The Red Sox timed Josh Beckett’s contract extension to save money:
By announcing the deal after the season started, Beckett’s new salary isn’t included in luxury tax calculations until next year. If the Red Sox announced it before the opener, it would have raised his average annual pay and been included in the calculations for this year, potentially increasing the team’s luxury tax.
The Red Sox are always on top of things. The article notes that most of the current rotation is controlled by the Red Sox through 2014, with Matsuzaka falling out after 2012. That’s a good thing if they all live up to expectations, but it’s also possible that Lackey and Beckett start to fade, in which case these are great contracts for the Red Sox’s opponents.
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I guess thats why you pay lawyers and accountants big bucks, to take advantage of these loopholes. Wonder what their legal and accounting budget is.
A pitcher with a known history of shoulder problems, serious enough that his insurance company at one time refused to cover his shoulder, signing for less money and years because he is not willing to risk being injured in 2010, kind of gives you a funny feeling in your gut (if you are a Red Sox fan), doesn’t it.
Of course, it is just good sense on Becketts part, remember Nomar I say. That money that’s on the table today, might not be there in 6 months (especially if Josh has many more outings like last night). Greed can bite ya.
Josh took the money on the table, and whatever happens to his shoulder can happen, or not, but he still gets it all. Smart.
Even if he had no known shoulder issues, pitchers are alway a risk. 4 years is better than 5 years. Both sides did ok. The Red Sox FO is smart too.
On the upside, Beckett has the same stuff he did in 2007 (though that curveball was missing last night). If Beckett can put together another couple seasons like he had in 2007, this isn’t a bad contract.
Plus I like how his face has “**** you” written across it everytime he pitches.