Jake's Agent Clears Throat

[G-Fafif]

From Rosenthal: Jacob deGrom's agent Brodie Van Wagenen says his client "has expressed interest in exploring a long-term partnership that would keep him in a Mets uniform for years to come. If the Mets don't share same interest, we believe their best course of action is to seriously consider trade opportunities now. The inertia of current situation could complicate Jacob's relationship with the club and creates an atmosphere of indecision."

This is what it sounds like when doves cry.

Edited July 16, 2018 by Guest

[Ceetar]

Breaking: player's agent pushes the "GIVE HIM LOTS OF MONEY" button at possibly the literal high water mark of said player's career

[Edgy MD]

Most agents ain't stupid.

[Benjamin Grimm]

DeGrom and his agent really have no leverage, but the Mets should say that they'd be happy to negotiate with Jacob during the offseason. And then they should do their best to sign him.

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: DeGrom and his agent really have no leverage, but the Mets should say that they'd be happy to negotiate with Jacob during the offseason. And then they should do their best to sign him.

They have the leverage of "sign us or we walk in two years and you've got a draft pick to look forward to." Saying it out loud two weeks before the deadline raises both the immediacy and the stakes. Perhaps strides can be made toward working something out in the offseason, though that might not satisfy the pitcher, who will be operating with a chip on his shoulder in a Mets uniform.

And "partnership" doesn't seem like a benign word to throw around.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Does "partnership" imply a tent in the Citi Field parking lot?

[G-Fafif]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Does "partnership" imply a tent in the Citi Field parking lot?

48 + 1

[Edgy MD]

I think they have tremendous leverage.

[Benjamin Grimm]

He can't become a free agent until after the 2020 season, so I don't see how he can force the Mets to negotiate now as opposed to three months from now.

Although I would have no problem with them negotiating now. It won't be easy. My guess is that he'll probably want to be signed through 2025, the year he turns 37.

[ashie62]

Edgy MD wrote: I think they have tremendous leverage.

They do.

[ashie62]

The agent has begun the sell my client high derby

"Hey everybody! Here is the best pitcher in baseball and he could be yours today! Financing avaiable.

Don't see the Wilpons signing a pitcher long term

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: He can't become a free agent until after the 2020 season, so I don't see how he can force the Mets to negotiate now as opposed to three months from now. Although I would have no problem with them negotiating now. It won't be easy. My guess is that he'll probably want to be signed through 2025, the year he turns 37.

Force? No. He can't force them to negotiate now or later.

Can he subtilely coerce them by playing up his good hand? Absolutely.

The team is stinking it up, has no good selling points save one. A guy who who has been historically good, consistently gracious, and unusually relatable, not promoting a false bullet-proof swinging bachelor superhero persona like Harvey and Syndergaard. He is the face of the franchise and their best asset, and now goes to his second All-Star Game, good enough to be the starter. There is nothing to happening for the Mets over the next several days except an inning or so by deGrom against the very best. His agent has seized the narrative. All the chatter over the next few days is going to be putting pressure on the Mets to acquiesce. It also implies with great nuance that his uncomplaining team player of a client might embarrass them by becoming a big crankypants. And prices will rise accordingly. That threat isn't coming from deGrom, and isn't even explicit, so it does no damage to his brand, but totally puts the heat on a panicky, lame-duck Mets management team operating without a head. And the Mets have a long history of opening negotiations during the All-Star break.

Hewj leverage.

[Ceetar]

It's not a good thing if he signs soon. No way interim shared-GMs have the authority to do that. And there's really no reason for the Mets to do it, nor to take that huge decision in roster building from your next GM. It's one of those "owner meddling" things we'd like to avoid.

I guess barring something ridiculous like deGrom agreeing to an adjusted 6/72 contract.

[ashie62]

Agents statement reads to me "make Jake an offer, or else. "

Yeah, Jake comes off uncomfortable. His people did not have to do this during the all star break however.

The Wilpons will say eff you before being strong armed every time.

Really bad chess by Jake's people

[Edgy MD]

I'm having trouble thinking of a single downside for deGrom in his agent releasing this statement.

