Albert Pujols’ next contract will not be affected by Ryan Howard’s big pay day.
One of the biggest flaws in baseball’s economic system is that some contracts affect others. When a big deal gets done, it can have a domino effect. Ryan Howard’s five-year, $125 million extension is an example of why they shouldn’t.
Immediately after Howard re-upped, the media began to speculate about how his deal would affect Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, both of whom are eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. That kind of speculation should anger players and teams. Howard isn’t Fielder, Fielder isn’t Howard, and nobody is Pujols.
Why Howard’s deal won’t serve as the floor in Fielder’s or Pujols’ extension negotiations:
Fielder: Because of different revenue situations, Milwaukee money doesn’t equally convert to Philadelphia money. The Brewers can’t — and shouldn’t — pay Fielder as much as the Phillies can pay Howard, and that will be an obstacle in negotiations. Fielder and Howard both play first base, hit cleanup and are the most feared hitters in their respective lineups. But Fielder doesn’t have a World Series ring or an MVP award. If it gave Fielder a Howard-like deal, Milwaukee wouldn’t be able to afford to put quality players around him. And, really, who cares how much money you make if you can’t win?
Pujols: The idea that Howard’s deal will affect Pujols’ next contract is even crazier than thinking that it will affect Fielder’s. Pujols has no peer. What the Cardinals must ask themselves: Is Pujols the best player/person in baseball? Is he an ambassador for the game? Does he project what we try to teach our young players about how to play the game? Does he affect our financial bottom line? Is he durable and consistent? Would every other team in baseball pursue him if they could afford him? Did we save money on his current deal (seven years, $100 million)? The answer to all of those questions is yes. So, St. Louis should give Pujols whatever he wants, never once worrying about Howard’s price.
As for Howard, he could have made more money if he had waited until he reached free agency to sign a deal, but his new contract is guaranteed. Similarly, the Phillies didn’t have an urgent need to hammer out a deal, and they took a risk by signing Howard through his age-36 season. It basically is an unmovable contract, so, for better or worse, Howard isn’t going anywhere. Because he is comfortable in Philadelphia, that’s probably fine with Howard — and the team. The Phillies recognized that Howard is exactly what they wanted at this particular time, and they swallowed hard and signed him.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
Albert Pujols’ next contract will not be affected by Ryan Howard’s big pay day.
One of the biggest flaws in baseball’s economic system is that some contracts affect others. When a big deal gets done, it can have a domino effect. Ryan Howard’s five-year, $125 million extension is an example of why they shouldn’t.
Immediately after Howard re-upped, the media began to speculate about how his deal would affect Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, both of whom are eligible for free agency after the 2011 season. That kind of speculation should anger players and teams. Howard isn’t Fielder, Fielder isn’t Howard, and nobody is Pujols.
Why Howard’s deal won’t serve as the floor in Fielder’s or Pujols’ extension negotiations:
Fielder: Because of different revenue situations, Milwaukee money doesn’t equally convert to Philadelphia money. The Brewers can’t — and shouldn’t — pay Fielder as much as the Phillies can pay Howard, and that will be an obstacle in negotiations. Fielder and Howard both play first base, hit cleanup and are the most feared hitters in their respective lineups. But Fielder doesn’t have a World Series ring or an MVP award. If it gave Fielder a Howard-like deal, Milwaukee wouldn’t be able to afford to put quality players around him. And, really, who cares how much money you make if you can’t win?
Pujols: The idea that Howard’s deal will affect Pujols’ next contract is even crazier than thinking that it will affect Fielder’s. Pujols has no peer. What the Cardinals must ask themselves: Is Pujols the best player/person in baseball? Is he an ambassador for the game? Does he project what we try to teach our young players about how to play the game? Does he affect our financial bottom line? Is he durable and consistent? Would every other team in baseball pursue him if they could afford him? Did we save money on his current deal (seven years, $100 million)? The answer to all of those questions is yes. So, St. Louis should give Pujols whatever he wants, never once worrying about Howard’s price.
As for Howard, he could have made more money if he had waited until he reached free agency to sign a deal, but his new contract is guaranteed. Similarly, the Phillies didn’t have an urgent need to hammer out a deal, and they took a risk by signing Howard through his age-36 season. It basically is an unmovable contract, so, for better or worse, Howard isn’t going anywhere. Because he is comfortable in Philadelphia, that’s probably fine with Howard — and the team. The Phillies recognized that Howard is exactly what they wanted at this particular time, and they swallowed hard and signed him.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
What I’ll be wondering as the division races heat up:
Don’t these guys age?: Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
AL East: Why Yankees greats Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada don’t age. … Whether Red Sox reserve Mike Lowell, one of the game’s genuine good guys, will find an everyday job (either in Boston or elsewhere). … How Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, at 24, already has it all. He is the whole package on and off the field, has the respect of his peers and the fear of opposing pitchers, and is the cover boy for a pretty cool video game. … Whether Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will continue to make his critics pay for saying those awful things about him and his contract. You have to be careful what you say about players who still have uniforms on their backs.
AL Central: Whether the Twins can prove me wrong and win home games outside. … Whether Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will bring home the MVP award he is capable of winning. … Why the Indians and White Sox can’t get going. … Whether talented White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham can shake his early-season sophomore slump. … Whether I can enjoy anything in the division more than watching Twins catcher Joe Mauer hit.
AL West: How well Mariners co-ace Cliff Lee can pitch for his free-agent life. … Whether Mariners DH Ken Griffey Jr. hung around too long (let’s hope not). … Whether Angels lefthander Scott Kazmir will pitch to his ability. … Whether Mike Scioscia can erase his team’s slow start and earn another manager of the year award. … Whether Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton can stay healthy.
NL East: Whether the slow-starting Braves can send manager Bobby Cox out on top — and whether he will stay if they do. … Exactly what kind of numbers Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward is capable of. … What Marlins ownership will do at the trading deadline if they’re in contention. … Just how dominant Phillies ace Roy Halladay will be. … What the Mets can do if they stay healthy. … Whether Matt Capps can save 80 percent of the Nationals’ wins.
NL Central: Whether Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome is more Hideki Matsui than Tsuyoshi Shinjo. … How many bags Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen can steal. … Whether Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will share his definition of vegetarian. … Whether any team in the division other than the Cardinals can entertain me enough to keep me awake.
NL West: Whether Manny is done being Manny. … Whether Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw will morph into this Sandy Koufax replica many claim he will be. … Whether Giants ace Tim Lincecum will win 25 games. … Whether Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton or Giants closer Brian Wilson throws harder. … Whether a Padres pitcher will throw the franchise’s first-ever no-hitter. … How good Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will be — after he is dealt to a big-market East Coast team.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
What I’ll be wondering as the division races heat up:
Don’t these guys age?: Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.
AL East: Why Yankees greats Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada don’t age. … Whether Red Sox reserve Mike Lowell, one of the game’s genuine good guys, will find an everyday job (either in Boston or elsewhere). … How Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, at 24, already has it all. He is the whole package on and off the field, has the respect of his peers and the fear of opposing pitchers, and is the cover boy for a pretty cool video game. … Whether Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells will continue to make his critics pay for saying those awful things about him and his contract. You have to be careful what you say about players who still have uniforms on their backs.
AL Central: Whether the Twins can prove me wrong and win home games outside. … Whether Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will bring home the MVP award he is capable of winning. … Why the Indians and White Sox can’t get going. … Whether talented White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham can shake his early-season sophomore slump. … Whether I can enjoy anything in the division more than watching Twins catcher Joe Mauer hit.
AL West: How well Mariners co-ace Cliff Lee can pitch for his free-agent life. … Whether Mariners DH Ken Griffey Jr. hung around too long (let’s hope not). … Whether Angels lefthander Scott Kazmir will pitch to his ability. … Whether Mike Scioscia can erase his team’s slow start and earn another manager of the year award. … Whether Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton can stay healthy.
