Email a copy of 'David Wright Diagnosed With Herniated Disk In Neck' to a friend
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By Jeff Todd | at
Email a copy of 'David Wright Diagnosed With Herniated Disk In Neck' to a friend
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Mark 21
Going to go down as the worst contract the Mets have ever given. I always like David and he was great in his younger days. Only plaid in 300 or so games in the last 4 years.
mattg-5
Im guessing retirement isnt too far off for Wright.
Mark 21
played
robbob
I thought you were saying he was playing for the Scottish National Team.
Bill
I’m sure there have been much worse contracts. They probably have insurance for when he’s injured. Contracts like Bay where he wasn’t hurt but sucked (and had to remain active) are much worse worse.
Mark 21
They still owe him 67 million and have paid him 71 million over the last 4 years for 35 home runs and 150 RBI’s. Not what anyone would call a good contract. Jason Bay was not nearly as costly as Wright is now and going to be in the years to come.
Mark 21
This was what I found in Insurance for these players. Also keep in mind a team has to buy insurance on that player in question. They dont just have it on every player. And I was able to confirm that the policies are for 3 year terms. And yes they do have to carry that player on there 40 man roster while collecting insurance for that said player.
Most of the insurance policies are covered within 3 year intervals, and most policies are done solely to protect teams from injuries to players on a long term deal. So for example, David Wright’s new 8 year deal would likely get a new policy after 2016, because he was already signed in 2013.
If you’re wondering why this is the case, think like an insurer for a minute.
Would you rather insure a contract for a 30 year old until he’s 38, or would you rather have a new policy at 34 be written? It’s not in the insurer’s best interest to protect the team for the full 8 years at age 30. The likelihood of an injury to Wright at age 35 is greater than the chance at 31. Therefore, the insurer will not offer as much protection in 2017 as they did in 2014.
Most policies cover between 50-80% of the total contract value with premiums as high as 10% of the contract’s annual value. No insurer will cover the entire value of the contract, so there will always be some sort of risk on the teams part.
A major league team can only collect on a policy if a player is on the DL. Prior to the 1999 season, the Baltimore Orioles signed Albert Belle to a 5 year offer worth just over $60 million. Following the 2000 season, Belle was forced to retire due to a degenerative hip disease at age 34.
Because he could not fulfill the remaining 3 years on his contract, three things happened.
The first, he had to remain on their 40 man roster per the agreement within his insurance policy. Belle would still receive every penny of his remaining $39 million, but the Orioles were able to recover $23 million of that contract through the insurance policy.
This moment was when teams and insurer’s focused a little more closely on what and who to insure.
theo2016
You realize this is the team still paying Bobby bonilla right?
Mark 21
Yes I do. 1 million a year. Not 20 million a year like Wright. A little difference but you can think what you want. Plus they got production out of Bonilla for the life of his contract.
Bill
That’s a ridiculous comparison. It’s not like Bonilla was making $1m a year during his contract. He’s getting much more over the period of the payments than he was owed on his contract., albeit paid from an annuity (if it survived Madoff).
theo2016
If wright retires he doesn’t get paid and at least still put up ~10 war during it.
TherealToddHundley96
Time to hang em up
roywhite
I’m a fan of Wright’s, but I hope he pulls a “Cuddyer”, and realizes he’s got nothing left at the end of the season and decides to retire.
darenh
What a shame.
Time to find a bat for this lineup…
ThorsHammer34
You make it like there aren’t already bats in this lineup.
AngelFan69
Angels… Offer Escobar for Harvey… Even trade … One for one…
chuckn9ne
No it’s not
roadapple
Where do they find these strength and conditioning coaches? Craigslist?
sportsjunkie24
I swear mets need to either ship him to an American League team where he can play the DH or he needs to start thinking about his future health
ExileInLA 2
Tough loss — and in today’s game, possibly the toughest position to replace.
vinscully16
The names Luis Castillo, Kaz Matsui, and Oliver Perez come to mind as bad contracts for the Mets.
jleve618
I knew a third baseman in the mets organization who decided to play in Korea because he figured with Wright there long term he wouldn’t get an oppurtinity in the bigs. Bet he is kicking himself now.
wedgeant27
Herniation in the neck is not the same thing as low back. Not an ortho surgeon by any stretch, but I just had a massive herniation in my low back removed in early April, and I’m playing ball tomorrow. Beer league ain’t MLB to be sure, but I’m almost exactly a month older than Wright is and I did not have the benefit of a major league rehab program. Point being, this is only major news due to his low back stenosis and that it occurred on a holiday weekend when most surgeons are at a bbq. 2-4 wks at most, depending on course of treatment.
rique
I think you’re missing the bigger picture his neck injury is a result of his back injury. His body is breaking down if he keeps playing he will be paralyzed by the time his contract ends