By my count, seventeen $100MM+ contracts have been signed in free agency, making an exception to include the $103MM commitment required by the Red Sox for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Here's the breakdown for recent offseasons:
- 2010-11: 3 (Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Cliff Lee)
- 2009-10: 1 (Matt Holliday)
- 2008-09: 2 (Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia)
- 2007-08: 1 (Alex Rodriguez)
- 2006-07: 4 (Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Carlos Lee, Daisuke Matsuzaka)
- Also notable is the 2000-01 offseason, in which Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Mike Hampton each exceeded $100MM.
For the 2011-12 offseason, will we see a return to the crazy money of 2006-07? We've got a trio of $100MM locks with Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Sabathia. As with the better $100MM contracts in baseball history, these three are current superstars. However, three additional players could tip the scales and give us as many as six $100MM deals this winter: Jose Reyes, C.J. Wilson, and Yu Darvish.
Reyes and Wilson may fall short – I could certainly see them in the $90MM range. With Darvish it's more a question of whether he's posted, because five years later I do think he'd match or exceed the Dice-K expenditure.
It's your turn: out of Pujols, Fielder, Sabathia, Reyes, Wilson, and Darvish, how many $100MM+ expenditures do you expect for the 2011-12 offseason?
Vernon Wells,
2006 – 7 yrs $126million
Not signed in free agency
derp, nvm then. On the same note as $100million free agent contracts, does anyone know how many $100million extensions have been handed out?
4, I think someone will give Reyes $100 million. Who on earth thought Jayson Werth would get a $100 million. Someone will get $100 million that isn’t expected.
Pujols, Fielder, and Reyes will get $100M+, CJ Wilson won’t, and no one else is worth anywhere near that.
CC won’t get $100 million? Jayson Werth isn’t worth what he’s getting paid. It only takes 1 team to make a stupid movie, i.e. Cubs with Soriano, Giants with Zito, Nationals with Werth, etc…
I forgot about CC since technically he isn’t a free agent.
That’s true, but there’s a pretty good chance he will be.
Technically, he can be a FA.
I got 5.
King Pujols
Prince Fielder
CC Sabathia
Jose Reyes
Yu Darvish
I got Wilson making between 80-90.
What happens if after so many of you guys predicted 3 100M contracts, we end up with 3 200M contracts? It’s highly unlikely, but with Pujols, Fielder and Sabathia on the market, who knows?
same five i expect. Wilson will fall short – more like 5 for 85.
Darvish will be the real deal. Gotta like Ham Fighters.
I see Pujols and Reyes. some loon might give Fielder that much guaranteed.. Ditto Wilson.
Pujols may break 200m even, he is that good and get 30m a season if he will sign for just 7 years. I see him wearing Cubbie Blue. The new Dave Kingman, only this guy can play defense and hit for average.
I can’t imagine the Cardinals letting Pujols go. Anyone who has ever been to a game at Busch knows how much the fans love that guy. There is almost no one else on that team that has any fan base behind them.
That being said Pujols, Sabathia, Fielder, and Reyes all get $100M+. I really don’t think Fielder will age well but he’ll get at least 7 years $120M. Whoever signs Reyes will regret it. There is no question that the guy can be very good but he just can’t stay healthy.
The Brewers already offered Fielder $100M and were turned down.
yeah, i remember that. Just my feelings on it and IMO… He (and Boras) should have taken the money and run…
Not that they won’t be offered 100m now.. But the contract will have the cash as team options, or a big chunk of it if he wants it. Got a feeling many GM’s remember his Daddy and how huge he ballooned up to, something prince already is. vegetarian or not.
If you think someone won’t guarantee Prince $100MM, there’s more than one “loon” in your equation…
That concussion must have messed up your reading comprehension. He never said that Fielder wouldn’t get $100M, he just doesn’t seem to think that it is a wise decision.
Speaking of messed up reading comprehension..
MorneauVP specifically said “guarantee Prince $100MM,” as johnsilver was seemingly suggesting Prince wouldn’t get $100MM guaranteed, but rather a contract over $100MM with an option or 2 mixed in that could potentially be wiped out by the team or poor performance, bringing the value of his contract back below $100MM. MorneauVP was arguing that he would get $100MM guaranteed, meaning either before or without any options that could lower the value below $100MM.
