10-23-2023, 05:43 PM
(10-23-2023, 05:31 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I think this was a mistake. Yes, congrats to Nico in the near term. $13.7mm is good value for the team. It also makes team salary manageable next season.
But after two years of this deal (so 3 from now when he's 25) Josh will be extension eligible and we won't be able to extend him because 140% of his final year is only $20mm. So, Josh will be a full on UFA in 2027. We will either pay dearly for this or lose him altogether. My range was $14mm-$16mm, so $13.7mm isn't that far off. But, I'm not a fan of the 3 year term.
Given that
A) they probably have plans over the next two years that will be aided greatly by the certainty this provides and
B) It's a rather sizable assumption that they'll even want to retain his services in 2027 (or still have him here, for that matter),
don't you think that's kind of a nitpick?
I mean, I'm willing to accept that potential downside if we get to avoid all the talking points about his coming free agency this year. I realize your point is that they kicked that stress down the road, but can we see the kid play in the rotation for a season before we worry about whether or not losing him in 2027 would be a huge negative?