José Berríos Losing Arbitration Case Provides Reason for Concern Over Long-Term Future with Twins

[TFRazor]

 

Or agent/agency, Agreed. It's not collusion or anything, just business. I also don't think this negatively impacts a potential multi-year contract. But I also think José would like a crack at free agency. The combination of his effectiveness, consistency and durability is attractive to every team in baseball.

I agree. And why would he not want to at least dip his toes in? After however many years of having really no control over what you get paid, finally having the opportunity to get as much as the market thinks you're worth is exactly what every player who makes it to The Show strives for. If he hits free agency and is one of the most sought after guys then that means he must've been pitching pretty damn well for us. In that case, more power to him.

[jmlease1]

According to the Athletics, Berrios' number was an attempt to reset the arb numbers for players in his comp range. Which is fine, but I don't see how any of this means that his future is jeopardized. that's pretty clickbait, unless you have a quote from him or his agent saying that he's getting screwed over by this franchise. There's way too many assumptions built in here to presume that any long-term future with the team is problematic because of going to arbitration and losing.

 

The bigger concern is he's not showing any interest in a long-term contract extension right now. If he hits the FA market going into his age 29 season, he's going to be in line for a massive payday if he stays healthy (even if he doesn't get any better). And if he's betting on himself to that extent, it's a risk for the Twins just because if there are 6-10 teams bidding on a player you never know what will decide it and it might be totally out of your control. But he has every right to go that way.

 

I think the twins will try to buy out both his next 2 arbitration years and get 1 year of FA. we'll see if they can make that happen.

[Vanimal46]

You needed this situation to happen in order to be concerned? Not the last 2 off seasons where he’s declined extensions?

[Danchat]

 

According to the Athletics, Berrios' number was an attempt to reset the arb numbers for players in his comp range. Which is fine, but I don't see how any of this means that his future is jeopardized.

Yep, exactly. Per MLBTradeRumors:

 

 

Berrios’ relatively affordable salary for the upcoming season only serves to underscore the difficulty that first-time-arbitration-eligible starters have had in moving the needle forward. Dallas Keuchel is still the only first-time-eligible starting pitcher to topple the $4.35MM benchmark set by Dontrelle Willis way back in 2006, and it took Keuchel winning a Cy Young Award to do so.

 

Berrios would be setting the new record by a little bit, so I can see why they declined. Berrios' camp likely wasn't open to settling in the middle, since it would mean he would not set the new benchmark.

 

I'm not all that concerned that a Berrios extension does not appear to be in the cards. We have him for 3 more years, and I'm not all that worried if we lose him for the 2023 season. I don't care about the team that far in the future at this point.

[DocBauer]

You needed this situation to happen in order to be concerned? Not the last 2 off seasons where he’s declined extensions?

 

Honestly, quoted you without remembering who you were speaking to directly, so forgive.

 

Berrios declined an extension last year. OK.

 

As of now he has not declined an extension this year. Maybe he will. "Reports" say talks are amicable and the arbitration process was not contentious. Reports also say talks are ongoing, while apart, which is why I'm not going nuts over this hearing.

 

Maybe, maybe Berrios will follow the Bauer concept of betting on yourself yearly. Personally, I find that ridiculous in regard to guaranteed contracts, but whatever. Maybe, maybe Berrios is banking on being productive and healthy long enough to escape the whole arbitration and year to year process because he wants to escape Minnesota for a big market city. I also find that ridiculous because if I were his agent I'd be looking for at least a little security in case of injury, if nothing else.

 

He is young, and part of a winning team, who has a wide open window. He's seen a few teammates lock up deals. He's seen the team be aggressive with recent contracts and additions to make the best team they can. They just made a major trade following a franchise record FA signing.

 

Personally, I think he's smart enough to bet on himself and his future, while not being short-sighted enough to bet on "what if" tomorrow and is holding out for more but willing to sign. What that magic number is I don't know. Are we talking something like 5yrs and $1M per apart or $5M? None of us knows. But if talks are truly ongoing and cordial, then something will get done. And $3K+ will mean nothing.

 

I feel this FO is smart enough to know what they have that they will be realistic but not be "cheap".

[lukeduke1980]

If this was a Kris Bryant situation, then there might not be a long term relationship. Service time seems to be a much more sensitive topic than the arbitration process.