12/21/24
July 30, 2013
Angels Paying Heavily for 10-Year Gamble on Pujols: Two years into Albert Pujols' 10-year, $240 million contract, the Los Angeles Angels are paying a heavy price for making such a long bet on the 33-year-old, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. Pujols is likely to miss the rest of the season with a partial tear of the plantar fascia in his left foot. "I saw him earlier this season, and it hurt me to watch him run," said one major league scout.
It will be interesting to see what comes of the Angels when Trout comes up for free agency in five years. Pujols will still be on the books. Hamilton will just be coming off. Will they have the money/heart for another $25m/year deal after the first two have burned them so bad?
posted by dfleming at 08:46 PM on July 30, 2013
Pujols' contract will be a disaster, then Prince Fielder's contract will be the next one. And yes, Hamilton looks like a shell of his former self, too.
posted by dyams at 09:07 PM on July 30, 2013
It will be interesting to see what comes of the Angels when Trout comes up for free agency in five years.
I don't see much of a discussion. They have lots of money and Trout's situation will be just a little bit different: Trout will be 26. Pujols was 32, Hamilton 31. Assuming the lesson the Angels learn is "Don't pay for past production" not "Don't sign anyone to a long-term deal", the Trout decision should be easy. If not, they'll figure it out when their fans burn the place down and take Mickey hostage.
posted by yerfatma at 09:21 AM on July 31, 2013
Arod's is a horrendous contract, and although it's worse than anyone thought, it was clear it was going to be bad eventually from the get go. He's had two hip surgeries and he's signed through 2017? Awful.
The Yankees are going to try and get out of it anyway they can, which I don't believe is right. They signed him for MORE money when no one else wanted him. They should have to live with contract.
The Pujols contract, again, I don't think anyone saw him declining this fast, but the signs were there. They just didn't care. Both the Arod and Pujols contracts were given believing there would be enough good in the front to make the end worth it.
Hamilton, as long as he keeps his head straight, is the best of the three simply because he's in better shape. Though I doubt he'll ever be worth the money.
It will be interesting to see what comes of the Angels when Trout comes up for free agency in five years.
What yerfatma said. If there's no problems along the way 26 is the perfect time to lock someone up for a while. Signing players over 30 to huge contracts is the problem.
posted by justgary at 09:52 PM on July 31, 2013
Pujols' contract will be a disaster, then Prince Fielder's contract will be the next one.
If the Tigers win a World Series the contract will have been worth it. It will help ease the pain that will come towards the end of the deal.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 08:40 AM on August 01, 2013
Yankee fans are living that reality with A-Rod now, YYM. One World Series win followed by several long, terrible years that drag forever.
posted by dyams at 01:42 PM on August 01, 2013
Is one World Series title near the front end really enough to salve the wounds of a decade with a monster contract limiting the franchise?
I suspect the "yes" becomes "no" as the new championship smell wears off.
posted by rcade at 02:06 PM on August 01, 2013
Fielder's contract is worth every penny if just to keep us fat guys dreaming about tripling in the All-Star Game.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:37 AM on August 04, 2013
Meanwhile, the Cardinals suffer (the loneliness of first place).