Justin Verlander - the next albatross contract?

[BornToRun]

 
The entire worst title conversation is treading water until Miggy's $250 million kicks in two years from now.  When he'll be 33.

I still can't understand what the hell Detroit was thinking with that one. 10 years at market value right when he'll be entering his likely decline phase.

 

[JimBoSox9]

I still can't understand what the hell Detroit was thinking with that one. 10 years at market value right when he'll be entering his likely decline phase.

 
More like than not they were thinking Mike Ilitch is 85 years old and they organizationally couldn't give two shits about anything after 2017 or so at the moment, not if it makes Miggy happy in the now.  I get it, but hot damn no team outside Philly needs revenue to match projections over the next decade like Detroit is, saddled with that monster.

 

[BornToRun]

 
More like than not they were thinking Mike Ilitch is 85 years old and they organizationally couldn't give two shits about anything after 2017 or so at the moment, not if it makes Miggy happy in the now.  I get it, but hot damn no team outside Philly needs revenue to match projections over the next decade like Detroit is, saddled with that monster.

Yeah, I remember reading that ownership was the biggest driver in getting Miggy locked up. For Prince Fielder as well heading into 2012.

 

[Gash Prex]

What I don't understand is the timing of it all.  Why would they extend him for that market rate with 2 years left on his deal?  

 

[BornToRun]

What I don't understand is the timing of it all.  Why would they extend him for that market rate with 2 years left on his deal?  

Especially when he's going to be 33 when it kicks in. I feel like it would've been a reasonable idea just to play out the final two years of his deal and let him walk.

 

[LondonSox]

What I don't understand is the timing of it all.  Why would they extend him for that market rate with 2 years left on his deal?  

 
This isn't even harsh enough, it came how long after the Howard deal which was the exact same disaster and highlighted just how dumb that was.
Even more so because he would ahve been a free agent when Pujols and Fielder were expected to be as well. So not only were they bidding against themselves for Howard but there were other top options too
 
(He must be in the running for worst too, I'm not sure its a coincidence that these were all extended years before they needed to be at premium prices)

 

[grimshaw]

Grimshaw, I don't think you can call Santana's season this year "bounce back". The guy had a 3.24 era 1.19 WHIP and good secondary stats too. 2013 was his bounce back season. This year has been a continuation. He has broken the sigma of being an odd year/even year guy. Even though it's because he switched leagues, perhaps Santana figured out something in KC and is now using it in Atlanta. He would be smart to stay in the NL.

Fair enough point.  His FIP, k% and home run % have all improved on last year too (no doubt aided by the NL switch).  I think he could probably fetch a 4 year contract somewhere at 15-17 per.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

I get that the hope of a World Series is basically all that's keeping Mike Illitch alive at this point, but if you've got all this money burning a hole in your pocket then why not back up a truck to Scherzer and see what happens? I know his attitude has been to test the market, but as far as I know he's not had that attitude with a $200 million contract sitting in front of him.

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

I get that the hope of a World Series is basically all that's keeping Mike Illitch alive at this point, but if you've got all this money burning a hole in your pocket then why not back up a truck to Scherzer and see what happens? I know his attitude has been to test the market, but as far as I know he's not had that attitude with a $200 million contract sitting in front of him.

 
Maybe now the plan is to offer the "Scherzer deal" to Price instead?

 

[Spacemans Bong]

 
Maybe now the plan is to offer the "Scherzer deal" to Price instead?

 
Then great, although it still makes the Verlander and Miggy deals a bad allocation of resources. I mean, if money really is no object, then do the Yankees/Vernon Wells thing and start paying bench guys $20 million to hit lefties or pay elite closers to pitch the 7th inning.