Grading Every 10-Year Deal in Baseball History

Long-term contracts are risky in any industry, especially Major League Baseball, where a player's career can suddenly and inexplicably take a turn for the worse.

The 10-year deal has historically been the sport's ultimate show of commitment.

Albert Pujols' signing with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in December marks the seventh instance of a traditional decade-long pact in MLB history. Additionally, there have been two recent examples of players agreeing to long extensions on top of existing contracts that cumulatively guaranteed them money for 10 seasons to come.

By evaluating these situations one at a time, we can gain a better understanding as to whether or not this is a wise practice.

Wayne Garland: 10 Years, $2.3 Million (Cleveland Indians)

Coincidentally, the first 10-year contract in MLB history was drawn up prior to the 1977 season, which was when the league first introduced large-scale free agency.

The Cleveland Indians ignored Wayne Garland's limited MLB experience (33 starts) and injury history. They were just excited to be locking up an American League Cy Young Award candidate through his prime years.

At $230,000 per season, he was far from the game's best-paid player after signing.

However, he was a huge disappointment, even at that price.

Garland was coming off a 20-win campaign in 1976. He combined to win only 28 during the five following seasons before being waived by a disgruntled front office.

This signed baseball card of him isn't worth nearly as much today as he probably envisioned it would be at the time.

Grade: F

Richie Zisk: 10 Years, $3 Million (Texas Rangers)

Richie Zisk became the first position player to receive a decade of security after the 1977 World Series.

Perhaps the Texas Rangers should not have rushed to get the deal done in early November. A more thorough evaluation may have deterred them from making this mistake.

Zisk had slugged 30 home runs with the Chicago White Sox in 1977, his first taste of the American League after a half dozen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The annual pay he received didn't exactly cripple the Rangers, but the money was surely too much considering that he would never replicate his numbers from that career year.

He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in December 1980 and the return was disappointing, so this contract has to be given a failing grade.

Zisk retired six years into this deal.

Grade: F

Dave Winfield: 10 Years, $23 Million (New York Yankees)

Of course, it didn't take long for the "win at any cost" New York Yankees to give one of their own a 10-year contract.

Outfielder Dave Winfield was a perennial All-Star with the San Diego Padres before entering free agency as a 29-year-old.

Team owner George Steinbrenner saw him as a safe signing and made him a wealthy man.

Winfield could be counted on for at least 20 HR, 100 RBI and a .275 batting average. He was articulate enough to handle the New York media, and his defense was terrific (four American League Gold Gloves).

He did begin to break down, however, in the final two seasons of the deal.

He missed all of 1989 with a back injury. Steinbrenner's frustration with him grew to the point where he demanded that his general manager trade Winfield early in 1990.

Winfield was unproductive in his only postseason with the Yankees in 1981, and he would never lead them to another World Series.

Grade: C+

Alex Rodriguez: 10 Years, $252 Million (Texas Rangers)

Superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez came to terms with the Texas Rangers in January 2001 on a deal that was far and away the most lucrative in the history of professional sports.

You can't honestly criticize Rodriguez for how he performed during this contract.

There are places to nit-pick, but overall, he played just as he was paid—like the best player in baseball.

A-Rod was worth nearly 24 wins to the Rangers in three seasons, according to baseball-reference.com. He was an awesome power hitter who stole bases efficiently, compiled a lot of hits and looked comfortable in the field.

It's too bad that his monster contract doomed the franchise.

Home attendance was mediocre in the Rodriguez era, and the club was stuck in the AL West cellar. Owner Tom Hicks found himself in mounting financial trouble, which culminated in him selling the team in 2009.

The Rangers dumped his salary on the New York Yankees after the 2003 season for second baseman Alfonso Soriano. A-Rod would go on to win his second and third AL MVP awards before opting out seven years into the deal.

For the organization who originally signed him, this was an ugly arrangement.

Grade: C-

Derek Jeter: 10 Years, $189 Million (New York Yankees)

The New York Yankees spent more than a year negotiating a long-term deal with their keystone, Derek Jeter.

