Will’s Cardio Column Day 2
Today, I’ll be discussing some of the WORST contracts in the MLB right now. It’s always fun to project what guys will do when we think they’re worth the money they get, but for these guys, it would’ve been better off letting someone else eat the contract.
Kris Bryant, Rockies: 7-years $182M
The golden boy of the Cubbies WS team may have been worth close to this amount in 2022 when it was given. But now in his age 32 season, it’s shaping up to be one of the worst in Rockies’ history. The Skippers View team highlighted he had more WAR in a half-season with the Giants than he has in his tenure in Colorado (both under 1.2). Granted, he’s dealt with a slew of injuries, which still doesn’t justify his poor performance. When he is in the lineup, he just doesn’t play inspired baseball. He knows he’s got his bag through 2028, and he’s content riding it out. Posting a -0.3 WAR so far, slashing .149/.273/.255 with a 33% K% so far in 2024 before entering the IL. Unfortunately it’s too late to shop this contract to anyone else, at this point, they should seriously consider buying him out and making way for the young outfield and 1B talent they do actually have.
Andrew Benintendi, White Sox: 5-year $75M
This one is low hanging fruit, I know. Not only is it the largest deal for the White Sox ever, but it’s objectively the worst. I totally get it, one of the best power hitters at the college level of our era, felt like he had every tool needed to be a year-in-year-out All Star and actually performed pretty well his first few years in Boston. Unfortunately, the power production has completely disappeared and his first year in Chicago was not a warm welcome slashing just .262/.326/.356 with 5 HR and 45 RBI. I hate saying a guy is useless, but he offers no productive upside to the South Side. They’re still locked in for 3 more years because nobody in their right mind will take on that salary for 40 RBI in 150 games. I’ll give him a small amount of credit to end it, because he is usually healthy so at least you get your money’s worth in terms of games played.
Javy Baez, Tigers: 6-year $140M
With the Tigers young core of Tork, Greene, Meadows, Skubal, and more, Baez is the one thing that is not like the others. ‘El Mago’ has run dry from sliders 2-feet off the dish and an attitude to match. Really just feels like the guy doesn’t care. Which is a shame because the Tigers are set up to make some noise in an increasingly competitive AL Central and I can’t help but feel like this guy is weighing them down. If you watched any of the last WBC, you know what I mean. Baez looked like the old Javy and wanted to be on the field every game and put on a show like we saw in his days in Chicago. You still see flashes of it, mostly in the field on great plays, but the 31-year old is starting to get the curtain call. Slashing just .222/.267/.325 in 2023, the check is not worth the production, or lack there of.
That’s all folks! Cubs fans, don’t hate me for the Baez takes, I know nostalgia is a powerful drug.
