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Tag: Free agency

  • What Should Houston Texan Fans Be Rooting for in These NFL QB Contract Standoffs?

    What Should Houston Texan Fans Be Rooting for in These NFL QB Contract Standoffs?

    The Houston Texans have lived a pretty charmed life the last couple off-seasons. In 2023, the draft brought us C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson as the future saviors of the organization, and possibly the city itself. In 2024, the Texans went ultra aggressive in free agency and in trades, and landed Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter, among others.

    Along the way, there was almost no contractual drama. The one big extension handed out, which was to wide receiver Nico Collins, came with zero dark clouds or social media salvos needed. It was just your standard, quietly negotiated $72 million contract extension. The closest thing to drama the last two years has come from cornerback Steven Nelson, ever the agitator, going after Nick Caserio and DeMeco Ryans with personal insults about their attire and appearance. Needless to say, Nelson is gone.

    Someday, the Texans will have off-season drama again. All teams, even the good ones do. I might even say ESPECIALLY the good ones do. The Cowboys, Packers, and Dolphins are all good NFL teams, and all three have high drama going on with their starting quarterbacks right now, as all three signal callers are looking for massive new contract extensions.

    As we outlined last week, the average-at-best Jaguars QB, Trevor Lawrence, just secured a contract that ties for the highest average annual value in the league, at $55 million. I would submit that the three quarterbacks we were referring to above — Dak Prescott of the Cowboys, Jordan Love of the Packers, and Tua Tagovailoa of the Dolphins — are all better, more productive players than Lawrence. Prescott and Love, for sure.

    So now all three of those teams are in staring contests with their team leaders, who all likely want more than Lawrence. Let’s look at all three of these standoffs through a Texans prism. What should we be rooting  for in each of these instances?

    DAK PRESCOTT, Dallas Cowboys
    Prescott is in the final season of a long term contract he signed a few seasons ago, and sits on the books right now as a $55 million cap hit. This is on a team that also wants to give big deals to WR Cede Lamb and LB Micah Parsons this offseason. The worst thing for the rest of the league would be for Prescott to hit free agency next spring, because the ceiling for QB salaries would skyrocket, likely past $60 million per year, if there were a bidding war. With C.J. Stroud eligible for an extension in a couple seasons, the lower the highest salary stays, the better. So root for the Cowboys and Prescott to agree to a long term deal this offseason at slightly more than Lawrence is making, maybe $56 million or $57 million per year.

    JORDAN LOVE, Green Bay Packers
    Love is also in line for a big pay day, after waiting three seasons behind Aaron Rodgers, and in his first season as a starter, nearly knocking off the 49ers in the divisional round of the playoffs. Here’s the wrinkle with Love — his agent is David Mulugheta, who famously helped Deshaun Watson exit Houston and get a record setting amount of guaranteed money from the Browns. Mulugheta is also Stroud’s agent. Thus, I am hoping that Love lands a lucrative, but team friendly that allows the Packers to sign some of his teammates to big deals. That would show me Mulugheta is okay having a client who doesn’t push for top money, but instead prioritizes winning, like we hope C.J. Stroud does in two seasons.

    TUA TAGOVAILOA, Miami Dolphins
    Go on social media and search “Tua contract” and what you’ll find out is that the Dolphins, at least as of right now, have zero desire to pay him at the Trevor Lawrence/Joe Burrow level of $55 million per year. Tagovailoa has been very vocal about how the lack of a new deal is affecting him mentally right now, so here’s what I am hoping for, from a Texans perspective — I’m hoping that Tagovailoa gets no new deal, that he becomes a basket case worrying about it, and that he throws four picks against the Texans in Week 15 at NRG Stadium.

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

    Sean Pendergast

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  • Sixers Make Moves in First Two Days of Free Agency – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Sixers Make Moves in First Two Days of Free Agency – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    After years of hoping, wishing, and wanting, the Sixers finally got the best player available in free agency – and they didn’t even have to trade for him! Most people woke up to surprising good news on Monday morning when they heard the Sixers signed Paul George. Daryl Morey could finally make something happen when given cap space heading into an offseason.

