Odds and Ends: Crisp, King, Sweeney

And is 4 years really considered a "long-term" contract?

Wow they even put Buerhle's 3 year deal on the list.

Maybe it's just me, but when I hear "long-term", I tend to think 5-6+ years.

Ask the Rockies how great Helton's deal is in 2011 when he's making $19.1 million. Even the $16.6 million he'll be getting every year until 2010 seems crazy to me. He's a good player, but he certainly doesn't terrify anyone anymore.

In 2 years Longoria will likely be on top of the list. Gotta believe Friedman gives a prayer of thanks to the baseball gods that Longoria didn't hitch his wagon to Boras.

ARE YOU GUYS CRAZY!?!?!?! There is no doubt bonds' first contract with the giants is the bar for best contract EVER. It was 6 years/$43.75M (1993-98). In case you were wondering, Bonds' OPS was 1.135 his first year in '93. Don't forget that he also went 40/40 during that contract. Couple MVPs, few gold gloves. Case closed

This was a very strange list. I agree with about 3 of the players.

I think one also has to look at the era in which the contracts were signed. When Bonds signed with the Giants, that was absolutely huge money and Baseball was not nearly the revenue machine it is now. Not that it was a bad deal. 6 years and $100 million even back then would have been a good deal for one of the 5 best, if not THE best, players in the history of baseball.

I do think that Maddux signing for below market was a great deal for Atlanta, and his production facilitated their transformation into an absolute juggernaut. It is amazing what Turner did with that team when you think about it.

I do completely agree with the Guerrero deal. That is insanely cheap for a perennial MVP contender, even if the article writer screwed up on the lowest home run total (he only hit 27 last year). You don't need home runs to drive runs in and his 125 RBI last year shows that. His nearly .327 batting average and the fear he puts in every pitcher because of his ability to hit any pitch at any time is what makes him worth the money.

Another contract that wasn't mentioned is the 3 year, $10.5 million deal the Angels signed with Chone Figgins to eat up his arb years. They could have easily been on the hook for twice that if they took him to arbitration each year. I think they may have cheap options on that one as well.