Huge contracts that actually worked out

[Topnotchsy]

We always talk about the massive contracts that wind up being disasters so I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the ones that worked out quite well. While many of the biggest contracts are still near their beginning so it is hard to say, it is shocking how few of the big deals really look like good ideas in hindsite. After looking through the stats I now understand why we talk about the bad deals far more often... there's much more to talk about!

Here's the only 2 megadeals I came up with that seem to have paid off for the length of the deal.

1. Derek Jeter - 10 years $189 million. He averaged nearly 200 hits a season for that run and made 8 AS teams.
2. Miguel Cabrera - 8 years $153 million. After a slow first year (by his standards) he's basically been in his prime throughout this stretch. Obviously he just got re-upped and there's a very good chance this next contract does not work out quite as well.

 

[D-Lite]

After the '80 season the Yanks signed Winfield to a 10-yr deal that included "cost of living increases", averaged around $1.8-1.9 million/yr. Traded to Angels after year 9. Was an All Star the first 8 years, multiple MVP placements, GG, and SS and then missed '89 with injury. The only one that doesn't think the Yanks got their money's worth was the Boss.

 

[heavy_hitter]

The Yanks got a good return on their $89M contract with Mike Mussina.

 

[hive17]

Say what you want about A-Rod, but he came about as close to playing up to his mega-deals as you could expect.

Verlander?

Longoria, although his contract is typically defined by how team-friendly it actually is; same could be said for Braun.

Pujols' first real contract was good, (this current one isn't).

I'd say Yu Darvish has lived up to his contract.

 

[gt2590]

I think you'd have to separate the Free Agent deals from the re-signings and if you did, the number would be even lower.

Darvish came to mind for me too and that didn't seem possible when he signed it.

Nolan Ryan's Astros contract was considered too big, but his performance and fan appeal made them very good for most of the 80s...

 

[rob167]

1984...Andre Dawson signed a blank contract to play with the Cubs...

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[beefycheddar]

Manny and ARod's first big contracts worked out. That's about it for 20+ mill contracts.