    The Case for Paul George

    Let’s start with the bad side.

    Some people had and still do have skepticism about signing Paul George. He has played 14 seasons in the NBA already and recently turned 34. Not ancient, but definitely not young for NBA standards. Those concerns hold weight – especially given his injury history. In the last 5 years, he has only played 60 games in one of them. Luckily, that one season was last season, which gives hope to his health heading into this year. It’s no coincidence that he has his healthiest year once they found somebody else (James Harden) to dominate the ball and distribute.

    Enough with the bad, there is a lot more good to talk about with him.

    First off, he finished top 5 in 3-pointers made while shooting 41.3% and 45.4% on catch-and-shoot 3-point opportunities. This kind of ability from beyond the arc will tremendously help the Sixers and Joel Embiid. Sending help off of Paul George will not happen, and if it does, all Embiid needs to do is find him and watch 3 points go up on the board.

    Secondly, as mentioned before, Paul George had his healthiest year last year when the Clippers acquired James Harden to primarily handle the ball. This allowed George to stay healthier throughout the year. He doesn’t have Harden anymore, but he has Maxey and Embiid as the first and second options which allows him to stay as option number 3. Hopefully this keeps him as healthy as possible throughout the year.

    Also, Paul George plays great defense. He might not do it as well as he used to, but he still averaged a steal and a half last year on the season. He’s 6’8″ with a 6’11” wingspan. Not many people have this gift of size matched with athleticism. He can guard all positions and will most likely take on the responsibility of guarding players like Tatum, Luka, Lebron, etc.

    In addition to defense, his size also allows him to create his own shot off the dribble. Maxey can do that, but has trouble in congested areas. Embiid can, but as a center it’s harder for him to quickly get a shot off and create space. With George’s quickness and size, he can create shots in crowded areas when he needs to.

    While Paul George is not the same player he used to be a few years ago, he is still a fantastic third option on a contending basketball team. Lots of people knock him for never winning, which is fair, he has never had a player like Embiid on his team. Not to mention what could happen if Maxey continues to improve.

    Returning Sixers

    Tyrese Maxey will return in a Sixers uniform for the next 5 years after signing a well deserved maximum extension worth $205 million. The Sixers’ 21st pick in the 2020 draft has panned out better than anyone could have hoped. Imagine how much better Maxey will continue to improve in the coming years. He has the brightest future out of any player on the Sixers.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. will also return to the Sixers on a 2-year 16.3 million dollar deal. It’s nice to see a player like Oubre stick around after bouncing around the league for a lot of his career. He just needs to stop riding his bike in the streets and everything will be ok.

    After getting traded away to the Nets, then playing in Chicago, Andre Drummond signs a 2-year $10 million deal to come back to Philly. Most consider Drummond one of Embiid’s best backups during his career, so it’s good to see him return. His knack for rebounding and clogging up the defensive lane should help the Sixers during the Embiid-less minutes. His offense is limited, but Paul George and Tyrese Maxey hold all the responsibility now on offense without Embiid. Drummond’s game plan needs to stick with setting screens and dunking the ball.

    New Sixers

    So far, only one player comes to Philly brand new this offseason: Eric Gordon. He signed a veterans minimum for one year. He’s a classic vet who enters his 18th season this year. He’s a consistent 37% career 3-point shooter who you’d expect to see play less minutes this year than last (27). He’ll give us a few threes a night and play decent defense.

    The Job’s Not Done

    Currently, the Sixers only have 8 players signed, plus their two draft picks.

    Joel Embiid, C

    Andre Drummond, C

    Paul Reed, PF/C

    Paul George, SF

    Kelly Oubre Jr., SF

    Ricky Council IV, SF

    Tyrese Maxey, PG

    Eric Gordon, SG

    With the only PG on the team being Maxey, expect the Sixers to aggressively pursue a PG in the coming days. Maybe they go after Kyle Lowry and resign him, but they could go after other options like Tyus Jones, Delon Wright, or (hear me out) Markelle Fultz.

