Best/Worst Contract Deals

by RJ2549 on Jun 1, 2007 6:54 AM PDT Comment 33 comments

Jeff Passan has a column on Yahoo! Sports mentioning the top overpaid collective team, as in one person per position, and the top underpaid or bargain team. A few of our current A's, as well as some familiar faces make the list.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...

No suprise to many of us, Jason Kendall is the first person listed on the overpaid team.
"C: Jason Kendall, Oakland, $13.43 million – Might as well start with the worst contract in all of baseball. How Kendall parlayed 55 home runs and decent peripherals into a six-year, $60 million deal from Pittsburgh before the 2002 season is mystifying. Even though the Pirates are paying $5.5 million of Kendall's salary, Oakland is shoveling nearly $8 million toward a .182 hitter with two extra-base hits (both doubles) in 165 at-bats."

Another familiar face is that of Barry Zito, who is listed on the overpaid team as one of the five starting pitchers.
"SP: Barry Zito, San Francisco, $10 million – Next year it's $14.5 million. Then three years at $18.5 million. And then $19 million. And finally $20 million. We might as well save a seat, because 30 walks and 32 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings does not portend good things."

On the other side of things are the underpaid players, or bargain deals. Another member of the "Big Three" in Tim Hudson makes this list, as does the anchor member of our current "Pair of Aces", Danny Haren, with Chad Gaudin (the other Ace) receiving an honorable mention.

"SP: Tim Hudson and John Smoltz, Atlanta, $8.5 million and $8 million – Take your pick. Hudson's ERA is 2.79, Smoltz's 2.83. Hudson has allowed 84 baserunners in 77 1/3 innings. Smoltz, at 40, is averaging nearly eight strikeouts per nine innings. Both are cut-rate for established All-Stars."

"SP: Dan Haren, Oakland, $2.25 million – The best pitcher in the AL this season, and it's not even close. His 1.70 ERA is a half-run better than the next best, teammate Chad Gaudin, who would have been the next starter on this team with a $400,000 salary. Haren has allowed just 49 hits in 74 1/3 innings, and his 10 quality starts (out of 11 total) are tied with Peavy and Smoltz for the most in baseball."

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Comments

it might be comparing apples and oranges

to compare contracts of players who were free agents or potentially free agents to those of players with less than six years service time. So I'm not sure I'd compare Haren's contract with Zito's for example. However, the Smoltz and Hudson contracts are certainly worth comparing with Kendall's with Pittsburgh, since they were essentially contract extensions with their current club that went through their free agent years (or beyond, in Smoltz's case).

by OaklandSi on Jun 1, 2007 8:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Article

I didn't write it, just showing to people.

by RJ2549 on Jun 1, 2007 9:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know

I was just commenting on the article.

by OaklandSi on Jun 1, 2007 9:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I also disagree with him on Delgado

Delgado is in the third year of his contract (which he originally signed with Florida). He performed quite well during the first two years, and looks like he may be picking up this year as well. By contrast, Sexson has been disappointing throughout most of his current contract.

I think the article would be stronger if it didn't compare contracts for free agents with contracts for young players who signed contracts while still far away from free agent status.

by OaklandSi on Jun 1, 2007 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that's a very good point

"San Jose A's of Fremont" validates the Halo's stoopid name

by ArakSOT on Jun 1, 2007 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Delgado and Wright analyses are misguided

They both struggled at the start of the season. They have both started to hit recently, with the difference being that Wright picked it up slightly earlier, all of which he acknowledges, yet he still considers Delgado overpaid.

On Sunday, Minaya ticked off a list of candidates to join the rotation, and for once this season, none of them was Jose Lima.

by rfloh on Jun 1, 2007 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting Article

I'm still laughing at the Yankees for paying Pavano $10 mil just because he had one very good season...

"I don't think France has any subs left!" "I don't think they have any brains left"

by CTAsGirl on Jun 1, 2007 8:56 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Best contract, hands down...

Tim Wakefield, SP (Boston)

Team controlled $4 million option for as long as Boston wants him on the roster.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 1, 2007 10:58 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

And it's not a bad contract for Wakefield either

Knowing as long as you perform you'll rake in 4 million a year. This is the sort of contract that truly defines a player who wants to play for the team and not one looking for a pay out, not to mention a true "home town discount".

