Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Show Me the Money: A Chronological History of Baseball’s Best Paid Players

January 27, 2012 by William Juliano

(The following was originally published at Bronx Banter)

Alex Rodriguez stood alone as baseball’s only $200 million man for a decade, but now he has company. In the last six weeks, the fraternity has tripled with the addition of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. However, Arod still remains firmly planted atop baseball’s all-time salary totem pole.

10 Highest Paid Players in Baseball History, by Total Value and AAV

Note: Roger Clemens signed a pro-rated $28,000,022 deal with the Yankees in 2007, but he was only paid $17,400.000.
Source: Cots Contracts

If anyone was going to top Arod’s $27.5 million average annual salary, it seemed as if Albert Pujols would be the man. However, the new Angels’ first baseman “settled” on a contract that will pay him $24 million over the next 10 years, meaning he not only fell short of Arod’s current deal, but also failed to topple the contract Rodriguez signed with the Rangers in 2001. As a result, the Yankees’ third baseman seems to be a good bet to remain the highest paid player in baseball history for several more years.

Only two other players have had a longer reign as baseball’s all-time highest paid player. Babe Ruth remained atop the financial heap for 29 years, a period that began when he first joined the Yankees in 1920 and continued until 1949, when Ted Williams finally surpassed the $80,000 earned by the Bambino in 1930 and 1931. After the baton passed from the Babe to the Kid, Williams carried it for another 17 years until Willie Mays finally claimed the throne. Between that point and Arod’s mega-$252 million deal in 2001, the title of highest paid player repeatedly changed hands like a hot potato, with some players claiming the distinction for only days.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Alex Rodriguez, Arod, Baseball, George M. Steinbrenner, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

Prince Fielder Worth His Weight (just not in projected WAR)

January 25, 2012 by William Juliano

Every time a player signs a mega-money deal, there seems to be a very common kneejerk reaction, particularly among saber-friendly analysts. The typical response is to run to fangraphs.com for the player’s WAR-based dollar value and then, using projections, conclude that by the end of the contract, the salary commitment will wind up being a financial burden. Unfortunately, this kind of analysis, which, admittedly, I have probably done on many occasions, completely overlooks several relevant points.

Prince Fielder followed is following in his father’s footsteps by signing with the Tigers. (Photo: Getty Images)

The free agent process isn’t about determining a player’s long-term fair value. Rather, it is the means by which a player can use leverage to maximize his earnings in an effort to make up for the six years he was underpaid because of the reserve clause. Of course, many will point out that the team that signs the free agent didn’t benefit from those six underpaid seasons, but chances are they did reap similar rewards with another player. So, all free agent contracts should be assessed with an understanding that a premium is built into the total value.

Even though WAR provides a solid framework for determining a player’s value on the field, it is not as useful for determining his worth at the negotiating table. Supply and demand are much better determinants of the latter. Using Prince Fielder’s nine-year, $214 million contract as an example, the Tigers’ need (demand) for a middle of the order bat was increased greatly by the loss of Victor Martinez for the season. So late in the winter, however, there was only one viable option (supply) to meet the need. As a result, and because other teams were also interested in the first baseman’s services, GM David Dombrowski had no choice but to up the ante (unless he was willing to enter the season with a compromised lineup). That’s what free agency is all about, and it is within that framework that contracts need to be evaluated.

If Fielder replicates his recent success over the next few seasons and helps turn the Tigers into the perennial division champion in the A.L. Central (which, considering the weakness of the division, seems likely) does it really matter if he underperforms his salary during the backend of the contract? Does Fielder’s potential to put the Tigers over the top in the short term outweigh the anchor he may become later in his career? How one answers those questions is a matter of perspective, but the opinion that counts most belongs to Tigers’ owner Mike Ilitch, who happens to be an 82-year old man worth almost $2 billion. Considering his age and wealth, it stands to reason that the short-term impact matters more to Ilitch. Along the same lines, it’s also worth noting that Fielder’s other prime suitor was the Washington Nationals, who just so happen to be owned by Ted Lerner, another 80-something billionaire (86 and almost $4 billion to be exact).

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Hot Stove, MLB, Sports Business | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Yanks Better Off Welcoming Posada Back Than Saying Goodbye

January 24, 2012 by William Juliano

Should the Yankees be considering a DH tandem of Jorge Posada and Andruw Jones?

