In the spirit of the massive multi-million dollar contracts MLB teams are handing out this offseason, let’s take a look at the 10 largest contract extensions in history.
Just a heads-up: the list includes a couple of enormous Yankee contracts. But above all else, the names are notable, the numbers are jaw-dropping and the extensions are legendary.
Curt Flood was one of the most influential baseball players of all time, and he did it off of the field.
In 1969, Flood challenged baseball’s reserve clause and refused to play after being traded and took his case to the Supreme Court, thus changing baseball’s free agency game forever.
Here are a few MLB players who changed baseball’s free agency in some way or another.
Carl Crawford has agreed to a seven-year, $142 million deal with the Boston Red Sox. But what does that mean for Boston’s AL East rival, the New York Yankees?
Well if nothing else, we now know the Red Sox have big league money and are willing to spend it.
Just last weekend, Boston traded for San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez. The first baseman is expected to get a deal worth an estimated $154 million over seven-years.
No doubt now the Yankees are pressing to sign Cliff Lee and make a splash of their own this offseason.
After all, the Red Sox are on the verge of becoming the Miami Heat of the 2011 MLB season.
New York has a stellar team, there is little doubt. But can they really afford to sit back and watch the Red Sox reel in all the available talent?
Is the Yankee pitching staff good enough to carry them past Boston’s newly acquired sluggers in a seven game ALCS?
No one can answer these questions with a confident and definitive “yes.”
Thus making it essential to the Yankees’ future success that they sign Cliff Lee before someone else does.
Lee would solidify New York’s starting rotation and make them the odds on favorite to win the AL East in many minds.
The Yankees have six-year contract, which they increased to seven years following the Crawford signing, worth between $140-150 million on the table for Lee, but will he bite?
No one knows for sure yet. Lee likes living in Arkansas and maybe he doesn’t need another Escalade. Either way we will find out shortly.
But perhaps more intimidating than who they Red Sox signed, is how they signed them. Boston’s total disregard for it’s bank account has to be somewhat frightening to the Yankees’ front office.
Boston has laid out all the chips in order to win and now it’s New York’s turn to make a move.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Cliff Lee is a free agent this offseason, as everyone knows by now, and let us celebrate by taking a look at the five best suitors for his pitching services.
The ace seems content in Texas, but staying put is no fun—just ask LeBron James.
Click to view five potential Cliff Lee landing spots this offseason.
Cliff Lee is a free agent, and that means the team that flashes the most cash will have the advantage in the arms race.
Lee most likely enjoys Texas, unfortunately, us fans don’t really get a lot of the Rangers during the typical MLB season.
As a casual observer of the game, I choose to take a glance at the 10 places in which Lee would look best. Of course, we are taking into account exposure, market and fan base.
The MLB season is over and the offseason has officially begun. Some teams will look to improve, while others simply hope to keep the talent they have.
Many player will be on the move this offseason, perhaps a Hall of Fame shortstop, a notable pitching ace, or maybe one of the league’s best sluggers.
Regardless, always remember that these are bold predictions, and in honor of the title that they shall be.
It’s all over. The dust has settled and there is only one team left standing, the San Francisco Giants. The team of “misfits” that pitched lights out in the postseason to capture its first title since 1954.
They did it by beating Cliff Lee, twice, and scoring nearly 30 runs (29) in five games. Not bad for a bunch of castoffs.
Did anyone see this coming?
San Francisco won the NL West on the last day of the regular season with a 92-70 record, and was 41-40 halfway through the year—hardly the favorite.
Also, we must not forget the Padres late-season collapse that opened the door for the Giants and likely snuck them into the postseason.
San Francisco Giants coverage is also very limited for most of the nation, considering that they play on the California coast and their games don’t begin until after 10 o’clock eastern time; this adds to the surprise factor.
If baseball fans knew anything about the Giants coming into this postseason, it was that they had one of the game’s best young pitchers in Tim Lincecum.
But it wasn’t until the playoffs that casual baseball fans discovered the talents of names like Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner—all in their 20s.
Bumgarner pitched eight shutout innings in a decisive Game 4 in Texas, giving the Giants a 3-1 series lead that would prove too much for the Rangers.
Closer Brian Wilson was also phenomenal in his three World Series appearances, allowing only one hit and zero runs, capping off a superb postseason which included six saves.
But San Francisco’s pitching greatness only somewhat explains how a group of reject players were able to capture baseball’s ultimate prize.
Taking a look at the Giants offense, a few performances stand out in particular.
CF Cody Ross provided some much needed firepower over the plate for San Francisco leading the team in home runs (five) and RBIs (10). It’s crazy to think that he was acquired by the Giants in late August off waivers from the Florida Marlins—misfits.
Rookie Catcher Buster Posey was also a huge weapon for San Francisco, leading the team in hits (17) and batting just under .300 (.288).
The veteran, Edgar Renteria, was also pretty good in what will likely be his final postseason. In winning his second World Series, Renteria collected 10 hits, two home runs, and six RBIs with a slugging percentage of .457 (second on the team).
But beyond these clutch postseason performances, the Giants were a rather pedestrian offensive team with unbeatable forces on the mound.
So it is fair to say that few outside of the Bay Area saw this coming from the Giants.
I guess that’s the beauty of October.
Patrick Clarke is a student at Towson University and a writing intern for Bleacher Report.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
Cheating, betting, and scandals have been a part of sports ever since the beginning, whether it’s to gain a competitive advantage over an opponent, rake in some extra cash, or a temptation that was just too hard to resist.
The only thing worse than all of those things, though, is lying about it. Sooner or later the truth will come out, and when it does, get ready.
These 10 sports figures lied to millions of fans, and are worthy of being named the top 10 liars in sports history.