    I would love to see Tyus Jones sign with the Sixers. He averaged over 7 APG on the Wizards which is impressive given the option he has to pass to on that team.

    Markelle Fultz is a very interesting candidate. He will most likely resign with the Magic, but I would welcome him back to Philly since plays well and can really help a team with his shot creating abilities. He has become a good NBA player, but not what we expected when he went #1 in the 2017 draft.

    The Sixers also need to sign a true PF. They have plenty of SF’s, but they need a bigger body down there, and preferably one that can rebound well. Paul Reed could transition to PF, but in all likelihood, his time has come to an end here.

    Collin Benjamin

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  • NBA free agency: Is Paul George the Sixers’ missing piece?

    NBA free agency: Is Paul George the Sixers’ missing piece?

    Since the beginning of the 2023-24 Sixers season, reporting, on-the-record quotes and contextual clues have all told the same story: President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has his sights set on adding another star-caliber player to the team’s All-Star duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey this summer. With the constant player movement that has helped define this era of NBA basketball, it may be impossible to guess who that third key cog will be for the Sixers.

    Let’s evaluate the likelihood as well as the pros and cons of the Sixers adding Paul George this summer.

    George, who turned 34 years old earlier this month, is expected to decline his player option with the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2024-25 season and become an unrestricted free agent. While there appears to be considerable interest from both George and the Clippers in a long-term reunion, the sides appear to be far apart in contract negotiations that have been going on since the beginning of this season. George’s co-star, Kawhi Leonard — who was also set to have the opportunity to become a free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season — inked a three-year extension with the Clippers in January. George was expected to follow suit, but never agreed to terms with the team.

    MORE: Paul George is ‘Plan A’ for Sixers this summer

    George has become known as one of the great two-way wings of his era, a career 20.8-point per game scorer with four All-Defensive Team honors to his name.

    George has become one of the sport’s most consistent and highest-volume three-point shooters. Over the last nine NBA seasons, George has made 39.2 percent of his shots from beyond the arc while taking nearly 4,500 total three-point attempts. With the ability to shoot off the catch and off the dribble at 6-foot-8 with a high release point, he is one of the best in NBA history at getting three-point shots up at a high rate. But George has also used his very impressive frame to earn a reputation as one of the league’s best wing defenders, particularly among high-usage offensive players.

    For all of these reasons, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported Monday morning that signing George is considered to be the Sixers’ primary objective this summer.

    This makes sense: George’s on-court fit with Embiid and Maxey is pristine, the Sixers are aiming to win a championship next season and he may be the single best player attainable for the team this offseason.

    In theory, George is the absolute perfect third star to play in between Maxey and Embiid: he should be able to play alongside either or both of them and take over the team’s offense in spurts when necessary while also bolstering the team’s wing defense. The key words: in theory.

    As clean as the fit seems on paper for George in Philadelphia, there are some significant reasons to be worried about whether signing him to a massive, long-term contract is a viable long-term solution to the Sixers’ current issues, as it might create new problems down the line.

    Let’s start with the drawbacks of George as a player: in the last four NBA seasons, he has played an average of 53.7 games per regular season. Once an iron man of sorts, he has developed a lengthy injury history in recent seasons that has damaged his durability. Meanwhile, George’s production as a defender lags far behind his reputation at this point — he does not expend nearly as much energy as he used to on that end of the floor (which is to be expected as he grapples with the aging process and a long list of injuries, but is still a cause for concern).

    There is no doubt that George is still a tremendous offensive talent: he has averaged 24.1 points per game over the last six regular seasons with an impressive 58.8 true shooting percentage, is a true three-level scoring threat, and has even improved his passing — once considered a bit of a hole in his game.

    But, for what it is worth, George has developed a reputation as a player who shies away from the moment when the playoffs come around. Not dissimilar to Embiid, he has still been a good player in those moments, but has clearly not reached his full potential. His efficiency takes a dip in the postseason most years (not too uncommon, in a general sense), and he has been part of several ugly, disappointing playoff exits.

