Jacob deGrom Refuses to Sign Contract (Feels Undervalued)

[MrTPlush]

Jacob DeGrom is protesting his $607,000 contract and is refusing to sign. DeGrom does not have 3 years of MLB experience so he is still in pre-arby:

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14900603/feeling-undervalued-jacob-degrom-declines-sign-new-york-mets-contract-protest

[StearnsFTW]

Tough noogies Jacob. Your union signed the CBA.

[MrTPlush]

Tough noogies Jacob. Your union signed the CBA.

 

Yah I don't see the goal here. I guess he is trying to make it an issue in hopes it gets fixed someday, but I can't fathom the owners taking away the "free" years. No one else has ever made a huge issue before. Usually agents are the ones to complain.

[ZBTMP]

Jacob DeGrom is protesting his $607,000 contract and is refusing to sign. DeGrom does not have 3 years of MLB experience so he is still in pre-arby:

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14900603/feeling-undervalued-jacob-degrom-declines-sign-new-york-mets-contract-protest

Not much sympathy. I do agree that his production does warrant more long term financial security than league minimum, but Im sure the Mets will gladly give him a higher salary if he wants to give up some arbitration and FA years. Although, I have more sympathy for him than Cole who has a sizable draft bonus in addition to his union negotiated salary.

[reillymcshane]

Shrug. Every year there is a player or two who do this.

[monty57]

He can always go out and get a "real job" if he feels so under-appreciated.

[Roderick]

Is there any team out there that "overpays" (compared to other teams) their prearby guys for any reason? Like the Mets and Brewers would pay DeGrom $650K or whatever, but Team X would pay that player $900k or $1M?

[DuWayne Steurer]

This is the way the system works. These guys know this before they get to the majors. Is it entirely fair? Probably not. They are playing their "best" years before they get to free agency, but this is the system, and the union agrees to it. If you don't like it, don't play baseball.

[DocLuna7]

Random question, but if a player were to "opt out" of the players Union ala Barry Bonds would they still be subject to the CBA?

[MrTPlush]

Is there any team out there that "overpays" (compared to other teams) their prearby guys for any reason? Like the Mets and Brewers would pay DeGrom $650K or whatever, but Team X would pay that player $900k or $1M?

 

I think the Angels paid $1mil to Trout.

[Lee16]

This seems like a good way to endear yourself to your peers.

[NYChez]

Russell Wilson started two Super Bowls and won one with a similar salary. Now he's filthy rich.

[SRB]

I tend to favor the players over the owners, but not much sympathy here. The system is set up so you are underpaid your first few years, and then wildly overpaid after signing free agent contracts.

[jerichoholicninja]

So if he hasn't signed can he participate in Spring Training?

[SRB]

Random question, but if a player were to "opt out" of the players Union ala Barry Bonds would they still be subject to the CBA?

 

Yes, of course. I mean, I don't know all the intricacies of the league/team setup, but the MLBPA is the exclusive union for all the players so they bargain the contract for everyone. You can't "opt out" of having MLBPA as your union. Bonds opted out of some separate thing involving licensing fees (not the CBA with the teams/league).

[DuWayne Steurer]

So if he hasn't signed can he participate in Spring Training?

 

 

Yes. The Mets simply renew his contract at whatever dollar value they choose, and he has no say in the matter. Of course, he can choose to simply not play if he wishes, but I think he's not going to do that, as he'd lose a year of service time, and then he'd REALLY be screwing himself over.

[MrTPlush]

I just don't get it. If he has such a problem why not sign an extension with the Mets. I am sure they would be willing to listen. This is how the system work. Play for minimum and gamble on yourself or take less money now.

[Thurston Fluff]

Considering the team spends a lot of money/years developing players it seems fair to get a few years of cheap pay for a few years. He didn't get where he is without their help.

[monty57]

Now that we have relations with Cuba, maybe he could sign on to their National Team. Or he could go to Japan, where the team pretty much owns the player.

 

Relative to other major sports in the U.S., MLB underpays players for the first few years, but relative to any other job anywhere in the world, he is doing pretty well for himself. Plus, he can get guaranteed money in baseball, so as MrTPlush alluded, he could probably guarantee himself tens of millions of dollars, even if he were to get injured and never play again, by signing an extension instead of going year-to-year. But, players who whine about being underpaid don't seem like candidates for extensions, as they are seemingly about maximizing the dollars they will receive.

[logan82]

Considering the team spends a lot of money/years developing players it seems fair to get a few years of cheap pay for a few years. He didn't get where he is without their help.

I kind of agree but those players are paid next to nothing until they are on the 40-man roster or have some time in the majors.

 

I would like to see the players get paid more earlier on but if the system wasn't set up the way it is teams like the Brewers would not be able to keep any players at all.

 

Fielder refused to sign at least once. I really don't think it is a big deal.

[paul253]

Boo Hoo. It still takes the average person 10 years or more to earn what he's earning in one, despite being "underpaid". It just amazes me how out of touch pro athletes continue to be. Maybe he should set up a Gofundme page for himself. I couldn't imagine having to survive off if $600k a year.

[Thurston Fluff]

Considering the team spends a lot of money/years developing players it seems fair to get a few years of cheap pay for a few years. He didn't get where he is without their help.

I kind of agree but those players are pain next to nothing until they are on the 40-man roster or have some time in the majors.

 

I would like to see the players get paid more earlier on but if the system wasn't set up the way it is teams like the Brewers would not be able to keep any players at all.

 

Fielder refused to sign at least once. I really don't think it is a big deal.

 

That's a fair point. I wouldn't mind at all if they raised the wages of minor league players across the board but neither the league nor the players are going to share their revenue to pay for the lower level players. Maybe it's time for a minor league union.

[monty57]

Well, since about 99% of minor leaguers do not make the majors, and since minor leagues do not bring in much revenue, I think they are probably paid fairly.

 

If a AA team signed a big TV deal, then I'm sure the players' salaries would go up, but as it stands the MLB teams probably lose a lot of money on their farm. Hard to argue wages should rise in that environment.

 

Signing bonuses for the players expected to make the majors have skyrocketed, but I don't see why teams should pay higher salaries, thereby losing more money, to guys filling out the minor league rosters when the majority of society barely realizes the minor leagues even exist.

 

For most of them, it's the decision to play a game they love playing, or make similar money doing something far less enjoyable.

[logan82]

Not sure how below minimum wage is fair.

[igor67]

Except that without the minor leaguers who never make it you wouldn't even have an environment to let the really good prospects practice and develop, so they are worth quite a bit. It is no significant loss of revenue at this point for the teams to pay these guys at least a comparable wage to what they could make elsewhere starting out in their early 20's. The AAA guys if they are vets are usually doing OK already, so you are talking round about 100-120 players total. 3-4 million total per team extra in expense would give them a reasonable salary (25-30,000 a year).