Mega Extensions for Trout and Cabrera

These past few days two of the biggest players in the game signed extensions with their current teams. Mike Trout signed a 6 year $144.5 Million deal with the Angels which will carry him until his age 28 season, where he will likely get a deal worth $30 Million in average annual value. Miguel Cabrera signed an 8 year $244.5 Million deal with the Tigers.

The Trout deal is great for both the Angels and Mike Trout. The deal starts off slow with Trout making just $5.25 Million in 2015, $15.25 Million in 2016, $19.25 Million in 2017, then $33.25 Million the three years following. The best part of this contract for the Angels is the fact that Trout will only begin to earn the bulk of the contract when Josh Hamilton's deal ($25 Million average annual salary) is finished. The deal is great for Trout because if he hits the open market, he will be 29 years old. Whether the following contract is with the Angels or another team Trout is likely to get a contract of equal or greater average annual value if he continues how he is playing. Also with Trout being just 22 years old, the timing of this contact may cause Trout to be the richest baseball player of all time.

I do not agree with the Miguel Cabrera deal. Although he has been the most productive hitter in baseball the past three seasons, he is already 30 years old. Cabrera will play out the next two seasons earning $22 Million each season, then the deal will kick in starting 2016. Cabrera will only get older like anyone else, and his fielding will become progressively worse. Cabrera has never been an average fielder anywhere he played at any age. He made 25 errors in 2 seasons at third base, and his range is limited at first base. The second half of this contract is most likely going to be paying for Cabrera to be a designated hitter. I saw a picture on Facebook that Miguel Cabrera will be making $49,000 an at bat for the rest of his career, and the median annual salary in Michigan is $48,000. We all know baseball players are over paid, but when is enough? Is extending  Cabrera really worth the departure of both Fister and Fielder?

Braves Extend Freddie Freeman

Another free agent has agreed to a $100+ Million deal. That player would be Freddie Freeman as the Braves inked Freeman to an 8 year $125 Million deal. The deal will carry Freeman through his age 33 season, more importantly right through his prime years of 27-32.

Freeman's first two seasons are statistically better than
Harper's first two seasons.  

This deal is great for the Atlanta Braves as Freeman obviously took a hometown discount. With the average annual salary of the deal being $15.625 Million. Freeman has put up numbers in recent years that would have garnered him much more money on the open market. Viewing recent trends he would easily have received an average annual salary of $20 Million or more.

Freeman has 3 complete seasons under his belt and over that span he has a .287/.361/.468 slashline which equates to a 124 OPS+. In his rookie year Freeman hit 21 home runs with an on base percentage of .346. In his sophomore year his batting average dropped significantly but his on base percentage remained about the same at .340. This shows that he became more patient at the plate taking many more walks, he also hit 23 home runs in his sophomore year. The third year of Freeman's career really put him on the map where he hit 23 home runs again proving consistently and further improving his on base percentage to .396.  

It has been observed that in the first few years of a player's career power numbers seem to be lower. Freeman has been more than consistent these past 3 seasons and has shown more than enough signs of improvement. With age comes power, he is more disciplined at the plate, taking a walk when he gets it, and in the upcoming seasons he will hit for power. Freeman will have another great season in 2014 and this extension is more than worth it. Expect Freeman's first 30 home run season in 2014. The Braves scored a bargain.

Clayton Kershaw signs record setting extension

Clayton Kershaw has agreed to a 7 year $215 Million extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The $30.7 Million annual salary is the highest for any player ever. The overall value of the contract is the greatest for any pitcher. Kershaw must have really wanted to stay with the Dodgers because I am certain he would have been offered a 10 year contract for greater or equal average annual value.

Clayton Kershaw and Sandy Koufax

Kershaw has been the definition of masterful. In his first five full seasons Kershaw has a 2.43 ERA in 1072 innings pitched. That ERA is the lowest for any starting pitcher in the live ball ERA. If you include his rookie season his ERA goes up just to 2.60, still the lowest of all time for a starting pitcher.

The contract includes an opt out clause where he can become a free agent at age 30, but if he does not use that option, the contract will carry him through just his age 32 season. Kershaw may be looking at an even larger contract if he continues to put up monstrous numbers. In 2013 he put up the first season with a sub 2 ERA from a starting pitcher since Roger Clemens in 2005 and Pedro Martinez in 2000.

Kershaw has drawn comparisons to Sandy Koufax and is most definitely something special. Just imagine the contract Koufax would have been offered today.

Bringing K's to Baltimore and MM's to Boston

The Baltimore Orioles acquired relief pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, also known as K-Rod, from the Milwaukee Brewers in the wake of Braun's suspension. The Orioles loss part of their bullpen when trading for starting pitcher Scott Feldman of the Cubs at the time. For Feldman Pedro Strop had to go to Chicago, so now K-Rod will replace him. Rodriguez is having a great season. He has a 1.09 ERA in   24.2 innings pitched. He will set up for closer Jim Johnson in a great bullpen. Going to the Cubs in the trade is minor league infielder Nick Delmonico.

Dustin Pedroia is now a richer man. The 2008 MVP has finally cashed out. He is ranked as the second best second baseman in baseball, behind Robinson Cano and now he has the salary to prove it. Pedroia signed a 7 year $100 MM contract with the Boston Red Sox most likely making him a member of the Red Sox for life. I think the sub $15 MM annual salary is a steal for the Red Sox considering the stats he has provided.

Pedroia has a 119 OPS+ during the period of 2007-2013, that is well above average, 19% above average to be exact. Also because OPS+ considers ballparks he is tearing it up. Pedroia has also featured decent speed stealing 116 bases in the 7 year period, not to mention terrific defense considering his 2 gold gloves. Pedroia is a $18 MM+ a year player, especially with an average annual WAR of 5.27. The reason why the Red Sox are in first place is because of Pedroia, and he will be the basis for the team for the next 7 years. He will be 37 when the contract concludes, and that is well played indeed.
 

Extensions, Extensions, Extensions

On Monday Matt Cain and Joey Votto signed extensions with their teams. Joey Votto's extension was colossal, a 10 year 225 million dollar extension. Matt Cain's deal was 5 years 112.5 million dollars with a club option for 2013.

Matt Cain has pitched effectively for The Giants over his 6 complete seasons. He averages 212 innings every season with an average ERA of 3.39. Although he pitches a lot of innings and gives up few runs he has a losing record due to The Giants' ineffective offense. This contract will have Matt Cain signed through the prime of his career. His average war by season is 3.9. If you put 5 million dollars per win Matt Cain is earning just about what he deserves. Through the years where he is expected to be at his best The Giants win with this contract.

Joey Votto will be playing with The Reds for a very long time. Votto has 2 all star appearances an MVP award and a Gold Glove Award in just four full seasons in the MLB. Votto is destined to be a star. With a 152 OPS+ over that time period Votto is in a category with players like Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard and Adrian Gonzalez. In recent years Votto's WAR has been through the roof, with a 6.5 WAR last year and a 5.9 WAR in 2010. Votto will be signed until he is in his late 30's. He will be signed through the prime of his career, but also well after that. Will Votto be effective later in his career we don't know, but most likely he wont be. The important part is The Reds have a player locked up for a long time like Barry Larkin.