Hundley extended

[love_that_reefer]

Per MLBTR

The Padres and catcher Nick Hundley agreed to terms on a three-year extension, the team announced. The deal covers the 2012-14 seasons and includes a club option for 2015. Athletes First represents Hundley, who drew praise from his new GM.

“Nick has developed into one of our club’s core players,” Josh Byrnes said. “He impacts the game on both offense and defense and has evolved into a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.”

Hundley had agreed to a one-year, $2MM salary via arbitration this offseason and was on track for free agency following the 2014 season. This means San Diego extends its control of Hundley by up to one season with today's agreement. Hundley will earn $2MM in 2012, $3MM in 2013 and $4MM in 2014, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports (Twitter links). The club option is worth $5MM and doesn't include a buyout, so it's a three-year, $9MM deal.

Hundley has a .255/.314/.420 career line in four MLB seasons, including a .288/.347/.477 line last year. 72% of stolen base attempts against the 28-year-old have been successful to this point in his career.

As Mike Axisa pointed out when talks heated up over the weekend, catchers such as Kurt Suzuki (four years, $16.25MM), Yadier Molina (four years, $15.5MM), Carlos Ruiz (three years, $8.85MM) and Chris Iannetta (three years, $8.3MM) signed extensions when they had between three and four years of service time. Iannetta and Ruiz were likely comparables for Hundley's deal.

Not a bad deal but they did just get Yasmani Grandal who should be ready next season. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry.

[padrefanforever]

Baker allows the Padres to put Grandal to AAA to work and learn Kelly, Erlin and Wieland as much as possible.......Contract is the safety net, and also makes Hundley very tradeable, especially if he manages to have a "healthy" first part of the season

[love_that_reefer]

Hundley would have been tradable regardless and since they didn't buy out any free agent years, it seems like a odd move. Now the Padres will likely have to eat some cash if he is ever traded. Not a lot of cash but cash they didn't have to otherwise.

[padrefanforever]

If traded maybe... If not traded it's a team friendly contract that allows for Grandal and Hedges not to be pushed ... I like Grandal, but half a season learning the arms in AAA is time well spent........and Baker is very capable of holding down the back up role