Warehouse Wire 2035.10: Hearle and Medina extensions

[bcslouck]

A press report from the warehouse has announced contract extensions with 1B/DH Bryan Hearle and RP Marcos Medina. While neither are core players, both have been solid role players at times.

Heale's extension is a 3-year contract extension worth a total of $5,100,000 with team options on the last 2 years with a 50% buyout each of the 2 years. Medina's extension is also 3-year contract extension, but worth a total of $4,200,000. Medina also has a double team option with 50% buyouts. Sensing a theme?

While buyouts are normally not that high in contracts, these contracts are low enough where even if the team decides to buyout the last 2 years, it's only $3,600,000 total to get them off the roster. While that is not nothing, it won't break the bank for a team who's budget is rising and has had full cash reserves on the books the last few years. They can take the hit. Both extensions kick in next season.

Meanwhile, if both players perform well over the life of the contract, they shown flashes of being worth the total amount. Given that arbitration estimates can go up in a hurry if a player succeeds. Hearle as a strong side platoon 1B or DH has been a 1.000 OPS player as recently as 2032 and is still only 27. The Brit however struggled mightly in 2033 and 2034 at the ML level. This year was his last chance. After a strong Spring and good start to 2035, the team felt it'd be smart to take a chance on his finally rebounding by giving him some guaranteed money while also partially protecting the franchise if he doesn't.

Medina is a different story. It took him years to succeed at the ML level after showing flashes in 2024 in Calgary. Drafted by the Jimmies in the 2031-2032 Rule 5, he was returned after turning in a 7.13 ERA to go along with a 5.41 FIP. The team signed him to a MiLC in 2033 and again in 2034 after letting him hit free agency. At age 32 last season, he finally got a chance to show his stuff and was a big piece in the 106 win team's bullpen. In a long relief/lefty specialist role, he turned in a 3.52 ERA and 3.20 FIP season over 71.2 innings, striking out more than 1 per inning. The team bought out his arbitration year with a raise and has now given him an extension that he may of thought would never come after years of trying to make it. Now 33, the buyouts partially protect the team if his age starts to show.

While the team may have to put out money to these players if they decide to let them go, it's money that won't go against the cap. These deals are small gambles as both could easily be fixtures for the next 3 years or flame out and take their guaranteed money. If they stay in the mix and provide value to the team, chances are the deals will come out as huge bargains, which the team needs given the extensions given out this offseason.