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IMO Longo should be #1, and the lack of Tulo makes this list kind of stupid, but as requested by MVPete1982 here it is:
It is really difficult to compare the best contracts in baseball based on the present salary infrastructure. To compare and rank them, you have to take into account arbitration eligibility, free-agent years and non-arbitration years. In addition, one must compare each year within arbitration eligibility separately, because a player with three years of eligibility can be worth millions more than a player with one or two years of eligibility.
Keep in mind that these rankings must assume that the player stays relatively healthy through the length of the contract.
When you factor in a player’s production against his cost -- by total cost of the contract or by year (average annual value) -- it’s easy to see why these are the 10 best contracts in baseball right now.
1. New York Yankees: Robinson Cano, 2B, four years: 2008-11, $30 million, AAV: $7.5 million
Hands down, Cano is one of the top five players in the American League right now. For all the great work that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has done for the Yankees -- signing free agents CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira and trading for Curtis Granderson or drafting players like Phil Hughes -- he doesn't get enough credit for his foresight in shrewd multiyear deals like Cano’s.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: David Price, LHP, six years: 2007-12, $8.5 million, AAV: $1.4 million
Rays GM Andrew Friedman has three of the top contracts in baseball. He has a keen eye for talent and knows how to leverage players during their non-arbitration years to get the best possible long-term deal. Price’s deal will save the club millions over the span of the contract.
3. Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria, 3B, six years: 2008-13, $17.5 million, AAV: $2.9 million
The Rays kept Longoria in the minors as long as possible to maintain contract leverage and protect the arbitration years. They used this leverage masterfully to eventually sign one of the best third basemen in baseball to a contract that assured the team control of Longoria at a manageable amount through 2013.
4. Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Moore, LHP, five years: 2012-16, $14 million, AAV: $2.8 million
Friedman also kept Moore in the minor leagues as long as possible this past year until he realized he had to promote the starter for the Rays to make the playoffs. Moore showed off his No. 1 starter’s stuff in September. Instead of waiting and risking potential huge financial hits during Moore’s arbitration years, Friedman wrapped him up with a contract that was an absolute steal for the club if he can stay healthy throughout it.
5. Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann, C, six years: 2007-12, $28.5 million, AAV: $4.75 million
The Braves did a tremendous job when they signed McCann, one of the top three catchers in the National League, to his current deal. McCann's all-around ability on both sides would have made him a very difficult player to take through the arbitration system, especially in a league with so few elite catchers. Unfortunately for the Braves, the contract will expire after this season, and my instincts say his next contract will be much more player-friendly.
6. Milwaukee Brewers: Yovani Gallardo, RHP, five years: 2010-14, $30 million, AAV: $6 million
Gallardo set the market for young starting pitchers when he signed his contract before the 2010 season. Gallardo is a workhorse capable of 15 wins and 200 innings every year. Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin did such a great job on this contract not just for the Brewers, but it helped both the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds sign Ricky Romero and Johnny Cueto, respectively, to similar five-year deals the next year. It was an industry changer for clubs that clearly identified what a young top starter should be paid during his arbitration-eligible years.
7. Toronto Blue Jays: Ricky Romero, LHP, five years: 2011-15, $30.1 million, AAV: $6.02 million
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos is one of the bright young GMs in the game, and his signing of Romero is part of the several shrewd moves he's made since taking over the Blue Jays. Romero has become one of the best and most consistent left-handed starters in the league, and the Jays have him at a reasonable salary through 2015, years during which the Jays fully expect to be in contention for the AL East crown.
8. Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto, RHP, four years: 2011-14, $27 million, AAV: $6.75 million
Cueto signed his contract before last season, and he rewarded Reds GM Walt Jocketty with the best full season of his career. Cueto quickly proved he was a pure No. 2 starter with the potential to develop into a No. 1. The Reds have him locked up for three more seasons as they continue to try to build one of the best young staffs in the division with newly acquired Mat Latos, Cueto, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton, RF, six years: 2010-15, $51.25 million, AAV: $8.5 million
Upton became an MVP candidate in 2011, and most baseball analysts believe that he's capable of taking his game to yet another level in 2012 and possibly match Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp as one of the best all-around players in the game. Upton signed his deal before the 2010 season, and it won't expire until after 2015. This deal is extremely club-friendly especially when one considers the sizable contract extensions of Kemp and Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.
10. Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler, DH, four years: 2011-14, $30 million, AAV: $7.5 million
One of the most underrated hitters in baseball, Butler continues to hit for average and drive in runs as one of the keys to the Royals’ lineup. Considering the marketplace for some of the best hitters in the game, there is no doubt his deal becomes very club-friendly in 2013 and 2014 if he continues his progress and the Royals start to win.