It was finalized a matter of weeks after Alex Rodriguez's and turned out pretty well for both parties.

He played 150-plus games in nine of the 10 seasons, consistently hitting well and playing sure-handed defense. The Yanks won only one World Series—in 2009—but made the playoffs in every year of the contract, with the exception of 2008.

The franchise's revenue went through the roof because of all the success, giving them the means to acquire A-Rod and erect a brand new stadium.

Jeter only started to show signs of decline in 2010.

His play alone was never worth close to $19 million per season. He made up for his shortcomings, though, by serving as a perfect ambassador for the team and giving Yankee fans the priceless gift of continuity.

He has officially been the team's captain since 2003.

Grade: A-

Alex Rodriguez (Again): 10 Years, $275 Million (New York Yankees)

After exercising the aforementioned opt-out of his original 10-year deal, Alex Rodriguez had all the leverage in the world on the New York Yankees.

He had just won the American League MVP award (again) with what was arguably his best season.

At 32, he appeared to still be at the top of his game.

Without other comparable options at third base, the Yankees acquiesced to his demands.

The deal they arranged for him was the richest in MLB history and incentive-laden. The total value of the contract will exceed $300 million if Rodriguez eventually becomes baseball's all-time home run king.

Through 2011, however, A-Rod has underperformed.

He has spent time on the disabled list in four consecutive seasons. He is no longer a speedy baserunner or the top power hitter on the Yankees.

On the other hand, he continues to be an excellent run-producer when healthy, and he was integral in New York's 2009 World Series run.

Grade: C (thus far)

Mike Scioscia: 10 Years, $50 Million (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

Who said this was a players-only article?

The most revered active manager in baseball, Mike Scioscia is the only skipper who could dream of working with such job security.

After nearly a decade of winning under a series of short deals, Scioscia signed an extension prior to the 2009 season that lasts through 2018. He will be only 60 years old that winter.

The contract is back-loaded with salaries of $6 million in each of the final three years if he decides not to opt out after 2015.

It is too soon to grade this contract.

Troy Tulowitzki: 10 Years, $157.75 Million (Colorado Rockies)

Troy Tulowitzki has never been a free agent like the previous five players were. Instead, he signed a lengthy contract extension on top of a preexisting deal, that turned into a 10-year agreement just the same.

Tulo is arguably the best all-around shortstop in the game today, and as you may have noticed, the Colorado Rockies have him at a bargain compared to what the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees paid for their top players.

His salary won't rise above $20 million in any one season, meaning Colorado will have some payroll flexibility to build a winning team around him.

There are nine years remaining on the contract, plus a team option for 2021.

It is too soon to grade this contract.

Ryan Braun: 10 Years, $145.5 Million (Milwaukee Brewers)

Technically, Ryan Braun isn't in the midst of a 10-year deal, but the combination of his contract extensions guaranteed him earnings through 2020, beginning in April 2011 (nearly 10 full seasons).

Albeit naturally an impatient hitter, he proved in 2011 that he could be a truly dominant player.

Braun won the National League MVP award and led the Milwaukee Brewers to their second playoff appearance since his 2007 call-up.

Judgement on this contract is eons away, especially after he tested positive for a banned substance this past fall. Also, his salary doesn't become considerable until the second extension takes effect in 2016.

However, his future and that of the Brewers appears to be very bright.

It is too soon to grade this contract.

Albert Pujols: 10 Years, $254 Million (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

Mike Scioscia can earn his money and then some if Albert Pujols continues on a Hall of Fame path with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Pujols has been the greatest player of the 21st century and a winner of two world championships (2006 and 2011).

His consistency is unbelievable, and the statistics he finishes every season with aren't too shabby, either.

There hasn't been an individual in recent memory who possesses such a combination of power, hand-eye coordination and in-game intelligence as Pujols.

The chief concern for the Angels has to be that they acquired him too late—2012 will be his age-32 season.

A decline is inevitable—that we know. What we'll eventually discover is the speed and severity of his decline and whether or not it means this was a wise investment.

It is too soon to grade this contract.