March 13, 2008
When the Athletics Spend Money
Notsellingjeans at Athletics Nation wonders who will be the first player the Athletics sign to a $100 million contract. His bet is Justin Upton.
*If we look at some of the most successful marquee free agent signings of the past 15 years - Barry Bonds' first deal with the Giants, Vlad's deal with the Angels, and even, I would argue, A-Rod's first deal with the Rangers (which would have been even better if the team hadn't outbid themselves by $50MM), they have a common theme - position players on the good side of age 28. That's part of why the list I made above focuses on position players, and especially youth.
*Using that criterion, my personal endorsement for the A's first $100MM splurge is...Justin Upton, assuming he reaches free agency in 2014. In fact, this could double that investment, requiring something like 9 years and $200 million. Yes, I am advocating that for the A's, and no, I'm not nuts.
We'll find out in six years!
But by 2014 $100 million might only be 3 or 4 years of Kyle Lohse or his equivalent...