November 23, 2005
Mo Money
It looks like Billy Wagner is going to get Mariano Rivera money:
After two days of meetings with the pitcher and his wife, the New York Mets offered free-agent closer Billy Wagner a three-year contract worth just more than $30 million, a deal containing an option for 2009 that could increase the package to $40 million.
According to Baseball Reference, Rivera's averaged $10.1 million over the last five years. Wagner's pay hasn't been shabby either, pulling in $8.25 million on average over the last four years.
Since Wagner's first full season in 1996, the two rank 1-2 in ERA for pitcher's with 600 IP over that time. You can also see Rivera's strength in home runs allowed makes up for Wagner's strength in strikeouts.
Wagner is two years younger than Mariano. If you believe a closer is worth that kind of money, then I'd say the Mets are making Billy a fair offer. And for those who thought the Cubs were spending too much money on Scott Eyre, do you really think Wagner is worth three times the money?
not worth it, rivera has done it in the post season. what is wagners record when it really counts.
mets are not making the playoffs anyway.
Agree with colin. Wagner is not a lights out closer.
wagner's the class of the NL right now, but please take into consideration that comparing what the yanks will pay to what the mets will pay is like comparing solid gold apples to solid gold oranges. a $10 million closer is a luxury item. i didn't notice any $10 million closers in the world series this year.
the best closer in the nl is LIDGE. Wagners' replacement. Mets need to build a farm system and stop getting older more expensive players.\.