GMs talk the art of contract extensions

The long-shot that was Shohei Ohtani becoming a Red Sox has seemingly gotten significantly longer.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Friday morning that the Sox were one of three teams – joining the Rangers and Mets – who have started to turn their attention away from Ohtani after initially expressing interest in signing this offseason’s prize free agent.

While Ohtani’s way of thinking has been tough to decipher throughout the offseason, there is a belief throughout MLB that the Dodgers are considered the favorite for his services. Passan notes that the Cubs, Blue Jays and Angels are seemingly still involved in the bidding, with San Francisco another possibility.

Of note is that of the teams still in the mix, only the Dodgers, Angels and Cubs had previously made the cut when it came to talking to Ohtani during his first go-round in free agency. Texas also was afforded a meeting six years ago, while the Red Sox were not.

The ESPN.com report states that the bidding for Ohtani could reach $600 million, blowing away the previous largest contract in North America sports, which currently belongs to Mike Trout ($426.5 million).

While Red Sox fans dreamed of the idea Ohtani might land in Boston, it was widely thought to be an unlikely outcome. Free agent pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, however, might be a different story.

According to Passan, the Red Sox remain very much in the mix for the 25-year-old pitcher, who is expected to garner more than $200 million. The issue for Craig Breslow and Co. is that the number of teams also prioritizing Yamamoto far outweighs that of virtually any other high-end free agent.

The Yankees have seemingly made Yamamoto their top target, with the Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays and Phillies also joining the fray.

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It’s hard to imagine a team and market more perfectly fit to embrace Shohei Ohtani than the San Francisco Giants, and as of Monday, the oddsmakers in Las Vegas agree.

While the odds of the Los Angeles Angels trading their two-way superstar ahead of the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline are shrinking — the Angels are just four games out of wild card position — the Giants have surpassed the other 29 teams as the club most likely to acquire him.

According to DraftKings’ sportsbook, the Angels (-300) are expected to roster Ohtani on Aug. 2, but the Giants are next in line (+1,000, meaning a $100 bet would generate $1,000 in return).

These odds have changed dramatically since last Monday, when the Giants were considered the fifth-most likely team to land Ohtani, behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.

Why the change? The Angels have won six of their last eight games and are about to start a three-game series with the lowly Detroit Tigers, while the Yankees and Mets have seen their playoff odds plummet in recent weeks, and the Angels are not keen on sending Ohtani across town to the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Giants are in wild card position despite being swept by the Washington Nationals on the way to a six-game losing streak, are in desperate need for some offensive help and have the prospects to make a megadeal happen, if the Angels want to play ball.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that he expects Ohtani to stay with the Angels, though MLB.com’s Jon Morosi wrote, “the possibility of an Ohtani trade remains.”

Ohtani told the Los Angeles Times last week that he’s hoping to stay in Los Angeles, where Mike Trout is expected to return from the injured list in late August as the Angels look to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2014.

“I think we’re in a position where we can still make it,” Ohtani said. “Last year and the year before, by this time, we were totally sellers. Honestly, we were on the side of watching key players getting traded. The team’s morale is completely different, of course.”

What makes the Giants a great fit for Ohtani? There’s certainly a need.

They rank dead last in offensive production in the month of July, scoring just 3.2 runs per game while their best hitter, Thairo Estrada, is on the injured list recovering from a broken hand.

Ohtani leads the majors with 36 home runs and a 1.072 OPS to go along with ridiculous batted ball stats that prove he hits the ball harder, more consistently, than any hitter in the sport.

On the pitching side, the Giants could use another force in the rotation behind Logan Webb and Alex Cobb. They rank 23rd with 5.0 fWAR from their starting rotation this year.

And while Ohtani’s contract will expire at the end of the season, the Giants have a ton of payroll flexibility with just $110 million on the books for 2024. Whether or not Ohtani decides he’s willing to negotiate a contract extension in the middle of the season, the Giants would have an exclusive negotiating window of five days between the end of the World Series and the beginning of free agency.

The trade-and-sign technique has worked well for some teams, including the Dodgers, who acquired Mookie Betts in the final year of his contract with the Boston Red Sox before the 2020 season. Betts was vocal about wanting to test free agency until he landed with the Dodgers, who almost immediately extended him with a record-setting 12-year contract.

The Giants have already shown their love for two-way players in the draft, where they’ve selected a two-way guy with their first-round pick in each of the last two seasons.

While Ohtani is chasing Aaron Judge’s American League home run record of 63, his power numbers would surely decline in San Francisco.

