Viva El Birdos wonders what the Joe Mauer deal means for Albert Pujols:
An eight year contract for Albert Pujols would—let’s be honest, it will—take him through his age-40 season, which is no more reasonable than the Twins’ recent acquisition of a 35 year-old catcher on a one year, $23 million deal. It’s just how these contracts have worked lately—there is a little wish-casting at the end to make up for the fact that these guys are being undervalued in the prime of their careers by accepting even $23 million. Whatever you think of Fangraphs and its valuation of Pujols and Mauer, general managers, owners, and talk radio phone banks aren’t prepared for the idea that a player can be worth $40 million in one year; until that changes, and some combination of team and player front-loads a shorter-than-expected contract for an incredible amount of money, there’s no way around it.
I also want to add something that I remember hearing about when Alfonso Soriano signed his deal. Players seem to be more concerned with the total dollars than the price per year. Often, in order to make the total work for the team, they put on an extra year or two to the contract. They know at the end of the run the player is likely not to be worth the money, but they hope to make up for it in good years up front. If the Twins get five great years out of Joe, they’ll deem the contract fine.
With Pujols, under his current contract, Albert generated $190 million of performance while collecting $75 million. Part of the next contract will be getting paid for that missing $100 million.
So what’s going to be the average for Albert’s contract?
$27 million/year for 8 years?
$30 million?
@rbj: $240 million would not surprise me. I would also not be surprised if he received more money than A-Rod.
$240 million sounds about right. And the Cardinals are a big enough market with passionate enough fans (spending $) that they should be able to surround Albert with other top flight talent.
Maybe the Cardinals can broker some endorsement deals for him, to generate additional $.
As a player, does it really make that much difference how quick you make your first 200 million. Age 31, age 33 or 35, it’s all good.
I wonder what the insurance premiums are like on these contracts.
Signing Pujols is mandatory and if the Cards have to over-pay, then that is what they will have to do
Though most players would suffer tremendously the last few years of an 8-year contract that goes into their 40’s…Pujols isn’t a normal player
Maybe he will blow the last 2 years of the contract, but he will be very productive the next 4-5 years and that is what the Cardinals need to be concerned about