Signing(s): Rays sign Wander Franco to 11 year deal/185 M with 1 yr option

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Wow.

They get 6 FA years.

Click to read more...

 

[DougieSmash]

I love it. Good for Tampa.

 

[John Price]

He was called up last season.

 

[John Price]

 

[Terry Yake]

the rays spending big money?

wow

 

[John Price]

 

[Scandale du Jour]

I wonder if Stephan Bronfmann approved this contract

Bad jokes asides, I am glad that the Rays are spending on a cornerstone player. They have been GREAT a developing talent, it would be cool if they can retain some of it and contend for a long time. They built their team "the right way".

 

[These Are The Days]

So this is what it's like to have something nice!

 

[82Ninety42011]

Huge gamble from both sides indeed. He could be leaving huge dollars on table however being set for life can't hurt. Congratulations to Rays nice to see them lock up talent instead of trading it away.

 

[Perennial]

I'm not familiar with the player, but in theory I think it's best to sign your young players to these kinds of deals if you believe they're a foundational piece of your long term core...

With that said, baseball history is filled with players who seemed like future perennial all-stars at an early age, only to wind up as fringe major leaguers a few years later

 

[Perennial]

Huge gamble from both sides indeed. He could be leaving huge dollars on table however being set for life can't hurt. Congratulations to Rays nice to see them lock up talent instead of trading it away.

I don't see the gamble from the player's perspective...

 

[82Ninety42011]

I don't see the gamble from the player's perspective...

If he's as good as they think he's leaving huge coin on table. These guys are making 30 plus a year now for top talent. He's giving them 6 Free agent years. I mean he's still making a bundle regardless. Risk on both sides. He could regress to I mean he's just a rookie.

 

[Blitzkrug]

That is a stupidly good deal for the Rays.

Franco was believed to be a 5 tool player coming through the minors and he showed flashes of that considering he piled up as much WAR in half a season than most MVP candidates did. And now they got him a bargain compared to what other young guys like Vlad Jr is gonna get and Tatis already got.

Unreal

 

[Quid Pro Clowe]

Bet in 3-4 years they unload him for a ton of value.

 

[These Are The Days]

Bet in 3-4 years they unload him for a ton of value.

Dodgers 2nd best pitching prospect, #3 starter and vet shortstop here we come baby!!!

 

[BSHH]

It may seem as if Franco left lots of millions on the table by signing that deal. But it would be incredibly stupid to gamble away the first $ 180m you may earn. Even if he finds out he threw away the same amount, he has lived a large part of his life in total financial security.

Gruß,
BSHH

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Wow

Good deal for Franco IMO , Bit risky for Rays as there has been plenty of guys come into league and fade away after good start

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

I mean I understand the financial security but he's potentially passing up on a lot of money that he could use on another yacht, and in Tampa it would be nice to have that extra yacht.

 

[Voight]

I hope they keep him for the whole duration but as he gets better, it'll be even easier for them to trade him given he's locked into a very good deal with tons of term.

Nice to see them open the cheque book. A little weird tho.

 

[Cas]

The Rays basically are buying out Franco's free agency years at $25-28 M per year. If he's even just a good player, this is a smart deal for them - the risk is that he collapses and they can't cut bait, but every team in baseball can afford a contract like that.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

The fact that people are calling this a steal, not that I’m saying it isn’t, shows how drastically underpaid Acuna is

 

[Terry Yake]

rays did this with longoria too i believe

guess they only open up the checkbook for franchise cornerstones

 

[Voight]

rays did this with longoria too i believe

guess they only open up the checkbook for franchise cornerstones

Yea, he got 6 years.100 million back in 2012 if I remember correctly. This is now only their 2nd 100 million deal in team history.

 

[bov]

Very cool to see the Rays make that commitment and happy for Franco. He is a phenomenal talent.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Man, after 70 career games