Looking at this list -- it is amazing to think that the 8 year, $160,000,000 deal that Duquette signed in 2001 was one of the best contracts of the last 20 years.
There certainly can arguments made that the first A-Rod contract was better on a relative value standpoint, but that came with the stain of Steroids (Manny didn't really get caught until after his Sox time). One could also argue that Jeter's was a great contract in context, although he was probably significantly overpaid due to the NY factor/Captaincy/Etc.
It amazes me to see the large number of total albatross contracts on this list when you think about how much longer so many of these still have to run. Trout's might turn out as the best of the bunch so far, but he is somewhat unique in terms of his success and subsequent extension before his first attempt at UFA.
Looking at folks like Pujols, Cabrera, Votto, Hayward -- it is hard to see them not already being disasters or turning into them by 2023.
I'm not as competent with pulling the BRef data as comparisons, but I thought this list was really interesting to look at -- and a big red flag when it comes to signing UFAs to these types of contracts (not that this is news -- it was just a fun endeavor).
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/league-info/highest-paid-players/
There certainly can arguments made that the first A-Rod contract was better on a relative value standpoint, but that came with the stain of Steroids (Manny didn't really get caught until after his Sox time). One could also argue that Jeter's was a great contract in context, although he was probably significantly overpaid due to the NY factor/Captaincy/Etc.
It amazes me to see the large number of total albatross contracts on this list when you think about how much longer so many of these still have to run. Trout's might turn out as the best of the bunch so far, but he is somewhat unique in terms of his success and subsequent extension before his first attempt at UFA.
Looking at folks like Pujols, Cabrera, Votto, Hayward -- it is hard to see them not already being disasters or turning into them by 2023.
I'm not as competent with pulling the BRef data as comparisons, but I thought this list was really interesting to look at -- and a big red flag when it comes to signing UFAs to these types of contracts (not that this is news -- it was just a fun endeavor).
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/league-info/highest-paid-players/