Should Be on the Picket Line: Baseball's Most Underpaid Players
By now, everyone who isn't living under a rock knows about the Albert Pujols contract, or lack there of, with the Saint Louis Cardinals.
Albert is bar-none the best player in baseball and should be paid accordingly.
He wants a contract somewhere in the neighborhood of Alex Rodriguez's of 10 years and 275 million.
Pujols will be 31 heading into the 2011 season, 32 by the time his new contract year will start.
Perhaps if Pujols were 27, 28 or even 29 the Cardinals would have given Albert a blank check and not blinked an eye.
There's no question that Pujols has been the best player in baseball for quite some time, and took a team friendly deal his last go-round, something that he is not willing to do again.
Given all that, there are several established young players that have taken team friendly deals, where the teams have already, and will continue, to underpay them for the value they provide.
I have just one qualification for a player to be on this list: They must have at least two full years of service in the league.
Here is my list of some of the most underpaid players in the game...
Brian McCann
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McCann has been one of the best all around catchers in the Big Leagues and Atlanta recognized that early on.
In 2007 they gave him a six year deal worth 26.8 million dollars back when McCann was still cutting his teeth. He's blossomed into a five time all star pulling the brunt of the production for an Atlanta team not known for its offense.
His career batting average is .289 with 93 RBI per year. Not bad for a guy who makes 4.5 million dollars per year.
With the offensive expectations for Major League catchers being pretty low, one could argue that McCann should be making in the upwards of 8+million per year.
Adrian Gonzalez
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What's not to like about Adrian Gonzalez?
He can hit with the best of them, and his fielding is gold glove worthy.
He also has a very patient eye at the plate and is entering his prime with Boston.
No one hits the ball to opposite field better than Gonzo, and he will be a one man wrecking crew, smacking double after double off the Green Monster.
After the start of this season, Gonzalez is going to sign a seven year 154 million dollar contract extension to take him completely off this list, but in 07 he signed a four year deal worth a staggering 9.5 million (with an option for a fifth year to take it to 15 Million total).
Gonzalez will make an unimpressive 5.5 million before the contract extension kicks in. It may have seemed like a fair deal at the time, but for one of the best first baseman in the game who's WAR is usually around 5.5 and above, he should have been making at least 10+ million per year.
Congrats San Diego, you got away with robbery!
Jon Lester
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Lester has undoubtedly become one of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball and is in the conversation for the top lefty in the game.
He has a great changeup to neutralize both right and left handed hitters, keeps the ball in the park and induces a ton of ground balls—that and three plus seasons of 200+ innings pitched and two straight seasons of 225 K's make Lester one of the safest bets in all of baseball.
In 2009 Lester signed a five year 30 million dollar deal. In 2010 he made $3.75 million. For all of the big contracts Boston has on the books, they look like geniuses for locking up this 27-year-old ace until 2014.
It puts things into perspective when you've got the Jason Marquis's and the Barry Zito's of the world making much more.
Well played Boston, well played.
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Adam Wainwright
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Now before you bite my head off, I know Wainwright is done for the season as he will be recovering from Tommy John surgery, but not to be overlooked are his accomplishments compared to what he has earned thus far in his career. All I can say is St. Louis is fortunate they signed him when they did.
Before his elbow problems, Wainwright had been one of the best starting pitchers in the National League.
He posted 39 wins the past two years, and has been runner up or in the top three for Cy Young voting.
The guy was an absolute horse pitching 200+ innings in three of the past four seasons and in 2010 he had five complete games.
It wasn't a stretch to say Wainwright was on the cusp of a magnificent season. Hopefully he recovers fully from Tommy John surgery and will be ready to go next year. (Saying that because STL will pick up his option.)
In 2008 the Cardinals noticed their budding star and signed him to a four year 15 million dollar deal with an option for 2012 and 2013.
Before he got hurt, Wainwright was a true bargain, and he should return to that form next year.
