MLB: The 25 Most Underpaid Players in Baseball
Baseball salaries can get pretty insane.
I'm amazed that St. Louis hasn't backed the Brinks truck up and just told Albert Pujols, "How much?" I like seeing great players (who are good guys, too) get taken care of. Earlier in the year, Cincinnati's Joey Votto landed a three-year, $38 million extension. Incredibly deserving. Love the kid's game and think he could become an icon in Cincinnati eventually.
It got me to thinking, though: Who are the most underpaid players in the game?
They are definitely out there. You've got some experienced guys you know will get taken care of, like Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. I went through each team, looked at rosters, salaries and their stats. Some of them are young studs who you know will eventually bank.
Others are blue collar guys who aren't flashy, but are just solid, dependable baseball players.
So let's do it. I obtained salary information from two sources, including the Elias Sports Bureau. Tell me what you think:
25. Alexei Ramirez: SS, Chicago White Sox
1 of 25
I'm not saying the guy should be making $4-5 million, but he can't be up over $1.5 million a year?
Ramirez, who made $1,225,000 last year, batted .282 last year, with 18 home runs, 70 RBIs and a .431 slugging percentage. He's had 140 or more hits the last three seasons, low strikeout numbers and a high fielding percentage.
Sure, he's error prone, but so is Derek Jeter. I think Ramirez deserves a little more than this.
24. R.A. Dickey: P, New York Mets
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One of the truly good guys I've dealt with, I felt bad for R.A. when he struggled in Texas. I think it's pretty cool he's salvaged his career and become a knuckleballer.
In 26 starts last year, Dickey had an 11-9 record, with a 2.84 ERA. In just over 174 innings, he allowed 55 earned runs, while walking 42 and striking out 104 batters.
He's come cheaply, too. In 2009, he made $525,000.
Again, not saying he should be paid Cliff Lee money, but there's no excuse not to have him get low seven figures. If the knuckle gets perfected, it's virtually unhittable. Why not reward Dickey for his hard work?
23. Brad Hawpe: 1B/OF, San Diego
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The Padres are getting Hawpe for very low. He signed a one-year, $3 million contract with a mutual option for 2012.
Hawpe will move from the outfield to first base, where he'll be replacing Adrian Gonzalez. In seven years with the Rockies, he hit .280, with 749 hits and 464 RBIs. He had five seasons with 130 hits or more.
Hawpe won't have gaudy power numbers like Gonzalez, but I'd bet on him being a solid hitter for San Diego. I got to know him back in college and he's still got one of the purest swings I've seen. The guy is an intelligent ballplayer.
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22. Josh Hamilton: CF, Texas Rangers
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There are reports that the team is working on an extension right now for the beloved outfielder.
I can assure you: If Hamilton somehow left Texas, there would have been riots.
Last year's American League MVP is set to make $7.25 million this year and $13.75 million in 2012 before his free agent year. No need for it to reach that point. The right extension will keep Hamilton in Arlington, Texas for the remainder of his career.
21. Jim Thome: DH, Minnesota Twins
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Good guys like Thome deserve more than just $3 million.
Thome could have gotten more than $4 million if he went to Texas, but decided to re-sign for a year with the Twins for the above amount.
I respect that tremendously, and have always admired his low-key, hard-working approach.
20. Josh Johnson: P, Florida Marlins
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The kid does have a fat contract.
In January, 2010, he signed a four-year, $39 million deal. Last year, he earned $3.75 million and that's going up to $7.75 million this year. Still pretty low, but it will spike: In both 2012 and 2013, he's set to earn $13.75 million. If he stays on track, that will be cheap compared to what he's likely to land.
Johnson, who was 11-6 last year, led the Marlins in strikeouts (186) and ERA (2.30) last season.
19. Jason Heyward: RF, Atlanta Braves
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Last year's $400,000 rookie salary will be like chump change for what's eventually going to come.
