MLB: 5 overvalued/undervalued players entering 2015
By Will Osgood
3B Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees
Contract: 10 years, $275 million ($27.5 million/year)
Alex Rodriguez is a three-time MVP who signed the two richest contracts in baseball history prior to Giancarlo Stanton’s hefty pay raise, which he received from the Miami Marlins this offseason. If not for his becoming the fall guy for the entire PED movement, Rodriguez would be a first ballot Hall of Famer five years after he retires.
Now, who knows? After all Rodriguez has been essentially non-existent for the Yankees over the past four seasons. He did not play a year ago, due to suspension. And in the prior three seasons (2011-13) he never reached 20 home runs nor could he ascend the great plain of a .500 slugging percentage.
In fact, he hasn’t neared his career on-base percentage or slugging percentages since 2008. 2008! In other words, in six years.
Yet only three players in baseball will make more money this season than A-Rod—and two of them are pitchers (they are Miguel Cabrera, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer). In fairness, A-Rod has had a great Spring. But a great spring doth not make a season, at least not necessarily.
If he regains his pre-2011 form Rodriguez may very well be properly valued. But that’s a rather large IF.
Next: Not a Yankee hooray!