The most expensive contracts in Major League Baseball – Part 2
Number 15
Matt Holliday had proved himself to the St. Louis Cardinals earlier with tremendous performance and brilliant on field skills. So it came as no surprise that the team did not want to part ways with him in 2009 when he became a free-agent. The Cardinals signed
Holliday to a 120-million-dollar contract for seven years. With the Cardinals winning the 2011 World Series, it will be curious to see what they will be doing with these high priced contracts and whether they choose to get out of some of them for the future.
Number 14
For being one of the biggest hitters in baseball, Ryan Howard was offered 125-million-dollars for five years to be a Philadelphia Phillies’ slugger. Howard has tremendous talent and abilities, as he is the fastest player to reach both 100 and 200 home-runs.
He also helped the team win the World Series in 2008. The investment in Howard by the Phillies has obviously paid off, as they are ranked amongst the top ten teams in MLB.
Number 13
Jayson Werth was signed on with the Washington Nationals for seven years paying him 126-million-dollars. Although the player is talented, many feel that his statistics do not warrant such an expensive contract. The burden now rests with Werth to prove himself
and show everyone that he is definitely up to the task. However, with the high amount paid, it seems very unlikely that his performance will get to a level that proves this contract worthy.
Number 12
Unfortunately Barry Zito could not live up to the expectations that a 126-million-dollar contract came with. The San Francisco Giants signed him on after Zito won the American League Cy Young Award. However, Zito’s performance was below par and the team
just stopped playing him. It seems the Giants are not too interested in him and will probably be looking for a way out this contract as soon as possible. Zito is a good player, but he has struggled and the investment for the Giants really has not paid off.
Number 11
Vernon Wells was not very known when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays. Maybe things can change for him as he becomes part of the Los Angeles Angels who will be paying him 126-million-dollars for seven years. The Angels will be hoping for big things from
this tremendously talented player. Although he has been inconsistent at times, Wells has the skills to take on any pitching line-up in MLB. The large amount paid for this player makes it obvious that the Angels are building towards a future team with big hitters
and high priced players.
Number 10
The Chicago Cubs were quick to sign Alfonso Soriano to a contract worth 136-million-dollars for eight years. In the next two season Soriano proved himself when with his help the Cubs reached they play offs twice but since then his career graph has been going
down. It does not look like Soriano is going to improve or have another career season. The Cubs dreams of him helping them win the World Series after a century do not seem to be coming true. Although he is a tremendous player, he has struggled with his performance.
Chicago will be thinking twice as to the high cost of this player and the enormous contract given.
Continued in Part 3
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