Baseball Opinion - Slew of Long Term Deals

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Slew of Long Term Deals

Christopher Solberg, Editor
5/17/2008

What is this, signing young star players to long term contracts week? After a few of these deals hit the wire late in spring training, it looks as if the Evan Longoria deal really got GMs thinking about locking up even pre-arbitration players to long term contracts.

First, rumors circulated that Hanley Ramirez would be signed to a long term deal. The deal turned out to be one of the most team-friendly deals to be seen this week due to Ramirez' more proven abilities and that he carries no trade protection with the new deal.

Then came along Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Rays. It was often speculated that he would be eventually traded as the Rays have a wealth of pitching talent coming up through the minors and he could get some hole-filling offensive prospects in return. But the Rays locked up their ace pitcher, showing the rest of the AL East they are finally ready to play with big boys (sitting in first place also helps).

The Milwaukee Brewers put their foot in the ring by giving Ryan Braun an extension as well. They had already been rumored to be negotiating with Braun as well as Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy and even Rickie Weeks. But this was the first deal to fall into place. As the days go by, it seems less likely that they will sign Fielder long term, but Hart may be a definate possibility.

To round out the week the Royals decided to jump into the foray and signed their star closer Joakim Soria to an extension the bought out a couple free agency years.

Overall, these deals are generally team-friendly as they give each team some payroll certainty and the players will usually get less than they do in arbitration and their first year or two of free agency. But the players do get a little more up front and early on, while they also gain the assurance that the are gauranteed to be paid during the span of their contracts.

But it does make you wonder, with the rash of these deals done for young stars, which team will get burned? With this many deals happening, and many more to come, what player will get injured or become ineffective? It has got to happen to at least one team.

Ryan Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, has been awarded the largest contract in history, Milwaukee Brewers history that is.Ryan Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, has been awarded the largest contract in history, Milwaukee Brewers history that is.Ryan Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, has been awarded the largest contract in history, Milwaukee Brewers history that is.

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