Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, and Insanity
by 3460kuri on Dec 8, 2011 10:43 AM EST
in New York Yankees News
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PrintAccording to Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, Pujols has agreed in principle to a 10-year deal with the Angels for $250-$260 million dollars and a full no-trade clause (not that anybody would trade for him now).
Let that sink in for a minute.
Alex Rodiguez is the only other player that has signed a contract in this price range, not once but twice, and he's generally hated for it. Some of this has to do with perception: money aside, Rodriguez is viewed as being prickly, cold, and calculating, while Pujols is generally well liked by the media and fans.
Nevertheless, at some point it's all about what happens on the field.
Both times that Rodriguez signed his record setting deals, he was coming off 9+ WAR seasons. Pujols, by comparison, is coming off of a 5 WAR season. Obviously, that's not shabby, but whether this is a fluke and Pujols ultimately returns to his 7-8 WAR self, or it's a sign of things to come the way that Rodriguez's 2008-2009 seasons were, remains to be seen. And that's huge here.
Any team that signs a player to a 10 year contract knows that they're probably going to have to write off the final 2-3 seasons, but they pray that's it. Whether or not Pujols rebounds to his pre-2011 levels next season will go a long way towards figuring out whether this contract will work out like A-Rod's first one did, or like his second one probably will.
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this will be a huge disaster in a few years
Now maybe we can move away from the whole “Pujols is the pure baseball player of the league and represents everything good about baseball” idea and see him as who he really has been all along.
It may or may not be a disaster
It all depends on if he can stay healthy. As fa as Pujols being all that, I’ve never felt that way. That’s just the ESPN et al narrative. He seemed reluctant to give post game interviews even after a win and was a downright prick after losses.
Romine!
What??
The Angels have also signed CJ Wilson. Damn.
-Giants-I bELIeve in this team. Playoffs are in sight all they have to do is fight for it. Keep Baas on the sidelines.
-Rangers-I like to think back to when Thorton called the Rangers soft and LOL! The FAs the Rangers have gotten are nice but this team has built its strength from within.
by Livestrong77nyy on Dec 8, 2011 11:03 AM EST reply actions
Wow
Scary, scary team all of a sudden.
They can still kiss my ass, though.
"When you give the Yankees a reprieve, they get up out of the chair and electrocute the warden." - Henry McLemore, Hearst Newspapers, 1941
by Captain_Mick on Dec 8, 2011 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
I do not really care all that much about Pujols but a rotation of Weaver, Haren, Wilson, and I guess Santana is pretty scary.
-Giants-I bELIeve in this team. Playoffs are in sight all they have to do is fight for it. Keep Baas on the sidelines.
-Rangers-I like to think back to when Thorton called the Rangers soft and LOL! The FAs the Rangers have gotten are nice but this team has built its strength from within.
by Livestrong77nyy on Dec 8, 2011 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
Wilson: 5 years/75 million
Less than AJ Burnett!
If Buehrle gets 4/58...
5/75 is really not bad for Wilson. It seems like he took less to pitch at home.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 8, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Angels were an 86 win team last year
They are probably a 95 win team with Pujols & Wilson. Meanwhile, Texas just lost some wins, and one WC might now come out of the AL West.
Boston vs. Texas...1 game play-in
Get your tickets now
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 8, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
Also, I think this tells us something about Jerry Dipoto as GM
Got rid of Jeff Mathis, going to get rid of Mark Trumbo, have Trout in the pipeline.
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
I like Trumbo
its too bad he’s getting booted. I’m predicted he’s getting traded to the Orioles, maybe Rays
so he can play third?
better than Montero I hope. If Morales is gone then that home plate celebration was the cause of all this.
Or he could take the DH job
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
He’s DFA’able if necessary. He’s owed $9M this year and then he’s a free agent after. That’s not exactly an immovable contract so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
If Morales is healthy, I don’t think Bobby Abreu will take his playing time. They’ll find a way to get their best team on the field, and a healthy Morales is a better player than Abreu.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
Abreu and Torii Hunter are both in the final year of their deals
So they’re both tradeable if the Angels eat money. Abreu would probably be easier to move since he makes half as much.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 8, 2011 11:39 AM EST up reply actions
The thing about signing a Pujols or an A-Rod...
Is you’re not just paying for their performance on the field. You’re also paying for home run #500, home run #600, home run #700, #715, possibly #756 and possibly #762 and all the marketing that goes along with those.
Now the steroid stuff about A-Rod came out after the Yankees signed him to his new deal which devalued all his future milestones, but so far Pujols hasn’t been caught for anything, and if he doesn’t get caught in the next few years, the “clean home run record” will be a major financial windfall for the Angels.
