Donaldson contract discussion - 4/100? 4/110?

[AlwaysinModeration]

There is one thing the Twins have over the Braves and Nats - the DH position. After this year, the Twins will have lots of DH ABs to offer. Would have to think that could be a consideration.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I would say the Twins are the high bidder by a reasonable amount, and they feel comfortable that they will ultimately have the highest bid and get him. Ultimately I would say we are #3 on Donaldson's wish list so the money is going to have to win out. We will see but I think he will sign elsewhere. The longer this drags out, the better chance we have of signing him.

This is a strangely optimistic (and frankly, reasonable) take that has no business around these parts.

[DocBauer]

Just tossing this out there for comment and consideration.

 

It's possible the Twins are just being played by Donaldson and his agent to play Atlanta and Washington against one another as they both represent what are esentially "home" options if he wants to stay south. But the fact remains, the Twins are still in this at this point. I'd like to think Falvey and Levine are smart enough to know if they are just being played. Again, makes me think we are really in this play.

 

With Atlanta now reportedly going 4yrs, I'm guessing at lesser $ per year or he would have already jumped, do the Twins look "weak" if they just call up Donaldson and his agent and just say; "look, we're serious about this. Are you? You want an opt out? (doubt it) You want another $2-3M per? We're serious and we're good. We want you and think you fit and would love it here. Here we go..in or out?"

 

Smart? Does it make them look weak? Or are they smart to be pro-active and just throw in some extra sweetness to make it happen?

[tony&rodney]

There could be a little help from coaches and players maybe, but not that's not likely to swing the decision.

Donaldson needs to be sold on hitting in the Twins lineup and convinced that he would enjoy playing at Target Field and fishing on Lake Minnetonka in the summer. The Falvines need to sell the Twins as a team that is really good and capable of adding talent in July.

Finally, if this is serious, The Twins should have the high bid. Washington will defer a bunch of money and Atlanta has to think about Freeman soon. The Twins have only $20M something committed past this summer. The opportunity is there - make JD smile green or live with the knowledge that you were the clear high bid. I have to think that something like Arraez, Garver, and Buxton hitting at the end of the lineup would be really exciting to a guy like Donaldson who loves to hit with runners on base. He would look pretty good in the two hole, eh?

[AlwaysinModeration]

Plus the Nats just spent the rest of their money on Will Harris, so they can’t afford Donaldson!

[Mr. Brooks]

Plus the Nats just spent the rest of their money on Will Harris, so they can’t afford Donaldson!

Even with the Harris signing, the Nats are still about $39M below last year's opening day payroll.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Even with the Harris signing, the Nats are still about $39M below last year's opening day payroll.

Come on, man. At least play along!

[AlwaysinModeration]

And actually the Nats are $24mm under the luxury tax—suspiciously near what Donaldson is asking for. Meanwhile, the Braves are $7mm over last year’s payroll already.

 

If you want to play this right, here is the way to do it:

 

In order to stay under the luxury tax for this coming year, the Twins are limited to offering Josh Donaldson only $89million for 2020. They can’t go any higher than that.

[bighat]

And here we still are. Pretty sure he'd have signed with the Twins by now if he really was going to come to Minnesota.

 

Sorry to be pessimistic but I just don't see Donaldson coming our way. I didn't think it was going to happen before, and while the news about the 4-year contract was exciting it seems to have been a PR move by his agent to keep the Braves in line.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Just tossing this out there for comment and consideration.

 

It's possible the Twins are just being played by Donaldson and his agent to play Atlanta and Washington against one another as they both represent what are esentially "home" options if he wants to stay south. But the fact remains, the Twins are still in this at this point. I'd like to think Falvey and Levine are smart enough to know if they are just being played. Again, makes me think we are really in this play.

 

With Atlanta now reportedly going 4yrs, I'm guessing at lesser $ per year or he would have already jumped, do the Twins look "weak" if they just call up Donaldson and his agent and just say; "look, we're serious about this. Are you? You want an opt out? (doubt it) You want another $2-3M per? We're serious and we're good. We want you and think you fit and would love it here. Here we go..in or out?"

 

Smart? Does it make them look weak? Or are they smart to be pro-active and just throw in some extra sweetness to make it happen?

I agree with you, Doc. If the Braves had matched the Twins’ offer, he’d have signed with the Braves already. And like I said, the Braves are already over last year’s payroll. Maybe the Braves offered 4/80, while the Twins are at 4/92.

 

The biggest challenge is the Nats swooping in. They let Rendon walk, but their window is now, with neither Scherzer and Strasburg getting any younger, so getting a couple of good years of Donaldson makes sense.

 

Also, they will need to throw Zimmerman a few million as well, so signing Donaldson could actually push them over the luxury tax.

[dex8425]

Some really good points above. I agree that the longer this plays out, the better chance we have.

 

I also agree that the Twins are being used to try and get a higher amount from Atlanta. I think Donaldson is going to wait as long as possible for Atlanta to match the Twins offer.

 

We're obviously not his first choice of where to play. We're probably third. But our lineup is better than the Nats and there's a DH in the AL, if Donaldson cares about legacy and stats. Does he care about assuredly playing in the postseason? The NL east is going to be very tough. Twins are in the easiest division in baseball. 

[amjgt]

Some really good points above. I agree that the longer this plays out, the better chance we have.

 

I also agree that the Twins are being used to try and get a higher amount from Atlanta. I think Donaldson is going to wait as long as possible for Atlanta to match the Twins offer.

 

We're obviously not his first choice of where to play. We're probably third. But our lineup is better than the Nats and there's a DH in the AL, if Donaldson cares about legacy and stats. Does he care about assuredly playing in the postseason? The NL east is going to be very tough. Twins are in the easiest division in baseball.

I suppose 3rd is better than 30th!

[lukeduke1980]

 

I agree with you, Doc. If the Braves had matched the Twins’ offer, he’d have signed with the Braves already. And like I said, the Braves are already over last year’s payroll. Maybe the Braves offered 4/80, while the Twins are at 4/92.
 

After the 4th year obligation was met by the Braves, they likely started working on the finer points of the contract.  It probably takes a while to iron out the details, no trade, escalators, etc.

[TwinsFan268]

Can he pitch?

 

Last time I checked, no.

 

So, they should go more in on any starting pitchers, even in the trade market, after their awful signings of Rich Hill and Homer Bailey. 

 

Sano is a pretty good 3rd baseman. He hit 34 home runs last season, which might not be as much as Donaldson's 37, but it's pretty good.

 

Go in on pitchers, Twins. Not on Donaldson. 

[ashbury]

Sano is a pretty good 3rd baseman. He hit 34 home runs last season, which might not be as much as Donaldson's 37, but it's pretty good.

Both hit more than Cron's 25 HR, which is the relevant comparison right now.

[Riverbrian]

Free Will. We can't do anything about that.

[bunsen82]

Cron had 17 home runs through June and then with the injuries was a shell of himself the rest of the year.  However, Sano could easily be a 40-45 home run player if he can play everyday.  

[ashbury]

Free Will. We can't do anything about that.

The team has Free Will also, and can sweeten any offer.

 

[nicksaviking]

 

Free Will. We can't do anything about that.

 

Nope, not at all. 

 

But they can make sure that the Nats have to go over the luxury tax and the Braves go way over budget if Donaldson's free will points him toward wanting the money. And I'm all about making it hurt for those teams.

 

Also, with the sweetheart deals Atlanta has been getting their young players to agree to, I wouldn't be surprised if they are well below the Twins and/or Nats and expect him to take a preferred destination discount.

[Riverbrian]

 

The team has Free Will also, and can sweeten any offer.
 

 

Yep... That is our free will. 

 

I've said it often... If you want a player, you must pay the price to get the player. It can't be done with a spreadsheet because other teams are not looking at your spreadsheet and they will change the dynamic. 

 

But in the end... We can't control if the player wants money or an authentic Philly Cheese Stake nearby. 

 

It's best not to find yourself in the position of desperation and having to solve the Philly Cheese Stake equation. 