You’re right. I missed the “guarantee” aspect. My bad MorneauVP, I agree with you. Thanks Joe.
Couldn’t disagree more with several of your opinions. In this economic climate no one is getting $200M. Reyes will have last year’s and the two stints to the DL this year, used against him and won’t see a $100M offer. Wilson hasn’t really proven he’s worth that type of money either. If he opts out Sabathia, Fielder, and Puljols are the only ones that will see a $100M contract offer.
On another note, let me ask. Did you ever see Dave Kingman play? Comparing Pujols to Kingman is a huge insult to Pujols! Kingman was a terrible outfielder and an even worse first baseman, who couldn’t even run the bases adequately! It was either a homerun or a strikeout at the plate. The only thing Kingman and Pujols have in common is that they both have played in the majors. There’s a reason Kingman played for over a half dozen teams in his career.
Oh yeah.. I saw Kong play 🙂
it was nothing more than comparing the balls ricocheting off of the building across the street in LF with the Pujols and Kingman comparison.. Why I wrote “Pujols can play defense and hit for average”
Have been a fan of MLB since the very early 1960’s and seen (many in person) a lot of the greats. Sometimes my views are kinda’ slanted as you have noticed though 🙂
Edit:
Maybe you remember since seem to be a long time fan also.. Was it his time with the Cubs when Kong had his dog for a bat boy? I googled long ago and found nothing and it still bothers me that cannot remember…
I go back to the sixties as well, and I vaguely remember hearing of that, but can’t say it was the Cubs, though it sounds like something they would have done in those days.
He actually wanted to use his goat but it didn’t go over too well
THAT is funny. Are you serious??
Remember Ted Turner was BB for his Braves a VERY litle while, until Bowie Kuhn banished him (and all owners) from performing the task around the Kingman and his dog time.
Nah it was just a joke, but wouldn’t that have been hilarious?
And Ted Turner was quite the dog back then…though I suppose Jane was getting up there when he bagged her…
The new Dave Kingman, “only this guy can play defense and hit for average”.
missed that part I guess?
“The new Dave Kingman, “only this guy can play defense and hit for average”.
missed that part I guess?”
Look up a bit further my friend. Slopeboy replied to a different post. That one is further up on this topic.
Who are the possible suitors for Fielder? I have the Angels, Cubs, Mets, White Sox, Giants, and Dodgers (Cough) Am I wrong about any of these? Did I leave anyone off the list?
That is another thing with him getting a huge pay day, on top of his obvious weight issues.
Anaheim already has to be thinking of Boras client Weaver after next year and he is FAR and away more desirable than is fielder, both short and long term, not to mention they have a pretty fair 1B oming back from missing the last season in Kendry Morales. Cubs will be shoveling hard (IMO) for Pujols and have Pena already in a pinch.
I can’t see the Chisox, SFG and especially the LAD on that list spending big $$$ on Fielder, especially to play 1B in the NL beyond 3-4 years max at even below league average. Boston and the NYY are already out, as is Philly. boras already turned down that 5/100m (as a poster above mentioned) and Boras may be crawling back to milwaukee come late January/early February begging for it to offered again, cause I for one, see virtually nobody else left who would be willing/as the $$$ to spend, unless maybe St. Louis feels desperate after losing Pujols, but could anyone really see LaRusa putting up with his glove at 1B after being used to Pujols?
Weaver was already extended by the Angels, 5/85 if my memory is correct.
A Kingman-Pujols comparison is definitely one of the funniest things I’ve read in a long time.
You are probably the first person to put Pujols and Kingman in the same sentence.
You are the first person I ever heard who put Pujols and Kingman in the same semtence.
And Jose Reyes is the next Don Kessinger, only he can also hit and run?
What a massive batch of fail those ’06/’07 $100MM contracts were…
Technically Daisuke shouldn’t be included, as he only signed for 6 yrs, 52M. The 51 million and change posting fee went to his old club, not him personally.
