Fielder could be seeking to join exclusive $200 million club

[Wassit3]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...html?eref=sihp

[filihok]

I am also seeking to join the $200 million club

If seeking means sitting on my ass quarter-heartedly hoping someone gives me $200 million.

[dickay]

no, hell no...though i may be more inclined to give him that type deal than Mauer

[haveacigar]

I really don't think he's worth that kind of contract.

[kenny1234]

To be worth that contract, you have to assume that he will be as good as he was last year for 8 years. That would be ridiculously optimistic, and I can't see any team offering him that length of contract.

[Alloutwar]

He's a slugger...but that money? nay. $25mil for power and nothing else? I mean, Pujols can field, right? Not to even mention physical shape.

[YEAH DAAAAWG]

I wouldn't give it to him. But with the inflation going on in salaries the past few years I can easily see someone giving it to him if he hits free agency.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I wouldn't give it to him. But with the inflation going on in salaries the past few years I can easily see someone giving it to him if he hits free agency.

salaries barely went up this year... lol eless than 1% I think... baybe 1.5 if that

[Wassit3]

no, hell no...though i may be more inclined to give him that type deal than Mauer

[dickay]

i generally take a more conservative approach to these long term deals than most, or so it appears. I don't like tying up that kind of money that far out, especially in smaller markets where a mistake is harder to overcome. A catcher with prior knee and back injuries and only one season (most recent) with real power numbers to me is a pretty comparable risk as a seriously overweight super power hitting 1B w/o an injury history. Unlike many, I think Mauers power numbers last year were more an anomoly than the norm, thus I don't value him as high as some seem to. Prince, while maintaining a very good OBP has had much higher slugging % and OPS+ in recent years and is a year or two younger. Granted his position is not as premium and his defense isn't as good...but we're talking long term and I don't project Mauer as being a catcher for the duration of that deal and his injury history concerns me.

They are closer than one may think is all i'm saying. If I had to choose one or the other, i'll take the power hitter with less injury history. If I had a choice, i'd take neither with those contracts.

[SirKodiak]

Average annual value
The highest-paid players in baseball history, by average annual value:

1. Roger Clemens, $28,000,022 (2007)
2. Alex Rodriguez, $27,500,000 (2008-17)
3. Alex Rodriguez, $25,200,000 (2001-10)
4. Joe Mauer, $23,000,000 (2011-18)
C.C. Sabathia, $23,000,000 (2009-15)
5. Johan Santana, $22,916,667 (2008-13)
6. Manny Ramirez, $22,500,000 (2009-10)
7. Mark Teixeira, $22,500,000 (2009-16)
8. Roger Clemens, $22,000,022 (2006)
9. Manny Ramirez, $20,000,000 (2001-08)
Roy Halladay, $20,000,000 (2011-13)
10. Miguel Cabrera, $19,037,500 (2008-15)
11. Derek Jeter, $18,900,000 (2001-10)
12. Carlos Zambrano, $18,300,000 (2008-12)

Total Value
The most lucrative contracts in baseball history, by total value:

1. Alex Rodriguez, $275,000,000 (2008-17)
2. Alex Rodriguez, $252,000,000 (2001-10)
3. Derek Jeter, $189,000,000 (2001-10)
4. Joe Mauer, $184,000,000 (2011-18)
5. Mark Teixeira, $180,000,000 (2009-16)
6. CC Sabathia, $161,000,000 (2009-15)
7. Manny Ramirez, $160,000,000 (2001-08)
8. Miguel Cabrera, $152,300,000 (2008-15)
9. Todd Helton, $141,500,000 (2003-11)
10. Johan Santana, $137,500,000 (2008-13)

via http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/200...contracts.html

[tdk1984]

i generally take a more conservative approach to these long term deals than most, or so it appears. I don't like tying up that kind of money that far out, especially in smaller markets where a mistake is harder to overcome. A catcher with prior knee and back injuries and only one season (most recent) with real power numbers to me is a pretty comparable risk as a seriously overweight super power hitting 1B w/o an injury history. Unlike many, I think Mauers power numbers last year were more an anomoly than the norm, thus I don't value him as high as some seem to. Prince, while maintaining a very good OBP has had much higher slugging % and OPS+ in recent years and is a year or two younger. Granted his position is not as premium and his defense isn't as good...but we're talking long term and I don't project Mauer as being a catcher for the duration of that deal and his injury history concerns me.

They are closer than one may think is all i'm saying. If I had to choose one or the other, i'll take the power hitter with less injury history. If I had a choice, i'd take neither with those contracts.

They've (ESPN, et al.) been saying for years that supposedly Mauer's always had that kind of power like he showed a year ago, he just didn't quite have it in the wrists. I believe he did some tweaking to his wrist movement during his swing last Spring ('09) before he got hurt and when he came back he showed more pop.

[Wassit3]

I believe he did some tweaking to his wrist movement during his swing last Spring ('09) before he got hurt and when he came back he showed more pop.

Hmmm gets hurts, comes back and has more pop, reeks of roids (just kidding)

[OregonDuck1989]

I doubt anyone gives this to him.

[Wassit3]

I doubt anyone gives this to him.

if I were a gm I'd have no problem giving him 5 years at 75M to 90M