    On the day the Clippers were eliminated from the first round of the NBA Playoffs earlier this month at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks — a game in which George shot 6-18 from the field — Robert Flom, who covers the team for 213Hoops, summed up concerns about George’s playoff production as they relate to the Sixers succinctly:

    “Sixers fans who want their max players to be aggressive in key moments are in for a world of disappointment if PG does end up there.”

    Speaking of a maximum contract, the price of adding George is another significant factor here that could lead the Sixers to be nervous. In order to pry George away from his home state of California and the Clippers, the Sixers will likely have to offer him the most they possibly can — and not a single penny below it.

    While the Clippers have the advantage of being able to offer George a five-year deal, it seems nearly impossible that they would go to those lengths given George’s age and injury history. Leonard’s three-year deal may have been an attempt at setting a precedent for George’s future deal with the team — if one is to actually come to fruition.

    If the Clippers stick to that timeline, the Sixers have a chance to usurp them by offering George the longest deal they are allowed to, a four-year pact. Because George has more than 10 years of NBA service, his maximum contract starts at 35 percent of the salary cap. If he signs with the Sixers, he can receive raises of up to five percent each season. Here is what George’s maximum contract would look like if he came to Philadelphia:

    Season (George age) Salary
    2024-25 (34) $49,350,000
    2025-26 (35) $51,817,500
    2026-27 (36) $54,285,000
    2027-28 (37) $56,752,500

    That comes out to four years and $212,205,000 — a staggering number, even for a player with George’s track record.

    To create the requisite salary cap space to sign this deal, the Sixers would need to gut their roster by renouncing the vast majority of their free agents. Letting go of Tobias Harris will not hurt; watching Buddy Hield walk would not be a crushing blow either. But signing George might make it impossible for the team to bring back someone like De’Anthony Melton, who could potentially be signed to another deal below his market value after dealing with two years of back injuries.

    Of course, in a vacuum, swapping Melton for George while letting two high-priced disappointments in Harris and Hield sign elsewhere is a promising proposition. But if the Sixers renounce nearly all of their free agents to sign George, they will have very limited resources to fill out the rest of their roster.

    The best the Sixers could do in terms of keeping their own free agents in-house after a theoretical deal George addition would be keeping their rights to Maxey — who is primed to sign a five-year contract of his own worth $204,450,000 this summer — as well as two of their players who were on veteran’s minimums this season (likely Kelly Oubre Jr. and either Cam Payne or KJ Martin). That would mean they lose their ability to go over the cap to sign whichever of Payne and Martin they do not retain, as well as Melton, Nic Batum, Kyle Lowry and others — all of these players would only be able to sign with the Sixers for their minuscule remaining cap space, a salary cap exception or a veteran’s minimum deal.

    Spending nearly $50 million on a player next season will be well worth it for the Sixers if that player genuinely elevates them into championship status. But the idea of paying George over $56.7 million in 2027-28, when he will be 38 years old by the time the playoffs end, is daunting.

    On paper, George could not be a better fit alongside Embiid and Maxey to form a dominant trio in Philadelphia which could compete with anybody in the Eastern Conference and the NBA. But, like most matters with the Sixers, it is just never quite that simple. While the upside of inking George to the four-year deal he would likely command from the team is palpable, so are the massive risks that come with such a move.

    MORE: Sixers offseason FAQ

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

    Follow PhillyVoice on Twitter: @thephillyvoice

    Adam Aaronson

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  • Report: Eagles sign tight end C.J. Uzomah to one-year deal

    Report: Eagles sign tight end C.J. Uzomah to one-year deal

    The Eagles are adding depth at tight end. The team is reportedly signing CJ Uzomah to a one-year deal, per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. 

    Uzomah, entering his age-31 season, had eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown in 12 games with the Jets last season. His best season came with the Bengals in 2021 when they went on to the Super Bowl, putting up a 49-493-5 stat line. 

