Three Rays players make principled stand on pre-arbitration pay

By Mar 6, 2016, 6:57 PM EST
AP Photo/Tony Dejak
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The past week or so has seen some interesting news regarding players not yet eligible for arbitration. The Pirates reportedly wanted to cut the salary of ace Gerrit Cole, and later attributed that to a system miscalculation. Mets ace Jacob deGrom didn’t sign his 2016 contract out of protest, believing that $607,000 was an underpay.

Now we learn, via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, that three members of the Rays have also taken principled stands — refusing to sign their 2016 contracts — regarding their predetermined 2016 salaries, as they are not yet eligible for arbitration. Those players are closer Brad Boxberger, starter Jake Odorizzi, and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier. Boxberger and Odorizzi took pay cuts while Kiermaier got a very modest raise. Topkin notes that they were advised by their agents to make such a stand. Boxberger is represented by the Boras Corporation, Odorizzi by Arland Sports, and Kiermaier by Reynolds Sports. The specific changes in pay by player:

  • Boxberger: $521,400 in 2015, $519,200 in 2016 (-$2,200)
  • Odorizzi: $522,000 in 2015, $520,700 in 2016 (-$1,300)
  • Kiermaier: $513,800 in 2015, $514,400 in 2016 (+$600)

As noted when deGrom protested, one is left to wonder if the pay of pre-arb players will be a topic of discussion when the next Collective Bargaining Agreement is negotiated after the season. These players are, certainly, underpaid relative to their peers, especially when performance is taken into account.

Boxberger, 27, has a career 2.94 ERA with 44 saves and a 235/83 K/BB ratio in 177 1/3 innings of relief over parts of four seasons with the Rays. He led the American League with 41 saves last year, his first as a full-time closer.

Odorizzi, 25, made a significant improvement last season, finishing with a 3.35 ERA and a 150/46 K/BB ratio in 169 1/3 innings across 28 starts, his second as a full-time starter.

Kiermaier, 25, hit a solid .263/.298/.420 with 10 home runs, 40 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases in 535 plate appearances. But perhaps more importantly, Kiermaier was arguably the best defensive player in baseball at any position last year. He won the American League Gold Glove along with outfielders Kole Calhoun and Yoenis Cespedes.

Padres claim 2-time All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from Mets

Associated PressMay 30, 2023, 11:24 AM EDT
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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SAN DIEGO — The scuffling San Diego Padres claimed catcher Gary Sánchez off waivers from the New York Mets.

The two-time All-Star was designated for assignment after playing in three games for the Mets. He went 1 for 6 with three strikeouts and an RBI, looking shaky at times behind the plate.

With the disappointing Padres (24-29) getting meager offensive production at catcher, they hope Sánchez can provide a boost. Austin Nola is batting .131 with three extra-base hits and a paltry .434 OPS in 39 games. His part-time platoon partner, second-stringer Brett Sullivan, is hitting .170 with four extra-base hits and a .482 OPS in 21 games since getting called up from the minors April 16.

Luis Campusano has been on the injured list since April 17 and is expected to be sidelined until around the All-Star break following left thumb surgery.

San Diego is responsible for just over $1 million in salary for Sánchez after assuming his $1.5 million, one-year contract.

The star-studded Padres have lost seven of 11 and are 3-3 on a nine-game East Coast trip. They open a three-game series at Miami.

San Diego becomes the third National League team to take a close look at the 30-year-old Sánchez this season. He spent time in the minors with San Francisco before getting released May 2 and signing a minor league contract a week later with the Mets, who were minus a couple of injured catchers at the time.

After hitting well in a short stint at Triple-A Syracuse, he was promoted to the big leagues May 19. When the Mets reinstated catcher Tomás Nido from the injured list last week, Sánchez was cut.

Sánchez’s best seasons came early in his career with the New York Yankees, where he was runner-up in 2016 AL Rookie of the Year voting and made the AL All-Star team in 2017 and 2019.

He was traded to Minnesota before the 2022 season and batted .205 with 16 homers and 61 RBIs in 128 games last year.

With the Padres, Sánchez could also be a candidate for at-bats at designated hitter, where 42-year-old Nelson Cruz is batting .245 with three homers, 16 RBIs and a .670 OPS, and 37-year-old Matt Carpenter is hitting .174 with four homers, 21 RBIs and a .652 OPS.