In the ever-evolving landscape of MLB contracts, locking in young talent with multi-year extensions has become a savvy move for teams looking to secure their future. The Chicago Cubs recently made headlines by signing Pete Crow-Armstrong to a six-year, $115 million deal. This move not only solidifies their roster but also delays Crow-Armstrong’s free agency by two years, pushing it from 2030 to 2032.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in a similar position with Andy Pages, a player who had a standout season. While they haven’t started extension talks yet, there’s a compelling case for why they might want to. Securing Pages now could mean getting him at a bargain, locking in his talent at below-market rates before he hits free agency.
For Pages, the decision is a balancing act. Signing an extension now offers financial security and mitigates the risk of injuries or performance dips that could impact future earnings. The Dodgers have seen both sides of this coin with players like Walker Buehler and Cody Bellinger, where injuries and performance shifts affected their value.
Historically, the Dodgers haven’t been quick to extend players still under team control, a strategy more common among smaller market teams aiming to retain talent beyond the standard six years. However, this approach involves weighing risks and rewards. Early extensions can backfire, as might have been the case with Buehler, but they can also secure valuable players like Corey Seager at a lower cost.
This strategic dance of risk and reward isn’t unique to the Dodgers. Other teams have ventured into similar territory.
Players like Jackson Merrill, Jacob Wilson, Lawrence Butler, and Ezequiel Tovar have all inked extensions while under team control. The Milwaukee Brewers recently signed their top prospect, Cooper Pratt, to an eight-year, $51 million deal before he even made his MLB debut.
Looking back, the Houston Astros set a precedent in 2014 by signing Jon Singleton to a five-year, $10 million extension despite him having no MLB experience. Although that particular gamble didn’t pay off, it paved the way for other teams to consider similar strategies.
In the end, these extensions are about foresight and calculated risk, a game of chess where both player and team must agree on the stakes and potential rewards. It’s a fascinating aspect of the sport that adds another layer to the already complex world of baseball contracts.