Considering how many great players have passed through the Bronx, one might think retirement press conferences would be a rite of winter for the Yankees, but when Andy Pettitte decided to walk away last February, it was only the third time the franchise had the opportunity to bid farewell to a former great in such a manner. Almost exactly one year later, that list will now grow to four when long-time Yankees’ catcher and potential Hall of Famer Jorge Posada officially retires from the game during an afternoon press conference at Yankee Stadium.

Although it’s nice that Posada will be given a proper send off, the announcement seems a little premature. Assuming Posada would be willing to accept a part-time role as DH and full-time position as team leader and mentor, bringing the veteran back for one more season seems to make all the sense in the world.

Putting aside his intangible qualities as well as deference to his long and illustrious Yankees career, Posada’s return is also justifiable based on bottom-line performance. Despite struggling as a right-handed hitter, Posada batted .269/.348/.466 in 316 plate appearances as a lefty, which, on an OPS basis, was 18% better than the league average. If Posada was able to replicate that performance, he would provide the perfect complement to Andruw Jones, whose OPS was 44% better than league average when facing left handers.

Jorge Posada/Andruw Jones DH Combo, 2011 Performance vs. League Average

Split PA AB BA OBP SLG OPS sOPS+
Jorge Posada vs RHP as LHB 316 279 0.269 0.348 0.466 0.814 118
Andruw Jones vs LHP as RHB 146 126 0.286 0.384 0.540 0.923 144
Combined 462 405 0.274 0.359 0.489 0.848
A.L. DH Average 0.265 0.340 0.429 0.770

sOPS+ is a comparison of the players split OPS versus the league average in that same split.
Source: baseball-reference.com

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Baseball History, Hall of Fame, MLB, Roster Analysis, Yankees | Tagged | 2 Comments »

A Look Back at World Series Rematches

January 23, 2012 by William Juliano

The Captain’s Blog is not a big fan of the NFL, at least not the mediocrity and gimmickry that have become its ideals, but in honor of the Giants Super Bowl encore against the Patriots, the table below contains every World Series rematch (same participants within a five-year span) since the inception of the Fall Classic.

World Series Rematches


Note: Rematch defined as the same World Series participants within a five-year span.
Source: mlb.com

Not surprisingly, the Yankees have been involved in all but three of the World Series encores, and, in the games that actually constituted the rematch (i.e., not including the initial series in the string), the Bronx Bombers went 11-3. So, from a New York perspective, that could be a good omen for the football Giants (although, the baseball New York Giants were 1-2 in rematch series). Regardless of the implications, the Yankees ability to either avenge a World Series loss or defend a championship is only further evidence of what Giants’ defensive end Justin Tuck stated last month: when it comes to sports in New York, the Yankees are the team that runs the town.

Posted in Baseball, MLB, NFL, World Series, Yankee History | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Don’t Look Back: An Ageless Tale of Satchel Paige

January 21, 2012 by William Juliano

(The following was originally published at SB*Nation’s Pinstripe Alley)

Paige pitched for more than 10 Negro League teams, including the Black Yankees. (Photo: Life)

Understandably lost amid the furor surrounding the Yankees and Mariners decision to swap talented young players was news that 49-year old Jamie Moyer, who is recovering from Tommy John Surgery, signed a minor league contract with the Rockies. So much for out with the old.

Baseball is a young man’s game, but unlike most other sports, there’s still plenty of room for older players. Over the years, the number of 40-year olds in the game has ebbed and flow, but the barrier hasn’t been that difficult to cross, especially during the last 30 years. However, 50 is another story altogether.

Hoyt Wilhelm and Jack Quinn are the only two pitchers since 1901 to be active at the age of 49, so, if Moyer throws a pitch with the Rockies, he’ll join that select company. An appearance would also put him on the precipice of the 50-year old club, which, for pitchers, is the exclusive domain of Satchel Paige, who, at the age of 59 (age-58 season), made an appearance for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Baseball History, Hall of Fame, MLB | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

The Pitchers Who Got Away

January 20, 2012 by William Juliano

The Yankees’ recent acquisition of Michael Pineda has caused mixed emotions for many fans. Excitement about adding a rare talent to the rotation has been balanced by regret over losing one the franchise’s mostly highly touted offensive prospects. As bright as Pineda’s future might be, it’s still hard to not think about Jesus Montero potentially becoming the one who got away.

