Is the hidden cost of pursuing Qualifying Offer free agents too high? That debate’s outcome may depend on what chair you’re sitting in.
I will start out with this: I still believe that the Atlanta Braves should be pursing a contract with Craig Kimbrel. I’ve been waffling in recent days on who to blame that this hasn’t happened, but that’s still my bottom line.
Starting pitching quality nonwithstanding, the fact is that the Braves will be running a lot of young starting pitchers out to the mound this season and between erratic starts and the desire to limit innings, a great deal of pressure will be placed upon the team’s bullpen.
Having that extra dynamic arm out there to finish games will allow all others in the bullpen to more comfortably fill roles of eating an inning, putting out a fire, or long relief.
Okay, there’s that… but what would he cost?
There’s an obvious cost that has been bandied about: the contract. My belief is that Kimbrel is still holding out for a deal of 4 or 5 years and something in excess or $15 million per year.
Personally, I’d like to think that Atlanta could talk him into something like $14 million per year over 2 years with an option for year 3.
Yeah, that’s a lowball-ish offer, but does he have anything better in hand?
The other side of this coin involves that Qualifying Offer (QO) tag… and it’s one that actually hits the Atlanta Braves harder than most other clubs.
There’s a penalty for signing a player who has the scarlet QO letters stitched to his jersey: it’s the loss of the 3rd highest pick in the next draft.
Normally, of course, that’s a 3rd rounder, but by wording the provision in this manner, the Collective Bargaining Agreement changes the shape of the penalty for different teams.
Presumably, this was aimed at teams collecting extra Competitive Balance picks, but it also impacts those getting compensation picks for the failure to sign prior year draftees… and that’s the situation the Braves find themselves in this year.
This requires a more detailed look.