Twenty-three million dollars wasted. Well, to be exact, $23, 428,571 million wasted.
That was the salary last year for 14 home runs and 39 runs batted in.
That was the salary for Jason Giambi.
What a waste you say? You’d be exactly right.
Every season scores of players annihilate their teams’ payroll by sucking millions and millions of dollars away.
Take for instance Giambi, who at now 37 is way past his prime. But that was the going ratefor a less than mediocre Designated Hitter.
There are a bunch like him, too. So many guys that are making way beyond what they are worthin the major leagues, and not blinking an eye when receiving that massive paycheck.
Adam Eaton, at three years and $24.5 million, won 10 games last year. So at just under $1 million per win, Eaton was raking it in.
He did have an ERA somewhere north of six, but what does it matter, he is locked into this atrocious contract for another two seasons.
Former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon rode in the same wagon as Eaton, winning just six games last year and making $16 million, good for sixth highest in the game.
All of these players wasted our time and a lot of our teams’ money last year.
Why does it have to be this way?
Well, for one, nobody can stay healthy anymore.
Long gone are the days of Nolan Ryan, the man who threw for 27 seasons, and had nary an injury.
And every year, the going rate for a starting pitcher climbs to absurd altitudes.
Barry Zito, himself a former Cy Young winner, somehow fooled the San Francisco Giants into a seven year, $126 million contract lastyear. For a guy that throws in themid-80’s, that ain’t bad. Hisrecord was a stellar 11-13.
How about Richie Sexson. At $15.5 million, Sexson hit .205 with 21 homers in a full season. Just ugly.
Mike Hampton sure makes a ton of dough too. For not pitching in a major league game since 2005, and getting paid roughly $15 million to hang out, I’d say Hampton has the life. Sure, injuries have gotten the better of Hampton. But what did he do to deserve this nine-figure deal? He has a career record of 138-101 and an ERA of four.
For all of the big money free agents that suck it up year after year, perhaps the clubs should begin to think that their farm system can do just as well.
Last year, guys like Joba Chamberlain, Kyle Kendrick, Tim Lincecum and Chad Billingsley outperformed the uber-rich so-called star pitchers, and for a heck of a lot less.
The point is, teams should cut back on the spending for thebetter of their team, and for the game itself.
For every Richie Sexson there is a young, inexpensive player waiting for playing time like Adrian Gonzalez.
For every waste like Barry Zito, there is a Dan Haren waiting to blossom.
For every Adam Eaton, there is a Kyle Kendrick waiting in the wings.
Put down the checkbooks fellas. Because the way it goes these days, you’re going to be burned more times than not.
Teams now have the mindset that if they are paying these guys boatload of money, they have to play them.
I say nonsense.
What happened to the days when you had to earn your spot on the field? Granted, it is a business. However, waiting for a 37-year-old like Giambi to step in and perform like his contract is deservedmay never happen.
Why not play a guy now who is most likely going to stay healthy, give you 100 percent every day, and build for the future all at the same time?
This year, it will happen. Next year, it will happen. Teams will get swindled out of millions. The league as a whole, out of billions.
Guys like Francisco Cordero and Carlos Silva are waiting to be the next overpaid underachievers.
Aging players like Scott Rolen, Miguel Tejada, and Carlos Delgado are on the verge of becoming the next Hampton and Giambi and Zito.
We can’t even be sure if someone like Manny Ramirez will be worth the $20 million he is due this season.
What about the Cubs? They just gave an unknown Japanese import Kusoke Fukudome $48 million over four years.
It seems like forever ago when the minors were the source of the teams’ depth and players grew with one organization. Now, teams look to grab that free agent off the market as quick as possible, like bread before a bad snowstorm.
The question begs to be asked; will your team be the next in line to be taken by one of these men?
Only time will tell.
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6 months ago
Thats what happens when baseball takes in $6 billion dollars in revenue. Teams will have more cash to spend, and will spend it without hesitation.
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