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$137.5 Million? Really?
Written by Colin on February 7, 2008 – 7:46 amWe’ve raised questions all along about whether or not Johan Santana is really the one player fix everyone is making him out to be, but this is downright stupid. Santana signed a six year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets. We’re talking one player that plays every five days bringing in an average of $22.9 million over the next six seasons.
That’s around $694,000 per start.
Or, if you choose to break it down by the game, he gets paid $141,350 a game, whether or not he plays.
And that’s assuming he doesn’t miss a start through 2013, when he’ll be in his mid-thirties. Quite frankly, it’s blatantly obvious we all picked the wrong profession. And I applaud Santana for milking the Mets for so much cash – I would have done the same thing – but really, $639,000 a start? Is any pitcher worth that much for 6 years straight?
That’s a huge gamble by the Mets that I honestly believe will come back to haunt them in the coming years. Elite pitchers with huge contracts and new teams haven’t gone well lately – remember Barry Zito?
Or what about Mike Hampton?
Hopefully it will only make the division easier as the Mets struggle for cash in the years to come. Because if he IS what they’re making him out to be, then he’ll be striking out 300 a year and pulling 20 wins every year for the next 7 seasons. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Posted in League Analysis | 10 Comments »
By Stephen Gray on Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
The Braves also paid Mike Hampton 14.5 million dollars a year for the last 2 years to not play any games at all. That’s 29 million dollars a start. He’s making way more than Johan per game.
By Cameron on Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
you need to redo ur math, thats how much money hes made over the past two years
By Chopthis on Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
Umm…the Mets are moving into a cash cow new stadium, have a tv network that’s booming. Their revenue is up around $250 mill this past year, so I hate to break it to you but the money going to Santana will not stop the Mets from paying more for players. Jeff Wilpon even said they can add players during THIS season if they need to. You believe that paying that much to Santana will come back to haunt the Mets. Well you can wish all you want but just because its happened to a few pitchers who were not the best pitcher in the sport doesn’t mean its going to happen here. The man has pitched over 200 innings every year without any signifcant injuries, so there is no sign that your wishes will come true. But as a Braves fan you should be getting used to that. So you can hope and wish as much as you want but opening day 2009, the defending World Champion NY Mets will be starting Mark Texieira at first base. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Chop this baby!!!
By Stephen Gray on Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
Cameron,
Hampton is in the 8th year of a 121 Million dollar contract, Colorado picked up some of that, but the Braves paid Hampton 14.5 last year alone and are due to pay him 15 this year.
By Colin on Feb 7, 2008 | Reply
Stephen, you aren’t taking insurance into account. Last year was the first year we didn’t have financial assistance from either the Rockies or the Marlins on Hampton’s contract, but insurance picked up at least half of the 14.5 million.
The point is that high paid pitchers at the top of their game CAN get hurt and are not guarantees.
Chopthis, that’s awfully big talk from a team that has had limited success over the last 15 years. Crowning the Mets world series champions is a bit premature.
By Matt on Feb 8, 2008 | Reply
Ill be honest I’m a Mets fan and I think that it sounds a little bit like sour grapes, this is baseball and the Mets will never struggle for cash so in my opinion this article was entertaining but not really valid we will continue to mix our homegrown talent with superstars and continue to be contenders does Santana guarantee a World Series ring or even a NL East Championship of course not nothing can guarentee either one of those things the NL East will continue to be competitive and I can honestly say now I hate the Phillies more than the Braves which I thought would never be the case.
By Stephen Gray on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
The Braves also paid Mike Hampton 14.5 million dollars a year for the last 2 years to not play any games at all. That's 29 million dollars a start. He's making way more than Johan per game.
By Chopthis on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Umm…the Mets are moving into a cash cow new stadium, have a tv network that's booming. Their revenue is up around $250 mill this past year, so I hate to break it to you but the money going to Santana will not stop the Mets from paying more for players. Jeff Wilpon even said they can add players during THIS season if they need to. You believe that paying that much to Santana will come back to haunt the Mets. Well you can wish all you want but just because its happened to a few pitchers who were not the best pitcher in the sport doesn't mean its going to happen here. The man has pitched over 200 innings every year without any signifcant injuries, so there is no sign that your wishes will come true. But as a Braves fan you should be getting used to that. So you can hope and wish as much as you want but opening day 2009, the defending World Champion NY Mets will be starting Mark Texieira at first base. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Chop this baby!!!
By Colin on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Stephen, you aren't taking insurance into account. Last year was the first year we didn't have financial assistance from either the Rockies or the Marlins on Hampton's contract, but insurance picked up at least half of the 14.5 million.
The point is that high paid pitchers at the top of their game CAN get hurt and are not guarantees.
Chopthis, that's awfully big talk from a team that has had limited success over the last 15 years. Crowning the Mets world series champions is a bit premature.
By Matt on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply
Ill be honest I'm a Mets fan and I think that it sounds a little bit like sour grapes, this is baseball and the Mets will never struggle for cash so in my opinion this article was entertaining but not really valid we will continue to mix our homegrown talent with superstars and continue to be contenders does Santana guarantee a World Series ring or even a NL East Championship of course not nothing can guarentee either one of those things the NL East will continue to be competitive and I can honestly say now I hate the Phillies more than the Braves which I thought would never be the case.