Oliver Bateman Does the WorkVerified account

Why wouldn’t any of the unsigned players take a short term contract that takes them through the end of the Basic Agreement?

They will. The FA situation has evolved. As a GM, I’d never take chance on Harper for 10 years. Look at bad contracts of Miggy, Ellsbury, Heyward, Sandoval, Chris Davis and so on.

No 10 year contract actually worked out to fruition if you think about things. Most teams end up ruing the back end and never recoup the value.

Right, we agree! Why Boston gave Eovaldi 68/4 was nuts, had to be WS win high. Dombrowski will rue that.

Hope so.

if by “unreported protection” you mean insurance policy, i’m sure they have one, but even the most comprehensive policy does nothing to lessen the luxury tax burden, which is the payroll accounting of most consequence. sox will have that $17.125mn AAV cap hit no matter what

the eovaldi deal is tantamount to sabean signing aubrey huff or angel pagan after '10 and '12, except for way more money. aside from corbin, eovaldi will likely be the highest paid pitcher in this year's free agent class. probably the biggest overpay since melvin upton