But yeah, what whiffs on all 3. That’s got to be the contract equivalent of striking out on 3 pitches when down 3 runs with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth in the 7th game of the World Series.
crawford werth and dunn stand in awe of that group’s collective talent
To be fair we need to give them another 3 years of non-production before considering them in the same class as the 06/07 group, and Dunn didn’t hit 100M, but it is quite possible. Werthless is a lost cause in my opinion, but Crawford and Dunn can’t be that bad for that long- I hope. Of course I’m sure many people felt the same way about Zito though.
well of course. but thankfully we don’t have to wait 3 years to joke about it
Amen to that
4: Pujols, Fielder, Reyes, CC.
I went with five. I think that Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and CC Sabathia are all no-brainers. The first two for obvious reasons, and the last because even if Sabathia opts out and re-signs with the Yankees, there will be plenty of competition to drive the price up over $100 million.
CJ Wilson and Jose Reyes are more interesting options, but I think they’ll both be paid over $100 million as well (not that I think they deserve it.) I think teams realize that there aren’t many left handed pitchers entering their prime to be had, especially ones with little wear and tear on the arm like Wilson.
Contending teams will also realize that Reyes has the potential to change the entire landscape of an offense. I’m not sure that teams with obvious shortstop needs, like the Red Sox or Phillies, will shell out an upwards of $100 MM for him, but if Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth got huge deals, there is no reason to believe that a team WON’T offer Reyes one.
Darvish… I’m not sold he’s even posted this year.
•2010-11: 3 (Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Cliff Lee)•2009-10: 1 (Matt Holliday)•2008-09: 2 (Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia)•2007-08: 1 (Alex Rodriguez)•2006-07: 4 (Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Carlos Lee, Daisuke Matsuzaka)•Also notable is the 2000-01 offseason, in which Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Mike Hampton each exceeded $100MM.Out of all these players, who really helped their team win?I would say Crawford, No! Werth was ok, but not great. Even though Cliff Lee was a free agent, I really don’t consider him a free agent signing.He wanted to be back with the Phillies and the fact the Phillies should have never traded him in the first place. As a side note I am not amember of the Rueben Amaro fan club. He only does well because of two things 1.) Pat Gillick 2.) The incompetence of Ed Wade.It’s my opinion that if those two people were out of Rueben’s life, you would see a significant downturn in Rueben’s competenceCC is one of the most hitable Cy Young award winner’s in a long long time, if everTex and A Rod helped the Yankees, but I really feel Hideki Matsui was the real reason the Yankees won in 2009Holliday can hit, but he can’t field and now he’s injured•2006-07: 4 (Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Carlos Lee, Daisuke Matsuzaka) all are now terrible, Dice K had beginner’s luck in ’07The thing about Man Ram was that he was probable the best hitter in baseball for awhile, the thing that bothers me about him is that you don’t really know how long he was on steroids. Hampton was beyond awful.The bottom line is, if I were GM, I would never ever sign someone to such an outrageous contract. To me it just doesn’ t work
2010-11: 3 (Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Cliff Lee)
2009-10: 1 (Matt Holliday)•2008-09: 2 (Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia)
2007-08: 1 (Alex Rodriguez)
2006-07: 4 (Alfonso Soriano, Barry Zito, Carlos Lee, Daisuke Matsuzaka)
Who really helped their team win? Crawford, No! Werth was ok, but not great. Even though Cliff Lee was a free agent, I really don’t consider him a free agent signing. He wanted to be back with the Phillies and the fact the Phillies should have never traded him in the first place. As a side note I am not a member of the Rueben Amaro fan club. He only does well because of two things 1.) Pat Gillick 2.) The incompetence of Ed Wade. It’s my opinion that if those two people were out of Rueben’s life, you would see a significant downturn in Rueben’s competence. CC is one of the most hittable CY Young award winners in a long, long time, if ever. Tex and A Rod helped the Yankees, but I really feel Hideki Matsui was the real reason the Yankees won in 2009. Holliday can hit, but he can’t field and now he’s injured. Dice K had beginner’s luck in ’07. The thing about Man Ram was that he was probable the best hitter in baseball for awhile, the thing that bothers me about him is that you don’t really know how long he was on steroids. Hampton was beyond awful. The bottom line is if I were GM, I would never ever sign someone to such an outrageous contract. To me it just doesn’t work!