    Uzomah will compete for the TE2 role in Philly behind the entrenched Dallas Goedert.

    Here’s a video of his lone 2023 touchdown:

    MORE: Eagles mock draft roundup

    Follow Shamus & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @shamus_clancy | @thePhillyVoice

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    Shamus Clancy

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  • Houston Texans Re-Sign Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to Three Year, $15.9 Million Deal

    Houston Texans Re-Sign Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to Three Year, $15.9 Million Deal

    Thus far, if we’ve learned anything since the Texans returned from the NFL Scouting Combine last week, it’s that the team is heavily focused on bringing back some fo their veteran free agents who would be hitting the open market next week. On Tuesday, it was tight end Dalton Schultz re-upping with the Texans on a three year, $36 million deal.

    On Wednesday, it was kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn, signing a three year, $15.9 million deal to return to the team in 2024 and beyond, as first reported by ESPN.com’s D.J. Bien Aime:

    A few thoughts on the Texans checking off an important box on their offseason to-do list:

    Fairbairn is getting paid like one of the best, because he’s been one of the best
    The $5.3 million annual salary puts Fairbairn fourth on the list of kickers in the NFL, with Justin Tucker of Baltimore l leading the way at $6 million per year. The money for Fairbairn is well deserved. He converted 27 of 28 field goal attempts in 2023. Fairbairn missed five games with a  quad injury, but returned strong, and went 9 for 9 to close out the regular season. He went 2 for 3 in the playoffs. Fairbairn’s career field goal percentage of 87.1 percent ranks third among all kickers with at least 100 games played since 2017, and his 94.9 percent field goal conversation rate since 2020 ranks first among kickers who’ve played in at least 25 games. On kickoffs, he is a practically automatic touchback kicker. In short, Fairbairn has been excellent.

    Fairbairn’s injury in 2023 may have actually helped him get this deal done
    If there is one concern, though, it would be injuries. In the last three seasons, Fairbairn has missed nine games — four in 2021, and five in 2023. Ironically, though, Fairbairn’s missing games in 2023 may have actually helped the case to pay him, as the experience of trotting replacement kicker Matt Ammendola out there for each kick was a harrowing adventure. Absence certainly made the heart grow fonder of Fairbairn, and I would say the same thing about punter Cam Johnston, also a free agent, and how it felt trotting Ty Zentner out there for four games to start the 2023 season, while Johnston convalesced from a leg injury.

    Special teams is clearly a priority for the Texans
    While $5.3 million for a kicker may sound pricy, it does line up with the way the Texans prioritize special teams. They were among the highest spenders in the NFL on specialists in 2023, and if they re-sign Johnston, they likely shoot to the top of the list. The results, though, have been worth it, as Fairbairn and Johnston have been key contributors to some of the best special teams units in the league over the last few seasons. Spending in areas like the kicking game will likely always be a thing under GM Nick Caserio.

    The strategy is simple — we trust the ones we know
    DeMeco Ryans said it at the combine last week — the Texans place a heavy value on knowing players as PEOPLE, knowing how they react to adversity, and knowing how they fit in the team’s locker room. As a result, they will attempt to bring back as many GOOD players as they can. The re-signing of Fairbairn clings with this strategy. The question now is “Who’s next?”

    Listen to Sean Pendergast on SportsRadio 610 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays. Also, follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/SeanTPendergast, on Instagram at instagram.com/sean.pendergast, and like him on Facebook at facebook.com/SeanTPendergast.

    Sean Pendergast

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  • This is Still the Same Tobias – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    This is Still the Same Tobias – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Let’s all just take a chill pill on Tobias Harris. I get it. He scored a lot of points the last two games and was a significant factor in the Sixers getting two good wins. He played great. The only problem is, he has done this his whole time with the Sixers and his whole career before that.

    Last 10 Games

    Minus these last two games, Harris has scored over 20 points just one time. He averaged just 13 points per game in that 8-game stretch before games against the Hornets and the Mavs. Then, when you put those two games into the averages, voila, that average shoots up to over 16 ppg. 16 ppg is great, but the inconsistency kills.