Heyward missed some playing time last June because of a sprained thumb, but he still finished the year with a .277 average, 18 homers and 72 RBIs.
The kid's got crazy skills. His payday's coming.
18. Andrew McCutchen: CF, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Andrew probably doesn't remember when the Pirates used to be a solid ball club. It was around the time he was learning the alphabet and how to add and subtract.
The 24-year-old hit .286 last year with 163 hits, 94 runs, 56 RBIs and 16 home runs. His numbers in runs, hits, home runs and RBIs were improvements from his rookie season in 2009.
Last year, he earned $422,500. The kid should get more simply for playing for the Pirates.
17. Justin Upton: RF, Arizona Diamondbacks
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The kid has freakish talent and you know he's got the skills to be a five-tool player.
Last year, the 23-year-old battled injuries, but still hit .273, with 17 home runs, 69 RBIs and a .442 slugging percentage. He earned $708,333.
16. Jay Bruce: RF, Cincinnati Reds
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The kid's got the contract. It's just backloaded.
Bruce agreed to a six-year, $51 million deal last year, but is set to earn $2.705 million this year, with a $250,000 bonus. It keeps going up: $7.5 million (2013), $10 million (2014), $12 million (2015), $12.5 million (2016) and a $13 million club option in 2017 or a $1 million buyout.
Last year, Bruce hit .281, with 25 home runs and 70 RBIs.
15. Drew Stubbs: CF, Cincinnati Reds
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I got to watch Drew back when he was at UT.
Stubbs earned $400,000 last year and more than produced: In 150 games, he hit .255, with 131 hits, 77 RBIs and 22 home runs.
Like many other youngsters, I'm not too concerned. He's going to get his big bucks soon enough.
14. Kendry Morales: 1B, Anaheim Angels
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When he's healthy and producing, the $1.2 million Morales made last year is pretty low.
Morales, who played in just 51 games last year after breaking his ankle in May, showed off his skills in 2009. The 27-year-old Cuban played in 152 games, hitting .306, with 173 hits, 108 RBIs, 34 homers and a .569 slugging percentage.
I've watched Morales plenty. The guy's a lot more deserving of just over $1 million.
13. Clayton Kershaw: P, Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers' former No.1 pick was 20th on the team last year in salaries at $440,000.
Kershaw led the team in wins (13), ERA (2.91) and strikeouts (212). He also allowed just 81 walks in nearly 204 innings pitched.
The kid's kept improving in each of his first three seasons. After watching him back in high school, it's cool to see him fulfilling all his potential.
12. Delmon Young: LF, Minnesota Twins
14 of 25
The Twins have always been very fiscally conservative, but still have built a healthy, competitive franchise, which you've got to respect.
Young just agreed last month to a one-year, $5.375 million contract. He earned $2.6 million last year, when he set new career-highs in batting average (.298), slugging (.493), home runs (21) and RBIs (112).
11. Trevor Cahill: P, Oakland Athletics
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Cahill and teammate Gio Gonzalez may be two of the most promising young pitchers in the game.
After earning $400,000 in 2009, Cahill got $410,000 last year. In just over 196 innings pitched, he went 18-8, allowing 65 earned runs and 63 walks while striking out 118 batters.
Oakland's payroll is paltry compared to other markets, but I'd love to see them finally keep their young stars together for a long time instead of seeing them go elsewhere.
10. Gio Gonzalez: P, Oakland Athletics
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Gonzalez earned $405,000 last year, but like Cahill, his numbers were impressive.
In just over 200 innings pitched, Gonzalez went 15-9 with a 3.23 ERA, allowing 72 earned runs and 92 walks, while striking out 171.
9. Mat Latos: P, San Diego Padres
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The young Padres starter earned $407,800 last year.
That's nothing for a kid who went 14-10 with a 2.92 ERA. He struck out 189 batters in just over 184 innings of work and gave up 60 earned runs and 50 walks.
San Diego couldn't keep Adrian. Let's see if they do what's right and retain one of their promising pitchers long term.
