The Nats Thread

[vansmack]

7 years,  $180m.  Have to think Zimmerman would be cheaper and younger.

[hutch]

7 years,  $180m.  Have to think Zimmerman would be cheaper and younger.

only $180? wow...I thought it was 7 years 200 million.. they got a bargain

I don't know we can say with any certitude Zim will be less..but the point is he may just not want to play for DC.. it may not be just about money...

but Scherzer ain't chopped liver.. he's a great pitcher..

I'm happy.. should i be sad they signed him Vansmack just cause you hate it when players get money? You always look at it from the team's front office standpoint.. I'm just a fan and look forward to seeing him.. I think signing him is a huge coup

[DeathFromAbove1979]

Article on this either being a Lerner "all in" move or Rizzo's "Gameplan" for the future.

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/washington-nationals-max-scherzer-mike-rizzo-ted-lerner-scott-boras-who-is-calling-shots-011815

I like him saying he won't trade Desmond. Unless it's a deal you can't resist. With all the stuff I've read about the organization and their relationship with Desmond I'd be so sad if he did go away. But, we'll see! Spring training is what... 6 weeks away?

[vansmack]

I heard $180m, now I'm hearing $210m.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

I heard $180m, now I'm hearing $210m.

If they gave him $30 million per year, then "mazel tov, Max, mazel tov."

[gaaaaaaaaah]

looks like its 210 but half deferred

so 15 per year for 14 years

yikes. im guessing the masn uncertainty played into that

im also seeing no indication that rizzo is desperate to move anyone, including zimmermann and desmond. ims till wrapping my head around this deal but if thats true we're looking at a rotation for the ages next year. tough luck for roark but what an insurance policy hed be

[shemptiness]

Have they announced a price increase on 2015 tickets yet?

[DeathFromAbove1979]

These 5 and Roark in the bullpen for long relief? Yeesh.

[shemptiness]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/max-scherzer-and-when-210-million-isnt-210-million/

Instead, the Nationals will pay Scherzer $15 million per season, but do so for 14 years; essentially, they?ve deferred half of each season?s salary seven years into the future. Effectively, they signed Scherzer for $105 million over the seven years that he?ll pitch for them, and then they?ll pay him the next $105 million after the contract ends, making this the most deferred money contract in baseball history.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/max-scherzer-and-when-210-million-isnt-210-million/

Fascinating read. +1

[stevewizzle]

7 years,  $180m.  Have to think Zimmerman would be cheaper and younger.

only $180? wow...I thought it was 7 years 200 million.. they got a bargain

I don't know we can say with any certitude Zim will be less..but the point is he may just not want to play for DC.. it may not be just about money...

but Scherzer ain't chopped liver.. he's a great pitcher..

I'm happy.. should i be sad they signed him Vansmack just cause you hate it when players get money? You always look at it from the team's front office standpoint.. I'm just a fan and look forward to seeing him.. I think signing him is a huge coup

i look forward to 1, maybe 2 years in the future when you have non-stop complaining about how overpaid he is for his performance, and eventually question his maturity.

[vansmack]

This is an amazing article touting the skills of Scott Boras delivering for his clients over the last 10 years.  But not a single one of those deals has been good for the team.

Carlos Beltran (2004, seven years, $119 million)
Barry Zito (2006, seven years, $126 million)
Alex Rodriguez (2007, 10 years, $275 million)
Mark Teixeira (2008, eight years, $180 million)
Matt Holliday (2009, seven years, $120 million)
Jayson Werth (2010, seven years $126 million)
Prince Fielder (2011, nine years, $214 million)
Jacoby Ellsbury (2013, seven years, $153 million)

Buyers beware.

I'll just add:

Max Scherzer (2015, 7 years, $210 million)

Especially if they deal Zimmerman.  That would make this a +1 WAR deal, for $210m.  The deferred money makes it interesting though.  I think the Mets are still paying Bobby Bonilla, for example.

[Julian, Bespoke SEXPERT]

That would make this a +1 WAR deal, for $210m. 

To be fair, it'd be a +1 WAR deal for ($210million-(Zimmerman's 2015 salary+the first six years of Zimmerman's next contract)).

Which probably makes it a +1 WAR deal for ~$70million-ish.

[vansmack]

To be fair, it'd be a +1 WAR deal for ($210million-(Zimmerman's 2015 salary+the first six years of Zimmerman's next contract)).

Which probably makes it a +1 WAR deal for ~$45million (??).

Well, I was only calculating 2015.  Otherwise, yes, your formula, plus the fact that Zimmerman is 2 years younger, and I don't think Zimmerman gets $150m deal, but we'll see what Shields gets and adjust the market then.

[vansmack]

I'm still not clear on how the deferment changes the luxury tax.  I've read both AAV and actual dollars spent.

Also, this does show that the Nats can work with Boras (which is surprising after the Werth deal).  That's a good sign for Strasburg, Harper & Rendon.