    Career Numbers

    Over his career, he has averaged 16.3 ppg on around 47% shooting and a respectable 36.9% from 3. If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, then I’m not sure what will. Those are essentially the exact number that he has put up over the last 10 games. Decent averages does not mean a good player. He has made a living from sub-par play boosted by the occasional 2-5 game stretch of good basketball that inflates his numbers to make him seem like a much better player than he is.

    This season, he averages 17.6 points per game, 50% field goal, and 35.6% from 3. These are the same numbers! He is who he is and there’s no changing that.

    Common Misconceptions

    There’s a state going around that says the Sixers are 98-47 when Harris scored 20 or more points. OK? I bet most teams win more than they lose when more players score more points. That’s just common sense. The problem with that stat is: he’s played 362 games. He has scored 20 or more points in just 145/362 games. Broken down, that equals approximately 2 out of every 5 games. That’s not good enough for a near-max contract player.

    Also, some people say “Tobias Harris can’t score like he used to anymore. He’s getting old.”

    No he’s not.

    Just look at his career numbers. They are the same this year as they have been every year. It’s not that he isn’t the player he was with us just a couple years ago. It’s that he isn’t sharing the court with the most dominant scorer the NBA has had in years (that’s Joel Embiid if you didn’t know).

    How Much More of This?

    Luckily, this is the last year of Tobias’ contract. It’s safe to say we only have to watch this consistently inconsistent basketball for just a few more months.

    The only way two ways Tobias stays:

    • They win the NBA finals
    • He comes back on a very team friendly deal (I mean he owes us right?)

    Those are the only two conditions that could warrant this man returning to Philadelphia next season. Daryl Morey will make a huge mistake resigning him. Even if he does sign a team friendly deal, I don’t think many people will be happy with it. He will have to take a reduced role, which could be awkward, and he’d be making less money. He would be better suited playing for a bad team where he can be his inconsistent self.

     

     

    Picture from Getty Images

    Collin Benjamin

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  • Scott Boras talks potential Yankees targets Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto and more

    Scott Boras talks potential Yankees targets Cody Bellinger, Juan Soto and more

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Standing on a soapbox before dozens of reporters, Scott Boras held court and delivered customary one-liners on Wednesday in Arizona.

    Naturally, the agent discussed a number of his clients. But he also spoke on the Yankees and what their approach could look like this offseason after failing to make the playoffs in 2023.

    “I watched an interview yesterday that said to me that they might be aggressive,” Boras said, poking a little fun at Brian Cashman’s unmeasured media scrum on Tuesday. “I’m not sure, I don’t know. I mean, look, they’ve got two top-five players in the game and they’re the New York Yankees, largest revenues in the game. Why wouldn’t they want to reward their fan base with New York Yankee conduct?”

    While it would be bad business for Boras to rule out the Bombers as suitors for any of his clients, it remains to be seen what Yankee conduct will look like this winter considering the team has a ton of needs. Boras, meanwhile, reps a few players who could fill those holes. Here’s what he had to say about players that may make sense for the Yankees.

    CODY BELLINGER

    Bellinger dominated Boras’ media availability, as the former MVP is coming off a bounce-back year with the Cubs that saw him hit .307/.356/.525 with 26 homers, 97 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

    Cashman, meanwhile, said the Yankees need two outfielders and left-handed bats this offseason. While there are concerns over Bellinger’s cost, injury history and underlying metrics — his exit velo, Barrel% and Hard-Hit% didn’t rank particularly well in 2023 — he checks those boxes. The former Dodger is also playoff-tested and still relatively young.

    “You’ve got a five-tool player,” Boras insisted. “Obviously, in the years prior to coming to the Cubs, he had a partial performance due to just lack of strength. He had surgery, broken leg, all those things. But I think it’s pretty evident that when you have youth and you’re 28, you’re a rare free agent. You have a lot of options. But when he came to Chicago, he just feasted on major league pitching.”