8. Ubaldo Jimenez: P, Colorado Rockies
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Obviously, Colorado needed to make sure that they kept Troy Tulowitzki, but the money they threw at him is going to make it tough to resign Ubaldo and Carlos Gonzalez.
Jimenez could wind up banking a little extra if he does what he's capable of.
In 2009, he signed a four-year, $10 million contract with club options in 2013 and 2014. This year, he's set to earn $2.8 million and $4.2 million in 2012. There are plenty of performance bonuses laced into his contract for things like the Cy Young, where he could get an extra $100,000 for winning and $50,000 for placing second through fifth.
Last year, Jimenez went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 214 strikeouts.
7. Billy Butler: 1B, Kansas City Royals
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I grew up watching George Brett dominate for the Royals.
It's a shame they've becoming a laughing stock since then and are basically a feeder system where young promising kids get experience and are then shipped to great clubs that actually spend money. That's all I'm asking for here: I want to see Kansas City actually act like a major league team, build a winner and pay its players what they deserve. It's pathetic that players like Zack Greinke can't be retained long term.
Butler could be a centerpiece of the future.
Last year he earned $470,000, hitting .318 with 15 home runs, 78 RBIs and a .469 slugging percentage.
6. David Murphy: LF, Texas Rangers
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In the second half last season, Murphy was probably Texas' most reliable hitter.
If you've watched the Rangers long enough, he probably reminds you of a taller, lankier Rusty Greer. Just like Rusty, he doesn't put up flashy, eye-popping numbers, but he's solid in the field and at the plate.
Murphy, who earned $427,670 last year, hit .291 with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs.
5. David Price: P, Tampa Bay Rays
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When he's on, Price's stuff is filthy and untouchable.
What's crazy: He gets paid like a minor league player basically. In August, 2007, he signed a six-year, $8.5 million deal, which includes a $5.6 million signing bonus. This year, he will earn $1.25 million and just $1.5 million in 2012.
4. Francisco Liriano: P, Minnesota Twins
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Back when Liriano came up and Minnesota still had Johan Santana, I thought, "Holy cow. That could be the best 1-2 pitching combo in baseball."
Santana is with the Mets, and Liriano has remained. He's set to earn $4.3 million this year, which is nothing when you consider the numbers: He went 14-10 last year with a 3.62 ERA. In just over 191 innings pitched, he gave up 184 hits, 77 earned runs and 58 walks while striking out a career-high 201 batters.
3. Austin Jackson: CF, Detroit Tigers
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Mark my words: In five years, he'll be considered one of the top three freakiest, most talented outfielders in the game.
Jackson, who made $400,000 last season, hit .293, with four home runs and 41 RBIs. As a Yankees fan, I was sad to see them trade Jackson away. It was especially frustrating, because I watched him numerous times back in high school.
Even then, I knew the kid was a five-tool player. So did all the scouts who lined the stands at all his games.
2. Jose Bautista: RF, Toronto Blue Jays
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Until he signed a $64 million extension last month, I would have thought some higher-ups in Toronto were enjoying some illegal substances.
There was something terribly wrong with Bautista making less than reliever Frank Francisco, an absolute headcase who will crumble under the pressure if he becomes Toronto's closer (believe me, I've watched him plenty. It's going to happen). Last year, Bautista earned $2.4 million, well below Francisco's $3,265,000.
Bautista played in 161 games, batting .260 with 148 hits, 109 runs, 124 RBIs and 54 home runs. He also slugged .617.
1. Ryan Braun: LF, Milwaukee Brewers
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Any guesses on how much Braun earned last year?
Under $1.5 million. In fact, it was $1,287,500 to be exact. General manager Doug Melvin needs to do what's right and give this kid a big, fat contract and keep him their for his career.
Last season, Braun hit .304, with 25 home runs, 103 RBIs and a .501 slugging percentage. He's had 140 or more hits each of the last four seasons, and hit above .300 in three of them.
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