iFroggy
03-25-2001, 02:05 PM
http://espn.go.com/mlb/columns/rogers_phil/1160638.html
This from an ESPN article detailing guys that, if they perform this year, could be in for monster deals next year.
Others need one more big season to seal their monster deals. Among them:
Johnny Damon, A's: He's become baseball's best leadoff man, but Kansas City couldn't afford to keep him. It's doubtful Oakland can. But he'll be a part of the major leagues' best collection of young hitters and should get a chance to show his skills in October.
Chan Ho Park, Dodgers: Los Angeles already has a $55-million rotation, but will have to up the ante to keep Park if he can approach last year's 18-10 performance. Dodgers GM Kevin Malone would love to sign him to an extension before he reaches free agency, but that doesn't seem likely.
Barry Bonds, Giants: The three-time MVP will be 37 at the end of the season, which worries his employers. But Bonds should have another big contract in him. He hit a career-high 49 homers last year and has a stroke that works well at Pac Bell Park. This byplay between Bonds and the Giants' front office could get ugly along the way this year.
Andruw Jones, Braves: He's two years away from free agency, but GM John Schuerholz would be wise to get his signature on a long-term deal as soon as possible. Jones won't turn 24 for another month, but will earn $8.2 million this year after beating the club in arbitration. He's as close to an A-Rod clone as you can find. He's young, he hits home runs, steals bases and is a Gold Glove fielder. Cha-ching.
Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers: If A-Rod is worth $252 million, what about Pudge? He is signed through 2002, but won't be happy until then making relative chump change ($8 million in '01 and $9 million in '02). I-Rod has been playing it straight this spring, saying he is happy to play alongside Alex Rodriguez, but you wonder when the money-related funk sets in. Hicks says he can afford both Rodriguezes long term, but we've got to see that to believe it.
James Baldwin, White Sox: This guy is a trend-setter. His $5.95 million contract is the biggest ever for a pitcher with a career earned run average above 5.00. Baldwin will open the season on the disabled list, but if he bounces back from shoulder surgery to pitch as well as he did in the first half of last season (11-4, 4.28) the White Sox will wish they had locked him up.
Jeff Kent, Giants: Like Ivan Rodriguez, Kent is signed through 2002. He figures to be rewarded next winter if he puts together another solid season. The presence of Kent makes it easier for San Francisco to let Bonds walk, but the Giants can't lose Bonds and Kent in back-to-back years.
Roberto Hernandez, Royals: A sleeper, Hernandez heads into his walk year in the right place. Kansas City has a young nucleus that should have a winning season this year. If Hernandez slams the door, 85-90 wins is not out of the question. That would make the easy-going closer hot property next winter.
Magglio Ordonez, White Sox: Here's one guy the Sox should have signed to a long-term contract a year ago. The two-time All-Star actually had a split contract a year ago, but earned a bump from $425,000 to $3.7 million in his first year of arbitration. He'll move rapidly toward a $10 million deal if he continues the annual escalation of his stats -- from 65 RBI in 1998 to 117 in '99 and 126 in '00.
Kerry Wood, Cubs: After logging two years in service time working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Wood says it's time for him to deliver on the promise of 1998, when he was the NL Rookie of the Year. He's been on year-to-year contracts throughout his career. He'll get rich if he can again become one of baseball's most dominating starters.
Baldwin, Park and Hernandez, in my opinion, don't deserve 'huge' deals. The rest of the players on here are 'star power' in my opinion and thus I believe that they probably do.
This from an ESPN article detailing guys that, if they perform this year, could be in for monster deals next year.
Others need one more big season to seal their monster deals. Among them:
Johnny Damon, A's: He's become baseball's best leadoff man, but Kansas City couldn't afford to keep him. It's doubtful Oakland can. But he'll be a part of the major leagues' best collection of young hitters and should get a chance to show his skills in October.
Chan Ho Park, Dodgers: Los Angeles already has a $55-million rotation, but will have to up the ante to keep Park if he can approach last year's 18-10 performance. Dodgers GM Kevin Malone would love to sign him to an extension before he reaches free agency, but that doesn't seem likely.
Barry Bonds, Giants: The three-time MVP will be 37 at the end of the season, which worries his employers. But Bonds should have another big contract in him. He hit a career-high 49 homers last year and has a stroke that works well at Pac Bell Park. This byplay between Bonds and the Giants' front office could get ugly along the way this year.
Andruw Jones, Braves: He's two years away from free agency, but GM John Schuerholz would be wise to get his signature on a long-term deal as soon as possible. Jones won't turn 24 for another month, but will earn $8.2 million this year after beating the club in arbitration. He's as close to an A-Rod clone as you can find. He's young, he hits home runs, steals bases and is a Gold Glove fielder. Cha-ching.
Ivan Rodriguez, Rangers: If A-Rod is worth $252 million, what about Pudge? He is signed through 2002, but won't be happy until then making relative chump change ($8 million in '01 and $9 million in '02). I-Rod has been playing it straight this spring, saying he is happy to play alongside Alex Rodriguez, but you wonder when the money-related funk sets in. Hicks says he can afford both Rodriguezes long term, but we've got to see that to believe it.
James Baldwin, White Sox: This guy is a trend-setter. His $5.95 million contract is the biggest ever for a pitcher with a career earned run average above 5.00. Baldwin will open the season on the disabled list, but if he bounces back from shoulder surgery to pitch as well as he did in the first half of last season (11-4, 4.28) the White Sox will wish they had locked him up.
Jeff Kent, Giants: Like Ivan Rodriguez, Kent is signed through 2002. He figures to be rewarded next winter if he puts together another solid season. The presence of Kent makes it easier for San Francisco to let Bonds walk, but the Giants can't lose Bonds and Kent in back-to-back years.
Roberto Hernandez, Royals: A sleeper, Hernandez heads into his walk year in the right place. Kansas City has a young nucleus that should have a winning season this year. If Hernandez slams the door, 85-90 wins is not out of the question. That would make the easy-going closer hot property next winter.
Magglio Ordonez, White Sox: Here's one guy the Sox should have signed to a long-term contract a year ago. The two-time All-Star actually had a split contract a year ago, but earned a bump from $425,000 to $3.7 million in his first year of arbitration. He'll move rapidly toward a $10 million deal if he continues the annual escalation of his stats -- from 65 RBI in 1998 to 117 in '99 and 126 in '00.
Kerry Wood, Cubs: After logging two years in service time working his way back from Tommy John surgery, Wood says it's time for him to deliver on the promise of 1998, when he was the NL Rookie of the Year. He's been on year-to-year contracts throughout his career. He'll get rich if he can again become one of baseball's most dominating starters.
Baldwin, Park and Hernandez, in my opinion, don't deserve 'huge' deals. The rest of the players on here are 'star power' in my opinion and thus I believe that they probably do.