By Vinnie Longo (Contributor)
There may be record lows being set in some parts of the United States, but thankfully, we have the MLB hot stove to keep us warm. We have seen a ton of action thus far and the winter meetings are just heating up (no pun intended), and I’ve got a bone to pick with major league GMs.
We all know that contracts and payrolls are getting out of hand in professional sports. I don’t care who you are, you have to admit that recently some of the contracts being handed out in baseball are absolutely absurd. Phil Hughes didn’t deserve that 3 year $24 million deal with the Twins, and Jacoby Ellsbury may have just pulled off thegreatest heist since the original Ocean’s Eleven. That being said, nothing can be more ridiculous than what the Seattle Mariners did. They should go sit in the corner and wear a dunce hat for the massive contract they dished out last week.
Everybody knows that last week the Seattle Mariners signed all-star second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10 year, $240 million deal. Everybody has been harping on this deal for the past week, so I won’t belabor the point here. Quickly though: is Cano one of the best players in the game right now? Absolutely. Is he the strongest offensive player at his position? You could make a fantastic case, although Brandon Phillips is there as well.
For the sake of argument, let’s say that undoubtedly Robinson Cano is the best offensive second baseman in baseball. But the crucial aspect of a deal like this is as follows. Does Cano add a spark to a lineup unlike any other player in the major leagues? That answer is not clear-cut, so that’s why the contract isn’t worth it.
I get that the top guys in the business want job security. In reality we all do, regardless of our profession. So from the player’s perspective, of course they’re going to want a type of contract that runs for 8 years plus. But what if you’re a GM or an owner? Really? By the time this monstrosity of a deal is over Seattle will be paying insane amounts of money for an over the hill second baseman.
Now considering that Robbie Cano is Robbie Cano, he’ll probably still hit .270 around that time. Even so, to pay over twenty million a year for .270? Get real. It’s the Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder problem all over again. Teams are willing to overpay players that won’t be worth their contract when it comes to the end of it simply for the potential of a playoff run during the first couple of years of the contract.
Don’t get me wrong, I like that teams are willing to sign prospects and home grown talent to long term deals. But to the general managers of major league baseball and really professional sports in general? Wake up! You’re causing massive inflation that will allow mediocre free agents to set off bidding wars and will cause the top talent to stay exclusively with teams that have the ability to spend. Maybe that’s the way you want it. To me that’s boring though. I’m a sports fan; give me something fun.
Third Floor Crew 