#1: Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay: 3.9 WAR I might just have to retire his jersey if I keep doing...

#1: Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay: 3.9 WAR

I might just have to retire his jersey if I keep doing this list going forward, because unless he gets hurt or takes a big step back, it's hard to see anyone passing him for the next five years. His on field value puts him in the discussion with the best players in the game, but his contract is just so unbelievably team friendly that no one else comes close to his overall value to their club. Ramirez, for instance, will make $64 million from 2010 to 2014 - Longoria will make $21 million, and then the Rays will have two more options that would keep him in TB at $11 million per year for 2015 and 2016. Crazy. He's going to be paid like a league average back-end starting pitcher through a potential Hall-Of-Fame prime. Agents, this is the template of what not to do with your best client going forward.

No surprise.

over 2 years ago R.J. Anderson 33 comments 0 recs |

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Might be a conversation for a different thread

but at any point in the future, do you see Longo bitching about his contract and lack of any real money relative to other upper end players?

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by Buc Wild on Jul 20, 2009 12:15 PM EDT reply actions

He only has himself, his agent, and Eric Hinske to blame.

Veteran leadership!

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, he and the MLBPA will end up bitching about it.

Not much there to hold up, but I’ve said before that the peanuts players make in years 1-3 (and somewhat in years 4-6) will be the next big sticking point between players and owners. They’re slaves at the beginning of their career relative to other sports.

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by Sky Kalkman on Jul 20, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

As the FA dollars dry up I bet it becomes even more an issue.

They’re slaves at the beginning of their career relative to other sports.

I don’t see it as as big of an issue. Labor in baseball is starkley different than other sports because of the roles of the minors, the size of the teams, and the longevity of the careers.

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Only football, really.

The NBA and NHL have a rookie contract scale so that they aren’t making ridiculous amounts of money right out of the box. The NFL is the one that’s massively broken, where some of the highest-paid players in their league are ones who haven’t even taken a snap yet.

by untexan on Jul 20, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Top rookies are still making >$1 mill. in basketball.

Hockey doesn’t count. No one makes any money there.

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Vinny Lecavalier on line 1 for you.

by untexan on Jul 20, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

dummy

nobody calls anyone anymore. vinny posted on rglass’ status update.

So long, Sweet Lime!

by PlayOnWords on Jul 20, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

And....

Ovie, who’s the best player in the sport, signed like a 13 year deal for 124 million. That’s pennies compared to what he’d make in one of the other leagues.

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder...

if the Rays had offered Longoria the Ovechkin contract last May, would he have taken it? It would have been close to a career-long contract. He would still have a couple years left in him at the end, but he wouldn’t hit FA in his prime and have a shot at insane money. On the other hand, he would be guaranteed $124M even if he never turned into a superstar.

by untexan on Jul 20, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Right. We're talking a multi-millions for top young players, and free agency after 3 years in basketball.

I believe NHL rookie salaries can be pretty high relative to free agent salaries, too.

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by Sky Kalkman on Jul 20, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The NFL is extremely top-heavy

That’s why no one wants a top-10 pick nowadays

I can't help that I make some things look easier than they really are.

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 20, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Which is why New England trades for later round picks.

They run things similar to the way the Rays do.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Jul 20, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The Patriots draft philosophy is so awesome.

It’s like the Rockets or Spurs in the NBA. I love watching other teams in other leagues outsmart everyone else so easily.

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 20, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm surprised their attendance hasn't suffered the way they gave up on loved players for salary reasons

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by FreeZorilla on Jul 20, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Get a bunch of 2nd round picks

and steal players later in the draft.

Come ON Pat the Bust, Navi can not have more homers than you

by 4QB on Jul 22, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Right, NFL has gone too far the other direction.

Someone like Longoria should be able to at least earn a $5M signing bonus as a draft pick, $500K his first year, a few million his second year, and $5-$10 million from there on out.

Yes, that would make large market teams even more powerful. And yes, I’m all for smart revenue sharing or payroll capping.

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by Sky Kalkman on Jul 20, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

He very well could

Pujols did the same thing. He wouldn’t have the best negotiating position in the world, but if the team wants to have a chance of keeping him after the contract ends, they’ll do their best to try to keep him happy.

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by Brickhaus on Jul 20, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

The options could be some nice leverage on a secong extension, though.

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Agents, this is the template of what not to do with your best client going forward.

Alex Gordon might wish his agent made this deal.

by rglass44 on Jul 20, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

Exactly.

Both sides took a risk.

by RaysTheRoof on Jul 20, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

ya it might look bad for Evan now

but anything could have happened and anything still could happen.

With the signing this contract he is guaranteed to be set for life no matter what happened with his career. And if he continues to play as good or better as he has so far then he will get the huge contract eventually anyway. It was a win-win for him in my book

Kap-rilla???

by Sveet on Jul 20, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Signing the contract through arbitrations years was smart.

Below value, but it locked up $20M+ for his family. That’s really really important. But why the three year option extension? That’s a lose-lose proposition. Either you’re worth more and don’t get it or you’re worth less and don’t get your option picked up anyway.

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by Sky Kalkman on Jul 20, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions