Are you freaking kidding me?
I expect Ashton Kutcher to pop out from behind a wall and tell me I've just been "Punk'd," or something to that effect. And sadly, I'm going to be waiting a long, long time.
When the news broke that the Washington Nationals, of all teams, had signed Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth to an arguably insane 7-year, $126 million dollar deal, I had to check my calendar. I hadn't realized that April 1st was here again already.
Okay, enough with the lame analogies. But I think a deal of this sheer, idiotic magnitude is worthy of a much stronger rebuke than I could deal it.
With Adam Dunn leaving for greener pastures on Chicago's South Side, rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg sidelined for the interim, and the unreal talent of Bryce Harper paying his dues in the minors, the Nationals had two main issues to address: first, find a bat to help fill the void left when Dunn and his big blue ox defected to the AL, and second, sign a name player to help put fannies in the seats. With the addition of Werth, they've effectively solved both of these problems. But dear lord, the collective powers-that-be picked the worst day to take a vacation from common sense.
I'm not so naïve as to be ignorant of the current state of free agency in MLB and professional sports as a whole, but you don't have to be Warren Buffett to see just how ridiculous this deal looks.
Let's just start with the numbers: Werth's line from 2010 was excellent, to be sure. He batted .296, hit 27 homers, and drove in 85 runs, along with scoring 106 in a power-laden Philly lineup. He also led the league with 46 doubles and stole 13 bases, a sign that he's still got a little giddy-up left in him. Good numbers, to be sure, but he may be just as valuable with the glove: in 2009, he finished first in putouts as a RF, fifth in 2010 with 18 assists over the same period, though he should split time in right with Mike Morse and Roger Bernadina while also manning first base, Dunn's old home. On days he's manning right, the presence of Nyjer Morgan in center will only make his job easier, assuming Morgan doesn't get slapped with any suspensions.
But here's the number that makes the most difference: 7. That's how many years Werth has coming to him under this deal. Seven years at an average of $18 million per year. There's a reason that so many players end up under the wing of Scott Boras; only he could negotiate such an obscene deal.
With even a basic understanding of professional sports contracts, one can readily see the biggest issue with this deal. Even leaving aside the fact that, because of this signing, players who produce even slightly greater numbers than Werth will demand (and receive) significantly greater contracts than this, the issue is not so much money as it is time. The big thing is time, as Werth is four years away from age 35. Werth is already 31, and while not yet aged in terms of his sport, he's ever-so-close to that point in his career at which he can no longer be expected to produce like he has the past three years.
In short, he ain't getting any younger. And while he's been a reliable power source in recent times, he's been reliable in a lineup full to the top with sluggers, a luxury he will no longer enjoy in the Washington lineup. And with all due respect to Zimmerman, Willingham, and company, none of you are anywhere near Ryan Howard when it comes to clearing the seats. But then, who is?
As far as having any help driving in runs is concerned, Ryan Zimmerman is the only truly consistent threat in this otherwise anemic batting order. Ian Desmond has shown promise in the power department, but he won't ever be relied upon as a power source. Josh Willingham, also 31, struggled at the plate for most of the season and may have seen his best days already. The aforementioned Bryce Harper is still about three or four years away, assuming the Nats front office doesn't go completely stupid and throw him in the fire next year, so he's no help. By the time he does arrive, Werth will be well into his mid-30s and likely on the way out.
Moving to first base will help save Werth's knees, but it's a position which he hasn't played since 2007, and bouncing between positions has been known to have a not-so-positive effect on batting averages.
So basically, what we're left with is a player who, while a solid hitter and at times an excellent fielder, is signed until he's 38 on a team which can't possibly hope to contend in the next three years with their current lineup, will be playing a somewhat unfamiliar position for the bulk of the season, and hitting in a batting order where he's a prime candidate to be pitched around. He already strikes out a ton (300+ since 2009), and he's going to have to step into another zip code to hit some of the garbage pitchers will throw his way this year.
That's what you're getting, Washington. That's all, nothing more: an average of $18 million per for a 31-year-old hitter who has never been expected to carry a team. Seems like that money would have been better spent on something more sensible, like an economics course.
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