How much more Money does it take to sway a FA?

[Trov]

After many off seasons I read people post about how Twins should have signed player x because the contract was a good one and if only the Twins would have offered that it would have been good.  I normally comment that we do not know if the Twins did offer anything, or if the player had any interest in the Twins anyways.  This is not like a fantasy draft of auction where highest bid wins.  

Recently, there was rumors of two players the Padres offered contracts to that were significantly more money, but similar annual value.  First Turner signed 11 year 300 mil contract with Philly, rumor was Padres offered 342 million, no details on years, but imagine it would have been a year more most likely.  Turner said no to an extra 42 million, and no way will he make that up after his 11 year contract is done, as he will be 40 and doubt anyone offers him a 1 year 42 million deal.  

Then Aaron Judge signs 9 year 360 deal with Yankees, but rumor is he was offered 10 year 400 deal by Padres.  Similar, no way will a team offer him 1 year 40 million at age 39, so he left 40 million on table.  In both cases, players turned down 40 million, according to rumors, to sign with a different team.  Now of course, when you are still getting over 300 mil, pretty easy to say no to extra 40, but that is still a lot to turn down.  I mean it is still over 10 percent total value.  In Judge's case it was same annual value, but 1 extra year. 

So it got me thinking, how much more, does some teams need to offer to get players to come, and what if any do other factors play in.  Fans and reporters speculate that returning home plays a factor but for these two it had nothing to do with that, as Turner is from FL, and Judge is from California, central not south, but still he rejected more money and his home state.  I do think some players it does play a roll though, some even say it does. 

Some speculate that the states tax laws play into it.  Specifically, Texas has no income tax so the player will take home more of their money, and CA has a high income tax, so maybe that is why players rejected Padres, because their financial planner told them the take home would be less.  Not sure how it compares to NY or PA exactly though.  I do know PA generally has a 3% flat income tax regardless of how much you make, I lived and worked there for a few years.  Each city has a working tax too, which I do not know what Philly working tax is if any for athletes.  NY cost of living is similar to CA. 

Maybe it is just where the players feel the team is at for championships.  Maybe in Judge case he did not want to leave where he has a huge fan base.  Turner has been moved around in his career.  

Twins have been rumored to be offering various different contracts for Correa, will we have to offer the most?  Will we need to offer a huge amount more than other teams?  Will we get some kind of discount?  What will Correa care more about?  

I do think some players will be swayed by more money from other teams.  For example if team A offers 100 mil over 5 years, but team B offers 120 mil over 6 years, they will take the offer B, but some will take offer A in hopes of earning more next contract, if they can get one.  Some care about overall value, where others care about annual value.  Some care about other things once they reach a certain amount of money.  I feel players that are making less overall, can be swayed by an increase.  

For example, 10% increase may make little difference to someone already earning 300 mil, but to someone offered 10 mil, but then someone offered 11 mil, will that make the difference, that extra million?  Is it he actual dollar amount, or the percent increase?  Meaning, would one player not see much of difference in a 20 to 22 million, 10% increase, but a 10 to 12, 20% increase, but same dollar amount increase? 

I know many factors go into each players call.  I just think the rumors of Padres offers should show to fans, that think just if the Twins offered a little more we would get a player is not accurate, as some players have turned down huge amounts of extra money, for whatever reason.   

[wsnydes]

Each player is different and each player will have different reasons and priorities for signing where ever they decide to sign.  To say "how much money" would be an oversimplification in many situations.  Obviously it would be true for some players, but certainly not all of them.  And even then, that figure probably varies from player to player.  So, I don't think there's a magic formula to this one.

[Trov]

7 minutes ago, wsnydes said:

Each player is different and each player will have different reasons and priorities for signing where ever they decide to sign.  To say "how much money" would be an oversimplification in many situations.  Obviously it would be true for some players, but certainly not all of them.  And even then, that figure probably varies from player to player.  So, I don't think there's a magic formula to this one.

That is basically the point I was trying to make.  It is to address the fans that think simply if Twins offer biggest contract for a player that player will sign with us.  I get annoyed when I read comments of see how cheap we could have got this player for and how they are doing.  However, we do not know if we could have signed that player for even a similar contract, it may have taken much much more to get the player to sign with us, for whatever reason. 

[wsnydes]

8 minutes ago, Trov said:

That is basically the point I was trying to make.  It is to address the fans that think simply if Twins offer biggest contract for a player that player will sign with us.  I get annoyed when I read comments of see how cheap we could have got this player for and how they are doing.  However, we do not know if we could have signed that player for even a similar contract, it may have taken much much more to get the player to sign with us, for whatever reason. 

That's what I got out of what you were saying.  I wanted to reinforce your point with my own two cents.  We don't know what's said during negotiations, so to pretend that it's just about the money is missing the larger point.  Some players simply don't want to go somewhere, so the money is irrelevant.  

[Mike Sixel]

Some players do choose based on things in addition to money.....but I doubt if a guy is choosing between $8MM a year and 12 or 15 million a year, he chooses the lower money.....

Great, expensive, players sign to play in small markets all the time (in other sports especially). I think it is pretty clear that money is the main driver......but that sometimes other things matter. Judge wants to be a Yankee for life. I get that. Turner wanted to be closer to home, I get that too (I'd rather be in SD, but hey, that's just me). Being close to family plays into things when you already have generational money.