Updates to a few recently completed contracts…
- John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer has the breakdown of Joey Votto's new contact with the Reds. The reigning NL MVP will earn $5.5MM in 2011 and $9.5MM in 2012 before jumping up to $17MM in 2013. His $6MM signing bonus will be paid out between now and 2014.
- MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports that Takashi Saito has a clause in his contract stipulating that the Brewers must release him after the 2011 season. That prevents the team from offering him arbitration if he qualifies as a Type-A free agent.
- Jim Thome's deal with the Twins includes a boatload of incentives, reports Joe Christensen of The Star Triibune. The slugger will earn $200K for 200 plate appearances, and $300K each for 300, 350, and 400 plate appearances.
- Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com tweets that Willie Bloomquist's contract with the Diamondbacks will pay him $900K in 2011. It also includes a mutual option for 2012 worth $1.1MM.
- MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets that Austin Kearns' contract with the Indians contains incentives tied to plate appearances. He'll earn $50K each for 400, 425, 475, and 500 plate appearances.
- ESPN's Jayson Stark put together a list of the offseason's most creative contract clauses.
Jayson Werth writes for ESPN.com?? Man, that must be one creative contract clause.
dang, you beat me to it. It must be the brethren of the unnecessary “Y”. Jayson Stark, Jayson Werth, same thing.
Might as well add the Nix brothers: Laynce and Jayson definitely do not need the “Y”
Ahhh, so that’s why Werth got paid so much. Gonna be tough for him to moonlight as a reporter, but for the extra pay, he’ll be able to put up with it for a few seasons before burning out. Modern day equivalent of the player-manager?
Votto gets $17 MM in 2013? That’s a ton considering Fielder got 15.5
I’d rather have Joey Votto hitting on my team than Prince Fielder.
This makes me think there is no way the Reds are going to be able to sign Votto after this contract. He has already said before he signed this past contract that he will not take a discount. I hope the Reds can make it to the World Series in the next 3 seasons cause if they sign Votto after this it does not seem like they will have much money to do anything else after 2013.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the Brewers have to release Saito, won’t they have to put him on release waivers? If he is a type A or B free agent, couldn’t another team claim him just to offer him arbitration?
The Reds 2013 payroll looks like it’s going to be ridiculous.
Cordero will be gone and so will Phillips. That’s 23M off the books.
Phillips better not be gone. Of course, he’s welcome to join my Cubbies instead 🙂
I’m pretty sure that 2011 will be the last year that Brandon Phillips is with the Reds, if Billy Hamilton develops. Maybe Phillips is there in 2012 (I’m not sure how much his option is worth), but there’s no way the Reds will want to pay him come 2013.
If Hamilton is the player that everyone is saying he is so far. I see him being gone after his current contract. It will be strange not seeing him on the Reds but if Hamilton is really as good as advertised then he may provide something greater at a much cheaper price come 2013.
As WilJ mentioned, Saito had the same clause in his 1-year contract with the Braves this past season. It’s a smart way to avoid a potential team not signing him at the cost of losing a draft pick. This is also one of the shortcomings of the arb-compensation system… It hurts the value of type A’s a good bit, especially those like Saito who live on 1-year contracts.