over $500,000 for 2014, so there's your first problem. Easily fixed, of course.

I wonder if an agent would allow this. Were I an agent given a talent like Sano, I would want the player to sign something that assured his financial independence, but would be wary of going too far into potential FA years.

Mauer's first contract was perfect. He got enough to live the rest of his life on, even if he is injured. The Twins locked up a great talent for 4 years at a good price.

No telling what the market might be by the time Sano is 30.

Interesting scenario.

If I was Sano's agent, I would take a contract similar to this, but with with either less option yrs, or the option yrs starting 2 yrs sooner. So I will breakdown, my counterproposal(if I were Sano's agent) LOL

Signing bonus $3 mill

1: $500,000

2: $750,000

3: $1.5 mill

4: $4.0 mill

5: $6.0 mill

6: $8.0 mill

7: $15.0 mill(team option)

8: $18.0 mill(team option)

This guarantees ONLY(lol) $23.75 mill, and if Twins like him, after the 2 option yrs $56.75 million, so they can still have him for 8 yrs. In your scenario(I don't dislike it) but if he was or is a bust, you are guaranteeing $40 million. I like the discussion. I think it would be a win win, Twins guarantee 8 yrs if they like what they see, and only out 23.75 mill, compared to 40 mill if he doesn't pan out. And for Sano, he is still guaranteed life altering money, but still will be young enough(28) when contract over for his once in a lifetime contract if he is what he could be. Going to Dodgers for 10 yrs $350 mill, lol. Remember I wrote here first, lol, come back in 10 yrs see if I am right

Its a good idea IMO. But your numbers are a little light. probably 10-20 million.

 

Steve Trout will be eligible for arbitration soon and there is already talk he can get 10 million his first time through. so we should expect more than 3 million after arbitration. If Sano were to sign a contract like this he will need to leave some money on the table but not that much. They would probably look at how much he could make if he was to make the team out of spring training and how much he would loose if they wait till June and sign him for fairly close to what he would make market value if he was called up in June. at least that's where I start if I'm Sano.

It's funny when I wrote this in June it was criticized by most for being way too soon. When I went back and looked at it my first thought was that the numbers are a little low. Amazing what 2 months can do to your perspective. I think this off season you at least start the conversation with the agent. There has to be a middle ground where Sano leave some money on the table for the security of a potential $40 mil deal. The Twins take some risk but have the chance for a Longoria or Span type team friendly deal. I would love for Sano to play for the Twins in Sept and joing Hick and Arcia on the opening day roster with Rosario and Buxton soon to follow.

In terms of pure money, I think BlairPaul's are more likely. I'd like an additional option year if I was the Twins, either the $6M year or one more at the end. But that seems to be a middle ground. From Cot's, here was Longoria's contract for comparison:

08:$0.5M, 09:$0.55M, 10:$0.95M, 11:$2M, 12:$4.5M, 13:$6M, 14:$7.5M club option ($3M buyout), 15:$11M club option, 16:$11.5M club option

 

But to me, the more interesting question is how early the Twins should commit guaranteed money to a 20yo kid who recently told his manager that he would do whatever the hell he wanted. Are you hurting Sano's development by giving him too much too soon if he has that kind of attitude?

From what little I know about him, I don't think I'd commit that much money that soon. The kid already has $3M in his pockets and has been a prodigy since he was in his early teens. I want him at least a little hungry.

As much as I would like to Twins to try this route, it wont happen, if they didn't do longer term for Mauer(and maybe that is how Mauer wanted it), they wont do it for a none homegrown talent, even if it is off the charts. But we can dream, and if they were to only do it for one, I also would be more inclined to do it for Buxton than Sano..........in this day of high dollar signings as draftees and Dominican FA's not as much incentive to sign team friendly deals, cuz they are close to set already without having give to friendly of deal discounts for there home team.

I believe they will do it for both Sano and Buxton, and sooner rather than later.

Supfin99, I liked your post back in June, but think the price will continue to rise.

This is great, and I've been saying the same thing to my friends. If the FO does not lock up Buxton and Sano like this as soon as they show real promise in the bigs, we should sincerely be rioting at Target Field

I would highly doubt he would sign an 8 year deal. His agent would want some sort of opt out in the contract. Why would the Twins want to spend any money for an extension on a great prospect who "could" become a franchise type player.

Actually why would Sano want to spend any more time in Minnesota than he has to since they don't care about winning, just making tons of money.

Well darin617, I will be saying the same thing if they don't do something once these 2 guys make it to the big leagues, and you may be right about only wanting to make money. And I do think these guys would take a 8 yr contract out of the shoot, as they both would be in there prime when contract runs out(28-29yrs old) and be in line for a mega contract in the 10 yr $350 million deal if they are as good as advertised...........Now what supfin99 proposes (12 yr contract) wouldn't fly, IMO.

Well darin617, I will be saying the same thing if they don't do something once these 2 guys make it to the big leagues, and you may be right about only wanting to make money. And I do think these guys would take a 8 yr contract out of the shoot, as they both would be in there prime when contract runs out(28-29yrs old) and be in line for a mega contract in the 10 yr $350 million deal if they are as good as advertised...........Now what supfin99 proposes (12 yr contract) wouldn't fly, IMO.

I also doubt that an agent would allow a 12 year deal even if they were options.. That is wishful thinking on my part. I definitely think that Sano's camp would listen if the Twins approached them with this. It would be very tough to turn down 30-40 million guaranteed to try and max out your earnings. As for darin617, I am nit sure why you even come to this site or watch Twins games. You clearly dislike the entire franchise. Wouldn't it be easier for you to just cheer for the Yankees?