Extend Sano

[Willihammer]

15 years, $80m. Who says no?

[Craig Arko]

I'm guessing Sano's agent does.

[twinsfanstreif]

Yea, That would not be smart for Sano, that would be $80 million for basically his whole career and power hitters who can always fall back on DH are pretty much guaranteed more than that

[Ben Noble]

Sano

[Linus]

Sano

Yea what he said...

[mikecgrimes]

The real # if you want to get crazy is 15 years 300 million.  Sano still might say no, but he would be a fool as the upside would be he might make 350-400 and the very real worst case is less then 5 million with a major injury in the next year or two.

[darin617]

Maybe he has the same agent as Salvador Pérez and they can get a nice deal.

[curt1965]

He does change the dynamics of their lineup- no doubt about it.

(By the way, he didn't flip his bat after the hit the HR. He did learn something in the minors!!)

[Seth Stohs]

 

15 years, $80m. Who says no?

 

Sano's side chuckles, I'd guess.

[DaveW]

He would say no. The contract I would offer would be whatever the average price would be for his pre arb and Arb years are and then 15-18 million a year for his first 3 post arb years. 8-9years, 110-120 mil? Or something of that nature.

[twinsfanstreif]

That sounds more realistic and I would be impressed if the Twins could get something like that done. They probably won't though. The last time I can remember something like this happening this early in someone's career was with Evan Longoria and that probably cost him lots of $. It just doesn't seem to happen much

He would say no. The contract I would offer would be whatever the average price would be for his pre arb and Arb years are and then 15-18 million a year for his first 3 post arb years. 8 years, 110 mil?

 

[Halsey Hall]

When they show his family in the stands, his agent is there too.  He's already counting the $$$$.

[drjim]

 

15 years, $80m. Who says no?

 

Did you forget a 1, a 2, or a 3 in front of that 80?

[Linus]

I thought this thread was sarcasm. I would let him finish a week in the bigs before my extension offer.

[jimbo92107]

Meanwhile, did you notice something about Miguel Sano's first home run?

 

He didn't swing very hard. Just kinda popped it out with a nice swing, not really "crushing it," as described by the over-excited announcer. Actually, JJ Hardy's home run later in the game was hit much harder. Point is, we still haven't seen Miguel Sano really uncork the beast. Since he came up, he's been swinging the bat with great discipline and control. He has showed excellent professional judgement at the plate, taking walks when other rookies would have flailed at sucker pitches in the dirt. He has showed that he can and will take a walk, or stroke a single, to keep a rally going.

 

The results have been remarkable. Instead of trying to put on a foolish rookie show of power, Sano has looked like a seasoned pro. Consistently he has recognized the baseball situation and done his best to do the appropriate thing. Not only has this helped Sano get at least one hit in his every game so far, it has helped the Twins score runs in almost every game.

 

I'm not going to talk about money right now. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy this welcome addition to our favorite team.

[Willihammer]

Alright then, a billion dollars. Lock him up. Go ahead and retire number 22 and schedule the WS victory parade while they're at it. This kid is gonna lead us to the promised land.

[DaveW]

Meanwhile, did you notice something about Miguel Sano's first home run?

 

He didn't swing very hard. Just kinda popped it out with a nice swing, not really "crushing it," as described by the over-excited announcer. Actually, JJ Hardy's home run later in the game was hit much harder. Point is, we still haven't seen Miguel Sano really uncork the beast. Since he came up, he's been swinging the bat with great discipline and control. He has showed excellent professional judgement at the plate, taking walks when other rookies would have flailed at sucker pitches in the dirt. He has showed that he can and will take a walk, or stroke a single, to keep a rally going.

 

The results have been remarkable. Instead of trying to put on a foolish rookie show of power, Sano has looked like a seasoned pro. Consistently he has recognized the baseball situation and done his best to do the appropriate thing. Not only has this helped Sano get at least one hit in his every game so far, it has helped the Twins score runs in almost every game.

 

I'm not going to talk about money right now. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy this welcome addition to our favorite team.

I was sitting one section over from his home run, he didn't even come close to hitting that square, 95% of ball players hit it like that and it's a lazy fly ball to the LF. His power is remarkable.

[Danchat]

So, this is like the opposite of sticking a fork in him... watch, now he'll go 0 for his next 50.

 

I'm sorry I'm always the pessimist.

[Willihammer]

 

So, this is like the opposite of sticking a fork in him... watch, now he'll go 0 for his next 50.

 

I'm sorry I'm always the pessimist.

Good point. First stick a fork in him, then re-animate him and lock him up. Easy.

[ckrolak]

 

So, this is like the opposite of sticking a fork in him... watch, now he'll go 0 for his next 50.

 

I'm sorry I'm always the pessimist.

