A couple of market things are finally moving… the signing of Todd Frazier may have been the first of a long line of dominoes to start falling.
Of all positions and all scenarios we’ve talked about this Winter, third base is the one we have to keep coming back to. With that, we finally have a bona fide Atlanta Braves rumor to work with.
Source: Add the Braves to the list of teams that have expressed serious interest in infielder Eduardo Nunez. The Yankees, Rays and Red Sox are also in the mix. The Mets were in play until they signed Todd Frazier.
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) February 8, 2018
This is entirely consistent with what we’ve been hearing:
- Veteran infielder
- Lower-cost guy
- Positionally versatile
- Decent defender
This ‘interest’ in Nunez is also entirely consistent with the notes Jon Heyman posted earlier today:
"The Braves would sign a third baseman if they can get one on a one-year deal. They believe prospect Austin Riley could be ready by the end of the season. If they don’t sign one, they say they will be comfortable with Johan Camargo at third."
This Could Have Legs
Having Atlanta jump in at this point isn’t merely just ‘adding the Braves to the list’, though. The rest of these teams have been “the list” for some time now, and that hasn’t captured Nunez’ own interest. The Braves’ presence in this market should get something moving here.
It’s certainly possible that the others had been looking at Todd Frazier as an option but now have to turn to either Mike Moustakas or Nunez for their third base needs.
However, the idea that Frazier was ever a serious option for anyone but the Yankees has to be questioned: Frazier, who declared “This is my home” when introduced as a Met yesterday, was very likely to have seen any team outside New York as a last option. It is for that reason that Nunez was the more likely target for Boston and perhaps the Rays… but if so, he has been for at least a month or two.
But money seems to be an object for both the Rays and Braves… perhaps the Red Sox as well.
Nunez made $4.2 million last season and was projected – way back in early November – to command a $14 million deal over 2 seasons from his new club.
Well, Frazier just took $17 million over 2 seasons… his projection had been 3/$33m. Having that dollar amount on a contract now means that the market has been set… and now Nunez pretty much knows where his numbers will fall.
My guess? 1 year plus an option: $5 million for 2018; $6 million for 2019 with a 500K buyout… thus a $5.5m guarantee…possibly a notch higher. Whoever meets or beats that will probably sign the player.