When a move is made, whether we like it or not, we can typically suss out the thought process behind it. Today’s move, albeit in the early stages of its disclosure, is a head-scratcher.
Mariners agree to deal with Marco Gonzales. 2 years, $1.9M. Interesting deal for player who isn’t yet arb eligible, seems quite good for Marco.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 1, 2018
Now, this is good for Marco Gonzales, who deserves a raise based on his production. But the timing is uncommon in MLB extensions. Gonzales has two more seasons before he is eligible for arbitration, after which he’ll have three more years of his salary escalating based on his performance, before finally reaching free agency, in his case around age-32.