They had like 2 weeks to get it all done after the initial announcement.  Speculation is that they found something concerning in his latest physical and want to convert the player option to a team option.  Disappointing that it didn't get done, because now we likely wait months.

Perhaps his physical hasn't been completed and it's required as a condition of the contract.

The best young starter on the planet! https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1466832429818298373?fbclid=IwAR3-yiW2wwTKstet2-fcrffpTccQIddMal26lNhQWeuXSzajKolXBt5Vso4

Locally they say Verlander signed/agreed to the deal but is still a free agent until after the lockout ends.  Can anyone explain this to me?  Sounds crazy.

Change the expiry date on the next CBA to February 1 and we'd get a deal done in about two weeks. There's no incentive for either side to chat until Spring Training gets a bit closer. 

That seems like a good starting point, Howard.  But personally I'd like to see guys like Ranger Suarez get a salary bump pre-arb.  So for me, a wider pool would be better.  And a salary bump would also help the establish a higher baseline for when they reach arbitration.

How about bonuses based upon MVP and/or Cy Young and/or Rookie of the Year votes?

Yeah, my point wasn't focused specifically on WAR, just some way to recognize and reward outstanding performance from pre-arb players.  And the dollars could come from the competitive balance pool.

If I were Commissioner King, this would be the plan:

Regarding age-based free agency, I'd make it an either/or.  Either age X or X years of service time.  Can't penalize the prodigies with a solely age-based qualification IMO.

I'd take care of the pre-arb guys (and minor-leaguers for that matter), let the stars get their money, and free up the mediocre guys at a specific age.  I know, player costs go up.  But I'd keep some kind of soft salary threshold that significantly penalizes guys like Cohen that can't control themselves. I'd make those guys fund the higher player costs.  

And yes, you gotta have a salary floor paired with a draft lottery to deter tanking.

I like Bob's idea of having the league pay some kind of bonuses from the Competitive Balance Pool, thus eliminating the incentive for low budget teams to reduce opportunity in order to minimize payouts.

I'm looking forward to the first 80 game winner as WS Champs.

How about bonuses based on Plate Appearances and Innings Pitched?

Playing time is SORT of a proxy (at the lowest level) for contribution (i.e. we thought you were good enough to trot you out onto the field).

Both sides proposed expanded playoffs.  Barf barf barf.  Maybe we can have a World Series game in December while we're at it.

Bonuses based on WAR? A loud no to that.

But I'm not sure what's wrong with age-based free agency. If the two sides could agree to what the age is. That won't be easy.

The thing I dread most when the CBA is finally hashed out: expanded playoffs. That seems all but a given.

I have a similar price for him. Of course in the shortened season seven steals is the equivalent of 18 steals in a regular season. And these days hitting .245 actually has some value. Shiver.

Lucius Fox up from the depths.

Can we bring Nationals' speedster Lucius Fox up from the depths?  He was recently claimed off waivers from Boston and has a shot at an opening day slot next year for the Nats.

In amongst all the BS that MLB spewed in their letter to fans, there was one truth.  We fans really don't want our stars to reach free agency any faster.  No one likes to see their stars leave.  I hated seeing Harper and Rendon leave the Nats and I don't like seeing Correa leave my Astros.  That said, I hate seeing my teams pay obvious future stars $550k for 3 years on "take it or leave it" contracts.  Seems like 2 things would help: 1) get them to arbitration faster and 2) pay bonuses (maybe based on WAR) to the pre-arbitration guys who excel.

For low-revenue teams, these bonuses could be paid by the league directly, using competitive balance tax revenues.  The rich teams could pay their own way.  Probably this is too common-sense of a solution to be workable?

Are h8s 2020 earnings correct?  $12/$11 for .245 and 9 BI and no HR?  Or did he earn on the "strength" of 7 SBs?

I changed his date of birth this morning. What I couldn't do is fix is BIS ID. I wrote to Sports Info Solutions to find out how they deal with guys like Suarez who appear out of the head of Athena. Figuratively. I'll share when I hear back.

Yet most Reds fans (unjustly) blame David Bell for his lack of offense(and. everything else that doesn't go perfectly). I wasn't sold from Day 1 on his offense.