[Battle ur tail off]

I agree he is playing the Twins. I do however, doubt we are the highest offer. Is it possible, yes, but they never have been in the entire history of the ballclub. 

 

That said. I'm guessing Atlanta is the low bidder. I really don't know what is so attractive about Atlanta. Hot, sweaty, dirty town, tons of crime. He probably likes his team and feels they have a great chance(which they do).

 

I'm so-so on him anyway. While he would be nice to have, I don't really think spending that kind of dough on a position player of his age when pitching is in such dire need is a great idea. That said, if they aren't going to spend at all, then I'd rather they give him the dough rather than pocket it. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I would say the Twins are the high bidder by a reasonable amount

What makes you say that? From the limited info we have, this situation doesn't seem appreciably different than earlier FA negotiations (Darvish, Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu, etc.), when it turned out the Twins were never really the high bidder, much less "by a reasonable amount."

[howeda7]

This is where Falvey has to learn to close the deal. Obviously he's not as desperate to return to Atlanta as MadBaum was to go to Arizona or he'd have signed already. Top Atlanta's offer and give him 24 hours to accept.

[SwainZag]

 

This is where Falvey has to learn to close the deal. Obviously he's not as desperate to return to Atlanta as MadBaum was to go to Arizona or he'd have signed already. Top Atlanta's offer and give him 24 hours to accept.

 

He's expressed interest in returning to Atlanta and it's been reported he would give them an opportunity to match offers.  If they had the top offer on the table, you would have to assume he would already accepted it.

[BrianTrottier]

 

He's expressed interest in returning to Atlanta and it's been reported he would give them an opportunity to match offers.  If they had the top offer on the table, you would have to assume he would already accepted it.

Unless his isn't actually as serious about returning to Atlanta as people suggest.

[nicksaviking]

 

What makes you say that? From the limited info we have, this situation doesn't seem appreciably different than earlier FA negotiations (Darvish, Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu, etc.), when it turned out the Twins were never really the high bidder, much less "by a reasonable amount."

 

The difference would be that it would seem that if Washington is the high bidder that means they are over the luxury tax and if the Braves were the high bidder he'd probably already have signed. 

 

It's possible that Washington is willing to go over the luxury tax, but that's not a given, and certainly they'd only do so reluctantly. Unlike the other situations, this one does seem to make more sense that the Twins may be the current high bidder, particularly if they're offering their now standard $100M figure. 

[bunsen82]

 

I agree he is playing the Twins. I do however, doubt we are the highest offer. Is it possible, yes, but they never have been in the entire history of the ballclub. 

 

That said. I'm guessing Atlanta is the low bidder. I really don't know what is so attractive about Atlanta. Hot, sweaty, dirty town, tons of crime. He probably likes his team and feels they have a great chance(which they do).

 

I'm so-so on him anyway. While he would be nice to have, I don't really think spending that kind of dough on a position player of his age when pitching is in such dire need is a great idea. That said, if they aren't going to spend at all, then I'd rather they give him the dough rather than pocket it. 

So if you think Atlanta is the low bidder, then you think Washington is the high bidder?  You do know that they would want to defer money so they would truly not be the high bidder with the time value of money.  

 

Minnesota is most likely the high bidder right now irrespective of previous bids this year.  They were the high bidder for Cruz last year. 

[bunsen82]

 

What makes you say that? From the limited info we have, this situation doesn't seem appreciably different than earlier FA negotiations (Darvish, Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu, etc.), when it turned out the Twins were never really the high bidder, much less "by a reasonable amount."

Its the process of elimination. We know Atlanta is the low bidder, that leaves Washington and us.  Just by the mere fact that Washington wants to defer money that likely leaves us as the high bidder.  The twins also have an advantage with the designated hitter vs the other teams knowing they can get extended value from just purely the bat or giving Donaldson rest days from playing 3rd base by being DH unless the other teams would want to gamble that the NL will have the DH within 2 years.  Many also forget we were the high bidders for Cruz last year.  No one knows for certain, but most likely we are the high bidders in my mind. 

[Mike Sixel]

I'm fascinated that people know with such certainty what is happening.

[scottz]

Where does Donaldson keep his horses?