    Boras said that Bellinger has told him to “listen to everybody.” Asked directly if the Yankees have expressed interest in Bellinger, Boras said “there’s broad interest” in the slugger.

    “Cody’s played in major markets,” Boras added, “so he just wants to play on a winning team.”

    Boras later told the Daily News that Bellinger would be “comfortable” in New York, where his dad, Clay, played from 1999-2001.

    Boras said that most teams are looking at Bellinger as a centerfielder, but he can also play first base. The agent also said that Bellinger had a “great experience” in Chicago, but it will take a sizeable payday for the Cubs to retain him.

    “I think Chicago got the comforts of a full Belly,” Boras said. “So they’re going to have to loosen their belts to keep Bellinger.”

    JUAN SOTO

    Soto will be the prize of the offseason — if the Padres decide to trade him. However, Boras said that San Diego indicated otherwise when he met with the club.

    “They laid out their plan for next year, which obviously included a lineup that definitely includes Juan Soto,” Boras said. “They’re obviously looking for more left-handed bats, rather than less. That’s for sure.

    “Their ownership is highly committed to winning.”

    Boras also downplayed a recent report from The Athletic that said the Padres took out a $50 million loan to help cover payroll. According to Boras, lots of teams take out loans; they just don’t always get reported.

    “It doesn’t necessarily mean the implication that they are not financially adept or successful,” he said.

    Either way, moving Soto would help the Padres pay for other needs, particularly in the pitching department. The young superstar, also a left-handed hitting outfielder, is projected to make a record-setting $33 million in arbitration this winter. He’s slated to then receive a megadeal in free agency next offseason.

    Given the financial ramifications, the Yankees make sense as a Soto suitor.

    JUNG HOO LEE

    For those that don’t know, Lee is a lefty-hitting, Japanese centerfielder who has become a star in Korea. The 25-year-old is expected to make the transition to the majors this offseason.

    Boras said that close to half the league has inquired about Lee, a .340 career hitter who hit 23 homers with 113 RBI two seasons ago. An ankle injury limited him to 86 games this past season.

    “He can play defense,” Boras said. “He has power. I think Jung Hoo’s gonna bring K-pop to MLB.”

    Boras also highlighted Lee’s bat-to-ball skills and low strikeout rate, which fell below 6% each of the last two seasons.

    “To have that low strikeout rate and strike zone control really has created a lot of interests with teams,” Boras said.

    Boras declined to say if Lee had any preferred markets or if the Yankees have expressed interest. He will hold a workout in the coming weeks so that teams can gauge his agility and health.

    JORDAN MONTGOMERY

    Could the Yankees reunite with Montgomery following his impressive postseason run?

    Boras didn’t dismiss the idea, stating that “Jordan is taking all proposals from all teams.” While there’s no benefit in Boras dismissing a potential suitor, Cashman said that he wants to add pitching. However, Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto figures to be higher on the Yankees’ shopping list.

    Boras added that he expects the pitching market to move quickly.

    MATT CHAPMAN

    Cashman noted that the Yankees have a surplus of infielders, including some younger players. However, if they want more of a sure thing at third base, few are better defensively than Chapman, who can also lengthen a lineup.

    “When you think of bronze, you think of third. But when it comes to Chappy and third, you’re always gold,” Boras quipped. “As far as his bat, I’m not giving you lip service, but the Chap-stick really has a lot to do with the potentials and advances of a core lineup.”

    Gary Phillips

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  • Texas Rangers ink free-agent ace Jacob deGrom to 5-year deal

    Texas Rangers ink free-agent ace Jacob deGrom to 5-year deal

    ARLINGTON, Texas — Free-agent ace Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers agreed to a five-year contract Friday.

    The two-time Cy Young Award winner leaves the New York Mets after nine seasons — the past two shortened by injuries.

    After making his first start last season in early August, deGrom went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA. He helped the Mets reach the playoffs, then opted out of his contract to become a free agent.

    Texas announced the signing Friday night after the 34-year-old deGrom passed his physical.

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    AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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