So in some cases you have to separate business from baseball and I think that’s the main reason deals like this get handed out.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 8, 2011 11:14 AM EST reply actions
lol Karl Ravech taking a phone call from Wilson's agent on TV
"I really can't stand that NFL guy, what's his name? Mel, yeah Mel Kiper Jr. He knows about as much about football as a Japanese space pilot." - Coach Trickett FSU
ronburgundy banned by BBS for making comments on MCM, Champion of the People, I bow down in awe
Datsyuk, He could deke Victoria out of her secret… He’s THE MAN. posted by Josh Howard on Winging it in Motown 10/13/11
Titans DE Dave Ball on Blount: "It’s like trying to tackle a greased up, naked guy in the shower" 11/27/11
follow me on twitter: @nolesunited247
by nolesbroncos3456 on Dec 8, 2011 11:20 AM EST reply actions
when Pujols breaks down
Will Halos Heaven say that aging is a conspiracy?
by long time listener on Dec 8, 2011 11:21 AM EST reply actions 5 recs
Like you really have to ask.
sixseasonsandamovie
by noonoo on Dec 8, 2011 12:18 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Probably that aging has a thing against the West Coast
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 8, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
the passing of time has an east coast bias
by long time listener on Dec 8, 2011 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Headline:
Players age slower and break down less on the East Coast and why this is unfair to the Angels!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 8, 2011 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
I wonder what Cashman’s limit was on Wilson. Less than A.J. Burnett money is interesting, and it makes me a bit curious.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:23 AM EST reply actions
I mean, he took less total money and years to sign with the Angels. Apparently, the Nats offered 6 years, $80M. i wonder if he would have taken something in the four year range for a high annual salary
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
That's no hometown discount
The LAA offer has a higher AAV. Same thing Cliff Lee did.
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
yeah but he gave up more total money
Lee went with a discounted price too to go to where he wanted to play
Lee took the highest annual average for a pitcher, ever. Not really a discount
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
yeah but he took less total money
I don’t know why people care about how much they make in a year if they’re still getting all that money no matter what. I know age factors in though.
I will offer you a deal:
I will pay you $50 dollars for one year, or $60, $10 a year for the next 6.
Which one is worth more?
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:34 AM EST up reply actions
It's just a clearer example of the same idea
You take the $50, because you believe that if you’re worth $50 now, you’re pretty sure you’ll be worth more than $10 over the next 5 years.
For guys like Wilson or Lee, this is easy: They’re set for life either way, but accepting a little more risk now allows them to achieve a better payoff in the future.
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
yeah i agree
but a one year difference shouldn’t be as big of a deal as it seems to be. Obviously it depends on how old they are, so if they’ll be in their late 30s by the end of the contract then they need to know when they’ll be a FA again.
No, Wilson made a bet
He bet that he would be worth more than 7.5 million in that 6th season, which is the difference in total dollars.
He took the shorter contract to maximize his value in the long-run.
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
6/$80 according to MLBTR. And wouldn’t a “hometown discount” come from the player’s team he came up through? And he took a higher annual salary in return for one less year than the Nats offered.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:30 AM EST up reply actions
Fountain Valley, CA, wherever that is
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 8, 2011 11:43 AM EST up reply actions
16 miles from the Angels stadium
So only 4 hours by car…
by PortlandYankee on Dec 8, 2011 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m afraid of him going to the Jays.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Dec 8, 2011 11:47 AM EST up reply actions
funny tweet from Mike Rosenberg
Pujols’ deal (10 yrs, $250M, at age 32) makes you realize Miggy’s deal (8 yrs, $153M, at age 25) was a steal for the Tigers.
"I really can't stand that NFL guy, what's his name? Mel, yeah Mel Kiper Jr. He knows about as much about football as a Japanese space pilot." - Coach Trickett FSU
ronburgundy banned by BBS for making comments on MCM, Champion of the People, I bow down in awe
Datsyuk, He could deke Victoria out of her secret… He’s THE MAN. posted by Josh Howard on Winging it in Motown 10/13/11
Titans DE Dave Ball on Blount: "It’s like trying to tackle a greased up, naked guy in the shower" 11/27/11
follow me on twitter: @nolesunited247
by nolesbroncos3456 on Dec 8, 2011 12:08 PM EST reply actions
Poet friend of mine
who’s also big time Cardinals fan is coining the phrase “Albertross” for this contract. I suggested the title of the poem should be “Rhyme of the Ancient Baseballer”
"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel
by tnredneckyankeesfan on Dec 8, 2011 1:34 PM EST reply actions
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