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Post by Evil Yoda on Oct 9, 2014 15:19:20 GMT -5
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Post by highmc2 on Oct 9, 2014 16:34:35 GMT -5
Hardy is the glue that kept that young infield together. He is as steady as they come. Strength up the middle.
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Post by alienrace on Oct 9, 2014 18:03:56 GMT -5
Word is Cruz and Markakis deals are imminent as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2014 18:23:04 GMT -5
The bellwether was the 4-year/$52 million contract Jhonny Peralta signed with St. Louis last winter, so Hardy's deal is right in line with that one. I'm a bit surprised he agreed to three years since I figured he could get a slightly longer term elsewhere. |
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Post by mmmbeer on Oct 9, 2014 21:05:31 GMT -5
good deal if he stays healthy
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Post by Evil Yoda on Oct 10, 2014 10:35:13 GMT -5
Word is Cruz and Markakis deals are imminent as well. Finally we have a team/manager people who are talented want to play for. After years of not having that. Years. What's the source? There's nothing on the official site or ESPN. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2014 1:14:53 GMT -5
Hardy's contract also includes a $14 million vesting option based on a yet-to-disclosed number of plate appearances and a $ 2million buyout. I'm also guessing that Hardy will likely have to pass a physical to complete the vesting. What's interesting is that the contract stipulates if Hardy is ever traded, the option vests automatically. That would be nice incentive for Hardy to approve a trade if that should ever come to pass, and particularly since he'll qualify as a 10-and-5 after next season.
I can't imagine Cruz switching agents just so he can go ahead and re-up with the Orioles. All signs point to him readying for a trip down the free-agent runway.
Cruz certainly has a few things going for him, namely, he's a righthanded power hitter at a time when they've become rarer than spotted owls. The downside is that he's 34 and, assuming the Orioles make him a qualifying offer, he'll have compensation attached to him.
I haven't heard anything regarding imminent deals for either Cruz or Markakis, but I'd expect Markakis to re-sign. Then again, the free agent outfield crop figures to be rather weak this winter, so any team looking for an outfield upgrade could certainly have interest in Nick. He does have a $17.5 million mutual option for next season, but those are rarely exercised to begin with and I doubt if the Orioles plan on doing so.
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