Mike Minor Just Got Screwed by MLB and MLBPA's Reported Service-Time Agreement
By Brendan Balsamo
Due to the unprecedented effects of the coronavirus, the MLB and MLBPA have been negotiating new terms for player service time, with the 2020 season likely shortened. Per reports, both sides have agreed that a shortened season will count as a full year of service time for players.
While some players will come out on top, hitting free agency at the perfect time, the Texas Rangers' Mike Minor is probably not a big fan of the reported deal himself.
Mike Minor says he is interested in an extension with #Rangers. He can be a free agent after this season.
— Jeff Wilson (@JeffWilson_FWST) January 25, 2020
Minor, a starter for the Rangers, will be a free agent after the 2020 season. He had a breakout season in 2019, during which he threw 208.1 innings and had a 3.59 ERA, was an All-Star, and finished eighth in the AL Cy Young Award voting.
Minor's 2019 was uncharacteristically great, as he hasn't had an ERA that low or thrown that many innings since 2013. However, with a shortened season that counts towards service time, it's going to be much harder for him to ride momentum from his stellar 2019 campaign. Now, he'll need to replicate his performance in half of a season, after what is likely to be an expedited Spring Training.
MLB and the MLBPA are making progress in negotiations on how to approach a disrupted 2020 season: https://t.co/81L6dNZAcV
— MLB Daily Dish (@mlbdailydish) March 25, 2020
Pitching is all about rhythm, and now Minor will hit free agency with much of his year-to-year rhythm gone. Hopefully, he and the Rangers work out an extension instead, easing tensions here.