I agree.  The best way to kill a player's drive is to give him a ton of money too soon.  These kids have to earn it.  In my opinion, Mauer was given way too much.

[SwainZag]

 

I agree.  The best way to kill a player's drive is to give him a ton of money too soon.  These kids have to earn it.  In my opinion, Mauer was given way too much.

 

So you are blaming the contract for Mauer's decline then?

[Willihammer]

 

I agree.  The best way to kill a player's drive is to give him a ton of money too soon.  These kids have to earn it.  In my opinion, Mauer was given way too much.

The Twins have already made Sano a millionaire (which honestly, doesn't help the prospect of a long term extension at any kind of discount). They could also negotiate incentives, bonuses, etc. into any contract.

[spinowner]

 

Meanwhile, did you notice something about Miguel Sano's first home run?

 

He didn't swing very hard. Just kinda popped it out with a nice swing, not really "crushing it," as described by the over-excited announcer. 

Yes, I did notice that and I was even going to post something about it on the game thread but I got distracted. He's the rare hitter for whom the ball goes farther than it appears it will when it leaves his bat. He'll hit a lot of "lazy" dingers like last night's, and he'll also hit some 500-footers. And I still think he'll be the first player to hit a ball over the third deck in left.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

The last time I can remember something like this happening this early in someone's career was with Evan Longoria and that probably cost him lots of $. It just doesn't seem to happen much

It has happened a lot more often than that.

 

Starling Marte

Jon Singleton

Chris Archer

Salvador Perez

Matt Moore

Anthony Rizzo

Evan Longoria

 

And that's just off the top of my head.  All of these guys signed contracts with less than a full year of MLB service time (a few of them with practically zero).  Additional players have signed with less than two year's service time too (Span, Tulowitzki, Starlin Castro, Jose Tabata, etc.).

 

It's been a trend in MLB, unfortunately one that the Twins were not ahead of the curve on (could have come in handy with Mauer and Morneau), and unfortunately one that the Twins have been unable to take advantage of recently with their lack of impact prospects reaching MLB.

 

But Sano is an ideal candidate.  15/80 is ridiculous, obviously, but some kind of a 6 year deal with a few club options is both possible and probably beneficial to both sides, very soon if not right now.

[Loosey]

It's not realistic to extend right now, but if I were an over-ambitious GM looking to make a fair offer to a very young still unproven player I think will become a superstar shortly, here is what I would do:

 

2016: $1M

2017: $1.5M

2018: $4M

2019: $6M

2020: $7M

2021-2023: $10M

2024-2027: $20M

 

That's 12 years $130M guaranteed money.  He gets more than he would by a bit in the pre-arb years and gets less than he MIGHT get if he turns into the guy we all hope he does.  That keeps him here for until he is 34.  Then at 34 you negotiate one more shorter-term big $$$ contract if he lives up the the hype.  In 2028 at 34 year old Sano would probably be something along the lines of 4 years $100M. 

 

So then all said and done he would have made $230M, and got $130M of it guaranteed when he was 22.

 

It would be hard to pass up for Sano I would think.  But in the same respect it would be hard for the Twins to offer.  Usually if both sides like it and question it at the same time it is a fair deal.

[Pardon My Dinger]

 

Good point. First stick a fork in him, then re-animate him and lock him up. Easy.

Fork Sano, fork Buxton, fork Kepler--Arcia's cool--fork Walker, I'm out.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

It's not realistic to extend right now

It IS realistic to extend right now.  See my post above.  And you don't have to guarantee $130 million to do it (although you also probably don't get 12 years either).

[Loosey]

 

It IS realistic to extend right now.  See my post above.  And you don't have to guarantee $130 million to do it (although you also probably don't get 12 years either).

When I say "now" I mean like today 6 games into his Major League career.  Longoria was well into his Rookie Season and was an All-Star selection I believe.  Now, if Sano keeps this up for month or into September I would offer something like I posted.  I don't know if Sano would be able to say no to $130M. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Won't they need to decide what position he'll play before he's extended? That might mean making a career decision on Plouffe.

[tobi0040]

 

It IS realistic to extend right now.  See my post above.  And you don't have to guarantee $130 million to do it (although you also probably don't get 12 years either).

 

My understanding is he is under control for 7 years.  Rookie x 3, arb x 4.  He will probably make $30-$35M in those four arb years and only $1.5M in the rookie years.   So 7/38 is about the max of what he will make in the next seven years.

 

A deal for just seven years makes little sense for the Twins.  A deal giving up too many years of FA does't make sense for Sano.   Common ground could be found on a 8-9 year deal with an option. 

 

I am not too worried about position.  His bat will be in the lineup, whether that is 3B, LF, RF, 1B, or DH or some combination through the years.