Trevor Bauer denies he's seeking deal worth around $200M

What kind of contract is Trevor Bauer seeking in free agency? David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Bauer denies report he's seeking deal worth around $200 million

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 12/30/20

Trevor Bauer and Jon Heyman have been in a Twitter feud ever since the MLB Network reporter began discussing the former Cincinnati Reds pitcher's free agency.

On Tuesday, Heyman reported that Bauer is seeking a deal worth around $200 million over five or six years. The reigning National League Cy Young winner responded saying the report is false.

Jon thank god for you. I’m learning so much about my free agency from your tweets! Keep em coming! Also @AgentRachelLuba is her twitter tag in case you want to tag her next time. https://t.co/lyn4UIL58j
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) December 30, 2020

Allllllsooooooo if you’re going to go out of your way to report that someone declines to comment you might want to make sure it’s ACTUALLY true (*it’s not*). Don’t you have to actually talk to someone for them to “decline”? Wouldn’t want to be fake news now would we Jonny boy? https://t.co/lyn4UIL58j
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) December 30, 2020

Earlier this month, Heyman reported that Bauer is "too expensive" for the Reds to re-sign. He denied that report, too, but if he's truly seeking a deal worth around $200 million then Cincinnati would likely be out on the star pitcher.

If your agent knows the plans of all 30 teams you aren’t paying her enough. But I think you are smart enough on your own to understand the Reds, who are talking about trading Sonny Gray ti save $, aren’t going to sign someone at least 2-3 times as expensive to replace him.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 19, 2020

Reds general manager Nick Krall said last month that the team hadn't had any major contract negotiations with Bauer, who is receiving contract pitches from multiple clubs.

If he does sign elsewhere, the Reds won't be completely left in the dust. Since Bauer rejected Cincinnati's $18.9 million qualifying offer, the Reds will receive a compensatory pick in next year's draft. If his contract is worth $50 million or more, the pick will fall between Round 1 and Competitive Balance Round A.

Cincinnati acquired Bauer in a trade with Cleveland during the 2019 campaign. In 21 starts with the franchise, the right-hander went 7-9 with a 3.76 ERA, 1.036 WHIP and 168 strikeouts in 129.1 innings.

A number of teams across Major League Baseball are interested in Bauer, including the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

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