Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Babe Ruthless.
There are many head-scratching contracts that have been offered by general managers to baseball players in recent years. The Sports Debates highlights three of them in our arguments today. I also have yet to figure out why “Moneyball” expert Billy Beane decided to throw money away and give Ben Sheets a one year deal with Oakland for $10M. That negates Beane being an expert at anything anymore. But, if there is one current contract out there currently that strikes me as totally ridiculous – the contract that Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells has stuck in his back pocket.
Back in late December of 2006, Wells and his family received the Christmas present of a lifetime when he signed a seven year deal worth $126M. This is the gift that keeps on giving for Wells personally, though it has not done much for anyone else. It has helped give then Blue Jay general manager J.P. Ricciardi a pink slip. And it has helped lead the Blue Jays to no more than 86 wins in the three years since the contract was signed. All he has done over the first three years of the deal is hit a combined 55 home runs. Let’s delve more deeply into this deal.
This contract has to be one of the most backloaded contracts in the history of sports. It is true that he received a $25M signing bonus, but the first three years he played with minimal financial damage being dished out to the Blue Jays. And even this season, at $12.5M, is okay. But 2011 is when the fun really begins. Warning to Blue Jays fans: This could hurt!
In 2011, Wells’ salary inflates to $23M. What? Are you kidding me? And then for some reason, Wells will have to take a pay cut and make only $21M per season for the 2012-2014 seasons. Poor thing!!! Here is my favorite part of the contract, though. Wells has the right to opt out of his contract after the fourth year, which would be after next season. Hahahaha! Come on! Are you serious? Sorry Blue Jay fans, but he is not doing that. You are stuck with him until after the 2014 season because he also has a full no-trade clause.
And it is not like the guy is Albert Pujols, either. Last season, he hit 15 home runs with a batting average of .260. That is just not going to get it done. Yeah, he is off to a great start this season, hitting .350 with four home runs so far. But that is just over five games. Let’s see him do it over the course of a full season.
I bet Wells sleeps great at night. But I bet his agent, Brian Peters, sleeps even better knowing he pulled the steal of the 21st Century.
Posted by Loyal Homer 