According to Baseball Savant, only 26 of Ohtani’s 36 home runs would have left the yard at Oracle Park. No other ballpark would have as much of an effect.

And while any team could find a way for Ohtani to get into their lineup regularly, it would require some maneuvering with the Giants, who rank fourth in MLB in production from the DH spot with 22 home runs and an .844 OPS.    

Joc Pederson and Wilmer Flores have handled the responsibilities well. Flores could just as easily play first base, where he’s an above-average defender, and send LaMonte Wade Jr. to the bench against lefties. But Pederson hasn’t been great in the outfield and moving him there would force Blake Sabol to the bench.

The Giants would surely have to give up a haul to lure the Angels into a trade, and that could require them to part ways with pitching prospect Kyle Harrison (92 strikeouts in 56 1/3 innings in Triple-A Sacramento) and/or shortstop prospect Marco Luciano (.234 average, .800 OPS in 61 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year).

Is it worth it for a half-season of Ohtani?

Consider this: Ohtani has been worth a total of 6.6 fWAR this year. If the Giants had six additional wins, they’d be in first place in the National League West and in position to get a first-round bye in the playoffs.

©2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

FOR TOMORROW (check monday for photo) 

7 renovations that can impact your home insurance

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Homeowners might choose to renovate to create more living space, update their home’s design or even put in a pool. Whatever the reason, homeowners may want to consider if their renovations could impact their home insurance policy. Some renovations may prompt you to adjust your coverage types or limits, while others may actually save you money on your insurance premium. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explores how seven popular home renovations may impact your home insurance rates.

Renovations that increase home insurance rates

A home renovation may increase the value of your home, but it can also drive up the cost of your home insurance. In addition to the expense of the renovation, you may see higher premiums if your renovation pushes you to increase your coverage limits or exposes you to greater liability.

1. Building a swimming pool

In certain locations, adding a pool to your home can increase its value and offer an incentive to would-be buyers. However, a swimming pool is considered an “attractive nuisance” and significantly increases your liability risk, which will likely increase your homeowners insurance premium.

A standard homeowners insurance policy usually includes liability coverage, which is designed to help cover medical costs for a person injured on your property and legal expenses if you are sued. However, an insurance agent may recommend that a pool owner opts for higher liability coverage than what is standard. Homeowners might also consider purchasing an umbrella insurance policy, which provides additional liability coverage for greater financial protection if a covered claim exceeds the homeowners liability coverage amount.

Your insurance carrier may also require a locking fence around the pool and/or a locking safety cover to go over the water when the pool is not in use, which can drive up the cost of installing a swimming pool. If the pool has a diving board or slide, it will likely be considered a greater potential hazard by your insurer, and it may decide to not provide coverage or charge a much higher premium to offset the higher liability risk.

2. Adding an office for a home business

Working remotely has become more common, so adding an office could increase your home’s value if you are a remote worker or home-based business owner. However, it could also increase your homeowners insurance rates or require you to purchase an endorsement to increase coverage for business-related assets and equipment, or a separate home business policy that provides protection against crime and worker injuries.

Most homeowners policies protect equipment for home-based businesses up to about $2,500, though you may be able to increase this amount, depending on the company. That might not be enough for a business owner who uses specialized machinery or stores large amounts of supplies or inventory at their home.

Some carriers may include a home insurance exclusion for business use of personal property in your home, so be sure to talk to your agent if you have work-use items in your home and make sure you have the right level of coverage. Additionally, homeowners insurance companies might not cover liability related to the business.

You may need to bolster your existing policy or purchase an additional business policy. This is particularly true if your business is the type that creates heavier foot traffic in your home, such as piano lessons or private yoga sessions.

If you do need to increase your business coverage, you may have a few options, depending on your insurance provider:

•Endorsement to your existing homeowners policy: This option would increase the existing limit on business property included in your homeowners policy.

•Businessowners policy: This is a separate policy designed specifically for insuring a business, and it includes an array of coverages.

•In-home business insurance: This type of insurance features the same protection you would get if you were a larger company with smaller policy limits and premiums.

Regardless of the scope of your business, you should let your agent know if you have any business risk in your home, to make sure that you are covered properly.

3. Building on an extension

Sometimes a home needs to be changed to accommodate an expanding family. That can mean modifying a floor plan and adding more livable square footage, like finishing a basement or attic. In other instances, a new addition may be in order. Expanding your space with new square footage will most likely increase your home insurance premium as you will need a higher level of dwelling coverage.

You might need more post-renovation insurance even if the added space is not inside your house. Adding a large finished deck could increase the value of your home, for example, and consequently, require an insurance reassessment. You may also need to consider other types of coverage for the newly built areas of your home. For example, a finished basement with new carpet, drywall and insulation may need sewer backup coverage.

Ultimately, if you expand your usable square footage indoors or outside, your insurance coverage will probably need to be altered to account for the value of the new space. With floor plan renovations, it’s best to talk to your insurance agent or insurance company to discuss if you need to alter your policy before renovations begin.

4. Upgrading your kitchen or bath

According to the 2022 Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine, a kitchen or bathroom remodel can provide more than 50 percent in recouped value. If you make quality upgrades, like changing out laminate for granite countertops or having custom cabinets built, you may need to increase the dwelling coverage on your home insurance, which usually comes at an additional premium cost. If your home coverage is not enough to rebuild your new kitchen or bath with the same newly upgraded materials, consider increasing the dwelling coverage to align with your upgrades.

If your existing coverage is not sufficient, you might find yourself having to pay out of pocket for some of the damages to your kitchen or bath after a covered loss. Your insurance agent can use your property insurance company’s home valuation tool to determine if coverage changes are needed to ensure you have the right level of property replacement value.

Renovations that lower home insurance rates

If you are making changes that make your home safer, like updated electrical or plumbing systems, you might see lower rates after you and your insurance provider evaluate your home renovation insurance needs.

1. Renovating or replacing your roof

Installing a new roof may not be the most exciting home improvement, but it may save you money on your homeowners insurance. Replacing your roof with newer or stronger material usually means a reduction in premium because your home may be able to better withstand potential covered perils.

Some homeowners may earn even bigger discounts if they live in hurricane-, wind- or hail-prone states and their new roof employs special loss-mitigation measures, such as hurricane straps, waterproofing or impact-resistant shingles.

While most home policies cover roof replacements for the perils defined in your policy, some insurers use depreciation schedules based on the age of the roof to determine how much coverage you get. The newer the roof, the more coverage you are likely to have from your home insurance policy.

2. Upgrading your wiring or plumbing

If you upgrade your wiring or plumbing systems, especially if they are older or no longer up to current building codes, you may qualify for an insurance discount. While rewiring a house can be expensive, it could also lower the risk of fires and electrical damage, which means insurance companies could charge you less for coverage because of reduced risk. If you have knob and tube wiring (used in most homes built before 1950), for example, you could see a drastic reduction in your premium, and you might even find that more insurance carriers are willing to insure your house, which means this could be a great time to shop your coverage and compare home insurance quotes.

The same holds true for plumbing. Some types of plumbing, like lead and polybutylene, can make it difficult and expensive to find home insurance coverage. Upgrading to more modern plumbing hardware may reduce the risk for water damage and reduce your home insurance premium.

3. Adding security systems and sprinklers

Home security discounts are relatively common in the insurance industry, and there’s usually some variance in the savings levels. For example, if you install a local alarm system that rings at your home in the event of an intruder, you may earn a small discount. An alarm system that automatically alerts police or a central dispatch team for multiple incidents like burglary and fire would likely earn a higher discount. Interior sprinkler systems may also lower your premiums, as they reduce the risk of extensive fire damage. Installing smart home devices and systems might also earn you a discount on your homeowners insurance.

Do I need to increase my homeowners insurance after renovating?

Whether you need to increase your homeowners insurance coverage for renovations before or after embarking on a project depends on the coverage you already have in place and the value and type of renovation. When you choose an insurance company, part of your insurance rate is established by your home’s square footage and the cost required to fix or rebuild your home based on its age — including the age of appliances, like plumbing and HVAC systems — and characteristics, such as its building materials.

Insurance companies use valuation tools to determine how much home insurance coverage you need for the structure of your house. If the renovations increase that valuation, you may want to consider increasing your coverage, too. Without increased coverage, should a disastrous event occur, any improvements you have made may not be covered.

Another thing to consider is when significant improvements are made outside of your home, like adding a high-end shed or pool. They may not be covered unless your other structures coverage in your homeowner policy is sufficient. Be sure to let your insurance company know when you have done any type of work to your home so that it can perform a post-renovation valuation to accurately determine your new coverage needs.

Additional home renovation insurance options

When completing a home renovation, you may want to check to see if adding additional coverage is needed during the renovation process itself. While your current home insurance policy may have sufficient coverage already, you may need to make some changes while under construction:

•Builders risk insurance: This coverage financially protects materials you have purchased to be installed, whether they are on your property or en route to your property. If the materials are damaged or stolen, builders risk insurance should cover the costs of replacement.

