LT contracts for current star position players

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

good warning for the Twins, I am already questioning the Kepler contract as well as having him hit first in the lineup.

 

Yeah, this is an overreaction.  Since 2016 when Kepler became a (mostly) full time player, he is 10th in MLB for WAR amongst right fielders, at 10.8.  Thats about 40% more than Heyward at 7.7; the Cubs have paid Hayward $115M, while the Twins have paid Kepler less than $14M over the same timeframe.

 

The Cubs still owe Heyward $69M over the next three years, while the Twins will only need to pay Kepler $22.75M for the next 3 years (including a buyout if they don't pick up the 2024 option).  Kepler has certainly struggled this year, but that's compared to last year--he's been worth 0.9 WAR in 43 games, which means he's worth about 3.1 WAR over 150 games.  That's absolutely a first division regular, and a fantastic value.

[a-wan]

 

I see that Yelich is still effected by a broken kneecap from last year and has a longterm contract now through 2028. It always raised an eyebrow that he had 11 HR before the break in 2018 and then was in contention for the triple crown.

Cabrera of the Tigers contract is a disaster. He had a chance of 2 triple crowns in a row then his tail off at 34. What a way to get into the HOF as $180 million wasted on a washed up player.

Albert Pujols: From one interview when he said he faced Octavio Dotel it seemed like he admitted without saying it that he was 2 years older than listed. Thank God the Angels thought he would lead them to the promise land with one playoff appearance. I'm not such a homer to realize who his trainer was or that his head seemed bigger than when he was a rookie. I know he hit 660, but, he had 449 HRs through 2011 when he was slipping.

Joey Votto: Just turned 37. The Reds didn't learn with the Griffey contract. $82 million left counting the $7 million buyout. Votto after 2011 doesn't scare any pitchers as he strikeouts out a lot as well as walking. There is no way at age 37 he should be voted in the HOF with 1031 runs and 958 RBIs regardless of his OBP. You are talking about the poster boy for how bad modern stats can bring about a huge contract when the bottom line is scoring and driving in runs and saving runs.
Griffey was injury proned, but, Votto is laughable.

Then there is Robinson Cano.

Others still active?

Marty Brennaman is that you and your Votto disdain?

[mikelink45]

 

Yeah, this is an overreaction.  Since 2016 when Kepler became a (mostly) full time player, he is 10th in MLB for WAR amongst right fielders, at 10.8.  Thats about 40% more than Heyward at 7.7; the Cubs have paid Hayward $115M, while the Twins have paid Kepler less than $14M over the same timeframe.

 

The Cubs still owe Heyward $69M over the next three years, while the Twins will only need to pay Kepler $22.75M for the next 3 years (including a buyout if they don't pick up the 2024 option).  Kepler has certainly struggled this year, but that's compared to last year--he's been worth 0.9 WAR in 43 games, which means he's worth about 3.1 WAR over 150 games.  That's absolutely a first division regular, and a fantastic value.

 

Marty Brennaman is that you and your Votto disdain?

Heyward is a bust - not a good comparison.  

 

[Monkeypaws]

I haven't been paying close attention to other teams this season, but I saw Cabrera clubbed a couple 3 run homers vs. the Twins the other day, and am watching a good KC-Detroit game tonight, and he's 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, so I thought maybe he had righted the ship and was good again. A trip to Baseball Reference showed me the truth:

 

His cumulative power stats from 2017 to the present: 40 HRs, 153 RBIs, comparable to his MVP seasons. He had over 500 ABs in 2 of those seasons.

 

The Tigers must pay him 94 million the next 3 years. Ouch.

 

And we complained about Mauer. 

[Trov]

Overall most long term deals turn out to be bad for the team and good for the player.  Early on teams were willing to accept bad end of deal for good output first few seasons.  Now with luxury tax(essentially salary cap) teams are regretting the bad long term deals.  That is why so many 30 year old FA were not getting the 7 to 9 year deals they were in the past.  

 

When you get the 26 to 27 year old FA like Machado, Betts, Trout, and others they will still get long term deals, but at 30, good luck to those players, unless rules change in next CBA.  Now, there is merit to signing young player to long term deal going into FA years.  You buy out the expensive FA years by paying more on front end of arbitration years.  Players that were 26 or 27 first time FA used to sign the long term deal with opt out at 30, expecting to opt out and sign another long term deal for more money, but now I doubt any 30 something opts out expecting a bigger deal coming. 

[cardsfan]

Overall most long term deals turn out to be bad for the team and good for the player. Early on teams were willing to accept bad end of deal for good output first few seasons. Now with luxury tax(essentially salary cap) teams are regretting the bad long term deals. That is why so many 30 year old FA were not getting the 7 to 9 year deals they were in the past.

 

When you get the 26 to 27 year old FA like Machado, Betts, Trout, and others they will still get long term deals, but at 30, good luck to those players, unless rules change in next CBA. Now, there is merit to signing young player to long term deal going into FA years. You buy out the expensive FA years by paying more on front end of arbitration years. Players that were 26 or 27 first time FA used to sign the long term deal with opt out at 30, expecting to opt out and sign another long term deal for more money, but now I doubt any 30 something opts out expecting a bigger deal coming.

Trout, Pujols, Ohtani and that great fiielding SS and one playoff appearance and no wins in that playoff appearance.

[Trov]

 

Trout, Pujols, Ohtani and that great fiielding SS and one playoff appearance and no wins in that playoff appearance.

This just backs up why I have been against long term deals for big money for any player, because very seldom can you build a team fully through FA, they are good to supplement, but so often teams that try to will keep throwing money into the fire fixing the mess of the last contract hope the next one will be good.