"We added a horse. His leadership in the clubhouse will be very important for us in the next eight years."
Some lucky general manager will be saying something along these lines in the very near future after signing prized free agent pitcher CC Sabathia to a contract. It will likely be a record-breaking deal that could approach – or even surpass – the $150 million mark.
Sabathia will, indeed, be a horse. He'll be a leader. And he'll probably be pretty darned studly on the mound. But if your team is the lucky one to land the portly left-hander, you had better hope he doesn't follow the pattern of previous pitchers to become $100-million men.
The quote above? That's what Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said after he signed left-hander Mike Hampton to an eight-year $121 million deal in 2000.
We all know what happened after that. Hampton was ineffective (like most pitchers) at Coors Field. His contract was a burden on the team's payroll, and his frequent injury problems didn't make things any better.
And Hampton was not alone. The other pitchers to sign deals for at least $100 million are Kevin Brown (seven years, $105 million from Dodgers in 1998), Barry Zito (seven years, $126 million in 2006) and Johan Santana (six-year, $137.5 million extension in 2007).
In the long run, were all of these guys overpaid? Certainly in the case of Hampton, the answer is yes.
What about Kevin Brown?
"I don't know how you put a price on everything that he brings in addition to the talent he has," Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said at the time.
But after starting his contract with a couple of strong seasons, Brown, who at 33 was the oldest of this group at the time of signing, broke down physically. He did manage one more All-Star season in 2003, but contrary to Johnson's optimism, Brown never had a reputation as a great clubhouse guy.
As for Zito, he's been plenty durable, just not very good. And anyone who was paying attention (obviously, Billy Beane was), could see that Zito's career was on a steady downward trend.
And here's a quote to make Giants fans shudder, uttered at the time of signing in 2006.
"I think Barry Zito will be the face of the Giants franchise for a long time," one sources close to the deal said.
For Sabathia and his new team, the hopeful model for success is Santana. The Mets left-hander has only finished the first year of his deal, but he was brilliant in 2008, and his numbers would've been even better with a halfway decent bullpen behind him.
Like Santana, Sabathia has thrived despite shouldering a heavy workload. Santana averaged 228 innings over the three seasons before his big deal, while Sabathia has averaged 230. Like Santana, Sabathia will be 28 when signing his mega-contract.
Sabathia is clearly the best pitcher on the free agent market. He has proven to be as durable and tough as he is talented. But is he worth the risk, and worth the money?
Time will tell, but the overall history of these deals has not been kind to pitchers, or the teams who sign them.
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Ain't no ball player worth $150 mill. Wheres it end? $200 mill...$300 mill?
Ridiculous.....
No ONE is worth that kind of money and not to play a game. There are firefighters, police and many others the have a direct impact on our daily lives and all we want to do is tahe benifits and pay away from them. But we whant to pay this guy 100million what the hell is wrong with this country????
What the heck is wrong with US? We are the ones who will support such ridiculous signings by going to games inflated by the the costs of such signings. WE are the problem!!
I agree that no player in any sport is worth the kind of money that baseball players make but the fact is that the revenue created by baseball allows the players to make that kind of money. While a believe there should be some kind of salary cap to keep teams like the Yankees from being able to buy a World Series (Although I've enjoyed watching them fail the last 8 years) I don't think that they should be reaping all the rewards from huge broadcasting contracts and especially $800,000 skybox's in the new Yankee Stadium.
Agree with most everyone that it is way too much money for any one player. But then again that seems to be the norm to get a good ball player. Maybe this economy will take some hits on the baseball scene's and force the players to accept less. Who is to say that the owners can afford to pay the salaries of these guys when they may not be able to fill their stadiums this next year? Will some of the teams go the way of the Big 3 Auto makers?
As long as people continue to pay $50 for tix, $5 for a hot dog and $6 for watered down beer, players will continue to make outragious saleries. If you buy the product, the price will continue to climb. JMHO
First of all you have to respect what police, firemen, ect do for our daily lives, but you all need to realize that none of the before mentioned make the kind of money that sports figures do becuase none of the before mentioned bring in the kind of money that sports figures do. If a fireman was watched by 250,000 people who all had a cable bill to pay and another 35,000 people who paid $50 to be there then they could make that kind of money. those players attract people to their teams, which makes the team more money, which leads to the player making more money. So please before you make sure comments understand that there is more to the story than just what they make and that they play a game. Ask yourselves this question, DO I WATCH THE GAME? and if you are here then you do watch and you care, and since you watch and care then you are adding to the money the teams make which adds to the money the very player you are griping about makes.
I think everyone should stop bitching about what others make. Im in the Marine Corps and I dont make much money and it doesnt bother me at all. I just wish that when people talk about these things they always throw out that ( were paying ball players this much that money could go to service members or fire fighters or police ) hello people were in this buisness because we choose to be were not doing it for the money were doing it for you! So dont use us in your arguments! As for C.C. if he can get that kind of money good for him I dont care what a sports star makes whether he makes 60,000 a year or 21 mil a year it will never efect me or my pay check.
Hey, SGTMAC, who appointed you spokesman for the Marine Corp. I am sure lots of marines do not agree with you? As for these overpaid, spoiled, immature ballplayers, it really is not their fault that the system is willing to pay them that kind of money. If some baseball owner were to offer you 100 million to play ball, would you refuse it??? You would do the same thing they do, try and squeeze as much as possible as you can.
Ok so Mark-750522 you kind pf attack me a little then agree? The whole point of my comment was that I know that myself and many others are sick to death of people bringing use into money and sports conversations there two entirley different things. I did play baseball in high school and college and yes i would take that kind of money who wouldnt? Now would I like more money doing what im doing sure but thats not why we do it and im not sure who you know but anyone in the service who says they do it for the money shouldnt be here thats not what WERE about. I love baseball and if they want to pay these players that much so be it who are we to say what they shouldnt make.
This i never understood, of all you people complaining about how much someone else makes, is it just a matter that you all are upset that you never good enough to be in that position? Also please stop comparing ballplayers to the armed forces, teachers etc. even though a game will NEVER compare in importance to those fine professionals which one of you are willing to see YOUR taxes sky rocket to pay hundred of thousands to millions of soilders, civil servants 6 or 7 figures a year. Ball players are employed in a multi billion dollar industry where 150 million for 7 year contract is not going to break the owner who pays it so why shouldn't the best players who fans pay to see get paid.
Agreed. It's just another part of the entertainment industry. Rock stars and movie stars also make a lot of money. They do so because people buy tickets to movies and concerts. Same goes for sports. If people were to stop buying tickets, then things would change.
Thanks James thats exactly what im trying to get at i couldnt agree more with you.
No prob SGTMAC, and THANK YOU for your service!!!
What the heck is wrong with US? We are the ones who will support such ridiculous signings by going to games inflated by the the costs of such signings. WE are the problem!!
When he was with Cleveland he never pitched well in a playoff game. He was dominating against the AL central but thats all. Classy guy though.
Some people make big money in the entertainment business. Players are being paid what the market will bear. It will not change unless people stop paying the prices to see games. I used to be a season ticket holder; last year I went to two games. The good news is, the owners who spend this money are suckers. You can't buy a championship; fortunately, that doesn't work. Compare the Yankees and the Rays last season:) Just ask the Giants about Barry Zito:)