Penny Wise/Dollar Foolish

As millions are tossed around every baseball offseason as if it were Monopoly money, some contracts just don’t make sense. Some signings are particularly prudent. At Athlon Sports, we make the call on whether contracts make sense to us or not. Here is a sampling of contracts singed this winter.

Penny Wise

Bobby Abreu (36), RF
2009 Team: Angels; 2010 Team: Angels
Contract: 2 years, $19,000,000

Manager Mike Scioscia referred to Abreu as the team’s MVP last season. Always hovering around 100 runs and 100 RBIs, the talented outfielder had 30 steals at age 35 in 2009.

Jason Bay (31), LF
2009 Team: Red Sox; 2010 Team: Mets
Contract: 4 years, $66,000,000

It will be interesting to see how Citi Field will agree with Bay. But with 100 RBIs in four of the last five seasons, he should make the entire lineup better. Carlos Beltran and David Wright will certainly welcome him.

Adrian Beltre (31), 3B
2009 Team: Mariners; 2010 Team: Red Sox
Contract: 1 year, $9,000,000

Having labored in two pitchers’ parks (Dodger Stadium and Safeco Field), Beltre should find Fenway to his liking. Boston has little risk with a player option for $5,000,000 for 2011.

Matt Capps (26), RP
2009 Team: Pirates; 2010 Team: Nationals
Contract: 1 year, $3,500,000

The Nats had just 33 saves and blew 25, and that includes Mike MacDougal’s 20-for-21 ledger. Capps isn’t an elite closer, but he’ll stabilize a bullpen that was a mess last season.

Craig Counsell (39), IF
2009 Team: Brewers; 2010 Team: Brewers
Contract: 1 year, $2,100,000

The Brewers needed Counsell very much last season and likely will again. He played more than 25 games at three different infield positions, totaling 130 games, and he hit .285.

Mark DeRosa (35), 3B
2009 Team: Cardinals; 2010 Team: Giants
Contract: 2 years, $12,000,000

The fact that as many as 12 teams pursued DeRosa as free agency began speaks to his value. He’ll make the rest of the Giants better.

Justin Duchscherer (32), SP
2009 Team: A’s; 2010 Team: A’s
Contract: 1 year, $2,000,000

Even if it takes Duchscherer longer than expected to return, a couple mil is a fair price for even half a season for a reliable starter. Plus, the A’s understand what his trade value could be in July.

Chone Figgins (32), 3B
2009 Team: Angels; 2010 Team: Mariners
Contract: 4 years, $36,000,000

A clear case of the Mariners trying to steal a division title from the Angels. Figgy and Ichiro atop the lineup? Talk about pressure on the defense. Right out of Mike Scioscia’s book.

Rich Harden (28), SP
2009 Team: Cubs; 2010 Team: Rangers
Contract: 1 year, $7,500,000

The window is opening for the Rangers in the AL West. Harden is anxious to prove he’s durable, which makes this less risky for Texas.

LaTroy Hawkins (37), RP
2009 Team: Astros; 2010 Team: Brewers
Contract: 2 years, $7,500,000

Hawkins setting up Trevor Hoffman could be golden for a spotty rotation.

Matt Holliday (30), LF
2009 Team: Cardinals; 2010 Team: Cardinals
Contract: 7 years, $120,000,000

It must be noted that this contract could become an albatross for St. Louis in 2013-14 given what it will now take to re-up Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright. But it must also be noted that without Holliday, the Cardinals have an iffy shot at the playoffs in 2010-11.

Nick Johnson (31), 1B/DH
2009 Team: Marlins; 2010 Team: Yankees
Contract: 1 year, $5,750,000

The Yanks’ new DH is younger, cheaper and better defensively (if needed) than their former one. But can he be a World Series MVP? Fortunately, he doesn’t have to be.

Andruw Jones (32), OF
2009 Team: Rangers; 2010 Team: White Sox
Contract: 1 year, $500,000

Did anyone believe as recently as 2006 that Jones, at age 32, would command only half a million? There are still some intriguing nuggets in his splits, like batting .391 on the first pitch, and his .364 average on 3-1 counts. Maybe Ozzie Guillen can find that hidden spark to make this a real bargain.

John Lackey (31), SP
2009 Team: Angels; 2010 Team: Red Sox
Contract: 5 years, $82,500,000

An ace is worth $18-20 million. The Red Sox are paying a little more than 16. Forms a nice trio with Jon Lester and Josh Beckett.

Jason Marquis (31), SP
2009 Team: Rockies; 2010 Team: Nationals
Contract: 2 years, $15,000,000

Why do the Nats need a mediocre pitcher for $15 million? It’s simple — Every team that Marquis has been on in his 10 seasons has made the playoffs. He could be a nice trade chip in July.

Hideki Matsui (35), LF/DH
2009 Team: Yankees; 2010 Team: Angels
Contract: 1 year, $6,500,000

His birth certificate says he’s older than his predecessor Vlad Guerrero. But he comes at a lower price and he seems younger.

Brad Penny (31), SP
2009 Team: Giants; 2010 Team: Cardinals
Contract: 1 year, $7,500,000

Who are we to argue with pitching coach Dave Duncan? He’s done more with less potential before. Penny finished well with San Francisco last season, going 4–1 with a 2.59 ERA.

Andy Pettitte (37), SP
2009 Team: Yankees; 2010 Team: Yankees
Contract: 1 year, $11,750,000

The Yanks have the funds and the need for a starter. Still a proven big-game pitcher.

