Ervin Santana likely to sign “within the next day or two”

By Drew SilvaMar 11, 2014, 6:17 PM EDT
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This particular free agent saga is almost complete.

According to beat writer Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun, right-handed starter Ervin Santana is “likely to make a decision on his destination within the next day or two” because he wants to get into a camp as soon as possible to get properly tuned up for the beginning of the 2014 regular season.

The Orioles and Blue Jays have both made offers to the 31-year-old Santana, but the Braves now seem to be emerging as a darkhorse with over half of their projected starting rotation battling physical issues.

Santana opened this offseason with a reported contract demand of more than $100 million, but draft pick compensation has destroyed his market and he may wind up having to settle for a one-year contract.

Santana posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 161 strikeouts in 211 innings last year for the Royals.

There is a “one million percent” chance Aroldis Champan will opt-out of his deal

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By Craig CalcaterraJul 17, 2019, 11:38 AM EDT
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Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that there is a “one million percent” chance Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will opt out once the season ends.

Just going by the math this makes perfect sense, of course.

Chapman signed a five-year, $86 million deal with the Yankees before the 2017 season. Pursuant to the terms of the deal he’ll make $15 million a year in 2020 and 2021 (he was given an $11 million signing bonus that was finished being paid out last year). This past season the qualifying offer was $17.9 million. Craig Kimbrel of the Cubs just signed a deal that will pay him $16 million in 2020, 2021, and 2022 (he’s making a prorated $16 million this year). Other top closer salaries at the moment include Kenley Jansen ($19,333,334); and Wade Davis ($18 million).

It’s fair to say that Chapman fits into that group and, I think it’s safe to say, more teams would take him than those guys if they were all freely available. As such, Chapman opting out to get more money makes all kinds of sense. Heck, opting out, getting slapped with a qualifying offer, accepting it and then hitting the market unencumbered after the 2020 season would stand him in better financial stead than if he didn’t opt-out in the first place.

The question is whether the Yankees will let it get that far or whether they’ll approach him to renegotiate the final couple of years on the deal or to add some years onto the back of it. If they’re smart they will.