Ryan Braun
5 of 9
Sure he's not known for his defense, but has there been a more consistent, and productive left fielder in the game other than Braun?
The Hebrew Hammer has formed one of the best three-four combos in MLB along side Prince Fielder .
Ever since he burst into the league in 2007, he has been a constant force in the lineup, putting up over a .300 average and over 30 homeruns per season, and he certainly won't embarrass you in the field!
No wonder in 2008 the Brew Crew saw that they had struck gold and bought out all of Braun's arbitration years as well as a few free agent years at the cool price of 45 million dollars over eight years.
If Milwaukee wants to be fair, they would take that contract and rip it up and pay the man accordingly!
Just to give an inclination of Braun's worth, take a look at fangraphs sometime. The production that Braun has had over the past four years has a value of around 20 million per season! Think Braun is kicking himself for signing that contract? Where is Scott Boras when you need him!
Ubaldo Jimenez
6 of 9
No one will forget Jimenez's first half of 2010.
He was virtually unstoppable winning 15 games, throwing a no-hitter, and posting a 2.20 ERA before the All Star break.
He was not nearly as dominant in the second half of the season, but Jimenez went on to pitch 221 innings and cemented himself as one of the premier pitchers in the league.
Colorado signed their Rocky Mountain Man to a whopping four year 10 million dollar deal with options for '13 and '14.
Jimenez is slated to make a knee buckling 2.8 million dollars this year.
If last year was any indication, Colorado should be very happy! One would wonder what Jimenez could fetch on the open market if he were a free agent...anybody care to dream?
David Price
7 of 9
Price just made the cut even though he has been in the big leagues since '08 when the Rays made their World Series Run.
In his second full season, Price proved what he could do once the training wheels were off—pitching over 200 innings, 190 K's and only giving up 15 dingers.
Price has been highly touted ever since he was drafted, and he has not disappointed, finishing second overall in 2010 for the Cy Young award.
In brilliant Tampa Bay fashion, Price signed a six year 8.5 million dollar deal in 2007, shortly after being drafted.
Price is very well poised to have an even more dominant season this year if he can keep his walks down and refines his already very good secondary pitches.
Price does have some interesting language in his contract that says he can void his salary and opt for arbitration in his arbitration years. Smart money says he may just do that.
Andrew McCutchen
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Making his MLB debut in June of 2009, McCutchen has already risen up the ladder in such a short period of time.
He has impeccable strike zone recognition, has incredible range, power to all fields and will steal plenty of bases.
Pittsburgh definitely got something right with this kid, and he is just reaching his full potential.
He will only be making $422,500 this year, and if Pittsburgh is serious about contending, they will do everything in their power to lock him up long term.
Andrew is only going to get better, and usually the way it works in Pittsburgh is he'll be shipped out before turning 27. Let's hope that the Pirates take their rebuilding seriously and pay the face of the franchise fairly!
Evan Longoria
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One could argue that Evan Longoria is the new face of baseball.
He has made several appearances in commercials for hats, video games and I'm sure an ESPN commercial will be up soon.
In fact, ever since Longoria's debut in the Majors, he took baseball by storm with his fantastic play at the plate and with his glove.
He won the 2008 Rookie of the Year and is well on his way to being an MVP,. and is already a perennial All-Star .
There are some that say he's already passed Ryan Zimmerman, David Wright and Alex Rodriguez as the best overall 3rd baseman in the league! Not bad for being 25!
Just about everyone knew Longoria was a special player the moment he set foot on the Major League Field, and no one knew that better than the shrewd Tampa Bay front office.
I say "shrewd" complimentary because they played this one perfectly.
Tampa immediately signed him to a six year 17 million dollar deal buying out all of his arbitration years, and locking up their best commodity.
Longoria's fan appeal is great for the game, and he is already an elite player.
Tampa Bay must decide by 2014 whether to trigger the '15 and '16 options on Longoria's contract that will FINALLY pay him double digits! I wonder what their decision will be?
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