•Vacant home insurance: Most standard home insurance policies do not cover uninhabited homes. If you need to live outside of your home while renovations are being done, you may want to consider vacant home insurance. This often overlooked home improvement insurance financially protects your home should any damage occur while you are not actively living in it. You may want to speak with your insurance agent about how to modify your coverage while the renovations are being completed.

•Contractors insurance: This may be an important coverage if you are hiring a third party to do a renovation. Contractors insurance provides coverage for property damage, injury or damage caused by the contractors working on your home. Triple-I recommends asking your contractor if they are insured and obtaining a copy of their certificate of liability insurance before signing a contract to ensure they have an adequate level of commercial general liability (GCL) coverage. A typical GCL policy includes $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

•Do I need to tell my insurance company about renovations?Yes, it’s generally best to notify your insurance company about renovations you are planning. Depending on the size and nature of the renovations, your insurance policy may need to be updated to add new or different types of coverage to your policy. In some cases, the insurer may even want to add a supplemental policy that’s designed to financially protect your home during the renovation process, should an accident or damage occur while work is being done.Can I get insurance for home renovations?Depending on your insurer, you may be able to add a builder’s risk policy to your home insurance, which may provide financial protection while work is being undertaken on your home. Builder’s risk coverage may be especially important if you’re embarking on major renovations that involve expanding the square footage of your home or moving walls. This type of insurance may provide coverage should anyone be injured on the job site, if materials are stolen or damaged or if a covered peril impacts the construction process.

©2023 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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“He’s an animal” is how new San Francisco Giants pitcher Alex Cobb described playing against Los Angeles Angels generational talent Shohei Ohtani.

Alex Cobb is departing the LA Angels after signing a 2-year, $20 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. Cobb, who spent last season pitching for the Angels in Anaheim, knows firsthand how good his former teammate Ohtani is.

Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'”

Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'” “Alex Cobb said he trained with Shohei Ohtani for a few weeks over the offseason. “When he trains, he wants to beat the world record. That’s not exaggerating. He’ll ask, `What’s the world record?'” – @Andrew Baggarly

“Watching him hit a first-pitch curveball out the other day in a Spring Training game gets you a little rattled. He’s an animal. Another reason I went to the NL. Of course, I pulled him up first,” said Cobb when referring to his decision to sign with the Giants. The Giants and Angels will not play each other this year as the former plays in the National League, while the latter plays in the American League.

Shohei Ohtani really is an animal

Alex Cobb had an impressive season in his own right in 2021. The right-handed pitcher had an ERA of 3.76, a WHIP of just above 1.2 and went with eight wins and three losses on the season.

Ohtani, who is a decade Cobb’s junior, outdid his departing teammate. The Japanese whiz finished the season with a record of 9-2. He also bested Alex Cobb’s ERA and WHIP for a team-best 3.18 and 1.0 respectively.

What makes Ohtani so notable is that he is just as much a menace to opposing pitchers as he is to opposing batters. While simultaneously logging the aforemnioned pitching stats, Shohei Ohtani hit 46 home runs and 100 RBIs. He also had an OPS of .965, making him the stuff of pitcher nightmares.

How’s this for an introduction: Alex Cobb squares off vs. Shohei Ohtani in SF Giants debut bayareane.ws/386c4MZ “How’s this for an introduction: Alex Cobb squares off vs. Shohei Ohtani in SF Giants debut” – @ Mercury News

Cobb faced the Angels in Spring Training on Sunday. He pitched 3.1 innings and didn’t allow a run. He faced Ohtani twice, walking him intentionally in both instances. It may be a while before the two players see each other again. Like many of us, Alex Cobb will only watch and see if Shohei Ohtani reaches the potential we all know he has to become one of the best players in baseball today.

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The post Shohei Ohtani’s hitting rattles San Francisco Giants pitcher, says Ohtani is the explanation for transferring to NL, “He’s an animal”  appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

(CBS Los Angeles) – The MLB season starts in September and the various MVP and division races remain interesting. With a month of play, Shohei Ohtani looks like the American League MVP favorite save for injuries or a complete breakdown. Last weekend, he added another line to his résumé and record books. The New York Yankees eventually lost, ending their 13-game winning streak just four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. On the other side of town, the New York Mets are moving just as quickly in the opposite direction. Some players thought it was kind of wise to express their displeasure with the fans.

This week’s baseball report takes a look at Ohtani’s 40-20 milestone, the winning streak of the Yankees and the Mets giving their fans the thumbs-down gesture.