[Guest 41Forever]

Edgy MD wrote: I'm having trouble thinking of a single downside for deGrom in his agent releasing this statement.

It's smart media management. He knows that with the All-Star break, the beat writers still have to file stories and just handed them a meaty topic to rehash for the week. Unless the Mets do something like release Reyes this week, they'll now be talking to everyone about deGrom and his situation.

[smg58]

If the agent wants to do what I'd do if I were deGrom's agent, that's his prerogative. I for one see no reason not to talk extension. I also see no reason to make a big deal out of this.

[Mex17]

If I actually find myself starting to want the best homegrown players from the team that I root for to find a way to escape from said team for the betterment of themselves, is that bad?

[Edgy MD]

41Forever wrote: Edgy MD wrote: I'm having trouble thinking of a single downside for deGrom in his agent releasing this statement. It's smart media management. He knows that with the All-Star break, the beat writers still have to file stories and just handed them a meaty topic to rehash for the week. Unless the Mets do something like release Reyes this week, they'll now be talking to everyone about deGrom and his situation.

Yeah, it seems like a pretty basic play.

Mex17 wrote: If I actually find myself starting to want the best homegrown players from the team that I root for to find a way to escape from said team for the betterment of themselves, is that bad?

It certainly sounds like an unhealthy mental conflict.

[nymr83]

smg58 wrote: If the agent wants to do what I'd do if I were deGrom's agent, that's his prerogative. I for one see no reason not to talk extension. I also see no reason to make a big deal out of this.

there is nothing else to talk about for 3 days, so a big deal gets made. smart agent.

i'd talk to degrom if i were the Mets, but i doubt they are going to reach an agreement because the agent will want to get paid as if he is 2018 degrom for the next 8 years and the Mets will say 1. that isn't likely 2. even if it were, we are 2+ years from the point where the CBA would force us to shift the injury risk from you to us, so wheres our discount?

the only way a deal happens is if degrom wants to take a "paycut for security" type deal, the kind of deal that makes the Mets look like geniuses if he stays healthy and makes his agent look like one if he doesn't.

[Frayed Knot]

JdG's biggest problem is that he's not going to hit FAgency until age 32

[smg58]

Nymr83 wrote: the only way a deal happens is if degrom wants to take a "paycut for security" type deal, the kind of deal that makes the Mets look like geniuses if he stays healthy and makes his agent look like one if he doesn't.

He's one injury away from getting nothing, so the security matters. The Mets could work that to their advantage if they stop twiddling their thumbs. I'd start at 5 and 110 -- 15 next year, followed by 20, 25, 25, and 25 -- and see where it goes.

[Guest d'Kong76]

This has become a big fat national story, so kudos to deG's agent.

Some good stuff in this thread. I really don't think anything will happen
during the season, don't really think something should. I also don't think
that nothing happening will have any significant impact on anything. How's
that for a bunch of anythings, nothings and something?

In the end I hope Jacob wins the Cy Young and is rewarded with a large
extension that is both reasonable from a player and team perspective.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: DeGrom and his agent really have no leverage, but the Mets should say that they'd be happy to negotiate with Jacob during the offseason. And then they should do their best to sign him. They have the leverage of "sign us or we walk in two years and you've got a draft pick to look forward to." Saying it out loud two weeks before the deadline raises both the immediacy and the stakes. Perhaps strides can be made toward working something out in the offseason, though that might not satisfy the pitcher, who will be operating with a chip on his shoulder in a Mets uniform. And "partnership" doesn't seem like a benign word to throw around.

Of course deGrom has leverage. If deGrom ultimately convinces the Mets that they won't be able to extend deGrom, they'll trade deGrom earlier instead of later because deGrom will return a better package with more years remaining on his contract. If the Mets want to avoid this fate, they might have to extend him earlier than they would have otherwise preferred. This is not empty rhetoric on the agent's part.

The only way deGrom has no leverage is if the Mets have already made a firm decision not to extend him.

But so long as the Mets are considering extending deGrom somewhere down the line, he has leverage.