History has proven that large offseason contracts often have a negative effect on the recipients.
Last year, we witnessed the downfall of some of MLB's best, with no clear explanation in sight. Carl Crawford had a horrendous first season in Boston after signing a seven?year, $142 million deal, and while it could be explained away by a wrist injury, don't try telling that to a Red Sox fan. Jayson Werth penned a seven?year, $126 million contract and repaid the Washington Nationals by hitting .232 with 20 home runs and 58 RBIs. Adam Dunn, under a four?year, $56 million deal with the Chicago White Sox, approached mental instability as he hit .159 with 11 home runs and an on?base percentage of .292, the first time in his career it has dropped below .300.
It seems as if players who win the mega millions can only aspire to Dan Uggla?like seasons. After signing his five?year, $62 million contract with the Atlanta Braves, Uggla hit just .173 through Independence Day. The following day, he began a 33?game hit streak, the only player in the modern era (since 1900) to accomplish a 30?plus game streak while still batting under .200 for its entirety. Although he finished the year with career lows in batting average (.233) and on?base percentage (.311), he managed to make the most of his hits, racking up a career?high 36 home runs.
The reasons for the above players' struggles are not clear, but one cannot help but consider the increased pressure that comes with living up to the expectations of a new contract. Sure, there are a number of examples of players responding positively to the big bucks, but there are just as many who do not. This year, the baseball world will be watching to see if two of the game's best power hitters, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, collapse under the weight of two of the biggest contracts in MLB history.
Fielder will be a Detroit Tiger, which immensely increases the team's World Series potential. Detroit has an ace in 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, as well as the one?two punch of Fielder and third baseman Miguel Cabrera in the middle of their lineup. The Tigers will almost certainly make the playoffs in a weak AL Central division, and plenty of experts have them winning it all.
For Fielder, the ballpark change may not be a factor, since his average home run distance is 409 feet. Still, it's worth pointing out that since 2009, left?handed hitters have knocked 209 homers at Fielder's old home, the Brewers' Miller Park, while they have hit just 191 at the Tigers' Comerica Park. Regardless of his power numbers this year - which will most likely be just fine - Fielder will make one?third as much as the entire Kansas City Royals team. His $23.8 million per?year salary will make him a guaranteed total of $214 million over his nine?year contract, and he can make an additional $1.25 million in performance?based bonuses.
That's a lot to live up to, but still a cut below what the Angels' newly?acquired Albert Pujols will make: $25.4 million per year. Pujols is widely considered to be the best hitter in the majors, and his new salary is rivaled only by Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and his $32 million?per?year deal. While Rodriguez has arguably not quite earned his salary, if anyone is likely to be worth all that money, it's King Albert, who is the epitome of consistency in the MLB.
The three?time MVP has never batted below .299, has hit at least 30 home runs each season and has never reached triple?digit strikeouts in a year. Four players - including the aforementioned Dunn - had fanned 100 times by last year's All?Star break. As if that's not enough, in 2006 Pujols hit 49 homers and struck out just 50 times, nearly becoming only the second player in history to hit 50 homers with fewer than 50 whiffs in a season. In an age where a player can be considered an exceptionally efficient power hitter if his home run total is one?third his strikeout total, Pujols has broken new ground.
The 10?year deal Pujols signed may seem like a bit much for a 32 year?old, but the Angels feel he has more than a bit left in the tank. For now, Albert is still King.
While Pujols and Fielder offer big names and big contracts, a pair of young guns hopes to become the next generation of power?hitting superstars. Yonder Alonso is already being talked about as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, before he has even made his big league debut. As of now, the biggest thing Alonso has going for him, other than his tremendous bat, is his job security as the San Diego Padres' starting first baseman. Without the need to fight for playing time, he will get more at?bats and, consequently, more chances to develop his ability. Playing for the offensively?challenged Padres, Alonso will most likely find himself in the fourth or fifth spot, giving him ample RBI opportunities as well.
There's even more pressure on Yoenis Cespedes, who was playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic in 2011. Now, based on no more than one month of public exposure, he has signed a 4?year, $36 million contract with the Oakland Athletics and is one of the most talked about players in the game. Athletics' General Manager Billy Beane is certainly a believer. "He's got no fear whatsoever," Beane told ESPN recently.
Despite all of the buzz, Cespedes does have one widely known weakness: breaking pitches. But many scouts believe that flaw can be overcome, especially when you have the bat speed and strength that Cespedes does. He is so powerful, some say, that he will hit some home runs this year by accident. So, pitchers be warned: Even if you fool Cespedes and get him out in front on a curve, don't be surprised if he still manages to lift it out of the park.