Keep in mind that these rankings must assume that the player stays relatively healthy through the length of the contract.
When you factor in a player’s production against his cost -- by total cost of the contract or by year (average annual value) -- it’s easy to see why these are the 10 best contracts in baseball right now.
1. New York Yankees: Robinson Cano, 2B, four years: 2008-11, $30 million, AAV: $7.5 million
Hands down, Cano is one of the top five players in the American League right now. For all the great work that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has done for the Yankees -- signing free agents CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira and trading for Curtis Granderson or drafting players like Phil Hughes -- he doesn't get enough credit for his foresight in shrewd multiyear deals like Cano’s.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: David Price, LHP, six years: 2007-12, $8.5 million, AAV: $1.4 million
Rays GM Andrew Friedman has three of the top contracts in baseball. He has a keen eye for talent and knows how to leverage players during their non-arbitration years to get the best possible long-term deal. Price’s deal will save the club millions over the span of the contract.
3. Tampa Bay Rays: Evan Longoria, 3B, six years: 2008-13, $17.5 million, AAV: $2.9 million
The Rays kept Longoria in the minors as long as possible to maintain contract leverage and protect the arbitration years. They used this leverage masterfully to eventually sign one of the best third basemen in baseball to a contract that assured the team control of Longoria at a manageable amount through 2013.
4. Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Moore, LHP, five years: 2012-16, $14 million, AAV: $2.8 million
Friedman also kept Moore in the minor leagues as long as possible this past year until he realized he had to promote the starter for the Rays to make the playoffs. Moore showed off his No. 1 starter’s stuff in September. Instead of waiting and risking potential huge financial hits during Moore’s arbitration years, Friedman wrapped him up with a contract that was an absolute steal for the club if he can stay healthy throughout it.
5. Atlanta Braves: Brian McCann, C, six years: 2007-12, $28.5 million, AAV: $4.75 million
The Braves did a tremendous job when they signed McCann, one of the top three catchers in the National League, to his current deal. McCann's all-around ability on both sides would have made him a very difficult player to take through the arbitration system, especially in a league with so few elite catchers. Unfortunately for the Braves, the contract will expire after this season, and my instincts say his next contract will be much more player-friendly.
6. Milwaukee Brewers: Yovani Gallardo, RHP, five years: 2010-14, $30 million, AAV: $6 million
Gallardo set the market for young starting pitchers when he signed his contract before the 2010 season. Gallardo is a workhorse capable of 15 wins and 200 innings every year. Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin did such a great job on this contract not just for the Brewers, but it helped both the Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds sign Ricky Romero and Johnny Cueto, respectively, to similar five-year deals the next year. It was an industry changer for clubs that clearly identified what a young top starter should be paid during his arbitration-eligible years.
7. Toronto Blue Jays: Ricky Romero, LHP, five years: 2011-15, $30.1 million, AAV: $6.02 million
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos is one of the bright young GMs in the game, and his signing of Romero is part of the several shrewd moves he's made since taking over the Blue Jays. Romero has become one of the best and most consistent left-handed starters in the league, and the Jays have him at a reasonable salary through 2015, years during which the Jays fully expect to be in contention for the AL East crown.
8. Cincinnati Reds: Johnny Cueto, RHP, four years: 2011-14, $27 million, AAV: $6.75 million
Cueto signed his contract before last season, and he rewarded Reds GM Walt Jocketty with the best full season of his career. Cueto quickly proved he was a pure No. 2 starter with the potential to develop into a No. 1. The Reds have him locked up for three more seasons as they continue to try to build one of the best young staffs in the division with newly acquired Mat Latos, Cueto, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton, RF, six years: 2010-15, $51.25 million, AAV: $8.5 million
Upton became an MVP candidate in 2011, and most baseball analysts believe that he's capable of taking his game to yet another level in 2012 and possibly match Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp as one of the best all-around players in the game. Upton signed his deal before the 2010 season, and it won't expire until after 2015. This deal is extremely club-friendly especially when one considers the sizable contract extensions of Kemp and Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.
10. Kansas City Royals: Billy Butler, DH, four years: 2011-14, $30 million, AAV: $7.5 million
One of the most underrated hitters in baseball, Butler continues to hit for average and drive in runs as one of the keys to the Royals’ lineup. Considering the marketplace for some of the best hitters in the game, there is no doubt his deal becomes very club-friendly in 2013 and 2014 if he continues his progress and the Royals start to win.
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