Placido Polanco (34), 3B
2009 Team: Tigers; 2010 Team: Phillies
Contract: 3 years, $18,000,000

The former Gold Glove second baseman will play solid defense at third, will get on base and is a terrific teammate.

Rafael Soriano (30), RP
2009 Team: Braves; 2010 Team: Rays
Contract: 1 year, $7,250,000

His fastball/slider/splitter combo may be just the answer for the Rays’ pen woes.

Tim Wakefield (43), SP
2009 Team: Red Sox; 2010 Team: Red Sox
Contract: 2 years, $5,000,000

If Jamie Moyer can get a two-year deal at 46 (last year), then why not Wakefield? He won 11 games last season, but his real value comes from saving the bullpen.

Randy Wolf (33), SP
2009 Team: Dodgers; 2010 Team: Brewers
Contract: 3 years, $29,750,000

With the market above $10 million for top-3 starters, Wolf could fill a huge hole for the Brewers, who are smelling blood in the NL Central.

Dollar Foolish

Marlon Byrd (32), OF
2009 Team: Rangers; 2010 Team: Cubs
Contract: 3 years, $15,000,000

Well, he’s better than Milton Bradley, but the Cubs are grasping at straws.

Mike Cameron (37), CF
2009 Team: Brewers; 2010 Team: Red Sox
Contract: 2 years, $15,500,000

This contract is further evidence that the Sox have money to play with. We’re looking for the underlying reason for this move, but Cameron is a .220 career hitter at Fenway, and his .236 average vs. the Yanks and .215 mark against the Rays can’t be it. He has tied for the second-most Ks over the past decade.

Kelvim Escobar (33), RP
2009 Team: Angels; 2010 Team: Mets
Contract: 1 year, $1,250,000

The contract is further evidence that the Mets are desperate.

Pedro Feliz (34), 3B
2009 Team: Phillies; 2010 Team: Astros
Contract: 1 year, $4,500,000

This is not egregious, but with Adam Kennedy, Juan Uribe and Jerry Hairston available, the Astros could have found a cheaper one-year stopgap.

Mike Gonzalez (31), RP
2009 Team: Braves; 2010 Team: Orioles
Contract: 2 years, $12,000,000

Is this a good time for the Orioles to be investing in Type A free agents with funky deliveries and iffy health history?

John Grabow (31), RP
2009 Team: Cubs; 2010 Team: Cubs
Contract: 2 years, $7,500,000

The Cubs need a lot of help, mostly in the clubhouse. Spending 3-plus million on a lefty specialist is like buying state-of-the-art deck chairs for the Titanic.

Tim Hudson (34), SP
2009 Team: Braves; 2010 Team: Braves
Contract: 3 years, $28,000,000

Hudson has pieced together a solid career with a 137–76 record over the past decade, and he may regain that form. But that’s just way too much risk involved for a three-year deal. But the Braves need him to help send Bobby Cox out in style.

Jason Kendall (35), C
2009 Team: Brewers; 2010 Team: Royals
Contract: 2 years, $6,000,000

Maybe this isn’t that bad since the Royals paid $5.6 million for catchers who led the majors in combined wild pitches and passed balls. But the two (Miguel Olivo and John Buck) had 31 homers and 101 RBIs, totals Kendall hasn’t reached in the last two seasons combined.

Brandon Lyon (30), RP
2009 Team: Tigers; 2010 Team: Astros
Contract: 3 years, $15,000,000

NL hitters smoked Lyon at a .301 clip during his last tour through the league in 2008.

Darren Oliver (39), RP
2009 Team: Angels; 2010 Team: Rangers
Contract: 1 year, $3,500,000

The magic Oliver found in Anaheim won’t carry over to Arlington.

Fernando Rodney (33), RP
2009 Team: Tigers; 2010 Team: Angels
Contract: 2 years, $11,000,000

Moving from Comerica to Angel Stadium won’t suit Rodney. He held opponents to a .225 average in Detroit, .281 on the road. Also his .374 OBP allowed in the second half gives us pause.

Ivan Rodriguez (38), C
2009 Team: Rangers; 2010 Team: Nationals
Contract: 2 years, $6,000,000

For I-Rod to earn his money, Jesus Flores would have to lose at-bats. Not good for the future. It’s not like Pudge has a history of helping develop young pitchers.

Takashi Saito (40), RP
2009 Team: Red Sox; 2010 Team: Braves
Contract: 1 year, $3,200,000

The fact that he’ll be 40 before Opening Day and his WHIP has grown from 0.715 to 1.191 to 1.347 the last three years tells us he’s done.

Marco Scutaro (34), 2B
2009 Team: Blue Jays; 2010 Team: Red Sox
Contract: 2 years, $12,500,000

Really? Theo Epstein believes in this guy? He has had 500 plate appearances only twice and has hit better than .267 only twice. He scored 64 of his 100 runs in the first half last season, tailing off badly in September, hitting just .211 for the month. On the bright side, he led AL shortstops in pitches per at-bat, so he’ll keep the concessions open longer.

Billy Wagner (38), RP
2009 Team: Red Sox; 2010 Team: Braves
Contract: 1 year, $7,000,000

We’re just not Wagner believers. But Bobby Cox has gotten more from less. Wagner was good in limited action with Boston while auditioning for a contract. But we don’t see a full season of effectiveness.

Jack Wilson (32), SS
2009 Team: Mariners; 2010 Team: Mariners
Contract: 2 years, $10,000,000

He seems to fit Seattle’s defensive approach, but he had five errors and hit just .224 in his 31 games with Seattle in ’09. One year — maybe.

This feature appears in the 2010 Athlon Sports Baseball magazine. Click here to order your copy now.