We are quickly approaching Spring Training and two of the best young players remain unsigned. Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are unemployed. A few years ago it would have been an insane bidding war to sign them, and now we are at a point where teams are hesitant.
I feel like the pendulum is swinging way too far to the other side. Teams are looking at the economics and saying that it does not make sense to sign these guys to such monster deals.
If teams begin to value those younger players who are under team control for multiple years and can be bought out with decent contract extensions that buy out those arbitration years (a young player may not want to risk losing out on a large sum of money), then it is only a matter of time before those young players begin to complain (there are already grumblings about it).
Players end up thinking they are being screwed, what will happen? My guess is they threaten a lockout in 2021 or perhaps they actually strike. So owners, you have to do it. You need to sign Harper and Machado for the good of the league. The risk is not nearly as great as they are afraid. I mean, this is not like signing an almost 30 year old Barry Zito to a seven year, $126 million contract. Harper and Machado are a few years younger and they should be very good for a long time.
Out of curiosity, where do you think Harper ends up next season? Obviously not Pittsburgh.