Sorry ahead of time, my first poting was cut and pasted. It did not translate well at all. This posting replaces it.
“Even though Cliff Lee was a free agent, I really don’t consider him a free agent signing”
Absolutely astounding.
Even though I “Liked” your comment. I don’t actually like it.
Matt Holliday is one of the top left fielders in baseball.
I wouldn’t give 100 Million to: Reyes, Wilson, or Darvish. Keeping in mind each deserves a nice contract:
Reyes: 29 in the first year of his new contract. Power and speed numbers down from previous years. Hitting in a contract year.
Wilson: 31 in the first year of his contract. Only 2 years of a starter to show his success in that role.
Darvish: Could be the most worth 100m, but an enormous risk. Only 25-26 years old in first season. Japanese pitching success in the past has been up and down.
Fielder, Pujols, and CC are locks for likely double 100 m.
I voted 6.
1. Darvish (140MM)
2. Beltran (100MM)
3. Reyes (190MM)
4. Pujols (200MM)
5. Fielder (200MM)
6. Sabathia (175MM)
Beltran…? Reyes at 190? Are you high?
His estimates are, at the least.
No, his estimates are insanely high.
Pujols – 7 for 210
fielder – 6 for 150
Sabathia – 6 for 150
Reyes – 5 for 105
Darvish – 5 for 60 plus the posting of 40+
Wilson – 8 for 85
Beltran – 3max for 36.
you are fired
Hahaha this is great. Wait….. with all of these predictions, how is CJ Wilson NOT getting over 100mm?
Tony Reagins, is that you?
At your current rate of inflation I expect Vlad to make a hefty 60 Million next season. Guess the Os should offer him arbitration.
lol i love that a) pujols and fielder get the same..
and b) that pujols gets a whopping 10 million more than reyes..
reyes will get his 100, even with the injuries. i dont think wilson gets 100 mil, but what does he get, 80-95 mil? there have been so many pitching bargains this year that seems like the sure fail fa signing of the offseason.
Pujols – 8/200
Fielder – 8/160
Reyes – 6/125
Wilson – 5/90
didn’t pujols already turn down 200 mil?
Pujols, Fielder, CC and Reyes will all get over $100 million. Wilson shouldn’t get more than about $80 million. Darvish, if posted, will probably land in the $80-100 million range. I’m betting MLB teams are going to be a little more conservative on the posting fee with him. His actual contract will be north of $10 million a year, though.
What team can afford $200M for Pujols? Boston and NY don’t need him. That’s quite a sum of money for the Cardinals team. The Cubs may be able to foot the bill, but I just can’t see Pujols switching his allegiance.
Pujols will sign a contract for more money that he will ever need, but I think he is going to have to settle for less without BOS and NY bidding for him.
Remember, Pujols can play third and occasionally left field which makes it possible not likely that the these teams might try to pick him up.
I don’t where you guys have been but this years starting market is extremely weak. Sabathia, Buehrle and Kuroda are likely to remain with their respective teams and CJ isn’t getting 20MM/yr??? That’s a joke, if your telling me the Rangers or Yankees aren’t going to raise the stakes on this guy. After Wilson you have E-Jax (unreliable) and the huge liability Darvish could be and I’m still seeing stuff like 12mm/yr??? GET REAL
it wont be as low as 12 no chance, but i doubt he gets 20 aav..
prob 16-18
Fielder/Pujols/CC are locks.
IF CC goes to a non-Yankees team, I see Wilson getting 100MM from the Yankees. If not, then no.
The only team that I can see giving Reyes 100MM is the Twins. A healthy Mauer/Morneau and a capable SS and bullpen (which is easy to get) and they’re back in contention. If not, I can’t see Sandy Alderson doing a 100MM++ contract for Reyes with the injury risk (and Reyes alone won’t push the Mets back into contention in the NLE), and there’s not another team that needs a SS more.
What about Kevin Brown’s contract?