When news broke of David Price’s record-breaking seven-year, $217 million deal with the Red Sox, fellow aces Zack Greinke and Johnny Cueto had to smile. Greinke, who didn’t win the NL Cy Young but was arguably baseball’s best pitcher in 2015, has a chance to exceed Price’s annual salary, and Cueto’s value skyrocketed based off the market being set.
Greinke is two years older than Price, but isn’t asking for as many years. He was also the better hurler in 2015, going 19-3 with a sparkling 1.66 ERA and 0.84 WHIP over 222 2/3 innings of work. Greinke hasn’t lost more than eight games since 2010, and he has eclipsed 200 innings in three of his last four seasons.
David Price To The Red Sox Proves Boston Hasn't Learned From Mistakes
Cueto must be even happier, because even though he won’t approach Price’s deal, the $150-$160 million range he was seeking could have a higher ceiling. Cueto’s 2014 performance was right on par with the best in MLB, including Price. He was on that pace in 2015 as well, before a rocky stint after being traded to the Royals hurt his numbers. Cueto rebounded in the postseason though. He did toss an ALDS stinker in which he lasted just two innings and gave up eight runs, but he also twirled a two-hit, complete game win in the World Series, and he also pitched eight innings of two-run ball in Game 5 of the ALDS.
Both Greinke and Cueto saw their value rise thanks to Price, even though history shows all three will sign contracts that will eventually hurt their ballclub. Long-term deals for players at this point in their career – Cueto is the youngest of the three at 29 – don’t return value.
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Of the 10 largest contracts in baseball, eight belong to players older than 30. Four stand out as comically bad: Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275 million), Robinson Cano (10 years, $240 million), Albert Pujols (10 years, $240 million), and Prince Fielder (nine years, $214 million).
Other deals are slightly lower, but equally atrocious, Some examples of this category include Joe Mauer (eight years, $184 million), Justin Verlander (six years, $162 million), and Matt Kemp (eight years, $160 million). These veterans are inevitably going to slide downhill, and even though the evidence is laid bare, teams continue to pony up thinking they will buck the trend.
The Red Sox appeared to learn the hard way last year with Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, but they’re apparently masochists. The Dodgers and Giants are fighting to self-inflict punishment in the future, and Cueto is about to be paid egregiously. Meanwhile, the Mets will likely contend for another World Series with an entire rotation that costs $9 million per Spotrac.
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