Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rendon headline 10 MLB contracts aging the worst-ZoomTech News

One yr into an 11-year, $280 million contract with the Padres, Xander Bogaerts is shifting from shortstop to second base. The place change, which entails Ha-Seong Kim returning to shortstop, is much more gorgeous when contemplating the 31-year-old Bogaerts has by no means manned second base in his skilled profession.

However it’s solely the newest in a sequence of confounding strikes from San Diego, which has been as financially aggressive as any franchise in baseball over the previous few years. The Pads have handed out six completely different contracts of a minimum of $80 million since 2021. Outcomes have been combined so far. Bogaerts, as an example, posted strong offensive numbers in 2023, however his .285/.350/.440 slash line and 120 OPS+ had been all his lowest marks since 2017.

Furthermore, Bogaerts’ protection at shortstop additionally took a dip, as he completed the yr with minus-4 defensive runs saved (per Baseball-Reference). The four-time All-Star nonetheless has a decade left in San Diego, with loads of time to show issues round and stay a productive core piece of the Padres going ahead as they attempt to rebound from a forgettable 2023 regardless of lowering payroll and buying and selling away Juan Soto.

Bogaerts, in fact, is not alone amongst latest signings that already look problematic. Fellow shortstops Carlos Correa and Trea Turner struggled much more so final yr, within the first years of their nine-figure contracts. As of now, there are about 60 energetic gamers on $100-plus million offers, although practically half of them had been signed previously yr alone.

With that, we examined each megadeal that’s a minimum of two years outdated and decided which of them have underwhelmed most. (Editor’s be aware: We didn’t embrace the Rays’ Wander Franco due to the uncertainty surrounding his future enjoying standing.)

Listed here are 10 $100 million contracts presently growing old the worst (listed chronologically).

1. Giancarlo Stanton, OF/DH, New York Yankees

Contract: 13 years, $325 million ($25 million common annual worth) in 2015 (with Miami Marlins)
Remaining phrases: 4 years, $118 million; group choice for $25 million in 2028
Whole (Baseball-Reference) wins above alternative since signing: 22.4 (9 seasons)
2023 stats: .191/.275/.420, 24 HRs, 60 RBIs, 87 OPS+

On the time Stanton signed his contract extension with the Miami Marlins after the 2014 season, it was the biggest within the historical past {of professional} sports activities. It additionally gave the impression to be a serious milestone for the Marlins, who had struggled to contend however believed they’d a famous person to construct round. Then-owner Jeffrey Loria triumphantly calling Stanton “the face of the franchise for the subsequent 13 years.”

However whereas Stanton remained glorious over the subsequent few years, successful Nationwide League MVP after a 59-home run season in 2017, the Marlins remained horrible, and Loria finalized a sale of the group that very same season. The next winter, new possession traded Stanton to the Yankees in an enormous wage dump. It appeared to cement the Yankees’ return to perennial rivalry, with Stanton teaming up alongside Aaron Choose to kind arguably MLB’s most fearsome slugging duo.

Nevertheless, Stanton has by no means lived as much as his 2017 requirements or large hype with the Yankees. He spent most of 2019 and 2020 on the injured checklist, and after a few solid-but-unspectacular seasons, he declined additional in 2023, posting the bottom batting common, on-base share and slugging share of his profession whereas persevering with to take care of accidents. He is additionally grow to be nearly unusable within the outfield. This winter, Yanks basic supervisor Brian Cashman infamously remarked that getting harm “appears to be part of [Stanton’s] sport.”

Is New York Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton a Corridor of Famer?

2. Patrick Corbin, LHP, Washington Nationals

Contract: 6 years, $140 million ($23.33 million AAV) in 2019
Remaining phrases: 1 yr, $35 million
Whole WAR since signing: 3.4 (5 seasons)
2023 stats: 10-15, 5.20 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 124 Ks, 180 IPs, 83 ERA+

It is exhausting to think about a contract an entire catastrophe when the participant in query helped his group win a championship in his first season there. However Corbin is 27-57 with a 5.62 ERA since 2020. That is the best ERA and by far probably the most losses throughout this stretch. Nobody might have foreseen the two-time All-Star growing old on this method upon turning 30, however a minimum of he come off Washington’s books after this season.

3. Stephen Strasburg, RHP, Washington Nationals

Contract: 7 years, $245 million ($35 million AAV) in 2020
Remaining phrases: 3 years, $105 million
Whole WAR since signing: -0.5 (4 seasons)
2023 stats: N/A

Giving such a contract to a pitcher with Strasburg’s damage historical past clearly appears dangerous in hindsight, however context is essential. When he signed the deal, Strasburg had simply received World Sequence MVP and helped lead the franchise to its first title and received World Sequence MVP. He’d made good on being the primary total decide and his standing as a generational prospect.

Alas, Strasburg has appeared in simply eight video games since, and none since June 2022, whereas coping with myriad accidents. Experiences emerged late final season that he deliberate to formally retire from Main League Baseball final September, however that devolved right into a weird and still-ongoing standoff between Strasburg and the Nationals over the remaining cash in his deal. For now, Strasburg stays beneath contract and thus on this checklist regardless of the unlikelihood that he’ll ever throw one other MLB pitch once more.

4. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

Contract: 7 years, $245 million ($35 million AAV) in 2020
Remaining phrases: 3 years, $114 million
Whole WAR since signing: 1 (4 seasons)
2023 stats: 236/.361/.318, 2 HRs, 22 RBIs, 88 OPS+

The Angels including Rendon to a lineup that includes Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani regarded wonderful on paper, particularly with the star third baseman additionally coming off the Nationals’ World Sequence run of 2019. As a substitute, Rendon has handled quite a few accidents and has but to look in additional than 58 video games in any of his 4 seasons with the Halos. These days, he is generated extra headlines due to feuds with followers and media members and, most lately, indifference towards the sport.

5. Kris Bryant, OF/DH, Colorado Rockies

Whole contract worth: 7 years, $182 million ($26 million AAV) in 2022
Remaining phrases: 5 years, $138 million
Whole WAR since signing: -0.6 (two seasons)
2023 stats: .259/.335/.404, 15 HRs, 45 RBIs, 93 OPS+

Signing Bryant one yr after buying and selling Nolan Arenado instantly appeared like an odd match for a Rockies group removed from rivalry. However a minimum of Colorado followers can be handled to the previous NL MVP crushing baseballs year-round in elevation, proper?

As a substitute, Bryant didn’t hit his first dwelling run at Coors Discipline till April 2023, which as the Athletic put it at the time, got here after “140 plate appearances, two essential accidents, three hitting coaches and the primary $24 million of a seven-year deal.” Bryant went on to look in solely 80 video games final season — after enjoying simply 52 the yr earlier than — because of ongoing foot issues and a damaged hand, and regarded like a shell of his former self when accessible.

6. Javier Báez, SS, Detroit Tigers

Contract: 6 years, $140 million ($23.33 million AAV) in 2022
Remaining phrases: 4 years, $98 million
Whole WAR since signing: 3.2 (two seasons)
2023 stats: .222/.267/.325, 9 HRs, 59 RBIs, 62 OPS+

When Bryant’s former World Sequence-winning Chicago Cubs teammate arrived in Detroit, it appeared to sign that Báez can be tasked with main the Tigers again to playoff rivalry because the group’s slugging shortstop. Whereas Detroit’s rebuild is progressing, Báez has struggled mightily on the plate as a Tiger (and was briefly benched early within the 2023 season for making a baserunning mistake). The previous All-Star had a participant opt-out this winter however could not dare train it given his manufacturing with Detroit so far.

7. Trevor Story, SS/2B, Boston Purple Sox

Contract: 6 years, $140 million ($23.33 million AAV) in 2022
Remaining phrases: 4 years, $95 million (participant opt-out in 2026)
Whole WAR since signing: 3.3 (two seasons)
2023 stats: .203/.250/.316, 3 HRs, 14 RBIs, 52 OPS+

Following an underwhelming first season in Boston, Story needed to endure UCL surgical procedure final January and was sidelined till August. When Story did return, his numbers plummeted to profession lows in nearly each main class. He is appeared in solely 137 video games for the Purple Sox, and most of these got here at second base as a result of Bogaerts was at shortstop. Story, who’s at all times been an excellent defender, might be counted on to not solely occupy his unique place full time this yr however return to star kind following Boston’s quiet and polarizing offseason.

8. José Berríos, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Contract: 7 years, $131 million ($18.71 million AAV) in 2022
Remaining phrases: 5 years, $101 million (participant opt-out in 2027)
Whole WAR since signing: 1.8 (two seasons)
2023 stats: 11-12, 3.65 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 184 Ks, 189.2 IPs, 116 ERA+

The extension Berríos signed with the Blue Jays in late 2021, simply months after Toronto traded for him, signaled a giant wager the group was making that the right-hander would proceed to be a frontline starter for the subsequent a number of years.

As a substitute, Berríos led all American League pitchers in hits and earned runs allowed in 2022. He helped the Blue Jays to the playoffs with a pleasant rebound season in 2023, however solely lasted three innings and took the loss in a wild-card elimination sport towards his former Twins.

9. Robbie Ray, LHP, San Francisco Giants

Contract: 5 years, $115 million ($23 million AAV) in 2022 (with Seattle Mariners)
Remaining phrases: 3 years, $73 million (participant opt-out in 2025)
Whole WAR since signing: 1.8 (two seasons)
2023 stats: 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 2.7 WHIP, 3 Ks, 3.1 IPs, 55 ERA+

Ray arrived in Seattle because the reigning AL Cy Younger winner, however regressed in 2022, posting a 3.71 ERA that was proper on the MLB common. Nonetheless, he helped the Mariners attain the playoffs for the primary time in 21 years, and was known as upon to get the ultimate out in Sport 1 of the ALDS towards Astros slugger Yordan Álvarez.

That, uh, didn’t go as deliberate.

Ray then made only one begin in 2023 earlier than needing Tommy John surgical procedure and was traded to the Giants this winter. He is not anticipated to return to the mound till the second half of 2024.

10. Nick Castellanos, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

Contract: 5 years, $100 million ($20 million AAV) in 2022
Remaining phrases: 3 years, $60 million
Whole WAR since signing: 1.5 (two seasons)
2023 stats: .272/.311/.476, 29 HRs, 106 RBIs, 112 OPS+

The outfield slugger had the worst offensive marketing campaign of his profession upon arriving in Philadelphia in 2022, although it appeared to be forgiven amid the group’s World Sequence run. Castellanos rebounded on the plate final yr and pulverized the Braves within the NLDS. However he went 1-for-24 within the Phillies’ NLCS loss to the Diamondbacks. He is additionally continued to battle on protection in proper area, regardless of Residents Financial institution Park that includes certainly one of MLB’s shortest porches. All of it has severely minimize into his worth and led to frequent commerce hypothesis.

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