[Mick]

I don’t think it will have a long term impact on the Giants.  The team is well-known for being a first class organization re: how they care for the players and their families.  

Quite frankly, I think Davis’ agent did him a great disservice.  He should have known all the rules regarding arbitration.  If he didn’t, he was negligent.  If he did, he failed to give his client sound advice.  (I think it was the latter).  

In the last week, I wonder how many players have talked to their agents about this case.

The Giants seem to be making a determined effort to destroy that reputation. I question whether the current reputation of management is somewhat cold and calculating. Players essentially being the equivalent of chess pieces. At the risk of incurring Mick’s wrath, I think that was part of the rationale in bringing in Melvin.


If the agent didn’t go through the scenario, then you’re right. There is always the chance that he did and Davis decided to roll the dice. We don’t know that part probably never will. Unless Davis fires his agent.

The other thing is timing. I believe the filing deadline for arbitration is something like January 11. And most teams, including the Giants, have a file and trial policy. They won’t negotiate during that time. Davis knew they were going after Chapman. But what really sealed the deal was when the Giants signed Soler.  Until that signing, there was a good chance that even if the Giants sign Chapman, Davis could stick because he could be the designated hitter.

I think Giants (CB poster) is correct...I think this was JD's agent's snafu, Matt Hannaford of ALIGND. Hannaford had to perform, JD Davis fired MVP sports group to go with Hannaford and ALIGND, so Hannaford was under pressure to perform. They could have accepted the Giants' offer of $6.4 million one hour prior to the arbitration filing deadline (this makes me think the Giants didn't go into this with malign intention), but ALIGND didn't even respond until there was 10 minutes to go before deadline and they said "any number you have needs to start with a 7." The difference between the two sides was negligible, just $400k. Free agent position players not named Ohtani were already having a very difficult time getting signed. Interestingly, ALIGND has a reputation similar to Boras, they get more dollars for their client than their actual value. This may have been a case of Hannaford pushing too hard for an arbitration win, thereby winning the battle and losing the war -- and ripping the Giants afterward for what was likely his fault:

Which agents squeeze out the most value for their MLB clients? | theScore.com

As for Davis's popularity in the clubhouse, I think Chapman will trump that popularity if he keeps hitting .333 with an HR every 12 at bats (like he did in spring training as of this post), to say nothing of his vacuum cleaner skills at 3B. The entire pitching staff, I suspect, will prefer Chapman and Ahmed versus Crawford and Davis.

BTW, I've read multiple media reports that indicate that the Players Association pushed for arbitration losses to be guaranteed whereas arbitration wins aren't guaranteed. I've been looking for Slater's comments (he's the Giants' PA rep), but haven't found it yet.

[Mick]

I don’t think it will have a long term impact on the Giants.  The team is well-known for being a first class organization re: how they care for the players and their families.  

Quite frankly, I think Davis’ agent did him a great disservice.  He should have known all the rules regarding arbitration.  If he didn’t, he was negligent.  If he did, he failed to give his client sound advice.  (I think it was the latter).  

In the last week, I wonder how many players have talked to their agents about this case.

The Giants seem to be making a determined effort to destroy that reputation. I question whether the current reputation of management is somewhat cold and calculating. Players essentially being the equivalent of chess pieces. At the risk of incurring Mick’s wrath, I think that was part of the rationale in bringing in Melvin.


If the agent didn’t go through the scenario, then you’re right. There is always the chance that he did and Davis decided to roll the dice. We don’t know that part probably never will. Unless Davis fires his agent.

The other thing is timing. I believe the filing deadline for arbitration is something like January 11. And most teams, including the Giants, have a file and trial policy. They won’t negotiate during that time. Davis knew they were going after Chapman. But what really sealed the deal was when the Giants signed Soler.  Until that signing, there was a good chance that even if the Giants sign Chapman, Davis could stick because he could be the designated hitter.

I think Giants (CB poster) is correct...I think this was JD's agent's snafu, Matt Hannaford of ALIGND. Hannaford had to perform, JD Davis fired MVP sports group to go with Hannaford and ALIGND, so Hannaford was under pressure to perform. They could have accepted the Giants' offer of $6.4 million one hour prior to the arbitration filing deadline (this makes me think the Giants didn't go into this with malign intention), but ALIGND didn't even respond until there was 10 minutes to go before deadline and they said "any number you have needs to start with a 7." The difference between the two sides was negligible, just $400k. Free agent position players not named Ohtani were already having a very difficult time getting signed. Interestingly, ALIGND has a reputation similar to Boras, they get more dollars for their client than their actual value. This may have been a case of Hannaford pushing too hard for an arbitration win, thereby winning the battle and losing the war -- and ripping the Giants afterward for what was likely his fault:

Which agents squeeze out the most value for their MLB clients? | theScore.com

As for Davis's popularity in the clubhouse, I think Chapman will trump that popularity if he keeps hitting .333 with an HR every 12 at bats (like he did in spring training as of this post), to say nothing of his vacuum cleaner skills at 3B. The entire pitching staff, I suspect, will prefer Chapman and Ahmed versus Crawford and Davis.

BTW, I've read multiple media reports that indicate that the Players Association pushed for arbitration losses to be guaranteed whereas arbitration wins aren't guaranteed. I've been looking for Slater's comments (he's the Giants' PA rep), but haven't found it yet.