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Ohtani’s 40-20 season

It’s not even September yet, and Shohei Ohtani has the American League MVP race under control. This is what happens when a two-way player excels on the plate and on the hill. His latest achievement also shows his ability on the Basic Paths. Ohtani is now the only player in the history of the Los Angeles Angels team to have scored 40 home runs and stolen 20 bases in a single season. He is also the third in American League history to accomplish this feat before September. Ken Griffey Jr. (1999) and Alex Rodriguez (2007) are the other two, and Rodriguez won the MVP that season.

By the time Ohtani stole his 20th base, he had already blown 41 homers, which brings him to the top of the majors. Last Saturday night against the San Diego Padres, Ohtani found himself in the middle of his second 0-4 night in a row. At the end of the fifth inning, he pulled a one-out walk from Austin Adams. He then got a good jump on a 0-1 fastball to steal second. A double two strokes later would get him home.

Its 20 stolen bases make it a top 10 in the category, which Starling Marte of Miami Marlins tops at 42. Ohtani also cuts .264 / .363 / 0.623. Of course, what sets him apart from all other quality rackets in the majors is his pitching success. Ohtani is also set up 8-1 with a 3:00 ERA and 127 strikeouts in his 105 innings.

His stolen base and the resulting run helped the Angels achieve their second win in eight games. But they are 10.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox for last wildcard place.

While the Angels have little chance in the playoff race, it seems that just an injury could hurt Ohtani’s chances in the MVP race. So there was some concern in the organization on Friday night when a fastball hit him with his throwing hand at 93 mph. An x-ray showed no damage and he played the rest of the game. Ohtani should be ready to play the New York Yankees again on Tuesday night.

The Yankees’ winning streak ends

The Yankees will look to start another winning streak when they visit the Angels this week. That was after the Oakland Athletics finished their last one of the weekend. The A’s beat the Yankees 3-2 on Saturday to end their 13-game winning streak, the team’s longest in 60 years. The double home run of Slugger Aaron Judge in the ninth inning drove Anthony Rizzo in after his bloop single. But it was all the team could handle with a lost effort.

When the Yankees recently won so many games in a row, Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle lit the pitchers. It was only the sixth longest team in its history. The Yankees won in episode 19 in 1947 and were close at 18 in 1953.

When that last streak began, the Yankees were 63-52, seven games behind the leading Tampa Bay Rays and five games behind the Red Sox. It included three-game sweeps of the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. When the streak ended, the Yankees were 76-52, just four games behind the Rays. They have the inside bar on a wild card field, although they may end up playing the Red Sox.

Thumbs down for Mets and their fans

The Mets led the National League East for about half of the season. But they haven’t been very good lately, losing 19 of their 27 games in August as well as their four-game lead in the division. They are now 7.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and 4.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. What once promised promising playoff hopes is quickly disappearing.

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The fans at Citi Field, home of the Mets, have expressed their displeasure. That’s what fans do. They cheer when their team is okay and boo when they don’t. Mets players don’t like being booed and three of them decided to essentially boo their fans back when the team is fine.

After hitting a 444-foot homer in Sunday’s 9-4 win over Washington Nationals, the recent acquisition gave Javier Baez a “thumbs down” gesture that he later declared as a message to fans.

“It feels bad when I hit and get booed. It’s not really my business, but I want to let them know that if we succeed we will let them do the same [fans] know how it feels, ”Baez told reporters. “… you have to get better. I play for the fans and I love the fans. If they do that, they’ll put more pressure on the team. “

Kevin Pillar and Francisco Lindor also gave the thumbs-down gesture.

The Mets organization was not pleased. A statement from team president Sandy Alderson read as follows:

“In a post-game press conference today, Javy Baez stated that his thumbs-down gesture during the game was a message to fans who recently booed him and other players for poor performance. These comments and any gestures made by him or other players with similar intent are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Mets fans are understandably frustrated with the team’s recent performance. The players and the organization alike are frustrated, but Citi Field fans have every right to express their own disappointment. Booing is the right of every fan.

The Mets do not tolerate player gestures that are unprofessional in meaning or that relate negatively to our fans. I will meet with our players and staff to get this message across directly.

Mets fans are loyal, passionate, knowledgeable, and more than ready to express themselves. We love them for each of these qualities. “

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Mets fans were also understandably upset and turned to social media to express their feelings. It remains to be seen whether this little spit leads to a better representation on the field. The Mets have 30 games – 15 at home – to make up for lost ground.

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