Al Leiter struggled early in his career with the Yankees, but found success years later. (Photo: NY Daily News)

At Bronx Banter, I recently took a look at position players who found success with other teams after making a brief debut with the Yankees. Although Montero is definitely a unique talent, the franchise has established a pretty good record of not trading away its most productive offensive prospects. But, what about the pitchers?

Since 1901, 319 pitchers (including actives) have debuted with the Yankees, but only 32 went on to amass a career WAR of at least 15. Of that subtotal, eight pitchers found success after being traded by the Yankees, a 25% miss rate that exactly matches the team’s result with position players. However, whereas 19 of the top 20 homegrown Yankee hitters blossomed in the Bronx, five of the top 20 pitchers didn’t flower until being uprooted.

Of course, not all young prospects make the major leagues before being traded, and the Yankees have developed a reputation for dealing young pitchers before they even see the bright lights. And yet, even in this regard, the franchise has done a good job scouting its own system. Since the first Rule IV draft in 1965, the Yankees have traded only one drafted-and-signed minor leaguer who went on to have a career WAR greater than 15 (Scott McGregor), which perhaps proves there really is no such thing as a pitching prospect.

The Ones That Got Away – Pitchers

Player From To IP W L ERA ERA+ WAR
Al Leiter 1987 2005 2391 162 132 3.80 113 38.8
Hippo Vaughn 1908 1921 2730 178 137 2.49 120 37.9
Jose Rijo 1984 2002 1880 116 91 3.24 121 31
Doug Drabek 1986 1998 2535 155 134 3.73 102 27.6
Lew Burdette 1950 1967 3067.1 203 144 3.66 99 25.3
Bob Tewksbury 1986 1998 1807 110 102 3.92 104 20
Ivy Andrews 1931 1938 1041 50 59 4.14 114 16.3
Bill Wight 1946 1958 1563 77 99 3.95 103 15.5
Scott McGregor 1976 1988 2140.2 138 108 3.99 99 17.5

Note: Includes pitchers with a WAR greater than 15 who were traded by the Yankees early in their careers.
Note: Dazzy Vance, who amassed a WAR of 56.4, pitched for the Yankees in his first season, but only after debuting with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Source: Baseball-reference.com

Continue Reading »

Posted in Baseball, Draft, MLB, Prospects, Trades, Yankees | Tagged , | 6 Comments »

Butler Would Serve Yanks Need at DH, but Royals May No Longer Be Looking to Flush Away Talent

January 18, 2012 by William Juliano

The names most often mentioned as candidates for the Yankees’ DH opening read like a who’s who from the early part of the last decade. Emerging amid the cluttered speculation about veterans like Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, Carlos Pena, and Raul Ibanez, however, was a more intriguing rumor about the Kansas City Royals’ 1B/DH Billy Butler.

Billy Butler's bat would fit nicely into the Yankees' DH slot.

Saying that a player is underrated is perhaps the most overused cliché in baseball, but it really does apply to Butler. Because he debuted at such a young age, it seems as if Butler has been around forever, but this year, the right handed hitter will only be 26. And, although defense has proved challenging, he has had very few difficulties handling the bat since his promotion at the age of 21. In fact, not only has Butler developed into one of the game’s best young hitters, over the last three seasons, there haven’t been many better, regardless of age. Since 2009, Butler’s OPS+ of 128 ranks 22nd among all major leaguers with at least 1,500 plate appearances, placing him on par with the likes of Hanley Ramirez and Mark Teixeira and a notch above Alex Rodriguez and Chase Utley.

If the Yankees were able to acquire Butler, they’d essentially be replacing Jesus Montero with a player who not only fits a very similar profile, but is only four years older. What’s more, Butler is signed to a very reasonable contract that calls for him to make $8 million over the next three seasons. Even though that is out of the Yankees reported $1-2 million price range, Butler’s existing ability and potential for improvement would seem to mitigate the extra expense.

According to the rumor, the cost of obtaining Butler would be Phil Hughes, which seems to make the deal a no-brainer from the Yankees’ perspective. If Brian Cashman could pull off an exchange that boils down to Montero and Hughes for Butler and Michael Pineda, the Sporting News might have to rename the executive of the year award after him. Unfortunately, there’s a reason why the deal seems too good to be true; based on the lack of credible sources, it probably is.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Hot Stove, MLB, Rumors, Trades, Yankees | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Older Posts »