Can the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs not regret their choices this winter?
While the major league free agent (FA) market is noisy due to controversy over ultra-long contracts and overpays, four shortstops each signed surprising contracts.
First, the biggest contracts are San Francisco and Carlos Correa. They signed a whopping 13-year, $350 million contract. As a result, Corea succeeded in de facto free agency.
This is an annual average of $26.92 million. At less than $30 million per year, Correa’s reputation is not up to par. However, the contract period is 13 years.
Correa was born in 1994 and turns 29 in the 2023 season. Being a guaranteed contract until the age of 41. Although baseball players have a long lifespan, it is questionable whether a 41-year-old player will perform at his full potential.
Also, Trey Turner (29) signed an 11-year, $300 million contract with Philadelphia. This is an annual average of $27.27 million. Like Correa, it’s less than $30 million a year on average.
However, Philadelphia gave Turner, who was born in 1993 and turns 30 in the 2023 season, an 11-year contract. This contract is guaranteed until the age of 40.
The San Diego Padres then signed Xander Bogarts, 30, now 31 years old, to an 11-year, $280 million contract. This is also an infield redundant investment.
This contract is guaranteed until the age of 41. The average annual amount is $25.45 million. San Diego will have to hope that $25.45 million after 11 years is a relatively modest salary.
Lastly, Dansby Swanson (28), who was expected to have the least contract among the four shortstops, signed an 8-year, $177 million contract with the Chicago Cubs. 안전놀이터
As expected, the smallest contract among the four. However, Swanson is a player with a question mark attached to his offensive ability. The Chicago Cubs paid $177 million for such a player.
These four shortstops created an amazing number of 43 years and 1.1 billion dollars (approximately 1.45 trillion won) in the free agency market this time.
Even if it is a beast, a long-term contract of more than 7 years is bound to carry a great risk. However, the San Francisco, Philadelphia, San Diego and Chicago Cubs made bold choices.
It seems that the results of their choice will be judged only by the results to be recorded after 3 to 4 years of the contract period.