NL East: Whether the slow-starting Braves can send manager Bobby Cox out on top — and whether he will stay if they do. … Exactly what kind of numbers Braves rookie right fielder Jason Heyward is capable of. … What Marlins ownership will do at the trading deadline if they’re in contention. … Just how dominant Phillies ace Roy Halladay will be. … What the Mets can do if they stay healthy. … Whether Matt Capps can save 80 percent of the Nationals’ wins.
NL Central: Whether Cubs right fielder Kosuke Fukudome is more Hideki Matsui than Tsuyoshi Shinjo. … How many bags Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen can steal. … Whether Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder will share his definition of vegetarian. … Whether any team in the division other than the Cardinals can entertain me enough to keep me awake.
NL West: Whether Manny is done being Manny. … Whether Dodgers lefthander Clayton Kershaw will morph into this Sandy Koufax replica many claim he will be. … Whether Giants ace Tim Lincecum will win 25 games. … Whether Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton or Giants closer Brian Wilson throws harder. … Whether a Padres pitcher will throw the franchise’s first-ever no-hitter. … How good Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will be — after he is dealt to a big-market East Coast team.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
Most general managers understand the importance of the bullpen — and the need to invest in it. But what happens when the best-laid plan is thrown out of whack and a team must survive without its closer?
Closers get too much glory/blame, but, for the most part, a bullpen revolves around the big guy at the end. Losing him creates two potentially season-altering pitfalls. Other teams could learn from how Minnesota dealt with both after losing Joe Nathan for the season.
1. Indecision. A team’s unwillingness to give the ball to one pitcher in the ninth inning and call him the closer can be deadly. The closer-by-committee approach might be the only option for a bad or small-budget team, but a contender needs a stopper to take all the heat. Pick a replacement and stick with him.
Twins’ solution: Manager Ron Gardenhire anointed Jon Rauch the closer at the end of spring training, saw immediate dividends and avoided a committee mess.
2. A domino effect. With the closer out of the mix, the other relievers’ roles change. And teams get in trouble when players are asked to do more than they are capable of every night. When a seventh-inning guy must handle the eighth and an eighth-inning guy has to work the ninth, expectations and pressure levels change.
Twins’ solution: No reliever’s role was drastically altered—Rauch had previous closer experience—nor was starter Francisco Liriano’s progress halted by a transition to closer (a move that was explored).
Minnesota can’t truly replace Nathan, but because of how the team dealt with losing him, the pitching staff experienced limited turbulence and the team quickly established confidence in Rauch.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
Most general managers understand the importance of the bullpen — and the need to invest in it. But what happens when the best-laid plan is thrown out of whack and a team must survive without its closer?
Closers get too much glory/blame, but, for the most part, a bullpen revolves around the big guy at the end. Losing him creates two potentially season-altering pitfalls. Other teams could learn from how Minnesota dealt with both after losing Joe Nathan for the season.
1. Indecision. A team’s unwillingness to give the ball to one pitcher in the ninth inning and call him the closer can be deadly. The closer-by-committee approach might be the only option for a bad or small-budget team, but a contender needs a stopper to take all the heat. Pick a replacement and stick with him.
Twins’ solution: Manager Ron Gardenhire anointed Jon Rauch the closer at the end of spring training, saw immediate dividends and avoided a committee mess.
2. A domino effect. With the closer out of the mix, the other relievers’ roles change. And teams get in trouble when players are asked to do more than they are capable of every night. When a seventh-inning guy must handle the eighth and an eighth-inning guy has to work the ninth, expectations and pressure levels change.
Twins’ solution: No reliever’s role was drastically altered—Rauch had previous closer experience—nor was starter Francisco Liriano’s progress halted by a transition to closer (a move that was explored).
Minnesota can’t truly replace Nathan, but because of how the team dealt with losing him, the pitching staff experienced limited turbulence and the team quickly established confidence in Rauch.
Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.
