J.J. Hardy would like to stay, but 'everything changes' in free agency

[CA-ORIOLE]

It would be nice to hear some specifics. Did they actually exchange offers/demands?

Hardy on April 21:

http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=10814449&src=desktop

That doesn't sound like talks had occurred where the parties were far apart.

It would be nice, but it's not like contract negotiations are updated on twitter. They are not talked about that much by GM's. Maybe by agents and players.

I did hear DD state pretty clearly in an interview they did make contact with Hardy's agent and they were too far apart. I'm paraphrasing as I don't remember the exact verbage. To be honest, that doesn't even matter. I have every reason to believe that Duquette has done his due diligence with respect to a Hardy extension and zero reason to believe that he has basically blown off that responsibility as you seem to be continually insinuating.

We've been over this before. Players hurt feelings and off the cuff comments aren't all that relevant to what may have actually transpired.

[Frobby]

It would be nice, but it's not like contract negotiations are updated on twitter. They are not talked about that much.

I did hear DD state pretty clearly in an interview they did make contact with Hardy's agent and they were too far apart. I'm paraphrasing as I don't remember the exact verbage. To be honest, that doesn't even matter. I have every reason to believe that Duquette has done his due diligence with respect to a Hardy extension and zero reason to believe that he has basically blown off that responsibility as you seem to be continually insinuating.

I am simply taking what Hardy said at face value. I don't recall hearing about or reading the Duquette interview you are referring to, so if anyone can point me to it, I'd appreciate it. They did have a preliminary discussion, reported in late February as follows:

The Orioles had a face-to-face meeting with Hardy’s representation late last week with the intention of initiating extension talks.

The 31-year-old Hardy, who has been one of the top power-hitting shortstops in the game and is the glue of the Orioles infield, has long said he’d like to remain in Baltimore for the long term.

“It’s something where I feel like they’ve had other stuff going on [before addressing my contract situation],” Hardy said on Monday. “Obviously we’ve made some nice moves here, and I think that’s kind of the main thing to knock out right now, which is fine. It doesn’t bother me one bit.”

Hardy, who was one of two American League players to win Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards last season, is in the final year of a three-year, $22.5-million deal. He becomes a free agent at the end of the season.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette has told Hardy twice this offseason that the team is interested in an extension — once at the Gold Glove award ceremony in October and again at last month’s FanFest in Baltimore — but this is the first time that the club has reached out to Hardy’s representatives, the player said.

Asked Monday about pursuing an extension with Hardy, Duquette would only reiterate that he had said the club plans to pursue it in spring training.

“We said we were going to take a crack at it during the spring,” Duquette said, “so that is in process.”

Last week’s discussions were preliminary, Hardy said, and no numbers were discussed.

“We’ll see where it goes,” Hardy said. “I guess that is the first step.”

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-02-24/sports/bal-orioles-initiate-dialogue-with-jj-hardy-regarding-extension-talks-20140224_1_orioles-manager-buck-showalter-orioles-executive-vice-president-matt-wieters

I do recall Duquette saying he wouldn't have extension talks during the season. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-05-12/sports/bal-orioles-no-contract-extension-talks-during-season-dan-duquette-20140512_1_dan-duquette-first-baseman-chris-davis-matt-wieters

[CA-ORIOLE]

I am simply taking what Hardy said at face value.

And I'm saying that's a pretty huge mistake on your part.

[Frobby]

And I'm saying that's a pretty huge mistake on your part.

OK, but don't accuse me of "insinuating" what DD did. I've got a basis to say what I said, and for now, no contrary evidence. By the way, go back to read my last post, which I've edited since you responded. It looks like Hardy's reps met with the O's reps in late February, but per Hardy, "no numbers were discussed."

[zkoutdoors]

Hardy is my favorite player on the Orioles. However, I don't blame the guy for testing the market if they let him get that far. I like my job, but if I could go somewhere else and make more money, feel wanted and be happy, I would at least consider it.

[weams]

The thing that confuses me is that at Fanfest, Duquette threw cold water on any hopes that he was going to resume long-term talks with Wieters or Davis, but made it very clear that he was planning to discuss an extension with Hardy. Here's what I posted at Fanfest:

TonyS also reported Dan had said the same thing to a Delmarva newspaper the week before Fanfest.

Duquette could have just stayed silent on Hardy, but he went out of his way to say they were going to talk with him about an extension, and then it seems there was little or no follow-up. Very puzzling.

Brady met with J.J. 's agent. He must have casually mentioned Jhonny Peralta to Mr. Anderson in that casual informal discussion that really went nowhere. Or not. Maybe J.J. wants to play for 12 a year.

[weams]

It would be nice to hear some specifics. Did they actually exchange offers/demands?

Hardy on April 21:

http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=10814449&src=desktop

That doesn't sound like talks had occurred where the parties were far apart.

Jhonny Peralta

[weams]

A question comes to my mind. If Duquette met with Hardy's agent in late February and no numbers were discussed, then what was discussed. Hardy's rep might have conveyed that they would be expecting a Peralta type contract as a starting point. Technically, that's not discussing numbers. They must have discussed something.

Well we know what happened when Scott Boras casually mentioned Joe Mauer to Dan Duquette.

[Three Run Homer]

I would be OK with the O's not signing JJ Hardy to a big money long-term deal.

I would be OK with the O's resigning Nick Markakis, at a team-friendly deal.

I would not be OK with the O's letting JJ walk, and then resigning Markakis to a big money, long term deal. No way should Nick be seen as more valuable or important to the O's now than JJ Hardy. Tenure and ethnic pride should not factor into the O's decisions on Markakis.

[weams]

OK, but don't accuse me of "insinuating" what DD did. I've got a basis to say what I said, and for now, no contrary evidence. By the way, go back to read my last post, which I've edited since you responded. It looks like Hardy's reps met with the O's reps in late February, but per Hardy, "no numbers were discussed."

I am sure something happened. And I have never heard what that might have been. Glad J.J. played well this year despite whatever controversy there is. On an impending FA. That is going to get one crack at this. And has a bad back.

[weams]

I would be shocked if Duquette did that.

Dan would have Lee Thomas lose the signed paperwork if it were presented to him. In a pond somewhere.

[CA-ORIOLE]

OK, but don't accuse me of "insinuating" what DD did. I've got a basis to say what I said, and for now, no contrary evidence. By the way, go back to read my last post, which I've edited since you responded. It looks like Hardy's reps met with the O's reps in late February, but per Hardy, "no numbers were discussed."

If no "numbers" were discussed what do you think the discussed? Years maybe? Similar player contracts as a comparison of value maybe? or they just talked about nothing?

So you know for a fact know that no further discussions took place between DD and Hardy's agent in the Spring then as DD said they would? Before DD said he would not engage in any extension talks in May.

Yes of course you are insinuating DD has not followed through or been negligent in some way. You've done the same thing before. What else would you call it? You take Hardy's word at face value when you know DD is limited in what he can say in these matters. Maybe you take Hardy's feelings at face value, but he may not know crap about what what actually went on between DD and his agent.

[weams]

If no "numbers" were discussed what do you think the discussed? Years maybe? Similar player contracts as a comparison of value maybe? or they just talked about nothing?

So you for a fact know that no further discussions took place between DD and Hardy's agent in the Spring then as DD said they would? Before DD said he would not engage in any extension talks in May.

Yes of course you are insinuating DD has not followed through or been negligent in some way. You've done the same thing before. What else would you call it? You take Hardy's word at face value when you know DD is limited in what he can say in these matters. Maybe you take Hardy's feelings at face value, but he may not know crap about what what actually went on between DD and his agent.

It was actually Brady that met with him.

[mdbdotcom]

I would be OK with the O's not signing JJ Hardy to a big money long-term deal.

I would be OK with the O's resigning Nick Markakis, at a team-friendly deal.

I would not be OK with the O's letting JJ walk, and then resigning Markakis to a big money, long term deal. No way should Nick be seen as more valuable or important to the O's now than JJ Hardy. Tenure and ethnic pride should not factor into the O's decisions on Markakis.

Among Hardy, Markakis, and Cruz, Cruz is the only one who needs to be signed. The lack of power on the free agent market will push up the price of power on the trade market. If Cruz walks and Davis can't be counted on, we're screwed. The only aspect of Nick's game that will be hard to replace is his arm. As for Hardy, they may not replace him entirely, but we can win without him. We can't win without a cleanup hitter.

Give JJ a QO. Cut Nick loose. Sign Cruz.

[weams]

It was actually Brady that met with him.

From Roch:

Shortstop J.J. Hardy said his agent, Mike Seal, met with team executives Brady Anderson and Tripp Norton a few days ago while in Sarasota on other business, but there was no "contract talk."

Contract talk. What does that mean. Did Roch misinterpret something?