- Angels: Vernon Wells $23.0m (remind me why this was good for Anaheim, please?)
- Astros: Carlos Lee $18.5m
- Athletics: David DeJesus $6.0m
- Blue Jays: Jose Bautista (TBD, but arb filing: $10.5M-$7.6M)
- Braves: Derek Lowe $15.0m
- Brewers: Prince Fielder $15.5m
- Cardinals: Matt Holliday $17.0m
- Cubs: Alfonso Soriano $18.0m
- Diamondbacks: Joe Saunders $5.5m (unless Kelly Johnson wins his $6.5m arb request)
- Dodgers: Rafael Furcal $12m
- Giants: Barry Zito $18.5m
- Indians: Travis Hafner $13.0m
- Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki $17.0m
- Marlins: Hanley Ramirez $11.0m
- Mets: Johan Santana $22.5m
- Nationals: Jayson Werth $10.0m
- Orioles: Nick Markakis $10.25m
- Padres: Heath Bell $7.5m
- Phillies: Roy Halladay $20.0m
- Pirates: Chris Snyder $5.75m
- Rangers: Michael Young $16.0m
- Reds: Francisco Cordero $12.0m
- Red Sox: Josh Beckett $15.75m
- Rockies: Todd Helton $19.1m [NOTE: $19.1M 2011 salary and $4.6M 2012 buyout converted to $4.6M signing bonus in 2011 and $6M salary for 2011, with $13.1M deferred to 2014-2023 at 3% interest]
- Royals: Joakim Soria $4.0m
- Tigers: Miguel Cabrera $20.0m
- Twins: Joe Mauer $23.0m
- White Sox: Jake Peavy $16.0m
- Yankees: Alex Rodriguez $31.0m
-
Fascinating. I think I'd only count 3 as the best players on their team right now: Miguel Cabrera, Roy Halladay, and Joe Mauer. You could argue for a few more (or maybe even against these three), but if you'd have asked me before looking how many times is the highest paid player on his team the best, I'm sure I'd have said higher than 3.
Kirby…its funny cause I actually said the exact same thing to myself as I was reading the salaries. I hadn't even read your post yet. Of all the salaries only Halladay, Cabrera and Mauer are getting paid what they are actually worth in value. You might be able to argue Jose Bautista with the Jays but he's only had one great season so we will see this year.
Wait, Hanley Ramirez isn't worth $11 mil? I think there are a few teams that could find room for the guy at that price. And just who is better than him on the Marlins? [Josh Johnson? Surely it takes more than one season...]
Very fun chart to read. The poor small market Sox are getting outranked by so many teams.
One thing though… Isn't Cliff Lee getting paid more than Halladay?
P.S. Cliff Lee's middle name is Phifer. How interesting.
Very interesting results. It seems to me that these contracts – the really bad ones- are all predicated on very good timing and horrible talent evaluation. This list of bad contracts provides an easy answer as to why a team like the Cubs-who have had many "large market" payrolls over the last few years- are constantly underachieving.
muito bom..!