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Jun 1, 2007 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

most interesting contract

far from the best

by Cutthemullet on Jun 1, 2007 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Show me a better contract

for an average (and maybe slightly above average) SP with more than 6 years in the bigs.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 2, 2007 6:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That came off more snarky than I intended

sorry.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 2, 2007 6:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

no problem

If you limit the pool of players to that subset, which is collectively the most overpaid at the moment, then yeah, Wakefield's contract is likely the best. But I was assuming that the entire league was included...in which case, there are several guys on the A's alone with better contracts.

by Cutthemullet on Jun 2, 2007 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pre-FA eligible deals vs. post-FA deals

are completely different. The article was specifically focused on players who earned their contracts through the FA process, not via the indetured servitude all major league players endure before they play their 6th year.

So if you've got some better contracts that keep in theme of the article, I'd like to see 'em.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 2, 2007 6:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll stick with Boston then...

Matsuzaka. Ignoring the posting fee, the contract itself is way better than Wakefield's.

by Cutthemullet on Jun 3, 2007 2:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

uhhh... no.

you are wrong. $100+ million vs $4 million a year for as long as the red sox want him. wakefield contract wins, it's practically indentured servitude compared to other FA contracts.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 3, 2007 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

chop that in half

uh...you are wrong. 52 mill over 6 years. For a player way, way, way better than Wakefield.

by Cutthemullet on Jun 4, 2007 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Even ignoring the posting fee

If Matsuzaka turned out to be another Irabu the Red Sox would be stuck with him for 4 years. If Wakefield bombs they can let him go at the end of the season.

Zero long term risk for Boston re: Wakefield's contract.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 3, 2007 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those poor players

"Indentured servitude"? "Endure"? Please, somebody abuse me like that.

I agree with your point about Wakefield's contract, though. What makes it good is that it works well for both the player and the team.

by UncleLeo on Jun 3, 2007 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

it doesn't work well for wakefield

at least relative to other multi-millionaire baseball players.
he could be making a lot more money elsewhere, with a multi-year deal, that was guaranteed.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 3, 2007 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but I think he likes it in Boston

$4 million is nice and if he's comfortable where he's at... why mess with success?

I agree though, he could be making more money elsewhere.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 3, 2007 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, he likes it there

he'd probably like it lots of other places as well.

if he performs well enough that he could make $10 million elsewhere, the red sox can still keep him for $4 million. if he doesn't perform well, they can get rid of him at any time. it's worse than an NFL contract.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 3, 2007 10:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

in today's market he could probably get close to $10 million and maybe when the offseason rolls around he'll feel bad about his deal.

But if he doesn't, then why worry about him?

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 3, 2007 11:15 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

are we worried about any of these guys?

we're talking about best and worst contracts in baseball, and he has one of the best (for the team), if not the best.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 3, 2007 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, yeah... best for the team

I think Hampton's cornered the market for best contract for the player.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Jun 3, 2007 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I love Wakefeild

ive wished for 10 years the A's would make a play for him. And for $4mill he would fit in here great

by Hawaii FO on Jun 1, 2007 2:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For Wakefield to be on the A's...

Boston would have to either deny the team option or trade him. As much as we'd love to have him (and to see knuckleballs every fifth day), it ain't gonna happen.

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Jun 1, 2007 11:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, Wakefield will end his career in Boston

by OaklandSi on Jun 2, 2007 10:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Should have made that list

by Bleeding the Green and Gold on Jun 2, 2007 4:55 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin

Gaudin was mentioned in the Dan Haren portion of the article.

Birds of a feather flock together....and crap on your car!

by RJ2549 on Jun 2, 2007 8:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How nice would it be to

have Huddy at 8mil this season instead of Loiaza at 7mil? It appears perhaps we could have afforded Huddy after all. Boy would I feel better if our rotation were Haren, Huddy, Blanton, Gaudin, Kennedy.

Sigh.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Jun 2, 2007 9:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree completely, but...

...would Hudson have re-signed? IIRC, he was annoyed at the team for being too cheap to pay for run support that I wonder if he would have re-signed at any price.

Personally, I think his complaints were more perception than reality, as they were quite good with Giambi, Tejada, et al, and the team as a whole still managed to choke at the most inopportune times, but he was convinced that the burden was placed on the pitcher's shoulders too much.

by UncleLeo on Jun 3, 2007 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

remember just a few months ago

when every braves fan was wishing the team would dump huddy.

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Jun 3, 2007 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs